Journey Alumni Magazine - Fall 2021

THE POWER OF SONG

Siedd takes the stage and inspires fans with his faith

MYSTERIOUS REPTILES

Get acquainted with five-lined skinks

UNDER PRESSURE

Helping kids struggling with stress

PLUS Alaskan Huskies make dogsledding a true thrill ride

Lakehead Orillia changed Debbie Balika’s life

The Demise of a Democracy

Lakehead Journey Alumni Magazine is published twice a year by the Communications and Marketing team which is responsible for establishing policy, editorial direction, and content for the magazine. The views expressed or implied do not necessarily reflect those of Lakehead University or the Communications and Marketing team.

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CONTACT US

Communications, Marketing and Clayton Browne

Web Development Director

Editor Tracey Skehan

Graphic Design Melissa Kastern

Telephone: 807-343-8010 ext. 8134, Fax: 807-346-7770

Email: editor@lakeheadu.ca

CONTRIBUTORS

Tracey Skehan, Brandon Walker, Alexander Huls

SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO

Office of Alumni and Annual Giving

Lakehead University 955 Oliver Rd., Thunder Bay, ON Canada P7B 5E1

Telephone: 1-800-832-8076

Fax: 807-343-8999

Email: alumni@lakeheadu.ca or online alumni.lakeheadu.ca

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President and Chair Karen Boz

Vice-President Yolanda Wanakamik

Vice-President Paul Popo-Ola

Treasurer Mike Walton

Past President Debra Woods

Director Annette Butikofer

Director James Dennison

Director Lahama Naeem

Director Linda Henderson

Director Jouni Kraft

Director Nathan Lawrence Director Nancy Luckai

Director Michael Michaud

Director Carmen Pekkarinen

Executive Director Mark Tilbury

EXTERNAL RELATIONS TEAM

Vice-President, External Relations Michael den Haan (Lakehead Orillia)

Interim Associate Vice-President, Richard Longtin

External Relations

Director, Government Relations

Alumni and Annual Giving Director Mark Tilbury

Communications, Marketing and Clayton Browne

Web Development Director

Philanthropy Director Kathryn Davidson

External Relations Coordinator Patricia McCluskey

Annual Giving Manager Meghan Hanbury

Annual Giving Associate Amanda Gerow

Alumni Engagement Associate Anna Sampson

Alumni and Philanthropy Assistant Anna Gagliardi

Campaign Operations Associate Stephanie Giddings

Campaign Research Analyst (Toronto Office) Jill Cooper

Donor Events Acting Manager Diane Robnik

External Relations Associate Jacquie Kent (Lakehead Orillia)

Alumni and Annual Giving Associate Samantha Lennon (Toronto Office)

Gift & Database Administrator Natasha Frohlich

Communications and Marketing Associate Tracey Skehan

Communications and Marketing Associate Melissa Kastern

Media, Communications and Brandon Walker

Marketing Associate

Media, Communications and Jaclyn Bucik

Marketing Associate (Lakehead Orillia)

Philanthropy Associate Lee-Anne Camlin

Stewardship and Student Aid Associate Tara Monteith

Web Development Manager Spencer Ranta

Web Developer Justin Michel

Web Information Designer Stefan Hoard

DIRECTORS’ MESSAGE

It’s time to celebrate!

Lakehead University’s tagline “Exceptional. Unconventional.” captures what it means to be a member of the Lakehead community.

It reflects the words we use to describe ourselves: Idiosyncratic, Spirited, Adventurous, Curious, Caring, Confident, Accepting, Determined, Friendly, and Proud. Read over that list carefully. We're sure that you’ll see many of those characteristics reflected in yourself and the classmates and friends you encountered during your Lakehead for Life journey. This past year and a half has brought new opportunities, and a few challenges – but we’ve risen above them and shown what it means to be Exceptional and Unconventional.

The Student Relief Fund, started in the spring of 2020 in response to the pandemic, brought in individual donations of over $100,000 with additional contributions from the Lakehead University Student Union and the Alumni Association. This spring, the Alumni Association committed another $25,000 to match new gifts. We're pleased to report that gifts exceeded the match by almost $8,000!

This year, in addition to two main convocation ceremonies and nine faculty-specific ceremonies, there were also ceremonies for our Indigenous and international graduates. This expanded allvirtual format allowed 11 alumni board members to deliver words of welcome to our new graduates. Many of the speakers were matched to their own faculty of graduation. What a tremendous opportunity to highlight the successful, talented, and committed alumni who give back to Lakehead.

In addition, the Alumni Scarf – a convocation tradition – received a refreshed design and, for the first time, was distributed to all graduates.

The Association was excited to kick off the fall 2021 season with its second virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 28. You can watch the AGM, including a great talk by guest speaker Shandor Alphonso (NHL linesman and Ambassador for Diversity), by visiting alumni.lakeheadu.ca.

Later in the fall, Homecoming in Orillia will feature engaging inperson and virtual programming. And our long-range forecast predicts an exciting new winter Homecoming in Thunder Bay from February 4 to 12, 2022. It'll include LUSU’s 40th Anniversary celebration, the Alumni Honours reception, varsity basketball, and the grand opening of the Wolf Den athletic facility. There will also be a sensational winter carnival.

We're counting the days until we can welcome you back to campus!

Karen Boz, BAdmin'92 President, Alumni Association

Mark Tilbury, HBCom’94 Executive Director, Alumni Association

 Renowned NHL linesman Shandor Alphonso was the guest speaker at our Annual General Meeting on September 28.

ON THE MAP

Ready to Grow Together Experienced New VP Takes the Helm

The Lakehead Orillia campus was established in 2006 with a vision for regional growth and prosperity. Fifteen years later, Lakehead Orillia is providing access to education in new ways, and we are only getting started.

The Orillia campus continues to be a leader in community-driven initiatives – from continuing education and lifelong learning to community-based research. Recent highlights include partnering with Georgian College on the Executive Leadership Program, the launch of the Industry 4.0: Automation Accelerator Pilot Program with the County of Simcoe, and the expansion of our Master Naturalist Program to Simcoe County District School Board high school students.

“We recognize the important role postsecondary education plays in creating thriving, healthy communities,” said Orillia Campus Principal Dr. Dean Jobin-Bevans, expressing that his hope is to grow the Orillia campus’s economic impact from $190 million to $400 million over the next 10 years. “Through teaching, community engagement, and research, we are committed to the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of the communities in which we live and serve.”

In 2020-2021, there were 1,662 students enrolled at the Orillia campus, including 756 from the County of Simcoe and 69 international students from 17 countries, up 15 per cent over the previous year. We are also pleased to see an increase of 53 per cent in the number of graduate students and to have had the first graduates of the LakeheadGeorgian Partnership receive their diplomas and degrees at convocation this past spring.

“We are committed to the establishment of a highperforming, diverse, and innovative academic community through the strengthening of the LakeheadGeorgian Partnership, engaging with Indigenous education systems, and outreach to nontraditional learners,” said Dr. JobinBevans.

This is important because 95 per cent of domestic students at Lakehead Orillia still face barriers to accessing university education. These barriers reaffirm our resolve to work hand in hand with our partners to meet the evolving societal and economic needs of the region.

“Over the next 10 years, our focus will be to effectively double our current enrolment on the Orillia campus in part through the addition of new programs of study, and a greater emphasis on the internationalization of our campus community,” said Dr. JobinBevans.

To assist with the delivery of this bold objective, Lakehead Orillia will add a variety of flexible learning options specializing in innovation and technology skills training. In partnership with the regional community, including members of the Orillia-based President’s Advisory Committee on Economic Development (PACED), we are in a strong position to meet – and exceed – our plans to grow and develop our Lakehead Orillia campus over this 10-year horizon,” said Dr. Moira McPherson, Lakehead University’s President and Vice-Chancellor.

We invite our communities to stay tuned for further progress reports and updates from our Lakehead University Orillia campus, where exciting times lie ahead!

Lakehead welcomed Michael den Haan on May 5 as the new VicePresident, External Relations.

“I’m excited to join this close-knit community as we continue to respond in the face of shifting regional and global realities,” he said. “Lakehead University is a special place because its students, alumni, faculty, and staff have demonstrated an enduring commitment to the mission of Lakehead for society. Our strategic plan includes a number of transformative initiatives, and I can't wait to get started.”

Mr. den Haan brings 25 years of experience in fundraising, donor, alumni and volunteer engagement, communications, governance, and external relations. He most recently served as Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni Engagement at Simon Fraser University, and he’s had leadership roles with the MS Society of Canada and the University of Waterloo. He also led the launch of the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine's recent $500-million capital campaign, and he’s eager to bring his exceptional fundraising and relationship-building skills to Lakehead.

 Michael den Haan, Vice-President, External Relations

ON THE MAP

Babes in the Woods Case

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The search for clues in one of Vancouver’s oldest unsolved murders – the Babes in the Woods case – is continuing with the help of Lakehead’s Paleo-DNA Laboratory. The Paleo-DNA Lab has successfully extracted DNA from the bones of two boys, aged seven and eight, who were killed in the late 1940s. The Lab is working with Redgrave Research Forensics Services and the Vancouver Police Department to identify the boys, and maybe even determine who killed them. The children lay undiscovered beneath thick brush in Stanley Park until a groundskeeper found their remains in 1953. Their bodies had been covered by a woman’s fur coat, along with a picnic basket filled with petrified food and the hatchet that had been used to kill them.

To report a tip, call the Vancouver Police Department’s Homicide Tip Line at (604) 717-2500.

Award-winning Let’s Talk Science Team

The Lakehead Orillia campus

Let’s Talk Science outreach team received the 2021 Indigenous Outreach Project Award for its partnership with the Beausoleil First Nation Education Department. Let’s Talk Science is a national organization that prepares Canadian youth for STEM careers and their responsibilities as citizens. It works with over 50 universities, colleges, and research institutes and over 3,500 volunteers to bring science outreach to young people across Canada. The Lakehead Orillia team was chosen for the Indigenous Outreach Project because its partnership allowed Lakehead Bachelor of Education program teacher candidates/Let’s Talk Science volunteers to engage students at Beausoleil’s Christian Island Elementary School in STEMfocused learning opportunities.

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Turning Youth Naturalists into Leaders

The Ontario Youth Naturalist Program is introducing Simcoe County high school students to the world of conservation and environmental sustainability. The program is an initiative of Lakehead’s Office of Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning, run in partnership with Parks Canada and the Simcoe County District School Board. The program is open to high school students in the Specialist High Skills Major (Environment) stream.

Since its launch in February 2021, over 200 students from Elmvale District Secondary School, Innisdale Secondary School, Nantyr Shores Secondary School, and Stayner Collegiate Institute have taken part. The programming will be expanded this fall with the assistance of Parks Canada and Bass Lake Farms, and with the support of the Invasive Species Centre ($1,000) and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation ($8,300).

More Choices for Education Students

Starting this fall, the Faculty of Education’s two-year consecutive Intermediate/Senior (I/S) professional program will be offered at the Orillia campus. Thirty-five students will be part of the first class. These education students will be qualified to teach children in Grades 7-12 and will have the option to major in history, geography, social sciences, or English. They will also be able to teach at the Primary/ Junior level. Lakehead Orillia has been training students specializing at the Primary/Junior level for over 10 years and they are pleased to be able to offer this expanded program focused on the Intermediate/Senior level. Lakehead’s education degrees prepare students for careers as teachers, principals, school counsellors, curriculum developers, and writers. The Orillia campus plans to increase the number of spaces available in the I/S program over the next few years.

In Memoriam –Linda Phillips

Former Lakehead employee Linda Phillips passed away on March 10 at the age of 78. Linda was a witness to key moments in the University’s history. When Lakehead became a university in 1965, Linda became secretary to our first president, Dr. Bill Tamblyn. Her career spanned almost 41 years and she served one principal, one acting president, and five presidents. She retired from Lakehead in 2001 during Dr. Fred Gilbert’s tenure.

You can celebrate Linda’s memory by donating to the Linda Phillips Memorial Bursary, which supports students enrolled in the English program. Please visit donate.lakeheadu.ca or mail your gift to:

External Relations Lakehead University 955 Oliver Rd Thunder Bay ON P7B 5E1

 Students in the program are eligible for a $500 bursary to Lakehead.

Fighting for Firefighters

The research project, “Protecting those who protect us: Supporting development of a mental health management strategy for Thunder Bay Fire Rescue” is helping firefighters stay resilient.

According to kinesiology professor and researcher Dr. Kathryn Sinden, “Our focus on firefighter mental health has opened discussions in the fire stations, which has aided in reducing the long-standing stigma associated with mental health in the fire service.”

The team of Lakehead University and Thunder Bay Fire Rescue researchers received a 2021 Community-Engaged Research Award in a virtual ceremony held in March during Lakehead’s Research and Innovation Week.

On July 15, the team was happy to have the opportunity to gather in person to celebrate their award.

First Lakehead-Georgian Students Graduate

The Lakehead-Georgian Partnership, a collaboration between Lakehead University and Georgian College, celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of 10 students this past June.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) degree and Electrical Engineering Technology advanced diploma program as well as students enrolled in the Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science (Environmental Sustainability) Specialization in Ecosystem Management degree and Environmental Technician diploma program, earned their degreediplomas.

Stephen Bond of Barrie, Ontario, was one of the first electrical engineering students to set foot on Georgian’s Barrie campus back in September 2017.

“It’s definitely a bittersweet moment for me,” he said. “I’m happy to be graduating and moving on to the next chapter of my life, but it’s hard to believe that my days at LakeheadGeorgian are behind me!"

Indigenous Law and Justice Institute

Lakehead’s Bora Laskin Faculty of Law is receiving up to $437,139 from the Government of Canada's Justice Partnership and Innovation Program.

The funding is being used to launch the Indigenous Law and Justice Institute, Maamawi Bimosewag –They Walk Together, and to expand Lakehead’s law program. This will allow Lakehead to meet the Truth & Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action #50, which urges the creation of Indigenous law institutes. “The Institute is an expression of the commitment of the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law to be a partner in the revitalization of Indigenous laws,” said Law Dean Jula Hughes. Professor Nancy Sandy is serving as the Institute’s director.

 Institute Director Nancy Sandy

 Electrical Engineering Grad Stephen Bond

 Celebrating firefighter research (L-R): Dennis Brescacin, Regan Bolduc, Chief Greg Hankkio, Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Dr. Kathryn Sinden, and Deputy Chief Dave Paxton

CREATING

NEW WOLF DEN PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES INCLUDE:

+ NEW FULL-SIZE GYM, CARDIO, WEIGHT, AND AEROBICS ROOMS

+ MORE SPACE FOR STUDENT AND COMMUNITY RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING

+ HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES

+ ACCESSIBILITY UPGRADES, MORE SAFE SPACES, AND SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS

+ MORE DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALTHY LIVING AND WELLBEING AT EVERY FITNESS LEVEL AND EVERY AGE

+ ENHANCED PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SPACES FOR LARGE EVENTS LIKE PEP RALLIES AND SPORTS FESTIVALS

Lakehead students voted in favour of expanding our athletic facilities: 79% of students voted yes to investing their own student fees towards a new facility.

A NEW, MODERN FACILITY FOR HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND RECREATION

WELCOMING OUR FIRST CLASS OF LAKEHEAD-GEORGIAN GRADUATES

Launched in 2016, the Lakehead-Georgian Partnership is a unique collaboration between Lakehead University and Georgian College that has expanded postsecondary education capacity in Central Ontario. This June, LakeheadGeorgian celebrated a significant milestone as the first graduates of the electrical engineering and environmental sustainability programs received their degreediplomas during Lakehead University’s virtual convocation ceremonies.

Designed to expand the learning opportunities offered to Simcoe County students and tailored to meet the workforce needs of local employers, students graduate job ready in four years with a Lakehead degree and a Georgian diploma. There are currently four programs offered by Lakehead-Georgian: electrical engineering, computer science, environmental sustainability, and applied life science.

The Alumni Association of Lakehead University is pleased

to announce that it is establishing an endowed bursary for entering students enrolled at LakeheadGeorgian. To learn more about how you can support students, contact Samantha Lennon, Alumni and Annual Giving Associate, at samantha.lennon@lakeheadu.ca or by phone 416-616-1416 ext.2822. LakeheadGeorgian.ca

ANNOUNCING THE 2021-22

Alumni Entrance Award Winner

For over 35 years the Alumni Association of Lakehead University has been bestowing the Alumni Entrance Award. It's one of the largest donor-funded awards at Lakehead University.

Dawson Giertuga enters the Honours Bachelor of nursing program this fall, joining his two brothers Dalton and Devon who are also pursuing their Nursing degrees at Lakehead. Dawson looks forward to continuing the Lakehead for Life tradition set by his mom, Jo-Anne (McCooeye) Giertuga (BA/BEdw’92).

THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WISHES TO THANK ALL OF THIS YEAR’S APPLICANTS.

Dawson Giertuga

Debbie Balika remembers the early years of the Orillia campus

In 2006, Debbie Balika was a single mother of two young children trying to carve out a better future for her family.

She was finishing her Early Childhood Education diploma at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario, when her co-op supervisor made a suggestion that changed the course of her life.

“Why don’t you take Lakehead’s concurrent education degree and become a teacher?” she urged.

Her supervisor – who was a Lakehead alum – knew that the University was about to open a second campus in Orillia.

Debbie loved the idea of teaching, but she found the prospect of university intimidating. Despite her fears, she plucked up her courage

and enrolled in the Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science program and the Bachelor of Education program.

That autumn, when the campus opened its doors at Heritage Place in downtown Orillia, Debbie was one of the members of Lakehead Orillia’s historic charter class.

“At the time, one of my children was in junior kindergarten and the other one was in senior kindergarten, so we all started school together,” Debbie says.

Although she recalls that she spent the first six months wondering if they’d mistakenly let her in, her reservations gradually faded away.

“Going to a smaller school meant there was more room for discussions and more room to learn how to be a critical thinker and problem solve,” she says.

She was mentored by staff and faculty members and found a summer job assisting with a microalgae research project led by Dr. Nanda Kanavillil, a sustainability sciences professor.

“I’ve always loved nature, and I’ve always stood in the worlds of education and science,” Debbie explains.

She immersed herself more deeply in the scientific realm when she was hired as a contract animal biology lab technician. By the time of her fourth-year teaching practicum, Debbie found herself wondering if teaching in the classroom was really where her heart lay.

“I remember going to Dr. Sree Kurissery, a biology professor, and saying, ‘I really wish I could do a Master of Science degree.’ And Sree said, ‘Oh, but you can.’”

Through the efforts of Dr. Kurissery and Dr. Kanavillil, Debbie and fellow student Sheri O’Connor became Lakehead Orillia’s first graduate students.

Debbie received her Master of Science in Biology in 2014 and joined Lakehead’s faculty as a

contract education and biology instructor. She held this position for several years while simultaneously working as a water quality specialist with Kawartha Conservation.

Recently, Debbie made another big change – in July 2020, she became the source water protection lead with Conservation Ontario in Newmarket, Ontario.

“I coordinate, lead, and support Conservation Ontario’s Drinking Water Source Protection project managers in source protection regions and areas so that they can carry out their legislative role under the Clean Water Act.”

She’s enjoying this new challenge, even though the circumstances aren’t ideal.

“I haven’t seen my office yet or met my colleagues in person because of the pandemic.”

But as her experiences at Lakehead made clear, whatever she sets her mind to, Debbie Balika will give it her all.

 While studying for her master’s degree, Debbie Balika (HBASc/BEd'11, MSc'14) established the Graduate Student Association on the Orillia campus.

 Orillia’s charter class of 2006 poses on the steps of Heritage Place on Colborne Street. “Heritage Place is a beautiful building with old beams and exposed brick,” Debbie says. “There were 10 or 12 classrooms in the basement and the library was on the floor above.”

the Dog Days of Winter

by Tracey Skehan

For Leah Fetterley (née Blenkinsop), the best coworkers in the world are furry, four legged, and fast.

Leah and her husband, Brad Fetterley, run North Ridge Ranch, a dogsled touring company in Huntsville, Ontario.

Leah came to the sport by chance as a Lakehead outdoor rec student. She was inspired by a 10-day dogsledding and skiing expedition she chose to do for her third-year practical course.

“I fell in love with dogsledding and knew that I needed more of it in my life,” she says.

After Leah graduated with her Honours Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation degree in 2004, she did wilderness guiding, worked at outdoor education camps, and, for six winters, led tours with Winterdance Dogsled Tours in Haliburton, Ontario.

In 2012 while working for Ontario Parks, Leah met her soon-to-be husband, Brad.

“Brad already had an established dogsled touring business, so we naturally shared a unique passion and respect for sled dogs. We connected, had our daughter Brea, and the rest is a part of our story.”

The couple run North Ridge Ranch on their 500-acre property in Huntsville, which has a mixture of tall pine stands, deciduous forests, and hills.

“It's kind of magical, especially in the winter,” Leah says. “It’s not like going down a snowmobile trail or through an open field – it’s a lot more intimate.”

Dogsledding is a sport Leah thinks everyone should try at least once.

“It’s not rocket science – but there are two things you must remember: never let go and use the brake to control your sled and your speed.”

If you forget to hold on, you’ll find yourself standing on the trail with the dog team far off in the distance.

“One time,” Leah recalls, “a guest fell at the top of a very large hill. I ran back up to help him. Unfortunately, he let go of his sled just as I got to him, and I was dragged down the hill by the dogs.

 Feeling the love: Leah and Brad spend a lot of time caring for their dogs. “They aren’t like snowmobiles that you put away in the garage at the end of winter,” Leah says. “You have to be committed to keeping them happy and healthy 365 days a year. They each have their own unique personalities, quirks, likes, and dislikes. Knowing the strengths of each dog is also important when creating teams.

 Magnus made Leah’s first dogsledding experience a captivating one: As part of her outdoor recreation degree requirements, Leah completed a dogsledding and crosscountry skiing expedition with Outward Bound. The trek started on Black Sturgeon Lake three hours north of Thunder Bay and followed a wilderness trail system. During the expedition, Leah was responsible for taking care of Magnus.

"When I finally got the sled stopped, my underwear was around my ankles, I had ice rash on my thighs, and the brake was broken – but I did not let go. It was definitely a ride I wasn’t expecting.”

North Ridge Ranch has just over 70 Alaskan Huskies, and Leah is a huge fan of the dogs, which she describes as easygoing, good listeners, and great with people. The Alaskan Husky is a popular type of sled dog that performs best in longer multi-day dogsled races, like the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest.

“They are super athletes. Alaskan Huskies are pound for pound the strongest mammal on

earth. In top condition, they have the capacity to run further and faster than any other animal on earth,” she explains.

The dogs at North Ridge Ranch have solidly built homes and live outside, but they do spend a little time in the big house. Every Friday, two dogs are invited in for a family movie night.

“Some of them really love it, and some of them would rather be in the dog yard,” Leah says. “Our daughter, Brea, shares her popcorn with them. She also likes to read them stories, trim their nails, and, on occasion, keep them in her room for a sleepover. It’s a cool relationship because the dogs and Brea are playmates as they grow up.”

THE DOG DAYS OF WINTER

Brea is dogsledding on her own now, and maybe, sometime soon, she’ll be teaching guests the ropes.

“The most special part of being a dogsled guide,” Leah says, “is that you get to share awesome dogs and an awesome sport with other people.”

North Ridge Ranch offers a one-hour 10-km trip and a halfday 20-km trip. Find out more at www.northridgeranch.ca



“It’s too warm. Summertime is meant for running around, playing, digging, and doing whatever they want to do. Our kennel is basically like a big dog park.”

 Chilling with my buddies: North Ridge Ranch Alaskan Huskies each have their own living space and enjoy lots of “free run” time together too. “We don’t work our dogs in the summer,” Leah says.

Need for Speed: “Alaskan Huskies are happiest when they’re running,” Leah says. “Although they aren’t as fast as a cheetah, in top condition, they can travel up to 80 miles a day.” When not touring, Leah has competed with the dogs in Ontario races between 4-40 miles in length.

Siedd takes the stage

The journey from shy engineering student to musician with a worldwide following

by Alexander Huls

Singer-songwriter

As open-ended as his request was, Usama didn’t anticipate the Godgiven talent he’d receive would be music. Nonetheless, since 2016 he's quickly become a popular musician, whose faith-based work has been streamed 30 million times and resonated deeply with music fans and those who share his Muslim faith.

Performing and releasing music under the stage name Siedd, his YouTube channel has 149,000 subscribers and his music videos have accumulated millions of views – including his biggest hit, “Back to You,” with 6.7 million alone. On Spotify, he has 55,000 listeners who enjoy his music, including his debut album Journey, which was released in January 2021.

Looking back at his rapid success – and a life spread across Pakistan, Mississauga, and Thunder Bay – he still can’t quite believe this is where he’s landed. “I definitely never imagined it,” Usama says.

The Making of a Musician

As a child, Usama was an unlikely candidate to be a musician one day. Growing up in Mississauga, Ontario, after moving there from Pakistan, he was shy and prone to drifting off in his own world. Finding a sense of belonging, a purpose, wasn’t always easy for him. It became more difficult when in 2008, at the age of 14, his family followed his Lakehead Universitybound brother to Thunder Bay. “For any 14 year old, it's like you're leaving everything,” Usama says. The comfort of friends, memories, and extended family were all left behind, and Usama would need something to anchor himself again. He found it in music. It began with a habit of singing offhandedly to himself while walking home from school but blossomed into enough of an interest that he longed for a guitar. No one in the family was musically inclined, or fully understood where Usama’s interest had come from, but his

oldest brother decided to kindle his budding passion and bought Usama a guitar.

Usama wasted no time. He devoured music theory and fundamentals. He deconstructed the songwriting of famous musicians – Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran – to reverse engineer how they worked. He strengthened his singing voice with vocal training courses online. When he discovered the digital audio software FL Studio, he applied everything he was learning to create his own music. In high school, he would often come home, have dinner, then record, mix, and master songs until midnight. “All you would hear is beats upstairs,” recalls his brother, Abdullah Syed. Usama made music mostly for himself, but there was sometimes foreshadowing of how he would use it to affect others. Once, Abdullah recalls the family having an argument. Usama recorded it, went to his room to make a remix out of it, then came back and played it for his family. “Everybody was angry, but once they listened to it, everybody was laughing,” he says.

Pushed by invested music teachers, Usama began

When Usama Syed was young, he asked that God grant him the ability to make a difference in people’s lives.

“I don't know what skill I'll have, or what talent, but just give me something that can help,” he prayed.

 Usama graduated with a Diploma of Engineering in 2018 and a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) in 2019.

 Usama relaxing on Lakehead’s Thunder Bay campus in his student days.

SIEDD TAKES THE STAGE

but they don’t know these other aspects of your personality,” he says. “I was a bit afraid.”

Praise began coming in as the music seemed to connect with people from all over the world, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom. He then decided to post his music on YouTube. At first, viewership was small in number – roughly 30 views a month – but huge in its effect on Usama. “That was very big for me, because I thought, ‘Wow, there’s five people that love my song.’”

For someone like Usama, growing up in Western culture with Ne-Yo and Bruno Mars, traditional Islamic music could feel inaccessible. “We didn't have many options in the faith world of music that we could relate to,” he says.

Among his early works are cover songs – like Shawn Mendes’ "Mercy" or Coldplay and The Chainsmokers' "Someone Just Like This" – with changed lyrics to reflect on God’s influence on love and failure. Subsequent songs also get to the profound roots of the good and the bad of being alive.

performing, tentatively emerging from his shell, getting past nerves and hesitancy, and sharing his music with the world. He joined a choir. He sang Creedence

Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” and Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” at family and friends’ concerts. He entered Thunder Bay’s High School Idol competition, making it to the finals with songs like Bruno Mars’ "Talking to the Moon."

While his confidence and talent grew, Usama didn’t see music as much of a career option. “It was just one of those dreams that you have,” he says. Instead, he knew his family expected him to choose one of three paths – doctor, lawyer, engineer. He enrolled in Lakehead University to become an engineer.

A Life at the Crossroads

Although Usama meant to maintain music as a hobby, he was still curious to see what releasing his music would be like. In 2016, at the age of 21, he quietly posted some of his music on Instagram. Nervous, he didn’t tell any friends. “People know you in a certain way,

Momentum began to build with performances at his mosque, weddings, and concerts at local art museums and cultural halls. He continued posting roughly five videos a year on YouTube, growing his online following – especially among those who share his devotion to Islam. “If there’s a single thread that runs through everything, it's faith,” Usama says.

Faith is, partly, what drove him to music. He wanted to create religious music he wished he had when he was young. In Islam, music takes many forms. Instruments are often avoided, and music takes the form of singing hymns acapella.

“Everybody feels broken at times. Everybody has felt loss. Everybody has felt happiness to some degree. All of these things are those human emotions everybody can relate to,” Usama says. As his brother, Abdullah, succinctly describes Usama’s music: “It’s not about just the world or your desires. It also should be about your soul itself.”

A Powerful Voice

Usama considers the creation of his music as thoughtfully as he does its message. In order to reach even those for whom songs made with instruments are prohibited, all his music is made by digitally mixing

 Creating a single song requires hundreds of hours of work.

 Usama performing

vocalizations and hand claps. He starts his process first with lyrics –drawn from lines saved in hundreds of Google Doc pages – and a rough acapella beat. Then he creates sounds by recording himself beatboxing or clapping, then turns those sounds into beats. After that, a time-consuming production process begins as he layers his self-created sounds into what will become a song’s background music. One song can take up to eight weeks of 12-hour days, much of it like a highly technical puzzle. The engineering degree he earned at Lakehead in 2019 comes in unexpectedly handy then.

“Engineering turned me into a good problem solver,” Usama says. “In engineering, when you were given a problem to solve, you try one way and it doesn’t work. So, you use another equation, and it doesn’t work either. But you keep doing it.”

The amount of time spent producing his music, as well as his increasing financial success, led to a critical moment. Should he do music full time? He discussed it with his family and asked, “Do you think I’m making a dumb decision?” They didn’t, and he began quickly approaching music as not just a passion, but a career. “If I do want to do this full time, I have to think about the business side as well,” Usama says. “You have to be able to sustain your living.”

He created Makkah Records, a record label and content creation company that will broaden his revenue streams by offering acapella content for companies, organizations, and charities. He hasn’t lost sight, however, of giving to others. He’ll use Makkah Records to help other artists, like him, who can sing but don’t know how to produce their own work. After using lockdowns in 2020 to

finish his first album, Journey, he’s working on new material he hopes will continue to connect with old and new fans alike. He even aspires to create material that will reach a more universal audience, while still being anchored in the roots of his beliefs. “For me, faith-based music is any music that aligns with my values as a Muslim,” he says.

He’s already seen how his values can resonate deeply with his fans. Users on YouTube have told him his songs changed their lives.

Touring in Australia or the United Kingdom, he’s seen people ranging from 13-year-olds to 60-year-olds with tears in their eyes as they sing along during a concert.

“That was the biggest eye-opener for me. How could something I wrote all alone in Thunder Bay, as a 20-year-old student, be affecting this person?” he wonders, perhaps forgetting what he prayed for all those years ago.

 Siedd performing in Mississauga, Ontario, at MuslimFest – North America’s largest Muslim festival, which attracts over 67,000 attendees annually.

ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH EDUCATION

The Achievement Program is Lakehead University’s commitment to support access to postsecondary education by providing opportunity to students who experience socioeconomic barriers.

Student Relief Fund

Thank you! To the Alumni, Faculty, Staff, Governors and Friends who supported the Student Relief Fund at Lakehead University.

Thank you to all donors for helping us out. In the future, I wish to be a donor like you who can help students in need. This fund helped me get through a few harsh months without which the situation would have been bad and I might still be recovering from it.

Once again, thank you so much.

– Engineering student

by Brandon Walker

Dr. Stephen Hecnar has extensive knowledge of the way living creatures are intertwined with the natural environment, which is why he’s concerned about the damage humans are causing to the Earth.

Dr. Hecnar, a Lakehead biology professor, has spent his life researching the dynamics of animal populations and communities.

Raised in the suburbs outside a southwestern Ontario city – with woodlots, ponds, ditches, fields, and hedgerows across the street –Dr. Hecnar's passion for studying amphibians and reptiles started in childhood.

“What an opportunity for kids to experience nature in situ. I spent much time as a kid outdoors watching and catching frogs, turtles, snakes, and other wildlife,” he says.

Dr. Hecnar earned an Honours Bachelor of Science in 1979 at Lakehead University, where he read research on mammals written by Bob McCloskey at the University of

Windsor, who eventually became his graduate school supervisor.

“Upon meeting him, I found he had switched his focus to using lizards to study behavioural and ecological questions,” Dr. Hecnar says.

“This was my opportunity to begin a master’s studying skinks in Ontario and helping Bob study lizards in the Southwest US.”

Dr. Hecnar then studied the community ecology of amphibians for his doctorate after learning how important amphibians were in the functioning of ecosystems.

Dr. Hecnar’s research goals are to develop a better understanding of the dynamics of animal populations and communities using amphibians and reptiles.

For those who don’t know, fivelined skinks look like snakes – but with feet. They are not well-known creatures in Ontario, probably due to their secretive nature caused by the threat of predators such as birds and medium-sized mammals.

They are considered “semi-fossorial,” Dr. Hecnar says, meaning they spend some time underground.

“Even when on the surface, skinks spend about 90 per cent of their time under cover of woody debris and thick vegetation from which they make short forays out for feeding or to bask near their refuges to increase their body temperature,” he says.

Five-lined skinks evolved to have blue-coloured tails that they wave to distract predators away from their head and body. They can drop their tails when captured – the severed tail wriggles for several minutes while the skink escapes.

His research shows the rate of tail loss is correlated with the abundance of several large bird species such as hawks and crows, and mammals like raccoons and skunks.

The skink is one of several species that humans have put on the endangered species list by removing its natural habitat.

Dr. Hecnar says no other species has caused as much damage to the Earth as Homo sapiens.

“Of the five mass extinctions that have occurred in Earth’s history, evidence indicates that each has had physical causes such as asteroid impacts and geological causes.

“Current rates of species loss compared to the fossil record suggest we are beginning to reach these historical levels, but evidence indicates the next mass extinction event is being caused by the actions of a single species: Homo sapiens.

“It’s somewhat ironic that our species name translated from Latin to English means ‘wise man.’”

 Dr. Hecnar holds an eastern fox snake.  Hatchling snapping turtle  Juvenile five-lined skink

Photos courtesy of Darlene and Stephen Hecnar

Celebrating the EXCEPTIONAL.

UNCONVENTIONAL.

For 55 years, Lakehead University has been the home of trailblazers – people daring to defy limitations and challenge conventions. We understand that an education is important, but it is what you do with it that matters most. Innovators, leaders, researchers, and teachers: we are advancing, accelerating, and anticipating our futures, at home and on the world stage. Taking the path less travelled and rising to the challenge.

This is what inspires us. Motivates us. Defines us. Every day.

lakeheadu.ca/discover

The Demise of a Democracy

Hungary turns its back on Europe

by Tracey Skehan

This surge in authoritarian populist movements has caught many off guard, but Dr. Steven Jobbitt has been watching this phenomenon unfold for more than a decade. He is a Lakehead professor of eastern and central European history with a particular interest in Hungary. He was researching early 20thcentury right-wing movements and intellectuals in Hungary when the Fidesz party, led by Viktor Orbán, won Hungary’s 2010 national election. Fidesz is an unapologetically right-wing populist group.

“Orbán’s victory was seen as a rebuke of Europe,” Dr. Jobbitt says. “Until 2010, Hungary had been regarded by many as the poster child for post-communist integration into the European Union.”

As Hungary’s new prime minister, Orbán set about dismantling his country’s democratic institutions and aligning himself more closely with Russia and the policies of Vladimir Putin.

The parallels between Hungary’s past and the present were striking, and Dr. Jobbitt began focusing his research on contemporary Hungarian politics.

What he witnessed was disturbing. By 2012, Hungary’s constitution had been rewritten to curtail civil liberties, undermine free and fair elections, and destroy the independence of the judiciary and the media. Other repressive measures followed.

Prime Minister Orbán has also stoked anti-immigrant sentiment and hostility towards Jews and the Romani, an ethnic minority group in Hungary.

“They still have elections, political parties, and a parliament,” Dr. Jobbitt says, “but if you define democracy as a thriving civil society, there is no democracy anymore.”

How did Hungary’s populism of fear and resentment take root?

“The general consensus was that fascism had been defeated after World War II and that communism had been defeated with the end of the Cold War,” Dr. Jobbitt says. “Liberal democracy had triumphed.”

Almost immediately, though, seeds of discontent were planted. The expansion of the European Union provoked a rise in nationalism and fears of losing cultural identities. There was also a backlash against aggressive globalization and capitalism that promoted the free market at all costs while slashing funding to education and social programs.

“Prices went up and salaries went down after the fall of communism. Combined with climate change and population movements, people’s lives became more precarious. Hungary’s rural areas were struggling, then the 2008-09 global financial crisis hit.”

Orbán’s Fidesz party positioned itself as the defender of Hungary, but instead of rejecting capitalism, they co-opted it for their own financial benefit.

“One scholar refers to Orbán’s Hungary as a mafia state,” Dr. Jobbitt adds.

Despite this, the middle class has rallied behind Orbán.

“For them, it’s about holding on to their privileges. They don’t want to share with other people. They say, ‘Why should students have free tuition? Why should we help the poor or refugees?’”

Dr. Jobbitt believes that populism is animated by a drive for revolutionary solutions and that this energy can move to the left or the right. In Hungary, it has definitely moved to the right.

“It would be a mistake to think that these forces – in Hungary and around the world – are going away. We have to come up with policies that will address the needs of the people. Otherwise, we will reap what we sow.”

With the rise of populism in places as far apart as Brazil, India, the United States, and Europe, democracy seems to be on shaky ground.

 Dr. Jobbitt earned HBA (1998) and MA (2001) degrees in History from Lakehead.

Beyond the Numbers

How one man’s generosity is changing lives

Mentor. Coach. Friend. These are some of the words used to describe Douglas Britten –a beloved Thunder Bay high school teacher who passed away in 2019.

Douglas – or Doug as most people knew him – was an outgoing man with many friends and a talent for conversation.

At Lakehead, we have even more ways to describe Doug – supporter of young people’s dreams, inspirational benefactor, and generous spirit.

Doug was a man deeply involved in his community. His thoughtful decision to leave a gift in his Will was one of the ways that he made his community stronger and created an enduring legacy at Lakehead.

Brian McKinnon, who serves on Lakehead University’s Board of Governors and the City Council of Thunder Bay, knew Doug from the time they were high school students back in the early 1960s.

“We both went to Port Arthur Collegiate Institute (PACI), and we had some friends in common. We reconnected later when we both became teachers and started golfing together and taking trips to

Minneapolis to watch baseball.”

Doug spent most of his teaching career at PACI and, for several years, Brian served there too as PACI’s vice-principal, and then principal.

It gave Brian the chance to see firsthand how Doug was able to get the best out of every student. For anyone who found math difficult or frustrating, Doug was ready to tutor them after school and during lunch hours. Students clamoured to be in his classes.

“So many former students have told me,” Brian says, “‘If it weren’t for Doug, I would have quit math.’”

Doug also volunteered his time as a PACI staff advisor and coached basketball, golf, skiing, hockey, and curling.

This dedication to his students didn’t end when they graduated. Doug maintained friendships with them into their adulthood.

“It was astonishing to be with Doug when he met a former student,” Brian says.

“He would remember exactly who they were, what they accomplished in school, and most likely what they were doing now.

Suffice it to say that Doug loved his time at PACI and PACI was a

better place for his having taught there.”

Lakehead is also now a better place because of Doug.

“There’s no question in my mind that Doug made a substantial philanthropic gift in his Will to Lakehead because he wanted students to broaden their career horizons and open as many doors as possible for them,” Brian says.

Thanks to Douglas Britten’s belief in helping young people, the promise and potential of Lakehead students will not go unfulfilled.

Amazing things can happen when you combine foresight with a generous heart. Find out how YOU can create a future for students to believe in.

Please contact:

Lee-Anne Camlin

Philanthropy Associate 807-343-8010 Ext. 7792

lee-anne.camlin@lakeheadu.ca

The Orillia Lions Club breaks down barriers

“I grew up in Timmins,” says Mike Taylor, the president of the Orillia Lions Club, “but by the age of nine, I knew that if I wanted to go to university, I’d have to leave home.”

Mike is now a long-time Orillia resident, a dedicated community volunteer, and an enthusiastic cheerleader for Lakehead University.

“I’ve been to several high school graduation ceremonies over the years, and before Lakehead, the students would be going to the typical places like U of T and Waterloo. But there were just a handful of them going to university. Now, there’s so many high school students who say they are going to Lakehead – it’s made a huge difference.”

Of course, the Orillia Lions Club has been making a difference since 1937. It’s part of a network of international Lions Clubs united by the motto “we serve.”

“The Orillia Lions Club supports many organizations and individuals in the community,” Mike explains. “From planting trees to preparing meals for people who are homeless, we are men and women of like mind and like heart.”

That’s why he was happy when the Lions began donating to Lakehead Orillia’s Humanities 101 program. This door-opening program was created for community members who face financial or social barriers to a postsecondary education. The Lions Club's decision to support the program was driven by their goal of ensuring that no community member has to worry about going hungry.

“Education helps resolve the issue of hunger,” Mike says. “How do you stop hunger? By giving people the opportunity to acquire skills that make them employable.”

Humanities 101 is a semesterlong, non-credit course. Students take part in classes spanning the university disciplines of social work, chemistry, English, political science, and sustainability sciences.

Local social service agencies recommend community members they think could benefit from Humanities 101. Taking part in the program offers a university experience that not only provides access to the library and school supplies, but also removes barriers that participants might face by covering childcare and transportation costs, as well as a meal on the evening of their class.

The Orillia Lions Club's generous annual gift to Humanities 101

supports one student’s enrolment in the program every year.

Both Lakehead and the Orillia Lions want to give students the confidence to envision a different future for themselves.

“People who never thought postsecondary schooling would be an option for them are able to take this course,” Mike says.

When he had the chance to attend a Humanities 101 graduation ceremony, Mike was inspired by what he witnessed.

“One of the graduates was there with her mother and her daughter,” he says. “Humanities 101 changed three people’s perspectives on university. And that’s what change is.”

 Orillia Lions Club President Mike Taylor presents a cheque to Lakehead’s Humanities 101 program.

 Mike Taylor delivers snacks to an Orillia long-term care home.

Can self-regulation help them thrive?

Education professors

Dr. Sonia Mastrangelo and Dr. Meridith Lovell-Johnston are engaged in a research partnership with the Kwayaciiwin Education Resource Centre. Kwayaciiwin provides essential support to First Nations schools in the Sioux Lookout region of Northwestern Ontario. Kwayaciiwin sought out Lakehead’s help because their students are struggling with lower literacy rates and higher rates of depression and suicide than students in other parts of the province.

The goal of Drs. Mastrangelo and Lovell-Johnston’s research is to foster “self-regulation” in elementary students so that they become more emotionally resilient and can flourish at school.

Their research project – called Supporting the Development of Young Children’s Self-Regulation Capacities and Literacy Skills in Ontario’s Northern Communities: Engaging Families and Educators – is being funded by a three-year Partnership Development Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

1. Can you explain what selfregulation is and why it’s important?

Self-regulation is a way of understanding stress and managing tension and energy flow that enables children to cope with the stressors of daily life. We use the framework developed by Dr. Stuart Shanker called Shanker Self-reg ©

There is growing awareness among developmental scientists that the better a child can selfregulate, the better they can rise to the challenge of mastering more complex skills and concepts because they are able to be calm, focused, and alert.

This is essential because stress is on the rise – kids are spending less time outdoors and less time socializing with friends. Instead, for many children, the reality is that they spend more time in isolation with increased screen time. This was true well before the pandemic. Stress has a negative effect on children’s brain development, and therefore it's important to address the stressors that impact children across five domains – social, emotional, cognitive, biological, and pro-social.

 Dr. Sonia Mastrangelo

 Dr. Meridith Lovell-Johnston

"Being overtired, having difficulties with math, mourning the loss of a family member, and being bullied are all examples of stress."

2. How is self-regulation connected to children’s ability to do well in school?

Research has shown that selfregulation is the foundation of healthy human development including mental health, learning, resilience, emotional safety, caring relationships, and vibrant, peaceful families, schools, and communities.

Families and educators can help children reframe their stress and direct them to strategies that can restore their equilibrium. Eventually, kids are able to move from co-regulation to being able to do it themselves (self-regulation).

3. In what kind of situations is self-regulation useful?

People experience different kinds of stress – biological, cognitive, emotional, social, and pro-social. Being overtired, having difficulties with math, mourning the loss of a family member, and being bullied are all examples of stress. Frequently, people have more than one stressor, which can result in a multiplier effect of stressors across several domains.

The first step towards selfregulation is to identify these stressors, reframe them, and then develop personal strategies to help reduce them.

We teach children to develop their own personal toolkit of techniques, which is highly individualized, and might include: deep breathing,

meditation, taking a movement break when they’ve been sitting too long, dimming the lights if they’re overstimulated, and drumming. One size doesn’t fit all, and different strategies work for different kids.

4. Can you provide an overview of your self-regulation research project?

We are sharing research and experiences with families and educators that will contribute to our mutual understanding of how calm environments help children in kindergarten to Grade 3 grow emotionally and academically.

Another key objective is supporting Indigenous children’s print literacy by promoting culturally appropriate approaches such as oral storytelling, community literacy nights, working with educators, and tracking literacy skills over time. The partnership is also intended to open a meaningful dialogue about the cultural values of Northern Ontario communities and to address issues of social justice.

Children will be able to document their self-regulation journeys through photos, videos, Indigenous story circles, and self-regulation events in their communities.

5. Can you tell us about your visit to Big Trout Lake?

Big Trout Lake was the first community to become involved in the project. It’s an Oji-Cree First Nation reserve, also known as Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, located about 580 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario. We travelled there in January 2020 to offer self-regulation workshops to teachers and support staff at the Aglace Chapman Education Centre, Big Trout Lake’s elementary and high school.

Janna Garrett, a Grade 3 teacher and the teacher lead on the project, has said that the selfregulation training has given her insights into what her students are facing.

She’s told us that “kids come to school with a backpack that holds all the things they are dealing with. I now understand why a behaviour is happening and how to better help children succeed at school.” We also hosted a spaghetti dinner for parents, Elders, and other community members who shared their hopes and dreams for their kids with us. The connections and friendships they have with one another, their families, their teachers, and the land is inspiring.

This fall, we will travel to Big Trout Lake again to begin classroom observation visits and to work closely with children and educators on self-regulation strategies and effective literacy practices.

Finding New Roads

by Tracey Skehan

Ian McRae had an unforgettable first teaching job. “The summer I graduated from Lakehead Orillia, I thought, ‘What would be a great adventure?’” he says.

Ian started searching the Government of Nunavut’s website and found a position in Pangnirtung, a remote community on Baffin Island. He moved there in 2016 with his girlfriend, and fellow Lakehead grad, Erica Beuermann (HBSW'15), who is now his fiancée.

“Pangnirtung is an epic place, surrounded by some of the biggest cliffs in the world and wildlife like polar bears,” Ian explains. “As a community, people in ‘Pang’ are incredibly proud of their Inuit culture.”

He was there for a year and a half and taught a Grade 5 class before teaching at the local high school, Attagoyuk.

“Living up north was a special experience. I can honestly say the best part was the time I spent with my students,” Ian says. Then a job prospect in Toronto as a government relations coordinator with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) came up. It was a difficult

decision to leave Pangnirtung, but the distance from their families and the expense of travelling to and from the community prompted the couple to say goodbye.

Ian’s new job renewed his connection with an organization he’d been involved with previously. As a student, Ian had been the CFS northern chairperson and an executive in the Lakehead University Student Union (LUSU). Ian relished the chance to once again be an advocate for postsecondary students.

“I’ve always been passionate about fighting for greater access to education,” he says. “With the CFS, I helped organize student groups across the country to lobby the provincial government for real legislative change.”

Ian credits much of his passion to his time at Lakehead and his role as the first LUSU executive on the Orillia campus. “That opportunity changed my life by getting me involved in the campus and in the community. I learned that if you want to see something happen, you often have to be the one who takes the first step.”

Currently, Ian is a partner client manager at ApplyBoard, an online

platform that helps international students apply to schools around the world.

“ApplyBoard is one of the fastest growing companies in Canada, and it’s revolutionizing the international student sector,” Ian says.

“I work directly with our partner schools throughout much of Ontario, including Lakehead. As an education tech company, we focus on using new systems and artificial intelligence to make the application process easier for students and schools. I love being in this industry – there is just so much potential.”

He and Erica now live in Stratford, Ontario. Erica is employed locally as a social worker and Ian works in ApplyBoard’s Kitchener office. Since the pandemic, though, they’ve been working remotely.

“We have a daughter named Audrey who’s almost two,” Ian says. “It’s been a wonderful time for our family to slow things down and spend time together.”

“Pangnirtung is an epic place, surrounded by some of the biggest cliffs in the world and wildlife like polar bears.”

 “My experiences at Lakehead helped me gain the confidence to be a leader early in my career,” says Ian McRae (HBASc/BEd’16). “I take a lot of pride in working hard and creating change.”

Kathy Pozihun

(HBCom’92) keeps Lakehead shipshape and our books balanced

by Tracey Skehan

There’s no place like Lakehead is one of Kathy Pozihun’s mantras.

“Thunder Bay has always been home, and Lakehead is part of my family,” she says. “My husband, my daughter, my step-daughter, and I are all graduates – and my son just finished his first year.”

Kathy first arrived at university as an eager commerce student who, like many students, juggled university with a part-time job. Although she was extremely busy with her studies and work, she did have time to listen to a little music.

“I was a huge Bon Jovi fan. Everyone used to tease me because I had life-size posters of Jon Bon Jovi everywhere.”

Kathy’s work ethic brought her back to Lakehead in 2012 when she was appointed VicePresident of Administration and Finance after holding senior financial management positions at Community Living Thunder Bay and the Lakehead District School Board.

“It was really special to return to my alma mater as a vice-president,” she says.

So, what does Kathy do?

“First and foremost, I am Lakehead’s chief financial officer – which means ensuring that

the university remains financially sustainable and poised for growth.

I also have the pleasure of leading many administrative units, including financial services, human resources, technology services, physical plant, risk management, security services, residence operations, food & conference services, athletics, human rights and equity, as well as ancillary profit centre operations like our bookstore and parking services.”

Administering a university with campuses in two cities over a thousand kilometres apart is no easy feat, but Kathy is undaunted.

“It’s important to remember that we are one university with two campuses. Lakehead Orillia and Lakehead Thunder Bay share the same strategic goals and vision.”

In this age of intense competition, economic volatility, and a global pandemic, Kathy stays focused amidst constant change.

“All universities in Ontario are facing financial challenges,” she says, “but Lakehead has successfully managed declining provincial funding, significant cuts to domestic tuition, and now COVID-19.”

This means making tough decisions, like cutting costs whenever possible. That’s why Lakehead’s transparent and

accountable budget process is a source of pride for Kathy.

“We do not run deficits and the Board of Governors will only approve balanced budgets. This has positioned Lakehead for a strong financial future.”

Together, Kathy and her exceptional team have made Lakehead better in countless ways.

“Establishing Lakehead’s first Office of Human Rights & Equity and overseeing the construction of the Wolf Den athletics facility and the CASES building really stands out for me,” she says.

Kathy’s steady guidance has meant that Lakehead continues to have a positive economic impact on our communities. Of course, it’s a twoway street. Our communities play an integral role in sustaining us.

“Lakehead’s alumni and industry, government, Indigenous, and community partners allow us to grow, change, and continue to be a leader for our next generation.”

The next generation looms large in Kathy’s mind.

“I was the first person in my family to graduate from university and I will always remember walking across the stage of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium to receive my degree – my parents were so proud.”

 In 1992, Kathy earned her Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Major) and then went on to become a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified General Accountant in 1996.

TURNING POINTS

1970s

Joseph N. Agostino (HBA’75/ MA’80) has written several articles that have been published in the journal ETC: A Review of General Semantics. These articles about closure, distal shift, and inductive reasoning are based on research Joseph conducted for his HBA and MA degrees in psychology. In addition to journal publications, he has written articles for magazines including Active Senior’s Digest, Autumn View, and Muskoka Seniors Magazine focused on family relationships, institutionalization, health, religion, and their relevance in the lives of our seniors. Joseph and his wife, Donna, moved to Bracebridge, Ontario, in September 2015. They maintain an active lifestyle and continue to enjoy various academic, leisure, and recreational activities.

1980s

Marianne Jones (BA’88/BEd’89) was excited to announce the publication of her novel, Maud and Me by Crossfield Publishing in May. Set between Marathon and Thunder Bay in the 1970s, Maud and Me is about the unlikely friendship between an artist and the deceased Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables. Marianne is an award-winning poet and author of seven books, but Maud and Me is her first literary novel.

1990s

Scott Peterson (BSc’99/ EngDip’03) is the new president of TBT Engineering Limited (TBTE), Northwestern Ontario’s largest independently owned engineering consulting firm. Previously, Scott served as TBT Engineering’s vicepresident. In his new role, he is responsible for providing technical

and project management services for many TBTE divisions. Scott is also TBTE's manager of geological and pavement engineering. He specializes in geotechnical and geological investigations and design studies, environmental and hydrogeological investigations and assessments, pavement structure evaluation and rehabilitation investigations and design reports, aggregate and quarry source studies, and wastewater management solutions.

Beth Potter (BA’90, English) was announced as the president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) in March 2021. Beth has a long and distinguished career in Canada's tourism sector, including most recently serving as the president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. She is a recognized leader with more than 30 years of experience in the notfor-profit and tourism industries and has worked with a variety of boards and committees, including her recent contributions to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s tourism recovery efforts. In a TIAC media release, Beth said, “These are undoubtedly challenging and difficult times, but the tourism industry is an innovative and resilient sector.”

Valerie Stortini (HBSW’94) became the chair of Lakehead University’s Ogimaawin Indigenous Education Council (OIEC) in February 2021. OIEC is an important advisory body that meets several times a year as a council and with Lakehead’s president and vice-chancellor, to discuss and advise on issues related to Indigenous postsecondary education opportunities. “The OIEC is an engaged group of people from the University community, as well as the community at large,” said Valerie, who joined the Council

in 2017 and is the employment counsellor for the Apatisiwin Program at the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre.

2000s

Rita Fenton (HBSW’01) was profiled in the Anishinabek News on January 13, 2021, for a virtual presentation she made as part of the Dibaajimowin Anishinaabe Storytelling series. Rita, an Elder from the Fort William First Nation, went back to school as a mature learner to earn an Honours Bachelor of Social Work degree from Lakehead in 2001. She also earned a Master of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University when she was 69 years old. In the Anishinabek News article, Rita said, “I work all over the north. I registered with Matawa (First Nations Management) and Nishnawbe Aski Nation, and whenever there was a crisis, they would call me.”

Nathan Lawrence (HBCom’07), a managing partner with Royal LePage Lannon Realty and a licensed mortgage broker with Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Excellence, was appointed the new board chair of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce in May 2021. Nathan earned an Honours Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Human Resource Management, from Lakehead University in 2007. He served two terms on the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, including as the 2018/19 board chair. He is the past president of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce.

Dr. Lana Ray (MPH’07) has been appointed Lakehead University’s Indigenous Research Chair in Decolonial Futures. This position is the first of its kind at Lakehead and is part of the University’s commitment to strengthen research grounded in Indigenous knowledge and culturally appropriate methodologies. Lana is an Anishinaabe scholar from Opwaaganasiniing (Red Rock Indian Band) who has been a strong voice for the advancement of Indigenous education in Ontario. She is also an assistant professor of Indigenous Learning and the recipient of the 2021 Emerging Voices in Indigenous Scholarship/ Researcher Award, presented by the Indigenous Inquiries Circle Awards Committee.

Adrienne Roberts (BEd’09/MEd’16) was the NDP candidate for the riding of Brantford-Brant in the 2021 federal election. Raised in Ancaster, Ontario, Adrienne moved to Brantford in 2011 and has immersed herself in the community. A lover of learning, she has graduated from postsecondary programs at McMaster University, Lakehead University, and Memorial University of Newfoundland. As a third-generation union member, she is an active member of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) and sits on the local executive as secretary. She is also the vicepresident of the Brantford-Brant NDP riding association.

2010s

Matt Pascuzzo (BA’17, Political Science) left a position as the senior communications and issues management adviser for federal Minister of Health Patty Hajdu in 2020 to return to his alma mater and enrol at Lakehead’s Bora Laskin Faculty of Law. Matt first began working for Minister Hajdu

TURNING POINTS

during her 2015 election campaign while he was still a political science student. During his time in Ottawa, he also worked as a press secretary with the Prime Minister’s Office. Matt is now starting his second year of studies at the law school.

2020s

Ashley Faulkner (HBSc’20), a current Master of Science in Biology student, won first place in the Three-Minute Thesis competition at Lakehead’s 2021 Research and Innovation Week, which was focused on the theme of “Our Changing World.” Ashley joined other Lakehead researchers highlighting the positive impact their research is having regionally and further afield. Ashley’s thesis is being supervised by Dr. Ingeborg Zehbe, a Lakehead research chair who studies human papillomavirus (HPV) and cancer prevention.

In Memoriam

Peter Sadler Kerr (EngDip’85/ BEng’87) passed away on April 8, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. Peter, who was born on August 29, 1960, was known for his deep appreciation of the outdoors, his integrity, and his work ethic. He was also incredibly determined, which served Peter well when he returned to high school as an adult learner and then completed a civil engineering degree at Lakehead. He was a respected engineer who had a great impact on his places of employment: Lakehead University, the Town of Atikokan, and Ontario Power Generation. He is survived by his wife Leslie and his children Lindsay, Mitchell, and Mellisa. Should you wish, donations to the Atikokan General Hospital Foundation or TBHRSF Northern Cancer Fund in Peter’s memory would be appreciated.

KEEP IN TOUCH

You may update your address online at alumni.lakeheadu.ca. You may also fax this form to 807-343-8194 or mail it to:

Alumni and Annual Giving Lakehead University

955 Oliver Road Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 5E1

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Alumni ASSOCIATION HONOURS

AWARD AND HONOURS RECIPIENTS

The Alumni Association of Lakehead University has been honouring distinguished alumni since 1988 when the first Alumni Honour Award was given. We'd like to congratulate this year's Award and Honours recipients.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Thomas Doherty graduated from Lakehead University with a BA in History, an HBA in Political Science, and a BEd in 2006. Thomas's outstanding contributions and commitment as a dedicated educator both inside and outside the classroom have earned him many prestigious awards such as the 2020 Kenora CDSB Director’s Award of Excellence, the 2017 Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence, the 2016 OTIP Elementary Teacher of the Year, and the 2016 Dairy Farmers of Canada Teach Nutrition Award, just to name a few.

Laird van Damme graduated from Lakehead University in 1982 with an HBScF followed by an MSc in Forestry in 1985. Laird is widely known in the forestry community and, after graduation, joined KBM Forestry Consultants and in 1996 became a partner in KBM Resources (formerly KBM Forestry Consultants). He has worked across Canada, the Midwest and southern United States, China, and parts of Europe.

Exceptional Alumni Award

Ivory Tuesday graduated from Lakehead University with her HBSW, BA in Indigenous Learning, and an MA in Social Justice Studies in 2019.

2020 Claude Haw, '75, '79

2019 Don Chow. '77

Dave Siciliano, '69

2018 Karl Subban, ’83, ‘84

Sue Craig, ’91, ’01

2017 Ken Boshcoff, ’72

Darren Lentz, ’96, ’07

2016 Liana Frenette ’88

David Lod ’03

Peter Lau ’86

2015 Jill Marrick, ’88

Kevin Page, ’80

Kevin Ford, ’78

2014 Ahmoo Angeconeg, ’94

Mae Katt, ’86, ’95

Gary Polonsky, ’77

Scott Kress, ’93

2013 Arnold Park, ’71, ’72

Dolores Wawia, ’83, ‘85

Dr. Linda Rodenburg, ’99

2012 Jamie Sokalsky, ’80

Phillip Walford, ’70

2011 Steve Ashton, ’86

Dave Shannon, ’86

2010 Larry Hebert, ’69, ’70, ’78

Jim Sanders, ’69

2009 Dr. Thomas Ryan, '85

Poh Lam Tan, ’80

2008 Glenn A. Miller, ’69

Dr. Elizabeth Murray, ’88

Duncan Weller, ’89

2007 Gwen Dubois-Wing, ’82

2006 Tracy Buckler, ’99

2005 Stephen Low, ’74

2004 Robert Mace, ’83

2003 Dennis Turcotte, ’83, ’85

2002 Joseph R. Baratta, ’70, ’75, ’80

2001 Peter J. Prior, ’70

2000 Margaret R. Page, ’67

1999 Diane Schoemperlenm, ’66

1998 D. John Valley, ’71, ’73

1997 Betty C. Coates, ’69

1996 Joseph R. Logozzo, ’70

1995 Robert J. Gregor, ’70

1994 Dennis H. McPherson, ’88, ’89, ’93

1993 Lyn McLeod, ’84, ’86

1992 Rick Lang, ’76

1991 Anthony Petrina, ’53

1990 Dusty Miller, ’69

1989 Dr. Lorne Everett, ’66, ’68

1988 Dr. Ronald Duhamel, ’68

 Jocelyne Poirier 2020 Trailblazer Award

Ivory is an invaluable member of the Indigenous Learning department and continues to share her Indigenous knowledge with the department through teaching courses at the Thunder Bay campus and at the Seven Generations Education Institute. Ivory is committed to social responsibility and social justice through the actions of its alumni, engaging in local and global partnerships, and a lifelong dedication to critical inquiry and intellectual excellence.

Tasia McKenna graduated from Lakehead University in 2011 with her BA and HBK. A three-time OUA all-star, multiple award winner, and Lakehead University’s all-time women’s basketball leading scorer, she had an outstanding basketball career at Lakehead. Tasia returned to Nova Scotia, where she was an assistant coach at the Canada Summer Games, and later started her own business, Crossover Basketball. She served time as head coach of the Halifax Grammar School’s female team, and for the past six seasons, has been an assistant coach with the Saint Mary’s Huskies women’s basketball team. Since 2015, Tasia has been the technical director and performance coach for Basketball Nova Scotia and was recently named the first Commissioner of the new Maritime Women's Basketball Association (MWBA).

Marissa Reckmann graduated from Lakehead University with an HBSc degree in Chemistry. Marissa joined AGAT in 2006 and worked within a number of geographic and diversified operating divisions. Marissa also worked in the environmental consulting field in Western Canada with a major focus in upstream oil and gas activities.

Marissa is currently the past president of the Canadian Land Reclamation Association, Alberta Chapter.

Trailblazer Award

Sami Pritchard graduated from Lakehead University in 2017 with an HBASc and was elected to serve as the treasurer for the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), Ontario, the first person elected from a Northern Ontario institution in over 10 years. Since graduating, she has held numerous roles with CFS and is currently an organizational consultant working on a variety of projects including helping facilitate the implementation of a public sector anti-racism action plan, organizational leadership training to several organizations and chairing and facilitating boards across the province, including LUSU. She has co-authored a publication on developing personal and academic resiliency.

Alumni Ambassador Award

Liz Murray is the president of the Calgary Alumni Chapter and a longtime volunteer. Liz also received the Alumni Honour Award a number of years ago.

Daniel Blekkenhorst is vice-president of the Toronto Alumni Chapter and has been a tireless volunteer for the last eight years. Daniel’s commitment to Lakehead is seen most strongly with his participation in the Ontario Universities Fair. As a computer science graduate, he is a much sought-after alum at that event.

Legacy Award

The Tamblyn Family is one of the original founding families of the University. Bill Tamblyn, the patriarch, was Lakehead’s first president. His son David was recently chair of the Board of Governors, and a long-standing member. Numerous endowed awards have been created by both the senior Tamblyns and the second generation. Our Legacy Giving Society is named in honour of Bill Tamblyn.

Dolores Wawia was one of the first Indigenous graduates of Lakehead University. She was an instructor in the Native Languages Instructor program and served in the capacity of Elder at Lakehead for many years. Dolores was recognized a number of years ago with an Alumni Honour Award, which is the equivalent of the Distinguished Alumni Award. Dolores passed away last year.

Honorary Membership

Sue Mulcahy championed the cause of building a university in her hometown of Orillia. In 1960, funds were requested from the provincial government and through the Simcoe College Foundation, which Sue chaired. Thousands of dollars were raised privately and used to purchase 228 acres of land. Political and academic alliances faltered, and ultimately the land was sold, and the Foundation dismantled, but Sue's dream was kept alive. At Lakehead’s first Convocation in Orillia, the former city councillor was recognized for her vision and leadership with a Civitas Award. Over the last 13 years, Sue has helped to engage, celebrate, and share Lakehead Orillia.

2014 Ashleigh Quarrell, ’09

2008 Catherine (Kate) Bird, ’94

2020 Jennifer Adese, '03, '05

2019 Rosa Carlino, '08, '10

2018 Shandor Alphonso, ’09, ’10 Crystal Davey, ’05, ’10

2017 Lloyed Lobo, ’05

2016 Coleman Hell, ’11

Nathan Lawrence, ’07

Dr. Ofelia Jianu, ’08, ’10

Joshua Briand ’15

2015 Julie Cosgrove, ’04

Michael Nitz, ’04

Luan Ngo, ’08

Carla Whillier ’07

Dr. Christopher Mushquash, ’02, ’04

Eric McGoey, ’02

2013 Mehdi Dashtban, ’12

Deanna Burgart, ’10

Crystal Luchkiw, ’09

Michael Thorn, ’10, ’11

2012 Michael Friscolanti, ’99

Dr. Matthew Tocheri, ’99

2011 Shy-Anne Hovorka, ’00, ’03

Michael Power, ’92

2010 Dr. Michel Beaulieu, ‘01, ’03

Anthony Leblanc, ’93

2009 Terry Robinson, ‘97

2007 James Dennison, ’95, ’99

2006 Herpreet Lamba, ’98

2005 Christopher Fernyc, ’97

2004 D. Todd Moore, ’98

2020 Matt Sellick, '13

Sabah Rahmath-Ansari, '16

Jocelyne Poirier, '13 Dana Clark, '16

2020 Andrew Petras, '13

2020 Lou Pero, '69, '70, '75, '82

2019 Jim Eccles, '70

The Paterson Family

2018 Rob Jamieson, '93

2017 David Heroux, '84

2016 Bill Keeler, '98

2015 Bill Bartley, '72

2014 Mark Tilbury, '94

2013 Diane Thompson, '94

2011 Vonnie Cheng, '80, '82, '92

OCCUPATION

Registered Nurse, London Health Sciences Centre

My Lakehead experience is so much more than a degree. It is an adventure of building both independence and lifelong friendships, a journey of both personal and professional growth, while immersed in the natural world around us.”

Jordan Lenz BScN’18