(Thunder Bay - March 13, 2005) Lakehead University has a diverse population of international students, and this diversity will be celebrated. International Days 2006 takes place from March 15 to 25 across campus.

"Lakehead University is a multicultural place where the expression of customs and culture are encouraged," says Miriam Lappala, International Student Advisor, Lakehead U. "We have many fantastic events going on during International Days, and the entire community of Thunder Bay is invited to join us in experiencing the world right here on campus."

The Opening Reception takes place on March 15 at 4:30 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge, however, the day starts earlier with an International Fair and dancing in the Agora from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other exciting events include an exchange and work abroad opportunities information session, international films, and much more (complete schedule located below).

Members of the Media are invited to attend any events during International Days. As the schedule is subject to change, please call Marla Tomlinson at 343-8177 to confirm events.

International Fair - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Agora

- Students from around the world share their knowledge, art, and information about their home countries.

A Celebration of International Dance - 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m. Chaban Ukrainian Dance Group

1 p.m. Satus' Belly Dancers

1:30 p.m. Latin Dance

2 p.m. Chinese Dance

Opening Reception - 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge

Exchange Opportunities Information Session - 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in AT-3004

Work and Travel Abroad Information Session - 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in AT-3004

International Film - 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in The Study

- Film: Monsoon Wedding

Voices From Around the World - 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in The Study

AFCASA Rhythm and Rhymes II Pub Night - 8 p.m. in The Outpost

- The African Caribbean Students Association (AFCASA) at Lakehead University presents the Rhythms and Rhymes II Donation Party. The cost is $5 or 3 cans of non-perishable items donated at the door. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. All proceeds will be donated to World Vision and the Lakehead University Food Bank. For more information, contact AFCASA at 343-8815 or afcasa@lakeheadu.ca

- This event is sponsored by the Department of Sociology, the Department of History, and the Centre for Northern Studies at Lakehead University, The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, The City of Thunder Bay, and Thunder Bay Ventures. Please note that a media release regarding this event will be sent out later this week. For more information, visit http://www.oldeconomyneweconomy.ca/

Captain Joel Scherban and goaltender Grant McCune led the Lakehead Thunderwolves men's hockey team to a 4-0 shutout win over the McGill Redmen before 3,735 noisy fans at the Fort William Gardens on March 11. Scherban scored a goal and added two assists while McCune made a number of excellent saves to preserve the shutout and the victory.

The championship was the first for the five-year old Thunderwolves program, and the home win extended Lakehead's unbeaten home playoff streak to 13-0 in five seasons.

"I'm very happy for the boys, for the fifth year seniors, for Grant McCune, and very happy for our fans - who were really great tonight," said Lakehead Head Coach Pete Belliveau after the game. "It took us five years to win but we did it and we're very happy but we have a lot of work to do to prepare for the nationals."

Lakehead scorers were: Tobias Whelan, Mike Jacobsen, Matt Jacques, and Joel Scherban.

Both Lakehead and McGill now head to Edmonton for the CIS National Men's Hockey Championships hosted by the University of Alberta where they will join Alberta, Acadia, Saskatchewan, and Laurier from Mar. 23-26.

For the second year in a row, Lakehead University's Varsity Cross Country Skiing Team claimed the National Champion title in both the men's and women's divisions at the 2006 Canadian Colleges & Universities Championships.

Stephen Hart and Skeets Morel are the Lakehead cross-country skiers who topped the charts in the university men's division of the 2006 Ski Nationals. The best Lakehead women's finisher was Rena Bode at fifth, while Linnaea Kershaw was seventh and Amanda Holdsworth was eighth.

For the first time ever, the Canadian Colleges and Universities Championships were held in Thunder Bay at the Lappe Nordic Centre from March 5-12, 2006. They were held in conjunction with the national club championships, coinciding with the annual Sibley Ski Tour.

"The Thunderwolves' win - the second in two years - has definitely put Lakehead on the map as the place to be for cross-country skiers," says Hart.

Lakehead's ski team prides itself in being one of the most accomplished varsity teams in the classroom, says Head Coach Lisa Patterson (BEd'96). "Fifty percent of our team members maintained an 80% plus average in 2004-2005, not an easy task considering that in some weeks, skiers will have between six and seven practices.

"Lakehead University has a strong Nordic Skiing program because of the tightly knit ski community here in Thunder Bay," she says. "People in this city really care about cross-country skiing. We have the National Team Development Centre here, lots of local support, as well as fabulous ski trails at the Lappe Nordic Centre, the Kamview Nordic Centre, and the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Every weekend, it seems, there is a high-quality race to attend right here in town."

The Faculty of Graduate Studies presents the Seventeenth Annual Graduate Student Conference from March 13 to 14.

Monday, March 13: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in AT-5035
Graduate student presenters from Kinesiology, Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism, Public Health, Chemistry, and Engineering. DETAILED SCHEDULE BELOW.

Tuesday, March 14: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in AT-5035
Graduate student presenters from Sociology, Women's Studies, History, and Education.

Tuesday, March 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Agora
Poster Presentations from graduate students in Computer Science, Geology, Forestry, Social Work, Physics, and Kinesiology. DETAILED SCHEDULE BELOW.

This conference will highlight the research being done by Lakehead University graduate students. Members of the media are welcome to attend. The on-site contact is Lynn Gollat.

Monday, March 13, 2006 - Paper Presentations (ATAC 5035)

8:30 - Coffee & Welcome, Dr. Gary Boire, Dean of Graduate Studies

9 a.m. - Miranda Deller - Master of Science in Kinesiology, "Walk, Stop, Search: The Effect of Simulated Motion on Visual Attention"

9:30 a.m. - Ryan Johnson, Master of Science in Kinesiology, "Validating the Faught Aerobic Skating Test (FAST): A Comparison to Leger's 20-Meter Shuttle Run and Transient Oxygen Response"

10 a.m. - Tracey Larocque, Master of Science in Kinesiology, "Effects of Iron Supplementation on Attention and Memory in Iron Deficient, Adolescent Females"

10:30 a.m. - Jennifer Smith, Master of Environmental Studies in Nature-Based Recreation and Tourism, "Wild Wolves? Exploring the Social Ecological Systems of Paddlers and Wolves in an Island Environment on Canada's West Coast"

11 a.m. - Matthew Bowes, Master of Environmental, "Studies in Nature-Based Recreation and Tourism Mapping Social Data: Place Meanings in the Broughton Archipelago"

11:30 a.m. - Jennifer Bond, Master of Environmental, "Studies in nature-Based Recreation and Tourism, "Recreation Specialization, Place Attachment, and Important River Characteristics for Whitewater Paddlers"

12 p.m. - Sacha Dubois, Master of Public Health, "The Impact of Benzodiazepines on Driving"

12:30 p.m. - LUNCH BREAK

1:30 p.m. - Kallum Koczkur, Master of Science in Chemistry, "Nanostructured Pt and Pt-Ru Materials Development and Their Applications in Glucose Biosensoring"

2 p.m. - Jiali Wen, Master of Science in Chemistry, "Speciation of Aqueous Hypercoordinated

2:30 p.m. - Dongliang Liao, Master of Science in Environmental Engineering, "Shape and Photocatalytic Activity Control of TiO2 Nanoparticles Prepared with Surface Modification"

3 p.m. - Fuhai Gu, Master of Science in Control Engineering, "PD Controller Design for a Walking Pattern of a Biped Robot"

3:30 p.m. - Yonggang Yin, Master of Science in Control Engineering, "The Nonlinear Controller Design for a Buck Converter"

4 p.m. - Wang Li , Master of Science in Control Engineering, "Adaptive Tracking Control of a Planar Parallel Robot"

8:30 a.m. - Coffee & Welcome, Dr. Gary Boire, Dean of Graduate Studies

9 a.m. - Scott Thompson, Master of Arts in Sociology, "From Indigenous to Indigent: First Nations Legal Classification, the 'Drunken Indian' Stereotype and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario"

9:30 a.m. - Sasikala Nair, Master of Arts in Sociology, "Factors Influencing Use of Dual Contraceptives Among Young Women Aged 18-25 in Northwestern Ontario"

10 a.m. - Stephanie Ross, Master of Arts in Sociology/Specialization in Women's Studies, "Negotiating Gendered Identities on the Fire Line"

10:30 a.m. - Nwosu Ngozi, Master of Arts in Sociology/Specialization in Women's Studies, "The Experience of Domestic Violence Among Nigerian-Canadian Women in Toronto"

11 a.m. - Brendan Hughes, Master of Education, "Ethics is Not a Four Letter Word"

11:30 a.m. - Robert Linke, Master of Arts in History, "Mussolini and Piracy in the Mediterranean"

12 p.m. - Carmela Coccimiglio, Master of Arts in English, "All in the Family, Corleone-Style: The Gangster in Mario Puzo's The Godfather"

Imad Abdullah, M.Sc. Mathematical Sciences (Computer Science), "

Bjarne Almqvist, Master of Science in Geology, "Rock Magnetic Properties and Paleomagnetic Secular Variation of a Northwestern Ontario Glacio-Lacustrine Sediment"

Kendra Couling, Master of Science in Forestry, " Improved Estimation of Wetland Cover in

Western Canadian Boreal Forest Watersheds"

Zhen Liang, M.Sc. Mathematical Sciences (Computer Science), "Ontology-Based Search Engine"

Charlene Loponen, Master of Social Work/Specialization in Gerontology, "Aging With an Intellectual Disability: End-of-Life Care Issues"

Ian MacKay , Master of Science in Physics, "Composition Driven Shape Transformations in

Biological Membranes"

Shannon McFadyen, Master of Social Work, "Issues of Food Security in Intake, Assessment, and Treatment"

David Pelster, Ph.D. Forest Sciences, "Runoff and Nitrogen Export Patterns From a Burned Watershed for Years 1 to 6 After Wildfire on the Canadian Boreal Plain: Implications for Water Quality in Receiving Waters"

Tarez Ahmed Siraj - M.Sc. Mathematical Sciences (Computer Science), Wei Yuan - M.Sc. Mathematical Sciences (Computer Science), "Design and Implementation of Searching

Algorithm in Peer-to-Peer Network Environment"

Yonggang Wu, M.Sc. Mathematical Sciences (Computer Science), "Mobile Gaming with J2ME"

Carols Zerpa - Master of Education, Ryan Johnson, Master of Science in Kinesiology, "Comparing the Computations for Exponential Versus Logarithmic Functions in Determining Treadmill Response to Sub-Maximal Exercise"

(Thunder Bay - March 9, 2006) A team of Lakehead University Civil Engineering students traveled to the University of Wisconsin - Platteville, to take second place in the American Institute of Steel Construction/American Society for Civil Engineering Mid-West Regional Student Steel Bridge Competition this past weekend.

From March 2 to 4, Tyler Brake, Rick Brannan, Travis Fillier, Richard Gillies, Brett Halicki, and Tom Lovric were in Wisconsin competing against seven universities from across the mid-west United states. Lakehead University was the only Canadian team in the event.

The goal of the competition is to design a 1/10 scale model for replacement of a century-old bridge that crosses an emergent wetland. The models, approximately 21ft long, are erected under simulated field conditions and then load tested. The specification for the bridge changes from year to year, constantly challenging the engineering skills of Civil Engineering students taking part. Not only does the event test the students' structural design capabilities, it also challenges them to fabricate and construct their design. The bridges are judged based on lightness, construction speed, stiffness (deflection), aesthetics, efficiency (combination of bridge weight and stiffness), and economy (combination of bridge weight and construction time - materials plus labour in a real bridge).

The bridge is designed and the components fabricated at the University by the students prior to the competition. At the competition, the spectators watch as the team assembles their bridge as quickly as possible. After construction, the assembled bridge is weighed to determine the lightest bridge in the competition. To test strength and stiffness the bridge is then loaded using 50lb bags of salt to simulate a loaded truck crossing the bridge with a total of 2500 lbs of weight to test the strength and stiffness. The placement of the loading was determined by the roll of a dice. The team had to design their bridge by examining thirty-six possible load cases.

The Lakehead team's 21-foot long bridge weighed 205 lbs and was assembled in 12 minutes. The bridge took second place for aesthetics, fifth for assembly time, fifth for construction economy, second for lightness, and third for structural efficiency - placing second overall.

The second place ranking qualifies Lakehead for the U.S. National Steel Bridge Competition for an eighth consecutive year. There will be about 45 teams at the National Competition which will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, from May 26 to 27. Lakehead University has an excellent record at the national level, placing tenth in 2001, second in 2002, and fifth in 2003.

The team is looking for sponsors for their upcoming competition in Utah in May. Anyone interested can contact the team's faculty advisors Dr. Tony Gillies at 343-8755 or Dr. Timo Tikka at 343-8560.

MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA: Dr. Gillies and Dr. Tikka are available for interviews. Please contact Marla Tomlinson at 343-8177. Photos are available upon request.

(Thunder Bay - March 8, 2006) A Lakehead University student production of The Vagina Monologues will run from March 10 to 12 at 7 p.m. in the Outpost. The performances benefit local women's organizations working to end violence against women. Tickets are $10 for March 10 and 11, and $20 for the Gala performance on March 12. For more information on V-Day, visit http://www.vday.org

Students, faculty, and staff from many departments - including Women's Studies, History, Sociology, English, Education, Social Work, Biology, Psychology, Economics, Political Science, Political Science, Philosophy, Business, and more - have been hard at work to get this production together.

About V-Day
V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler's award-winning play The Vagina Monologues.

The V-Day College Campaign strives to empower women to find their collective voices and demand an end to the epidemic levels of violence and abuse on their campuses, in their communities, and around the world. Through benefit productions of The Vagina Monologues, they raise money and awareness to stop violence against women and girls. The proceeds from these events are donated directly to local organizations in the community that are working to stop this violence.

"Thunder Bay's Haven House is an important part of our community, and we decided it was time to make some noise about its closure," says Sabrina Michaud, an organizer of the event. "We want the community to come down to City Hall and show its support for this special place in the community."

There will be a nominal charge for the food and beverages at this BBQ.

(Thunder Bay - February 28, 2006) Seven Lakehead University Engineering students picked up awards at the Ontario Engineering Competition (OEC), which pitted the abilities of Engineering students across the province in a three-day event leading up to the Canadian Engineering Competition in March.

The OEC is an annual engineering event that showcases innovative and talented engineering students from universities across the province. This February, the 27th annual OEC was hosted at the University of Toronto. This competition provides an opportunity for undergraduate engineering students to develop, demonstrate and test their skills in technical design, problem solving, teamwork, and communication.

There are six competitions in the OEC, focusing on Consulting Engineering, Engineering Communications, Entrepreneurial Design, Parliamentary Debate, Junior Team Design, and Senior Team Design.

Graham Shrive picked up first place in the Engineering Communications category. This category requires students to develop and present a viewpoint on the social, economic, and environmental impacts of any current technological issue. The students must make their presentation in language that the general public would understand by simplifying Engineering terms, technical processes, and issues. Shrive's presentation was entitled "MicroCHP Applications of Modern Stirling Engines." He competed against eight other presentations.

Lakehead's next award at the OEC was a second place in the Entrepreneurial Design category. Andrew Glover and Grant Wilburn took this award home for their project "Composite Leaf Springs." This category encourages undergraduate Engineering students to utilize their creativity and education by developing a new marketable product and a business plan for its commercialization. The winner is based upon originality, technical and economic feasibility, a solid marketing plan, and a high-quality presentation and exhibit. Lakehead's team was one of six projects in this competition.

Four students took home the third place award in the Senior Team Design. Andy Valentine, Dan Dechene, Dustin Smith, and Noel Quinn worked against 12 other teams to produce a feasible design with limited materials and preparation time. The competitors in this category design, construct, test, and present a solution on a previously undisclosed project using a combination of teamwork and problem solving skills.

"Competitions like this help students apply their knowledge to situations outside of the regular classroom work," says Dr. Henri Saliba, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Lakehead University. "It helps them think on their feet and present themselves as professionals. These students exhibited a great deal of innovation, and I am proud of their accomplishments at the OEC."

These students will all be taking part in Canadian Engineering Competition in March. Some of these winner will be speaking with Grade 7 and 8 students during National Engineering Week (Feb. 26 to March 6).

Members of the Media: Dr. Saliba and some students are available for interview by calling Heather Moynihan with the Faculty of Engineering at 343-8252. National Engineering Week runs on the Lakehead University campus from February 26 to March 4, 2006.

(Thunder Bay - Friday, February 24, 2006) Thunder Bay has been busy this past week with university students who returned home for reading week. Students who have left town for University have been enjoying sleeping in their own bed, eating home-cooked meals, and visiting their favourite haunts with friends. During this time, Lakehead University has been reminding students that "transferring is easier than you think."

"Year after year, students from Thunder Bay and area return from their year away at school and look to complete their degree at Lakehead University," says Dr. Jane Birkholz, Vice Provost (Student Affairs) at Lakehead U. "Many students are concerned that they have lost a year toward their degree, and if they start fresh at Lakehead University it will take longer to graduate. In reality, almost all of their credits from other institutions will count toward their degree here in Thunder Bay."

Over Reading Week, Lakehead University has run several advertisements to let students know that if they are looking to come home to study next year, there are options open to them. The "Transferring is easier than you think" campaign is designed to attract students who may be re-thinking their choice of university for the remainder of their university career.

"Not only will the students have their families and friends close by, but the student services available on campus round out the support network necessary to be a successful student in today's university environment," Dr. Birkholz says. "Students at Lakehead benefit from one-on-one meetings with faculty advisors, department chairs, and even their professors. They find that the personalized support is in place for their success. Lakehead University has the size and experience that enables our faculty and staff to give personalized attention to our students."

Students who are interested in learning more about transferring to Lakehead University, or starting their post-secondary education here, should contact the Office of Admissions and Recruitment at 807-343-8500 or visit http://admissions.lakeheadu.ca/

(Thunder Bay - Tuesday, February 21, 2006) Many children and youth with special needs in rural and northern Canada lack essential services. Where services do exist, they are often culturally or linguistically inappropriate. These are the findings of a National Policy Roundtable, co-hosted by the Centre of Excellence for Children (CECASN) and Adolescents with Special Needs and the Canadian Policy Research Networks Inc. (CPRN).

Dr. Julia O'Sullivan, National Director of CECASN and Dean of Lakehead University's Faculty of Education, says that latest data show that health, prevention, and early intervention services as well as special education are in short supply across the North and in parts of rural Canada.

"There is a unique challenge with meeting the needs of children and adolescents with special needs in northern and rural areas," Dr. O'Sullivan says. "There are cultural sensitivities and geographic realities in these regions which demand innovative approaches. As well, there is a shortage in services in these areas which needs to be addressed."

The Roundtable Discussion, held in Thunder Bay in September 2005, focused on how these issues can be addressed. Through this discussion, the group released a report earlier this month entitled "Meeting the Needs of Children and Adolescents with Special Needs in Rural and Northern Canada."

The National Policy Roundtable reviewed the findings from the CECASN's research over the past five years. The report presents policy principles and recommendations for filling the gap in services for children and adolescents with special needs in rural and northern Canada.

According to CECASN research, the current and future well-being of these young people depends on the following policy principles:

"If we can't make good on these principles, children with special needs and their families will continue to be at risk and our country will not have delivered on its commitment to be 'A Canada Fit For All Children'," says Dr. O'Sullivan.

Members of the Media: Dr. O'Sullivan is available for interview during the morning on Wednesday, February 22, by calling the Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescence with Special Needs at 807-343-8219. The Report can be read at http://www.cprn.org/en/doc.cfm?doc=1390