You are now in the main content area

LU Cheerleading team prepares to compete at Cheer Evolution Winterfest

LU Cheerleading team prepares to compete at Cheer Evolution Winterfest

Cheer team passionate about spreading pride

(January 17, 2023) - Laurentian University’s sports teams have a strong community of supporters. No matter the sport, when one attends a Voyageurs game, there is sure to be enthusiasm from the sidelines. This enthusiasm is amplified by Laurentian’s Cheerleading team, a group of twenty-three hardworking students dedicated to spreading Laurentian pride. 

Marlina Forgione, a fourth year Concurrent Education student, is this year’s Cheer Captain. She collaborates with Mikylie McClean, the team’s Cheer Coach, to guide the team as they perform routines at half-time shows for Voyageurs men’s and women’s basketball teams. The team also cheered for lacrosse athletes during their final game of the 2022 season. They are optimistic for future opportunities to cheer for a variety of Laurentian sports teams and events. 

The Cheer team is now preparing for their own competition - Cheer Evolution Winterfest, a cheerleading event that will take place at the Leon’s Centre in Kingston, Ontario on March 4, 2023.

As team leaders, Marlina and Mikylie organize team practices and choreograph half-time performances. Having joined the Cheer team in her first year as a Laurentian student, Marlina looks back fondly at her experience: “I have made so many friends, met so many people, and have had a lot of fun. In high school, I had an amazing community, and joining the cheerleading team at Laurentian supported my sense of community.” Marlina described that she is passionate not only about cheer but also about gymnastics. 

“From the first practice, you could feel a sense of togetherness and family amongst team members. We continuously work together to improve as a unit, and we are passionate about this,” added Marlina. “As team captain, this has been incredible to be a part of.” 

For those interested in joining the Laurentian Cheer team, tryouts occur every September and all are welcome. “Your skill level doesn't matter. Just come try out and do your best,” encouraged Marlina. 

For more information about the team, visit their Instagram page or e-mail lucheerteam@gmail.com.

Are local fish safe to consume? Research on contaminants in subsistence fish to impact Indigenous communities

Are local fish safe to consume? Research on contaminants in subsistence fish to impact Indigenous communities

Wahnapitae First Nation member and Laurentian graduate student, Taylor Nicholls, pursues scholarship in aquaculture

(January 10, 2023) - Fishing is enjoyed by people from across the globe. It is an exciting sport that offers the opportunity to enjoy nature, relieve stress and spend quality time with friends and family. But are the fish we catch safe to consume? An aquaculture study about contaminants in subsistence fish sets the goal to address this question and specifically, help inform Indigenous communities. 

This fall, Wahnapitae First Nation member Taylor Nicholls began the pursuit of her Master’s in Science in Biology at Laurentian University. She is a recent recipient of the Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation’s (KGASF) first-ever aquaculture scholarship. Established to honour the legacy of the late Kurt Grinell, a Native American leader from the Jamestown S. Klallam Tribe in Washington State, who saw aquaculture as a solution to Tribal food security, the KGASF provides financial assistance to Tribal and First Nations students who wish to pursue careers in aquaculture and natural resources. 

When Nicholls graduated from Sudbury’s Lockerby Composite School in 2016, she had an interest in marine biology. This interest turned into a passion when she attended Dalhousie University to earn her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and Chemistry (2021). 

Newly equipped with her undergraduate degree, Nicholls’ original intention wasn’t to immediately pursue graduate studies. However, when a research project funded through the First Nations Environmental Contaminants Program involving Laurentian University, the University of Waterloo, the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada and her community of Wahnapitae First Nation came to her attention, she couldn’t help but want to be involved. “This funded study, which my thesis is a part of, is an analysis of fish in our territory which can create a baseline for future projects. I love the fact that this research is about our Indigenous culture as well as marine studies. I want to use my degree and the research I conduct as a student to help advance my community,” said Nicholls. 

The working-title of Nicholls thesis is Chemical Ecology of Contaminants in Subsistence Fish from the Traditional Territory of an Indigenous Community in Canada. 

Chemical ecology is the study of chemically-mediated interactions between living organisms. 

“Essentially, the chemical ecology we seek to measure is that of fish located in two lakes near Wahnapitae First Nation: Kukagami lake and Lake Wanapitei,” Nicholls explains. “Many First Nations peoples rely on subsistence fishing, including peoples from reserves across Greater Sudbury. We need to better understand the safety of eating fish caught in communities close to home.” 

Researchers will measure elements like mercury and selenium in fish samples, and will also study muscle, liver and small intestine in fish to help draw conclusions.

“It’s really amazing to have the opportunity to study contaminant levels in each of these fish tissues,” said Nicholls. “We hope to be able to draw comparative conclusions. Traditionally, Indigenous peoples would eat all three of these tissues. Not from each fish, but of specific species like pike and whitefish. Whitefish, for example, Indigenous peoples would eat the muscle, liver and small intestine.” In some Indigenous cultures, spiritual and symbolic meaning is differently associated with various parts of fish, and are assumed to have different nutritional value.

For Nicholls, community-based research is essential, and she is proud to be a part of a study that has potential to expand to other regions and Indigenous communities. “This study feels like a big responsibility, but it’s exciting and I’ve had incredible support from all involved so far, including my professors.” 

Supervising Nicholls’ research includes Dr. John Gunn, Director of Laurentian’s Vale Living with Lakes Centre and Canada Research Chair Tier 1 for Stressed Aquatic Systems, and Dr. Gretchen Lescord, who works for the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada and is an Adjunct Professor at the Vale Living with Lakes Centre. Collaborators on this project include Dr. Brian Laird (University of Waterloo) and Sara Lehman (Wahnapitae First Nation). 

“Wahnapitae First Nation is a small Ojibwe community in Sudbury’s mining basin where Taylor’s passion for restoring balance to our lakes and waterways and her commitment to higher education has allowed her to flourish and forge a path for our younger members to take note of. Her current work will lay an important foundation for future studies about the things that impact our community’s health and future. She is a wonderful example of a young member of Wahnapitae First nation doing great work within her home community,” said Sara Lehman, Environmental Coordinator, Wahnapitae First Nation. 

“This collaborative project has many important implications - for fisheries and environmental science, for example - but the most important things I have personally learned so far are how we can better partner with an Indigenous Community to co-create research in a meaningful way. Taylor has helped me with that for Wahnapitae First Nation. And she has shown so much passion for her project already! I’m excited to see where her work takes us and all the new things we’ll learn along the way,” added Dr. Gretchen Lescord.

All collaborators involved in this project acknowledge that the Greater City of Sudbury is located on the traditional lands of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek that includes the traditional lands of the Wahnapitae First Nation.
 

Laurentian Orientation team plans a warm welcome during Frost Week

Laurentian Orientation team plans a warm welcome during Frost Week

Frost week welcomes students for the winter semester

January 5, 2023 - The frosty season is in full swing and Laurentian University’s campus resembles a winter wonderland. For many, fresh snow means opportunities to enjoy winter hobbies such as skating on Lake Ramsey or skiing the Laurentian trails. Winter’s arrival also means a brand new semester has begun for students. 

While most students enroll in the fall, over four hundred begin their studies in the winter. This includes international students, many of whom are eager to experience their first Canadian winter. “While winter conditions can initially be a little overwhelming for some new to the area, our students tend to embrace the snowy season and enjoy it for all its beauty,” said Corie Ann Flesch, Student Transitions Coordinator, Office of Student Success. 

To welcome new and returning students to campus, the Orientation team has planned Frost Week - programming designed to help students stay positive, healthy, and connected. Campus tours, course registration clinics, and social gatherings such as a trivia night and winter crafts with peers are but some of the many planned activities. A welcome booth staffed by knowledgeable front-line personnel will be available all week long in the R.D.-Parker building Atrium. 

“We want to ensure that all students feel supported and welcomed into a new semester and new year. With the help of the Peer Program, other student leads, staff and faculty, Frost Week will be filled with activities to connect students,” said Christina Larocque, Student Engagement Coordinator, Office of Student Success. 

“Our goal is to make sure students know the services that we offer and how to access them. Frost week events designed to make everything as accessible as possible to help students transition to Laurentian University, successfully,”  added Flesch. 

For more information about Frost Week and to view the schedule of events, please visit laurentian.ca/orientation.

Laurentian students and professor share Sudbury’s re-greening story at COP15

Laurentian students and professor share Sudbury’s re-greening story at COP15

Biodiversity a focus of international UN conference.

(December 21, 2022) - Greater Sudbury’s regreening story is one that has captivated people from across the globe. Especially in the last three decades, Sudbury’s environmental landscape has drastically changed, demonstrating to the world how a community can achieve incredible feats in ecological recovery. 

On December 19, 2022, Laurentian University student delegates, Avery Morin (Students General Association President) and Anastacia Chartrand (Environmental Sustainability Committee Chair), attended the United Nations Biodiversity Convention, COP15, with Vale Living With Lakes Director and Canada Research Chair, Dr. John Gunn. They shared the Sudbury environmental success story with international audiences who gathered in Montreal to help global communities benefit from the valuable environmental knowledge gained through our history and ongoing research.

“It was important for us to share the Sudbury story of hope at COP15,” said Dr. John Gunn. “The world is in desperate need for at least a few such positive examples of where severe environmental damage has been reversed.”

Added Morin about this experience, “I’m so proud to be a global advocate for the Laurentian community and my hometown of Greater Sudbury. The regreening story of Sudbury is an important story of hope and I am confident that our work this week can help other communities address their environmental challenges. 

According to Chartrand, “It was an honour to represent a student body that values biodiversity and recognizes the need to protect it. Sharing the success of Sudbury’s landscape restoration on the final day of the COP15 conference was an inspiring message of hope for delegates as they headed home to implement strategies of their own.” 

The Sudbury community-led project won the Local Honours Award from the UN when the Convention on Biological Diversity was first established and signed by 150 nations at the 1992 Earth Summit. Now and thirty years later, Sudbury was invited to share updates on the project to inspire other communities worldwide to learn and benefit from Sudbury's history and ongoing research.

 

About COP15:

Delegates from around the world gathered at the conference of parties to the convention on biological diversity. A wide range of stakeholders from over 190 governments gathered, including business and finance communities, academics, Indigenous People, local communities, and youth representatives, with the goal of developing strategies for the management, conservation, and protection of ecosystems and biodiversity.

 

About the Environmental Sustainability Committee:

The ESC is committed to assisting in the education, awareness and promotion of a campus-wide culture of sustainability. The committee is working towards carbon neutrality and restoration of Laurentian University’s campus and its lakes by 2030 in response to the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. We want to help Canada, Sudbury, and Laurentian University restore our land and water in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.

 

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.
 

Pages