Convocation celebrates 400 graduating Lakehead University students

A blonde haired woman wearing blue and white regalia and a blue cap is pictured with an older gentleman in spectacles holding a certificate alongside an older woman in black and yellow regalia

Honorary Degree recipient, Charles Pachter (centre), is pictured with President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Moira McPherson and Chancellor Lyn McLeod before addressing graduates at Lakehead Orillia’s convocation ceremony on Saturday, June 8.

A tall man with a black cap wearing red and white regalia, a man of Anishnaabe heritage, a woman wearing black and yellow regalia, and a woman wearing blue and white regalia with blue cap 

2019 Civitas Award winner Mark Douglas (centre) is pictured with Lakehead Orillia Principal Dr. Dean Jobin-Bevans (right), Chancellor Lyn McLeod, and Dr. Moira McPherson.

June 8, 2019 – Orillia, ON 

This year, 420 students graduated from Lakehead University with over 241 proudly walking across the stage in front of family, friends and faculty during the Orillia campus’s convocation ceremonies June 8 at Rotary Place.

“Our graduates have accomplished so much here at Lakehead Orillia, and we are confident that their efforts, going forward, will make our world a better place," said Dr. Moira McPherson, President and Vice-Chancellor.

“Whether they've earned a professional degree in Education, Business Administration, Interdisciplinary Studies, Social Work, or Science, their studies at Lakehead have also prepared them to navigate the rapidly-shifting economic and political uncertainties of tomorrow.

That sentiment was echoed by 2019 voice from the class Zoe Dhillon, Honours Bachelor of Arts with specialization in English. In her address to the graduating class, Dhillon recognized and appreciated the shared experiences gained throughout their time together.

“Through small class sizes, we have developed immense interpersonal skills, learning to adapt and aid others in the pursuit of further knowledge. Through our professors, we have learned invaluable lessons within our respective fields, knowledge that will inspire us to seek out new opportunities in the world and, certainly, knowledge that will stay with us for the rest of our lives,” she said.

“Together, we have enjoyed our successes and learned from our areas of growth. And finally, through ourselves, we have learned just how capable we truly are.”

Chancellor Lyn McLeod used her closing remarks to remind graduates to maintain an enthusiasm for learning that was forged during their time at Lakehead.

"The world of our graduates is not the world I have lived and worked in — it is a world that they will help to shape," said McLeod. "I am confident that they will be open to new ideas and new approaches, and that they will become aware and engaged participants in their new environments." 

During Saturday’s ceremony, Lakehead University also bestowed honorary awards on two outstanding individuals for their contribution to the university and community. Distinguished and internationally recognized contemporary artist Charles Pachter received a Doctor of Fine Arts, and Anishinaabe Elder and storyteller Mark Douglas was presented with the Civitas Award for his significant contributions to Indigenous education at Lakehead University.

The university also presented six awards to students during the ceremony.

  • Lloyd Dennis Award for Outstanding Citizenship (Orillia): Tristen Taylor
  • The William A. West Scholar Awards for Education (Primary-Junior): Crystal Jones
  • Dean’s Scholar Awards for Science and Environmental Studies (Sustainability Studies): David Khorsand
  • Dean’s Scholar Awards for Science and Environmental Studies (Anthropology): Annaliese Eber
  • Dean’s Scholar Awards for Social Sciences and Humanities (English): Zoe Dhillon
  • Dean’s Scholar Awards for Social Sciences and Humanities (Interdisciplinary Studies): Megan Gramigna

This year, Lakehead University graduated approximately 2,200 students from its Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses.  

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Media contact: Jaclyn BucikMarketing and Communications AssociateLakehead Universityjbucik@lakeheadu.ca or 705-330-4008, ext. 2014.

Lakehead University has approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies. Maclean’s 2019 University Rankings place Lakehead University among Canada's Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities and in 2018 Research Infosource named Lakehead Research University of the Year in its category for the fourth consecutive year. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Rows of people are gathered in an arena for Lakehead University's convocation ceremony