the research and innovation bulletin is distributed weekly every tuesday by the office of research services and includes information on research funding opportunities, events and workshops and updates from our funding partners.
checkout the latest version of our bulletin, by clicking here.
you are innovative ... and you might not know it!
staff, faculty and 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , have you:
if you've done even one of these things, congratulations! you're an innovative member of the lakehead team. we want to hear your story!
click here to complete the application for a chance to win $250.
applications are due by sunday, dec. 15, 2024 for consideration of the 2025 research & innovation week awards.
one winner will be selected at the discretion of iped, based on creativity and innovation. research innovations are also welcomed.
do you have an innovative idea for a business you want to start or grow? we want to give you the chance to win cash to help grow your amazing idea!
$2,000 cash prizes to be won!
how to win:
participants will be judged on the following criteria:
apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1faipqlsdn1-omr7x2t3_odawnogzt6e8r0rxelfpamj3wwggb1xrvdg/viewform
are you recycling your office supplies? now you can!
on october 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 pm, and october 3, from 1 to 3 p.m., 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , faculty and staff can drop off their office supplies, as well as electronic waste (e-waste) at the designated station in the agora. this event is supported by the office of sustainability, engineers without borders - lakehead chapter, and physical plant.
accepted items for office supply:
not accepted: wooden pencils, lithium ion batteries, oil based paints, pressurized canisters, light bulbs.
these materials will be recycled into new products courtesy of terra cycle. the collected items are "mechanically and/or manually separated into metals, fibers, and plastics. metals are melted so they may be recycled. the fibers (such as paper or wood-based products) are recycled or composted. the plastics undergo extrusion and pelletization to be molded into new recycled plastic products."
accepted items for e-waste
while recycling is an important way to divert waste, always consider where you can reduce your purchase and use of these items first.
questions can be emailed to lpmckell@lakeheadu.ca
by: julio heleno gomes
when bill heibein was first diagnosed with early-onset alzheimer's he was told that within five years his condition would worsen and he could expect to end up in a nursing home. more than two decades later he continues to lead an active and fulfilling life, playing music and keeping busy on his farm.
“in many respects i have credited horses with saving me,” the affable 83-year-old declares. “i don't consider myself special. anybody could've done it had they the opportunity. having a farm has made a gigantic difference to me.”
along with defying daunting odds, bill is also one of the original members of the north west dementia working group (nwdwg). the independent grassroots advocacy group, the first in canada for people living with dementia, was formed thanks to 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 researcher dr. elaine wiersma.
“it's about giving voice to people living with dementia, maintaining their rights, living well, free from discrimination,” explains dr. nisha sutherland, the group's co-facilitator.
started 10 years ago, nwdwg brought people living with dementia and their care partners together to discuss self-care. from that modest beginning, friendships were formed and the desire to do more was born.
“they wanted to continue being an advocacy group, provide activities for people living with dementia, be a political advocate for people living with dementia,” explains sutherland, who's been with the group for eight years and is associate professor in lakehead's school of nursing. “if there are dementia strategies or local, provincial policy issues then we address them.”
the latest project, the building capacity project, examined community resources, such as libraries, to make sure they're inclusive for people living with dementia.
in recognition of these initiatives, last year wiersma, sutherland and the nwdwg received lakehead's community engaged research award.
with 15-20 attendees at their monthly meetings and large sunday gatherings at the dementia cafe, the nwdwg is firmly established and has plenty to celebrate. over the years they have hosted conferences and visiting scholars, provided presentations on challenging the stigma of dementia, and have been an integral element in projects supported by the centre for education and research on aging & health (cerah).
at its core, though, the essence of nwdwg is companionship, of spending time with people on a similar journey. for sue doughty-smith, introduction to the group came at exactly the right time. her husband was diagnosed with alzheimer's in late 2020, during the covid lockdown.
“i was in a really bad state,” doughty-smith confesses. “i thought my world was turned upside down. you just felt you have nowhere to turn to and then there is this group. so when you meet people whose lives are sort of the same, but we're on different steps in our journey, it was wonderful to be with them. you already have empathy for each other, you get to know each other really well and you become better connected. it's a really good group that my husband and i both belong to.”
along with the camaraderie and frequent get-togethers, doughty-smith praises nwdwg participants as people willing to roll up their sleeves to get things done.
“i like it because it's real work,” she says. “sometimes you talk about things you wish would happen. but this group, once you start looking at things that we can do, you just get going and everybody pools their resources to work on it.”
the latest example is dementia gardens: a place to grow. an initiative with cerah, in partnership with community groups such as chartwell retirement homes, it's in the fundraising stage right now. but the concept is exciting, says sutherland.
“people living with dementia and their families can come outside and grow native gardens that encourage pollinators, and this can be respite for the family, for 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 to learn about engaging with people living with dementia and to conduct research,” she says, adding that they hope to start digging this summer.
this is the kind of effort that makes the group so special, says bill. from the beginning the focus was on the person living with dementia and what they wanted to see done that would be best for them.
“the approach was not from the top down,” he says. “the approach was from the bottom up. 'what do you think will be beneficial to you?' that was the big difference in the approaches.”
when his decline became noticeable in 1998 and he was given dire scenarios, bill retired from his position at a major thunder bay accounting firm to assist his wife full-time at their quarter horse farm near kakabeka falls, regularly baling hay and chopping wood. while he has been on medication, his miraculous ability to keep his condition at bay has drawn the interest of researchers at the university of british columbia, waterloo, and lakehead. the latest batch of mri and ct scans show his decline is no more significant than normal aging.
what's his secret?
the answer: strenuous physical activity on a 150-acre property and engaging key parts of the brain by performing in a band on bass guitar.
“the doctors said to me they don't know for sure what i'm doing, but whatever it is don't stop,” bill says. “just by pure chance i'm doing the things i should be doing, what everybody says that someone living with dementia should be doing.”
pictured: bill mercereau, left, along with bailey vandorp, a then-master of public health student, and bill heibein accept the 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 community engaged research award on behalf of the north west dementia working group.
a newly released academic book edited by dr. idevania costa, associate professor, school of nursing and associate director, centre for research and education on aging and health, and dr. kristen jones-bonofiglio, director/associate professor, school of nursing and director, centre for health care ethics, is making an important contribution to the landscape of older persons care in canada while examining an emancipatory approach to nursing practice.
with 17 chapter authors from across canada, "supporting older persons on their aging journey: an emancipatory approach to nursing care", is a comprehensive guide focused on the application of complex theories using a patient-centred model of care.
"after six years of teaching nursing 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 about older adult health using a non-canadian textbook, i am deeply honoured to now use a textbook written by canadians for canadians," says dr. costa. "this new resource will help educate the next generation of nurses, encouraging them to approach older adult health from an emancipatory perspective. i hope our 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 will recognize the significant effort put in by our dedicated team, most of whom are from lakehead, and value the opportunity to learn from this unique and important resource."
essential topics in older adult health are covered using holistic perspectives creating a valuable tool for promoting quality of life. content experts from within the school of nursing include: katilin adduono, lecturer; dr. sylvane filice, associate professor; kristen mcconnell, lecturer; maggie pudden, sessional instructor; caroline sabotig, simulation lab coordinator; cathy schoales, assistant professor; and dr. ryan tonkins, sessional instructor. "supporting older persons on their aging journey: an emancipatory approach to nursing care" is available now through canadian scholars/women’s press, the lakehead bookstore, and the lakehead library.
“i’m always proud to acknowledge how our nursing faculty and staff contribute to emerging scientific knowledge; publishing text books and peer-reviewed articles that are the evidence for best practices in contemporary nursing practice. our 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 not only learn from experts in the field, they also see their instructors contributing to both art and science of nursing," says dr. jones-bonofiglio.
the school of nursing’s simulation lab coordinator, caroline sabotig, recently earned the right to add canadian certified simulation nurse educator (ccsne) to her signature line. she studied with the canadian nurse educators institute (cnei) as part of their simulation certificate program. the program provides the necessary training and competence to ensure that simulation theory, design, practice, evaluation, and scholarship are of the highest quality and are evidence-informed.
"i want to sincerely thank the school of nursing for their support in helping me achieve the canadian certified simulation nurse educator (ccsne) designation," says caroline. "the training has enhanced my knowledge and skills in simulation education, and i’m excited to continue contributing to the high-quality nursing education we provide to our 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 ."
the designation of ccsne is a national mark of excellence in nursing teaching and learning. the school of nursing is proud to have a nationally certified simulation expert as part of their staff complement and able to continue to contribute to the delivery of high-quality nursing education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , staff, and faculty wish to offer heartfelt congratulations on this accomplishment, especially during national healthcare simulation week, sept. 16 to 20.
join local seed producers, researchers, and activists for part (or all!) of this two-day seed sovereignty event on thursday, sept. 19 and friday, sept. 20 to learn about the interdependent relationships between people and seeds. to register (it’s free!) go to https://efao.ca/event/seed-sovereignty-nw/.
this event is hosted by 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 in partnership with the ecological farmers association of ontario, roots community food centre, superior seed producers, sioux lookout first nations health authority, lake superior living labs network, and understanding our food systems.
seed-human relationships panel discussion
thursday, sept. 19, 7:30 to 9 p.m. et (virtual and in-person)
hear from panellists about seed initiatives in northwestern ontario and beyond, including a landrace watermelon breeding project happening in thunder bay. you are welcome to attend the panel in person at roots community food centre (450 ft. william rd, thunder bay) or join online! a zoom link will be sent to all registrants.
panellists include evalisa mcillfaterick (root cellar gardens), manish kushwaha (gaia organics), kay everts (going to seed), and nikki auten (first nations technical institute).
seed saving workshop, watermelon tasting & seed garden tours in thunder bay
friday, sept. 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. et (in-person only)
take part in a full day of seedy fun! the day will begin with a workshop on seed saving and then participants will be invited to collect seeds from a variety of vegetable crops provided by superior seed producer members. participants will also see firsthand the process of selecting and harvesting seed from some of the plants growing in the roots community food centre urban farm.
afterwards, participants will be treated to a watermelon tasting of various northern-hardy watermelons, and will be invited to save the seeds from the variety they like the best! after the watermelon tasting, we will have a break for lunch (please bring a lunch with you).
in the afternoon, participants are invited to tour several seed gardens in and around thunder bay. limited transportation is available from roots community food centre urban farm to the seed garden tours. please indicate when you register if you are in need of transportation.
august 20, 2024 – orillia, ont.
阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 and age-friendly orillia will host a free aging well expo this fall. funded in-part by the government of canada's new horizons for seniors program, the expo will be a day of energizing and informative discussions, interactive demonstrations, and exhibits that will empower seniors to improve their health and well-being.
the event will take place on wednesday, oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 , 500 university ave. in orillia. admission and parking is free.
“almost a quarter of the population of our community is 65 plus,” explains valerie powell, co-chair and founding member of age-friendly orillia, a local volunteer group that advocates for and supports policies and initiatives that enable people to benefit from an active, independent, and meaningful life. “it’s imperative that older adults take control of their own future, where possible, and with the help of organizations and groups within the community find ways to age well and stay active. in the long run, staying active and healthy for as long as possible will benefit everybody.”
the aging well expo will deliver comprehensive information on physical and mental health, financial and internet safety, and elder abuse, and will help older adults connect to local resources that support healthy, social, active aging at home, so aging individuals can create meaningful relationships and overcome obstacles for healthy aging. interactive workshops and presentations, volunteer opportunities, and activities are just a few examples of what to expect at the expo. there will also be door prizes and giveaways.
“the expo isn’t just for adults 65 plus, we encourage adults who are preparing for retirement, considering downsizing, or encountering changes in health or family dynamics to consider attending as well,” powell adds.
“we are thrilled to be working with age-friendly orillia on this project,” says dr. catherine phillips, assistant dean of the faculty of health and behavioural sciences at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 . “this project underlines the importance of social connection amongst citizens and values the role of older adults as civic leaders, as volunteers and as community builders.”
“we look forward to welcoming everyone to the university campus in october, where older adults can connect with agencies that provide services, as well as agencies that are looking for volunteers, and to hear from speakers on a variety of topics related to aging well.”
the aging well expo is funded in-part by the government of canada’s new horizons for seniors program. the program is a federal grants and contributions program whose goal is to support projects that help improve the well-being of seniors and foster social inclusion and engagement in their communities.
for more information and to register, please visit www.hsbcwebinars.com/agingwell.
in the fall of 2023, lakehead launched the cano co. reusable container program in its dining facilities on the thunder bay campus. the program supports the university’s sustainability plan, which commits to increasing our diversion of waste and increasing our use of reusable dining ware.
guided by food and conference services, aramark, and the office of sustainability, the program aims to reduce lakehead’s use of single-use packaging.
lakehead wanted a streamlined program for on-campus food service providers on a user-friendly platform for 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , faculty, and staff. the cano co. program has many benefits for organizations and users. the no-fee platform makes the program accessible for 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 who can also earn free food and drink rewards by using the program and returning their containers promptly.
the app-based program tracks how many takeout containers a user has diverted from waste and recycling streams and the corresponding reductions in carbon emissions, enabling institutions to track waste and emissions savings over time.
as of august 5, 2024, the program has had 414 users, avoiding 163.1 kgs of greenhouse gasses and 34.9 kgs of waste.
keep an eye out this september for the new school year launch of the program in the main dining hall, which will include various incentives. program success relies on your participation, so please sign up and help reduce our single-use packaging! and remember, make sure to scan the qr codes when borrowing a container.
the cano co. reusable container program can be accessed at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 on its thunder bay campus at the main dining hall, with plans to expand the program at a later time.
to learn more about the program, visit canocompany.com/en/home or download the free cano co. app on the apple store or the google play store.
