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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).
 

Graduate Students’ Association elect 2022-2023 leadership

Graduate Students’ Association elect 2022-2023 leadership

Meghan McCue is eager to support students in her role as GSA President.

(November 3, 2022) - Recently, Laurentian University’s Graduate Students Association (GSA) held its annual elections for 2022-2023 leadership. Meghan McCue, Ph.D. candidate in the Biomolecular Sciences program is the newly elected GSA President. McCue is a Sudburian who graduated from Lockerby Composite Secondary School (2013). She and other elected student leaders, will serve the GSA for one-year terms. Other elected GSA leaders include: 

The GSA advocates for graduate students at Laurentian University. They depend on the voluntary work of elected graduate student leaders who have a passion for increasing student-involvement and positively impacting the graduate student experience. 

“My goal for the next year is to make sure that graduate students have a say in their graduate school experience,” said McCue. “Helping students finish their degree on time, and ensuring they have access to funding and networking opportunities are goals of mine. I want to work alongside students to make sure they have the best experience possible.” 

McCue first came to Laurentian in 2013 to obtain her B.Sc. in Kinesiology (2017). Her Masters in Applied Sport and Exercise Medicine was earned at the University of Nottingham (2019). 

Speaking more generally about the values of graduate student leadership, McCue explained: “I will work with the GSA to make sure that students have their needs met and voices heard at all levels of administration. I want all grad students to feel like they aren’t alone in their academic journey. Our graduate students deserve to be happy and healthy, and feel both supported and valued by the university community.” 

For more information about the GSA-AÉÉS, visit their Facebook or Twitter. 

To learn more about graduate programs at Laurentian, visit the graduate program webpage.
 

Laurentian University research centre partners with Greater Sudbury Public Library for a DIY assessment on air quality

Laurentian University research centre partners with Greater Sudbury Public Library for a DIY assessment on air quality

The assessment will help Sudburians understand the importance of air quality and ventilation during an airborne pandemic.

(November 2, 2022) - The Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) at Laurentian University and Greater Sudbury Public Library (GSPL) have partnered to help Sudburians understand the importance of air quality and ventilation in their homes and workspaces during an airborne pandemic like COVID-19. 

CROSH has provided GSPL with portable, easy-to-use CO2 monitors that Sudburians can borrow from several area branches. Borrowers can follow an information card and an online DIY assessment to measure CO2 at home, with several activities to help them understand the air quality and ventilation in their space.

We exhale carbon dioxide (CO2) when we breathe. By measuring the concentration of CO2 in an indoor area, we can get an idea of the amount of exhaled air in that space that we are rebreathing. Higher levels of CO2 are linked to a known decrease in cognitive functioning and other potential poor health outcomes. They also let us know if the air in a space is being replaced frequently enough.

CROSH will use the results from the online assessments to see whether a scientific tool and a simple experiment can improve peoples’ understanding of: air quality, the basics of ventilation, and what factors impact air quality during an airborne pandemic.

Sudburians can participate in this experiment and learn about air quality and ventilation in their own homes by borrowing a CO2 monitor from one of the following GSPL branches:

  • Chelmsford Public Library and Citizen Service Centre
  • Valley East Public Library and Citizen Service Centre
  • Main Public Library
  • New Sudbury Public Library
  • South End Public Library
  • Lively Public Library and Citizen Service Centre

The co-research leads for the project are Dr. Alison Godwin (CROSH Associate Director; Associate Professor at Laurentian University) and Dr. Katie Goggins (CROSH Senior Scientist).

CROSH has over ten years of experience connecting and engaging with Northern Ontario workplaces and communities. 

QUOTE:
“The simplicity of this tool to demonstrate an immediate impact on the air quality in my home was empowering the first time I used it. It gives me confidence in the areas I choose to visit in public spaces and we wanted to give that knowledge to other people in our community”

Dr. Alison Godwin, Associate Director, CROSH
Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Laurentian University
Co-Research Lead on Project
 

Teaching Excellence Awards 2022

Teaching Excellence Awards 2022

Recipients of the 2022 Teaching Excellence Awards: Michelle Reid and Jean-Philippe Saucier

(October 27, 2022) - The Senate Committee on Teaching and Learning is very pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Teaching Excellence Awards.  

The Teaching Excellence Award for Part-Time Faculty Members 2022 is awarded to Michelle Reid, B.Arts Sc., M.Sc., M.S.Com. (LU), Sessional Instructor, Science Communication Graduate Program, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture. 

Michelle Reid has been teaching as a sessional instructor in the Master of Science Communication program since 2017. Ms. Reid is described as “a champion of innovative teaching methods, especially in using educational technologies and in her application of active learning techniques to engage students to maximize participation and experiential learning.” In her teaching philosophy, she states that she tries “to establish a learning environment where students feel supported to take creative risks, stretch their comfort zone by communicating through new media formats, and openly share the challenges they are facing in their research and practice, so that we can approach them together.” 

The Teaching Excellence Award for Full-Time Faculty Members 2022 is awarded to Jean-Philippe Saucier, B.Sc.Arch., M.Sc., M.Arch., Master Lecturer, McEwen School of Architecture, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture.  

Jean-Philippe Saucier has taught at the McEwen School of Architecture (MSoA) since 2016.  Teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, in both English and French, he has distinguished himself for the high quality of his instruction, especially in the context of the studio courses that he leads. He has been described as a “highly organized, rigorous and dedicated professor,” who shows a “passion for the material in the courses he teaches.” Not only has Mr. Saucier shown excellence in the classroom, but he is known for the considerable time and effort that he gives to his students outside of class time, “encouraging excellence out of his students, even if that student is one in a 70-person studio.”  

Moreover, Mr. Saucier has contributed much, both formally and informally to the overall teaching enterprise of the MSoA. He has chaired the BAS Curriculum Committee and as Program Coordinator, he has shown “tireless professionalism” in the evaluation of applicant portfolios. He has also designed the MSoA Graduation Awards ceremonies, led class trips to Detroit and Chicago, organized lecture series, among many other contributions. He has been a valuable resource to his colleagues as a frequent guest lecturer in their courses, but also in their adoption of teaching technologies. In general, Mr. Saucier is esteemed by his colleagues and  students for his devotion to the success of his students and of the School as a whole, going “far beyond expectation in every way.” 

The Teaching Excellence Award certificates will be presented at the afternoon ceremony of the fall convocation on October 29, 2022. We congratulate Ms. Reid and Mr. Saucier on their notable achievements in teaching at Laurentian University.

Laurentian soon to celebrate graduates at 2022 fall convocation

Laurentian soon to celebrate graduates at 2022 fall convocation

Ceremonies will occur on October 29, 2022.

(October 27, 2022) - Laurentian University looks forward to celebrating a new cohort of graduates at the upcoming fall convocation. Ceremonies will be held on Saturday, October 29th at 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to commemorate the achievements of nearly four hundred graduating students. For those who are unable to attend in-person, the ceremonies will be live streamed on laurentian.ca. 

Twinkle Arora is one of these graduates, eager to travel north with her family from her home community in Toronto (ON) to attend convocation. She recently defended her thesis, “Finding friends in fiction: Fan writing, parasocial interactions and social belongingness,” a study that she describes “explored how creative writing impacts social functioning by way of parasocial interactions, or in other words, one-sided imaginary connections with media/textual characters.”  

Dr. Arora will obtain her PhD Human Studies and Interdisciplinarity.

“I am driven by my love of research and the wish to contribute to the broader sphere of knowledge,” she described. “My supervisors, Drs. Parveen Nangia, Hoi Cheu and Cynthia Whissell, have been instrumental in the successful completion of my doctoral degree. I can’t thank them enough for their continued mentorship and encouragement. I am also extremely grateful for my friends, peers and professors at LU whom I shared my academic journey with. The culmination of my studies brings me great joy, and I look forward to sharing my skills with the real world. I will cherish the plethora of good memories that I cultivated at Laurentian University.”

Connor Smith, from Red Lake (ON) is another fall graduate. He first attended Laurentian in 2016 to obtain his Bachelor of Architectural Studies in 2020. He has now completed the requirements of his Masters in Architecture.  

“Growing up in remote Northwestern Ontario, architecture never really held meaning because the majority of the buildings constructed were built cheaply and end with the absence of creativity. It wasn't until high school that my perspective changed… I chose Laurentian University to allow for a more hands-on creation process with design-build. I'm excited to finish my degree and complete my architectural requirements to become a licensed architect in Ontario to help the people of Northwestern Ontario in the remote areas in which I grew up,” contemplated Smith about the completion of his degree. 

Congratulations to all graduates, and best of luck in your future endeavors.

Learn more about convocation ceremonies and get to know other graduates on https://laurentian.ca/alumni/convocation.
 

Laurentian prepares for Fall Open House, October 22, 2022

Laurentian prepares for Fall Open House, October 22, 2022

University ready to showcase its sense of community to prospective students.

(October 20, 2022) - Laurentian University faculty, staff and students have been busy preparing for Fall Open House, a highly anticipated event that will welcome future students to campus on Saturday, October 22nd, 2022. This in-person event provides the opportunity for future students to discover what it’s like to be a Laurentian student. 

"We're extremely excited to be showcasing Laurentian's outstanding faculties, services, and student life,” said Manager of Liaison Services, Pieter Breijer. “We have guests arriving from all over the province to participate in a day of activities designed to demonstrate how we can get them to the end goal they're seeking."

Liaison Services is the first point of contact for all persons interested in programs and services offered by Laurentian, and team members are dedicated to guiding those considering the University as their post secondary destination of choice. 

Future students and other guests will have the opportunity to attend an academic and student services fair at which professors, students ambassadors, alumni, Liaison team members and other support staff will be available. No question will be left unanswered, and guests can expect a truly hands-on experience that includes participation in guest lectures and guided campus tours. 

Those interested in touring the University’s McEwen School of Architecture can expect a round-trip shuttle to and from this location and the University’s primary campus. A student ambassador will be eager to welcome all aboard. 

“Student ambassadors contribute exponentially to the experience of Fall Open House,” explained Danielle Yasko-Pellerin, Liaison Services’ Events and Communications Coordinator. “We are very proud of our student ambassadors who are passionate about sharing their student experiences with future cohorts. They truly make a positive impact on our guests from near and far.”  

Fall Open House follows a successful Ontario Universities’ Fair that welcomed over 78,000 attendees on October 1st and 2nd, 2022.  

Registration for Fall Open House is encouraged and is available online. 

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Postscript, October 27, 2022 - Laurentian University faculty, staff and students are celebrating the success of Fall Open House. According to Danielle Yasko-Pellerin, Liaison Services’ Events and Communications coordinator, the overall estimate is that roughly 950 total guests visited campus for Open House. Mark your calendars as the Spring Open House is scheduled for March 11, 2023! 

School of Sports Administration Celebrates 50th Anniversary

School of Sports Administration Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Over 300 alumni participated in four days of events.

(October 17, 2022) - The School of Sports Administration (SPAD) has a lot to be proud of today as over 300 alumni and students came together for a full weekend of events during the SPAD 50th Anniversary, raising over $50,000 in donations to support students. 

Events were headlined by a Fundraising Gala at the Liberty Grand in Toronto, which attracted graduates from all 50 years of the program’s history. From CEOs of major corporations to current and former General Managers of professional sports teams, graduates were eager to reconnect with former classmates and professors. 

“It was such a memorable event to be able to see conversations between people who haven’t seen each other in 25 or 30 years. To see graduates  giving back to SPAD and to Sudbury demonstrates their passion and engagement,” said Jeff Bangs, Chair of Laurentian University’s Board of Governors.

“Our committee members deserve all the credit for the success of this event. We’re proud to have brought people together and to have supported students at the same time,” said 50th Anniversary Event Chair and SPAD Alumni Advisory board member Diane Mihalek. 

50th Anniversary events began in Toronto and extended into Sudbury throughout the weekend, where graduates spent time volunteering at the Elgin Street Mission, leading a hockey equipment drive and making new connections at the many social events. 

“It was great to be able to see so many people I spent time with at Laurentian, and people I’ve since met in the sports industry that are SPAD grads. We’re everywhere and that’s a credit to the long history of passionate alumni and dedicated faculty members,” said Laurentian University Honorary Degree recipient and SPAD Advisory board member, Dr. Ken Derrett. 

The School of Sports Administration dates back to 1972 and boasts over 1,300 alumni, many of whom are active donors and regularly contribute to the advancement of the SPAD program. The school will welcome another 70 students into their ranks in September 2023 and prospective students are encouraged to learn more about SPAD at Laurentian University’s Fall Open House on October 22, 2022. 
 

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