Join Us in Honouring Dr. Leo Gerard’s Legacy
Help us establish the Dr. Leo Gerard Chair in Occupational Safety and Health and advance safer workplaces for future generations.
Our Vision for Occupational Safety and Health
At Laurentian University, we offer students a truly Canadian postsecondary experience—one that embraces diversity, fosters innovation and cultivates a sense of community. As Canada’s Mining University, we are the gateway for students to enter the global resource sector as future-ready leaders and problem solvers.
Laurentian University would like to honour Dr. Leo Gerard, one of our most distinguished alumni, for his leadership in creating CROSH. Our Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) advances evidence-based solutions to the most pressing workplace challenges—including in the mining industry.
A lifelong labour leader and advocate for social justice, Dr. Leo Gerard began his journey in Sudbury as the son of a union miner. Leo was a leader as the Co-Chair of the MIRARCO advisory board and was appointed a companion of the Order of Canada.
Your Opportunity to Impact the Future of Safe Work in the Mining Industry
With a fundraising goal of $6 million, we can create a lasting legacy for Dr. Gerard. One that powers groundbreaking research and trains the next generation of leaders in occupational safety and health.
Your contribution will lead our efforts to strengthen workplaces and ensure our students are equipped to create a healthier, more resilient mining industry across Canada and beyond. With your support, we can guarantee an even brighter future.
Together, we can make it happen
The Dr. Leo Gerard Chair in Occupational Safety and Health will advance cutting-edge research and prepare the next generation of safety and health leaders. Positioned within CROSH to capitalize on our existing leadership, training capabilities and research infrastructure, this endowed Chair will be a catalyst for innovation, education and collaboration in workplace safety—especially in high-risk and resource-based sectors like mining.
We are seeking to raise $6 million to endow the Dr. Leo Gerard Chair in perpetuity. This endowment will generate approximately $250,000 each year to support the following proposed areas:
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Salary and benefits for the Chair
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Research equipment and laboratory support
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Funds to hire and train high-quality support personnel
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Support for knowledge transfer and exchange materials (i.e., publications, webinars, presentations, video, travel, etc.)
Dr. Leo Gerard: A Champion for Workers and Workplace Safety
"We'll do more research, more knowledge, we'll save more lives. And that to me, that's a tremendous amount of personal pride as one of the founding members of CROSH."
Dr. Leo Gerard, 2024
Honorary Doctorate, 1994 – Laurentian University
Invest in the Future of Occupational Safety and Health
By coming together to invest in the future of healthier, safer workplaces, we can unlock new possibilities for workers, students and industries across Northern Ontario and create something extraordinary at Laurentian University.
Your gift will help to establish the Dr. Leo Gerard Chair, funding research, training, and innovation to create safer workplaces across Northern Ontario.
With Gratitude to Our Donors
We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of the Cutifani family, Vale, and United Steelworkers Local 6500 for their contributions to the Dr. Leo Gerard Chair Fund.
Learn More About the Dr. Leo Gerard Chair in Occupational Safety and Health
A Shared Vision: Campaign Co-Chairs
Al McDougall, Campaign Co-Chair
Al McDougall brings extensive leadership and advocacy experience to his role as Campaign Co-Chair for the Dr. Leo Gerard Chair in Occupational Safety and Health. With a strong commitment to promoting workplace safety and health. Al has been instrumental in advancing initiatives that support research, education and practical solutions for safer work environments. His dedication to fostering collaboration between industry, labour, and academia underscores his impact in the field of occupational safety.
Mark Cutifani, Campaign Co-Chair
Mark Cutifani is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Diversified Mining group, Anglo American plc, and a Laurentian University honorary degree recipient. As campaign Co-Chair in the Dr. Leo Gerard Chair in Occupational Safety and Health, he brings decades of leadership in the Mining industry and a deep commitment to advancing workplace safety, health, and innovation through research and education.
About Dr. Leo Gerard
A driving force behind Laurentian’s enduring commitment to healthier, safer workplaces, Dr. Leo Gerard is a renowned labour leader and lifelong advocate for social and economic justice. Born in Sudbury, he followed in his father’s footsteps as he began working in a nickel smelter at 18, eventually coming to Laurentian to study both economics and political science.
He served over 50 years with the United Steelworkers, becoming the second Canadian to be elected International President. He also served as Vice President of the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organizations, the largest federation of unions in the United States, championing workers’ rights across North America.
Throughout his career, Dr. Gerard fought for better workplaces and helped shape major labour advancements—from strategic bargaining and trade justice to establishing the very first global union, Workers Uniting. A strong voice for sustainable industry and clean energy jobs, Dr. Gerard remains respected for his leadership, vision and unwavering dedication to working people.
About CROSH
The Centre for Research in Occupational Safety & Health (CROSH) is at the heart of Northern Ontario’s commitment to safer, healthier workplaces. With a bold vision to ensure every worker returns home safe and well, CROSH brings together researchers, students, industry leaders and communities to solve the most pressing safety and health challenges facing today’s workforce while enhancing education and training for the next generation of occupational safety and health leaders.
Through its pioneering “Field-to-Lab-to-Field” approach, CROSH creates real-world solutions grounded in rigorous science and community insight. From deep mines to remote job sites, their work is felt where it matters most: in the lives of workers and the health of industries. Supported by state-of-the-art facilities like the Workplace Simulator Lab and the Mobile Research Lab (M‑CROSH), CROSH is reshaping the future of occupational safety and health across Canada from right here at Laurentian.
Contact Us
Lily Raccine-Bouchard
Manager of Advancement
Tracy MacLeod
Chief Advancement Officer