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Ron MacLean receives honourary degree from Lakehead (6 photos)

A special ceremony also saw the swearing in of Moira McPherson as Lakehead’s new president and recognized Academic All Canadian athletes.

THUNDER BAY – In the last 50 years, Lakehead University has become rooted in the community, serving as both a centre for academic pursuits and a stepping-stone for young athletes from across the country.

A special ceremony on Saturday celebrated those roots, as well as establishing some new ones as Lakehead officially welcomed its new president, Moira McPherson, and awarded Ron MacLean with an honourary doctorate.

MacLean, the iconic sports broadcaster and longtime host of Hockey Night in Canada, believes hockey is rooted in small, rural communities like Thunder Bay, and he is grateful to now be rooted in one as well.

“I feel really honoured,” he said. “Even in the spirit of the two captains, Azia Vass and Dillon Donnelly, I just don’t want to be on another team for a little while. I think it’s nice to be rooted in Thunder Bay and Lakehead University.”

After accepting his honouary title, MacLean spoke to the large gathering of students and staff, which included many athletes, about his experiences visiting with family members and players of the Humboldt Bronco’s hockey team in the days and weeks following the collision that claimed the lives of 16 people last spring.

MacLean said the young athletes who played for the Broncos came from communities across the country, which shows that the sport is still very much rooted in small, rural communities, just like Thunder Bay.

“I think in the long term we will remember that 29 communities in Canada sent their child, either Dayna, the trainer, or their boy to this community to play hockey,” he said. “It was a good thing. It taught them core values, their influence shines and will shine forever. That gives you hope that the rural community still has a place in the game.”

For the young athletes in the audience, including several being honoured during the ceremony with the title of Academic All Canadian, MacLean had an important message to impart.

“The lessons of the game, much like the lessons of a classroom or a campus are so invaluable,” he said.

Rheanna Geisel, a four-time Academic All Canadian, spoke on behalf of her fellow recipients on Saturday. She said being named an Academic All Canadian is no easy feat and her fellow athletes should feel proud of their accomplishment.

“It takes a lot of time and commitment and prioritizing and knowing your strengths and weaknesses as a student,” she said. “You don’t have it set in stone right away. I think in my first year, I navigated it for quite a while, but you learn and you end up being pretty good at by the time you’re done and it results in an Academic All Canadian.”

Geisel, who played volleyball with the Thunderwolves for five years, said this was a particularly special ceremony of which to be a part.

“To share the stage with Dr. McPherson on her induction and Ron MacLean receiving his doctorate, it’s a huge honour,” she said. “I will look back on this day for quite a while.”

It was a special day for McPherson, as well and an honour to share the stage with MacLean. Having served as interim president since Brian Stevenson stepped down last January, Chancellor Lyn McLeod officially swore McPherson in as president and vice-chancellor, which she said is an important step for signalling a new beginning.

“Running a university, even with all the amazing support we have around us, it’s always going to be challenging,” she said. “These are complex times to be in post-secondary education but we have incredible people at this university to draw on their resources.”

And McPherson is hoping her roots at the university will help her meet those challenges in the years ahead.

“I’ve been here for 31 years,” she said. “I’ve worked every angle of the university, every corner of the university. I know what needs to be done, I know who are the people to get the work done, and I know we have the talent to meet the challenges.”



Doug Diaczuk

About the Author: Doug Diaczuk

Doug Diaczuk is a reporter and award-winning author from Thunder Bay. He has a master’s degree in English from Lakehead University
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