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Design Studio takes McEwen School of Architecture graduate students to Delhi, India and the Old Walled City of Shahjahanabad in old Delhi

Design Studio takes McEwen School of Architecture graduate students to Delhi, India and the Old Walled City of Shahjahanabad in old Delhi

SSHRC Insight Development Grant supports the development of architecture and urban design proposals.

(December 20, 2022) - “It was when the plane hit the tarmac in Delhi that I truly realized how incredible this experience would be for the students,” said McEwen School of Architecture Professor Shannon Bassett. 

On December 17th 2022, first year Master of Architecture students from Professor Shannon Bassett’s Graduate Architecture Studio class presented their architecture and urban design proposals for the Old Walled City of Delhi at Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture. To develop these architecture and urban design proposals, graduate students had the opportunity to travel to India  from October 7th through 22nd. The team was primarily based in New Delhi but also travelled to other key cities in India as examples in best-case practices in Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design. 

While in India, the group worked in collaboration with faculty and students from the renowned Delhi School of Planning and Architecture. They met with elected officials, stakeholders and members of the community who informed ongoing designs - designs part of a larger Insight Development Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council entitled, “Reducing Risk, Raising Resilience: Recovering the Public Spaces of Shahjahanabad Through Participatory Conservation and Ecological Urbanism.”

“Through action-oriented design research, this grant helps us to address issues being faced by Shahjahanabad, the Old Walled City of Delhi, which faces architectural decay and degradation, in addition to the ecological fragmentation of a once ecologically resilient urban fabric and cultural landscape, with its innovative and sustainable interconnected public space systems,” said Bassett. “We hope that we can help shape the build environment and its future sustainability, as well as serving as a useful best-case practice model.” 

Added Natalia Sawant, a participating graduate student originally from Mumbai, India, who was raised in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: “Participating in this graduate studio has been an insightful experience. Through various scales of groundwork and field research, we have been able to organize creative interventions that are meant to aid or improve on the existing and historical structure of Old Delhi within its urban context. The trip itself deeply aided in the design process, prompting us to think about the larger and deeply cultural context of architecture within an international milieu.”

Said another participating student, Jan Paolo Masangkay, originally from Manila, Philippines: “The trip was an eye-opening experience for many, as the culture in New Delhi was a drastic change to our familiar setting in Greater Sudbury. This experience has led many to think, research, and design their architectural interventions in ways that prioritize and highlight the rich history, culture, and people of India.” 

During their expedition, students and Bassett had the opportunity to travel to other cities and world heritage sites across India to further their educational experiences. Stops included the new city of Chandigarh, the Taj Maha and Agra Fort in Agal, Fatehpur Sikri and Jaipur (The Water City). “ I am so proud of these students who I think had a lot of fun as well. The experience was very bonding and I think all appreciated the learning opportunity outside of the classroom,” said Bassett.  

According to Bassett, as this project is further developed, she looks forward to a return voyage to Shahjahanabad with select graduate students to assist with the implementation of design proposals and to present the design proposals to the community, stakeholders and elected officials.There will be an ensuing publication of the project as well as a travelling exhibition which will feature the student’s design proposals in it.

For more information, visit the project’s website or email Shannon Bassett at sbassett@laurentian.ca. 
 

Laurentian University Board of Governors Appoints Tammy Manitowabi

Laurentian University Board of Governors Appoints Tammy Manitowabi

Former Director of Operations for Sagamok Anishnawbek joins as newest member.

(December 15, 2022) - Laurentian University’s Board of Governors has added another experienced community leader to its ranks as Tammy Manitowabi has been appointed to serve for a three year term, beginning this month. 

“We are fortunate to have another community leader step up to help Laurentian University on its path forward. Tammy’s experiences in community building and public administration will be critical to our Board discussions,” said Jeff Bangs, Chair of the Board of Governors. “We continue to renew our Board’s membership and we expect to have similar announcements in the months ahead.”

About Tammy Manitowabi
Formerly the Director of Operations for Sagamok Anishnawbek, Manitowabi was responsible for many aspects of Sagamok First Nation, including; community relations, financial management, public administration and strategic planning. She is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Public Administration and Governance program and has completed advanced training in project management, privacy, community development, governance and International Standards Organization as a Lead Auditor. She possesses over 25 years of experience within First Nation and Tribal Council organizations.

Laurentian University names two accomplished administrators with impeccable academic credentials as Interim President and Provost

Laurentian University names two accomplished administrators with impeccable academic credentials as Interim President and Provost

Dr. Sheila Embleton and Dr. Brenda Brouwer set to lead next phase of LU’s transformation

December 7, Sudbury, ON – Confidently looking to the future as a financially stable university, Laurentian University’s Board of Governors is pleased to announce that Dr. Sheila Embleton will assume the role of Interim President, working alongside Dr. Brenda Brouwer, who will serve as Interim Provost, starting January 1, 2023.

Coming on the heels of Laurentian’s exit from the CCAA process, these appointments serve notice that Laurentian University’s turnaround story is set to enter a new and exciting chapter.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do in a short period of time and we are fortunate to have someone with Dr. Embleton’s academic pedigree to lead the institution in this important phase of its transformation,” said Jeff Bangs, Chair of the Board of Governors. “She’s a proven leader, someone who has built a reputation for transparency and developing strong relationships, which was paramount to us in the search process.” 

Recipient of many distinctions for her academic contributions, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award, Dr. Embleton is a Distinguished Research Professor of Linguistics, York University, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. She served as Vice-President Academic and Provost at York University (from 2000 to 2009), having previously been Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 1994 to 2000.

“I’ve always been of the opinion that Laurentian University held a unique and enviable position within Canada’s post-secondary education ecosystem and it is an honour to be able to fill this role at such a critical time for the institution. I am committed to being a unifying presence, fostering greater collegiality and building on the strength of Laurentian’s tricultural identity and bilingual mandate,” said Dr. Embleton.

Joining her on Laurentian’s leadership team is Dr. Brenda Brouwer; an accomplished academic with considerable administrative experience. Early this year she was appointed Senior Advisor, Academic Innovation, Queen’s Health Sciences following nearly two years as Interim Dean, Smith School of Business and eight years as Vice-Provost and Dean, Graduate Studies overseeing the expansion of credentials and resources in support of student success. In 2018-19, Dr. Brouwer was seconded to the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence as Head, Academic Partnerships to cultivate relationships between Ontario universities and industry to develop talent in support of a growing artificial intelligence ecosystem.

Dr. Brouwer, a Professor of Rehabilitation Science and Neuroscience, has been recognized for teaching excellence and her research contributions on the control of movement following stroke.

“On behalf of the Board and the entire LU community, I wish to express our gratitude to Dr. Tammy Eger and Dr. Céline Larivière for their service to the University,” said Bangs. “They stepped up at a critical time and while they will return to their respective roles of VP Research and Dean of Education and Health, they will be counted on to provide guidance to our new leaders.”

Concurrent with the arrival of Dr. Embleton and Dr. Brouwer, the search process for their permanent replacements will soon begin, one that is guided by a rigorous and transparent framework involving both internal and external stakeholder groups.

Talented Students Show Off for Easter Seals Ontario

Talented Students Show Off for Easter Seals Ontario

Laurentian community raises funds with Residence Life event.

(December 6, 2022) - On November 18th, 2022, Laurentian University hosted the annual LU’s Got Talent, a community event that showcases the incredible talents of Laurentian students. This year, third-year Restoration Biology student and highland dancer, Olivia Kyle, was named the top performer. Second place went to fifth-year Behavioural Neuroscience student, Heidi Dunbar, who impressed the audience with her vocal talents. Third place was awarded to Bryan Ribey, fifth-year Psychology student for his vocal and pianist talents.

LU’s Got Talent is planned and executed by student leaders within the Residence Life team, and has a long history of being a highly anticipated annual event on campus near the end of the fall semester. Since its inaugural event in 2002, all proceeds have been donated to Easter Seals Ontario, a charitable organization that provides programs and services to youth with physical disabilities across the province to help them achieve greater independence, accessibility and integration. This year’s event raised  $957.00 to support Easter Seals Ontario’s Send a Kid to Camp program. A summer camp experience allows a child to discover new physical capabilities while making friends, trying new activities, and navigating a world designed for their special needs.

To date, LU’s Got Talent has donated $54,715 to Easter Seals Ontario.

Olivia Kyle, this year’s LU’s Got Talent champion, is grateful to have been able to take part in this event: “My experience at LU’s Got Talent was amazing. For my performance, I did highland dancing, a style of dance I have been competing in professionally since a very young age. It was a great feeling to know that I was able to share something I love with my peers while also helping raise money for Easter Seals Ontario.”

Carmen Bazinet, Easter Seals Ontario Regional Administrator, gratefully accepted this year’s event profits on the University’s Fraser auditorium stage before competition winners were announced. “After a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, LU’s Got Talent returned with exceptional talent. It was an honor to be there again this year to witness the amazing acts. On behalf of Easter Seals Ontario, I would like to thank the organizing committee for all their hard work putting this event together. I also thank Laurentian students for supporting our Send A Kid to Camp program. I look forward to next year to see what great talent will come from the students,” said Bazinet. 

This year’s LU’s Got Talent judges consisted of three Laurentian community members and Bazinet: 

Congratulations to all talented student participants as well as all who contributed to this incredible Residence Life event. 
 

Student-led team remains dedicated to providing volunteer emergency response services on Laurentian’s campus

Student-led team remains dedicated to providing volunteer emergency response services on Laurentian’s campus

LUCERT responders are passionate about helping members of the community.

(December 1, 2022) - When a medical emergency occurs on campus, the Laurentian University Campus Emergency Response Team (LUCERT) is ready to step into action. Whether it be a student, a member of the public, or a Laurentian staff or faculty member requiring emergency response services, LUCERT is available to assist. 

LUCERT is a volunteer-based, student-run team that consists of twenty-eight Laurentian students devoted to providing fast emergency response services throughout campus. Services are available 24/7 during the academic year. While LUCERT is not meant to substitute emergency response services provided by calling 9-1-1, LUCERT complements these services and other professional health and wellness services available on and off campus.

Individuals requiring LUCERT services are encouraged to contact LUCERT regardless of their location on campus as the team responds anywhere from the Ben Avery facility all the way to the Living with the Lakes Center. 

LUCERT trains their student volunteers to the first responder level through the Canadian Red Cross. This means that LUCERT first responders can help in many situations requiring medical assistance, from a serious medical emergency to a scraped knee. 

By providing pre-paramedic care within their scope of practice, student volunteers are often able to provide medical care faster than 9-1-1 services. In serious circumstances, a few seconds could mean life or death. LUCERT understands how critical time can be during a medical emergency and, as such, work around the clock to ensure response times are as fast as possible. They will also connect with 9-1-1 services if further assistance is required.

Jenna O’Neill, LUCERT’s Coordinator and third year Biomedical Biology student from Belleville, Ontario, is passionate about her role with LUCERT: “Being able to provide a service that is valuable to our students is important to me. Volunteering with LUCERT has offered a great opportunity to learn more about related careers in this field.”

LUCERT encourages those interested in emergency first response to reach out: “Joining the LUCERT team provides an excellent opportunity to learn about pre-hospital care if you are interested in medicine or other related fields. It also offers the opportunity to make friends, as well as be an active member of our community,” says Jenna. 

Those interested in getting involved with LUCERT should email lucert@laurentian.ca, follow them on Facebook or Instagram, or stop by their office located in Single Student Residence, Room G7.

If a medical or mental health emergency occurs on campus, LUCERT may be contacted by phone (705-562-5456). 

The health and safety of community members is equally important to the Campus Security team who may be reached by phone (705-673-6562). 

We also wish to remind our community members that many other campus resources and services are also dedicated to medical and mental health and wellness, such as Counselling, Health and Wellness Services, Accessibility Services, the Peer Wellness Program, the Indigenous Student Affairs office, and the Equity, Diversity and Human Rights office (EDHRO). 
 
Laurentian students can also access free, immediate, confidential mental health support 24/7/365 by calling 1 (844) 451-9700 or by visiting myssp.app/keepmesafe. 

Laurentian University Board adds expertise with four new members

Laurentian University Board adds expertise with four new members

New governors bring experience in education, law, communications, and health

(December 1, 2022) - The Laurentian University Board of Governors is pleased to welcome four new members with the recent appointments of Aaron Barry, André Guay, Angela Recollet, and Laura Kurkimaki to three-year terms.

“We are thrilled to see the depth of experience and expertise within our Board bolstered by these outstanding leaders,” said Jeff Bangs, Chair of the Board of Governors. “Board renewal is a critical component of our commitment to sound governance and in restoring confidence and trust that the university is on the right path forward. This is a significant step in that direction.”

Aaron Barry has held multiple leadership positions over the past eight years including; Principal at the St-Albert Adult Learning Centre, Marymount Academy, and most recently, St. Charles College. He successfully led more than 130 staff members in advancing pedagogy to respond effectively to pandemic conditions. A former secondary school teacher for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, he holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemistry from Laurentian University, a Bachelor of Education from Lakehead University, and a Masters in Business Administration (Finance Specialization) from Charles Sturt University.

André Guay is a former Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, North East Region - Sudbury District, a position he held for more than three decades until his retirement in 2021. He began his professional life as a secondary school teacher in Kampala, Uganda before embarking on his law career. Over the past few decades, he has been involved in many community programs and activities including the Sudbury Action Centre for Youth, the Sudbury Restorative Justice Program, the Greater Sudbury Soccer Club and the Parish at the University of Sudbury. 

Angela Recollet is E-niigaanzid” (CEO) of Shkagamik – Kwe Health Centre, an Ojibwe woman from the Wikwemikong Unceded Reserve, and a member of the Wahnapitae First Nation. With deep ties to Laurentian, she is a graduate of the Faculty of Arts and was the lead in Aboriginal Affairs at Laurentian University from 1994-2010. She has extensive experience working with the aboriginal community both as an advocate in education and in improving the general living and health conditions of aboriginal populations.  

Laura Kurkimaki is a Principal at Earnscliffe Strategies, a recognized Canadian leader in strategic communications, government relations and opinion research. Originally from Sudbury where she attended elementary school and high school, Laura recently served as Principal Secretary to the Leader of the Official Opposition, as well as having held several roles within the Conservative Party of Canada during her career, including as Deputy National Campaign Manager. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Political Management from Carleton University.
 

Laurentian University successfully exits CCAA process

Laurentian University successfully exits CCAA process

Solid financial foundation to serve students, staff, faculty and the community for future generations

November 28, 2022 - Laurentian University has successfully completed its restructuring process under the CCAA and has now emerged from the court proceedings which began on February 1, 2021. This milestone allows Laurentian to continue to work with its key stakeholders to rebuild from a solid financial foundation. 

“While there is much healing and hard work yet to be done, today we emerge stronger with safeguards in place to ensure a sustainable, more transparent and inclusive future,” said Jeff Bangs, Chair of the Board of Governors. “Reforming our governance, improving operations and heeding the recommendations of the Auditor General will keep us on track but, most importantly, we must be committed to respecting all of the University’s stakeholders as key decisions about the future are made.”

“We are committed to rebuilding pride in LU and regaining the confidence of our many stakeholders and the Greater Sudbury community. We’ll do this through our actions in the months and years ahead as we form our strategic plan and continue organizational transformation,” said Dr. Tammy Eger, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor. “Students and parents can feel confident in their decision to choose Laurentian to advance their education.”

The university is in a position to begin the process of forming the next strategic plan and implementing recommendations relevant to operations and governance, all while actively consulting with stakeholders including students and parents, faculty members, staff, labour partners, retired academics, alumni, donors, First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Francophones, government partners, the Greater Sudbury community, and many more. 

“The future is bright for Laurentian, we have work ahead to transform our institution, but the path forward is clear. We are inspired to realize the vast potential within our community,” said Dr. Eger. 

Graduate looks back on her experience in Speech-Language Pathology

Graduate looks back on her experience in Speech-Language Pathology

Céline St-Onge, describes her experiences studying at Laurentian.

(November 29, 2022) - On October 29th, 2022, Céline St-Onge crossed the stage of Laurentian University’s Fraser auditorium to obtain her Maîtrise ès sciences de la santé en Orthophonie (Speech-Language Pathology). This degree follows her Baccalauréat ès sciences de la santé en Orthophonie (Laurentian, 2020). “I’m so proud of our cohort of graduates. Convocation was a very exciting day. It was nice to have the opportunity to assemble one last time with some of the amazing professors who helped us along our journeys.”

According to St-Onge, whose home town is North Bay, Ontario, she and her graduating class, “completed the Orthophonie program inspired to put our knowledge into practice and help support as many individuals as we can.” St-Onge attested that one of the best feelings about working in the field of speech-language pathology is helping clients make progress toward their goals. 

For St-Onge and other speech-language pathologists whose skills are in high demand, the people they serve range from infants to geriatrics. “We help people with all sorts of needs. For example, developmental articulation and phonological disorders, neurologically based speech disorders, developmental language disorders, acquired language disorders, voice disorders, resonance disorders, fluency disorders, augmentative & alternative communication, hearing disorders and related speech-language disorders, and dysphagia (swallowing difficulty or disorder).” 

Based on recent data from RADLD.ORG (Raise Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder), about 1 in 14 people are affected by a development language disorder (DLD), which causes difficulties understanding and using language. In Canada, there are approximately 2.6 million people with DLD, a lifelong problem that affects people of all ages.

St-Onge was inspired to study the field of speech-language pathology when she had the opportunity to visit Laurentian’s campus as a high school student. “When I was a grade ten student at École Secondaire Catholique Algonquin, I participated in a Laurentian University course information session. There, I was introduced to some of the material that would be taught in the Orthophonie program. I discovered that the program combines teachings from all the subjects I already loved, such as language, science, anatomy, psychology, and statistics. This quickly confirmed for me that a career in speech-language pathology was one I wanted to pursue.” 

For St-Onge, choosing to pursue this field at Laurentian, where the curriculum follows the standards set by the College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) was an easy decision. Graduates meet the requirements for registration in Ontario and non-statutory certification for Speech Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) and are well equipped to write the mandatory national Canadian Entry-to-Practice Examination (CETP). St-Onge wrote her CETP Examination for the profession of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, on October 25th, 2022. 

“Laurentian University was my top choice. The fact that they offer both the Speech-Language Pathology (Orthophonie) undergraduate and graduate program makes for an excellent learning experience. As a student, small classroom sizes also supported an exceptionally personalized learning experience. I cannot say enough great things about the professors in the Orthophonie program. They are extremely dedicated, knowledgeable, caring, and supportive.” 

St-Onge is equally enthused that she’s made incredible friends with other students and alumni. “If there is one piece of advice I'd give to future students, it would be to put energy in creating a strong support system with your cohort. My cohort was amazing and we continue to communicate almost every week; sharing tips, tricks and questions.” 

According to Dr. Michèle Minor-Corriveau, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Speech-Language Pathology programs at Laurentian University, “our students go over and above to support each other, and they strive for excellence from the moment they first set foot on campus. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: we really do have the most incredible students. La crème de la crème. We have much to be proud of when it comes to our students and graduates.” 

Career opportunities for Speech-Language Pathology graduates are plentiful. “Every student in my cohort had employment lined up either before or directly after graduation,” said St-Onge, who is employed at One Kids Place in North Bay, a centre that offers outpatient rehabilitation services with a wide range of programs and services for children and youth with physical, communicative and developmental needs. “Speech language pathology really is a great profession with equally great job prospects.” 

Added Dr. Minor-Corriveau: “No past graduate has had difficulty finding work. They are all gainfully employed. By 2028, there is a predicted shortage of twenty-five percent of the workforce in Speech-Language Pathology. Our graduates are helping fill this need.” 

Laurentian University is proud of our more than 70,600 alumni. To date, Laurentian has graduated 160 students from the undergraduate Speech-Language Pathology program, and 103 students from the Masters-level Speech-Language Pathology program. This figure breaks down further to 36 graduates of the Masters-level Speech-Language Pathology program previously offered at Laurentian between 1995 and 2003, and 67 graduates of the Masters-level Speech-Language Pathology program currently offered at Laurentian since 2014. 

 

Postscript: 
New program pairing options have recently become available to students: Éducation Concurrent - B.Sc.S.Orthophonie and Concurrent Education - B.Sc.S.Orthophonie. 

Students enrolled can complete the B.Sc.S.Orthophonie while taking courses to meet the requirements for entry into the Professional Year (5th year) of either the Éducation Concurrent or Concurrent Education program. The five years of the education programs provides students with an opportunity to experience a wide variety of educational settings. These pairing of programs enable prospective students to work in two distinct professions - expanding their options for employment. 

Prospective students interested in learning more about these new program pairing options are encouraged to reach out to Liaison Services: info@laurentian.ca.
 

Ph.D. student collaborates with NASA on cutting-edge research.

Ph.D. student collaborates with NASA on cutting-edge research.

Yeast experiments could address concerns of effects of radiation on human space flight.

(November 15, 2022) - Space exploration fascinates people from across the globe and research that contributes to a better understanding of this other-wordly expanse, including how to keep astronauts safe within this environment, is a cutting-edge topic of inquiry. 

Michel (Mike) Lapointe, Laurentian University Ph.D. student in Biomolecular Sciences research focuses on “The anhydrobiotic radiation response in yeast,” which seeks to address questions about the biological effects of radiation, a potential health concern of human space flight and other occupational exposures. 

Lapointe is a proud Sudburian who graduated from École Secondaire Collège Notre Dame (2013) before pursuing his post-secondary education. He chose to study at Laurentian, earning his B.Sc. in Biomedical Physics (2017) and M.Sc. in Physics with a specialization in Medical Physics (2020). “Continuing my education at Laurentian made sense. I absolutely love research and radiation science has been an interest of mine since starting my undergrad.” 

To study the impacts of radiation on biological systems, and more specifically, how space radiation may impact astronauts, Lapointe is working closely with co-supervisors Dr. Christopher Thome and Dr. Douglas Boreham, committee member Dr. Sujeenthar Tharmalingam, and lab technician Taylor Laframboise. All are affiliated with NOSM University. 

To conduct their research, Lapointe and team are using the same yeast-based technology used by the NASA Ames Research Center team for the BioSentinel experiment, in which desiccated (dried) yeast samples are utilized as living radiation detectors. The NASA team is using this model to study the biological impact of deep-space radiation, whereas Lapointe and team are fully characterizing the radiation response of this model in a laboratory environment. The mechanisms used to repair damage from radiation in yeast are nearly identical to those utilized by humans, making them an ideal substitute for humans.

“The dried yeast is still alive,” explained Lapointe. “That’s one of the really cool things about yeast. Once dried, it’s super robust. These samples don’t really care much about temperature, even extremely cold temperatures found in space…. They also don’t need oxygen. They don’t need nutrients, or water.”

This week, BioSentinel CubeSat satellite containing the NASA yeast samples will be launched into space. “This research has the goal of better understanding what the radiation environment in space is like and what it will do to biological systems. This mission is going into deep space, between 30 and 50 million kilometres from Earth. The NASA team and we, as collaborators, are doing our research so we can figure out what kind of damage, if any, results from deep space radiation exposure in order to better inform future crewed space flights.”

The satellite contains a self-sustaining system programmed to rehydrate the yeast samples once in space and collect data about the effects of radiation on these samples. “Based on the rate of colour change of the dye with which the yeast is rehydrated, we’ll be able to infer how many of them are still alive and how many of them have died because of radiation,” Lapointe surmised.  

Alongside the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Ames Research Centre (NASA), other research partners include the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, and TRIUMF.

Funding supporting this research is plentiful and derives from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems, Bruce Power, the Canadian Space Agency and the Nuclear Innovation Institute. 

“We’re really excited about this study and the impact it will have,” said Lapointe who also outlined that SNOLAB, a world-class science facility, is another location that has proven useful to his study. This is because his research also considers the impact of natural sources of radiation, such as solar and galactic cosmic radiation, on living organisms. Underground, Lapointe discovered something interesting about the way yeast behaves in the absence of natural background radiation: it is more likely to die off when re-exposed to background radiation after being underground. This discovery wasn’t predicted and informs that more research is needed. 

“Being a part of this research that involves such massive collaborations has been a great experience,” said Lapointe. “Research is something I definitely want to continue doing for the rest of my life.”

We are eager to follow Lapointe’s remaining academic journey and discover the results of his cutting-edge research. 
 

Local History student spends summer and fall working at the Juno Beach Centre.

Local History student spends summer and fall working at the Juno Beach Centre.

Elias Parent inspires others to learn history by doing.

(November 10, 2022) - Like so many future students considering post-secondary, Elias Parent initially felt a little uncertain as to his path. “I entered university not knowing exactly what I wanted to do for the endgame of my life. However, I knew that I had an interest in history and felt as though at university, that’s what you should do: take courses about something you like; something you’re interested in.”

That’s precisely what Parent did after graduating from Sudbury’s Collège Notre Dame (2021). He registered in Laurentian’s History program, and is set to begin his second year in January.

“I’m a ‘history buff,’ especially when it comes to World War Two and the Cold War,” Parent explained. “History is so important. It’s a subject that we cannot forget because looking back at history can help us prevent future mistakes. We learn from the past.”

Something inspirational about Parent is his drive to learn by doing. For Parent, while professors at Laurentian have provided “excellent opportunities for learning” and “have really motivated me to want to continue in History,” this summer and fall, Parent stepped away from the classroom to work a seven-month contract as a bilingual interpreter at the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France. This opportunity found him enriching the educational experience of visitors to the Centre from all across the world.

Established in 2003, the Juno Beach Centre is Canada’s Second World War (WWII) museum that pays homage to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the War, of which 5,500 were killed during the Battle of Normandy and 381 on D-Day (June 6, 1944). The Centre was opened by veterans and volunteers with the vision to create a memorial to honour all Canadians who served during WWII. It is the Centre’s mandate to “preserve this legacy for future generations through education and remembrance.”

At the age of eighteen, Parent is the youngest hire the Juno Beach Centre has ever made. According to Parent, working to preserve history has been an honour, and living and working independently in France has offered rewarding opportunities for learning and personal growth. “I’m a Franco-Ontarian, and one of the highlights about this experience is that my French has improved so much since getting here.” Thanks to multicultural and multilingual interactions with visitors and other workers at the Centre, Parent has even picked up a little Italian and a few words in German along the way.

“I love sharing history with people and enlightening them about important historical events,” Parent described. “Some of the incredible interactions I’ve had [working at the Centre] include talks with veterans from the Korean War, WWII, and others. Being able to hear about these people’s experiences has been powerful.”

Elias’ interest in history runs in the family. His mother, Rosanne, also studied History at Laurentian, earning her B.A. in 2019. After obtaining her Master’s in Viking Studies (University of Highlands and Islands, 2020), she enrolled in Laurentian’s PhD Human Studies and Interdisciplinarity.

“Education has always been encouraged in our family,” said Parent, who also explained that outside of the classroom and home, he’s learned a great deal about history from his experience in the Canadian Cadets program. “I joined Cadets when I was twelve, and I’ll age out of the program at nineteen, so I’ve been a Cadet for nearly seven years…. Participating in Cadets has taught me values and disciplines, and has helped me make new friends.”

Though he’s not sure yet, Parent spoke about future interest in the Canadian Army Reserves.

Having recently returned to Canada, Parent is eager to participate in annual Remembrance Day services that are observed every year on November 11th. Originally called “Armistice Day'' to commemorate armistice agreement that ended the First War on November 11, 1918, at 11:00 a.m., Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth.

All are encouraged to remember the more than 2,300,000 Canadians who have served throughout our nation’s history and the more than 118,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice (source: Government of Canada).
 

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