THUNDER BAY – It’s not just the newly minted graduates celebrating the end of one chapter and beginning of another during Lakehead University’s convocation ceremonies.
For outgoing university president Brian Stevenson, the series of ceremonies that began at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on Friday will mark his last opportunity to preside over the newest members of Lakehead’s alumni.
“It’s definitely a bittersweet time,” Stevenson said. “On the one hand, you’re here seeing all of these wonderful kids graduating and their parents but on the other hand it’s going to be the last series of graduations you’re going to do.”
As well, former Ontario Liberal leader and longtime Fort William and Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Lyn McLeod was officially installed as the university's chancellor.
The Friday afternoon ceremony awarded degrees to students from the Faculty of Engineering as well as graduates from the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
Those two professional programs are an important part of Lakehead serving the region, Stevenson said.
“Our social commitment is to Northwestern Ontario and it’s to be able to provide all of the professional degrees that we can to serve the communities and the economy,” Stevenson said.
Frank Nelli, a civil engineering graduate with first class standing, was among the hundreds of students enjoying their day.
“I’m just glad to be done. It’s been a long road and I’m really glad to get out there into the working world and put an engineering degree to use,” Nelli said.
Allyson Paris, a chemical engineering graduate, said she was happy to celebrate the day and her achievement with her parents.
“They helped me a lot through this four years so they’re probably really proud,” Paris said.
Paris, who will be returning to Lakehead in the fall to pursue a master’s degree, said the small class sizes and familiarity with the professors made a big difference in her learning.
“They all know us by name,” Paris said. “I was struggling with one class and my professor let me sit in his office for four hours to go over stuff. It was really helpful.”
The university recognized former Parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page, a graduate of Lakehead’s class of 1980, with an honorary doctorate of laws.
Page said these new graduates will become difference makers in the world.
“The world is changing so quickly,” Page said. “Globalization, technology, security issues are moving so quickly. We so badly need this generation to be engaged. Here today, there are medical students, engineering students, these are the people that are building Canada of the future.”
Stevenson said their education will set students up to succeed in the changing world.
“A university degree is a very valuable degree to have,” Stevenson said. “Not only because of the practical side, but also the transformational nature of the degree gives you a greater sense of understanding of the world and your community. It teaches you how to learn and students learn how to learn. That’s one of the biggest skills we teach.”
Two ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday, where Mainstreet Equity CEO Bob Dhillon and Rudolf Wahl will be awarded honorary degrees.
