THUNDER BAY -- Having grown up in Thunder Bay, Lisa Tocheri was especially honoured to address her hometown graduating class.
“Lakehead has given us so many non-academic tools and keys to success that will help us," Tocheri said before Friday's Lakehead University convocation ceremony at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, where she received her juris doctor degree from the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law.
“I know my job. I know the law. But Lakehead kind of taught me how to be a lawyer and how to be successful.”
Tocheri was one of three students invited by the school to share their experiences at the trio of graduation celebrations on Friday and Saturday.
Interim university president Moira McPherson said the ceremony is a great opportunity for families of students to get a taste of Lakehead and the city.
“It’s so special for our international students to bring family members to attend this,” McPherson said. “They get to meet friends, they get to meet faculty and staff.. It’s such a tradition but it has meaning in today’s world.”
The law students were joined by graduates who studied medicine, engineering, and natural resources management.
The occasion was also a special one for Beverly Sabourin, who was conferred as a fellow of Lakehead University for her contributions to Indigenous education.
She was at a loss for words to explain what the honour meant.
“History has shown for us years that Aboriginal people have not been validated or recognized,” Sabourin said. “I’ve always felt that what I’ve done is what I’ve needed to do.”
Tocheri said she was ready to leave town, but during her undergraduate years, Lakehead’s law school opened its doors.
“I took full advantage of it," Tocheri said. "I’m really happy I got to do it here.”
