The opening of Lakehead University's law school was just one of the highlights of the school's report to the community released Friday.
University president Brian Stevenson said the law school is a great addition to Lakehead and students have already told him they're happy with the program.
"They're working very hard but also having a wonderful time. It's a really magical place being at PACI and having it be a law school. They're contributing a lot to the economy and the community in the downtown," Stevenson said.
The report was presented at an early morning breakfast Friday at the Thunder Bay campus and Stevenson read out a top 10 list of Lakehead's achievements in the past year.
That list includes the appointment of Derek Burney as Lakehead's new chancellor; $1 million donation to the faculty of law from the Paterson Foundation; the launch of the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining and Exploration; and the millions of dollars in research grants the university has received.
Increasing LU's research activity is something Stevenson hopes to continue.
When Lakehead made Maclean's Magazine's top 10 university list for the first time earlier this year, they were also No. 2 in the country for research.
Stevenson attributed the university's success to stubbornness of people in Northwestern Ontario.
"We don't take no for an answer," he said. "It takes a lot of work to get it done, but we get it done."
The community is also unified whenever Stevenson has had to ask for help.
"Everyone comes and helps with causes that are going to help the community. I think we have a really special community in Northwestern Ontario and it helps us move our agenda forward," he said.
That agenda was laid out in the strategic plan approved by the Board of Governors earlier this year.
"We consulted very widely and it's going to be the point of departure for everything we do in the coming five years," said board chairman Cameron Clark.
The plan focuses on five key areas: nurturing scholarships; learner-centred student experience, growth and capacity development; community engagement and economic development.
"What we've tried to do is set fairly specific targets we think are achievable," said Clark.
"Sometimes people think these plans are a bit dry and boring but ours is exciting and it's meaningful and we're very, very committed," he added.
