Ministry of Colleges and Universities providing Lakehead University with $1 million for upgrades

This funding will allow Lakehead Thunder Bay to upgrade aging instructional technology in
approximately 35 rooms, within the Advanced Technology Academic Centre (pictured), the
Ryan building, and the CJ Sanders Fieldhouse – and add Wi-Fi to the Centennial building.

This funding will allow Lakehead to update audiovisual and conferencing equipment across
roughly 15 instructional spaces in Orillia.

February 9, 2022 – Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ont.

Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities is providing $1 million to Lakehead University for upgrades to its Wi-Fi, audiovisual and technology equipment in Orillia and Thunder Bay, resulting in a $2 million benefit to students in Engineering and the Sciences.

Lakehead and the University’s Student Tech Fee Committee contributed $500,000 each, and Crestron, an audiovisual automation and controls manufacturer, added a $60,000 rebate for further enhancements.

This funding will allow Lakehead Thunder Bay to upgrade aging instructional technology in approximately 35 rooms, within the Advanced Technology Academic Centre (ATAC), the Ryan building, and the CJ Sanders Fieldhouse – and add Wi-Fi to the Centennial building.

These upgrades will benefit students in the faculties of Health Sciences, Engineering, Science and Environmental Studies,  Business, and Social Sciences and the Humanities.  

At Lakehead Orillia, the University will update audiovisual and conferencing equipment across roughly 15 instructional spaces – including 11 classrooms in Simcoe Hall and four in Heritage Place, benefiting students in all of Lakehead Orillia’s programs.

“The Lakehead University Student Union appreciates the Ministry of Colleges and Universities supporting our students with this funding,” said Lahama Naeem, LUSU President.

“Technology and Wi-Fi are essential tools for student learning and advancement in today's day and age. We are certain that these upgrades will have a lasting impact on students and their experience at Lakehead University,” she added.

Lakehead began this project in September 2021, with an estimated completion date of later this year.

“Thank you, Minister Jill Dunlop, for selecting Lakehead University as a recipient of this important funding,” said Dr. Moira McPherson, Lakehead’s President and Vice-Chancellor.

“The Ministry of Colleges and Universities’ investment significantly increases the enhancements to be made to Lakehead’s collaborative, immersive course delivery technology that will improve access to remote learning tools and opportunities for students at our campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay.” 

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 Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked, once again, among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities in Maclean’s 2021 University Rankings; as well as included in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2022 World Universities Rankings for the third consecutive year, and in the top 100 of 1,115 universities from around the world in THE's 2021 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.