Latest Class Notes

• Christina Trinidad (HBMus '08) Congratulations to Christina Trinidad (HBMus’08) who has received the prestigious SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship to pursue graduate studies at The University of Western Ontario.
• Susie Tompkins-Gray (BEd '00) has been appointed a member of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) board of directors. Susie is an elementary school teacher with the Lac Seul Education Authority on Lac Seul First Nation near Sioux Lookout. A member of the Pays Plat First Nation, she settled with her husband and two children at Lac Seul First Nation. Hon. Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, and Forestry and Chair of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, says, “Susie brings to the Board a lifelong commitment to helping Aboriginal children and families overcome poverty and other social challenges. Her past contributions toward strengthening First Nation families and communities will bring a fresh new perspective to the Board.”
• Dr. Jane Fraser (MEd '00) is proud of the work she has accomplished since retiring from a teaching career in Canada, USA, and Zambia. The title of her master’s thesis is, “The Lived Experiences of Senior Students Returning to (Lakehead) University.” In 2001 she received an award from Thunder Bay Association of Volunteer Administrators for contributing 1,250 hours in the founding of Tecky Seniors Project, a non-profit charitable organization for technology and workshops. In 2006 she completed an Educational Doctorate from Northern Illinois University and was admitted to Phi Beta Delta, an Honor Society for International Scholars. Her research was conducted in Thunder Bay on Older Adult Urban and Rural Volunteerism, with 150 surveys for volunteer administrators and volunteers and 14 in-depth interviews. Jane received the EdD degree at age 70 while she was teaching Ontario Curriculum English in China. In 2008 she received an award from New Horizons for Seniors for editing Neebing Settler Descendants, a local history, and this year she is completing her autobiography, writing numerous proposals for funding, and tutoring “at risk” adolescents.
• Dr. Jane Fraser (MEd '00) is proud of the work she has accomplished since retiring from a teaching career in Canada, USA, and Zambia. The title of her master’s thesis is, “The Lived Experiences of Senior Students Returning to (Lakehead) University.” In 2001 she received an award from Thunder Bay Association of Volunteer Administrators for contributing 1,250 hours in the founding of Tecky Seniors Project, a non-profit charitable organization for technology and workshops. In 2006 she completed an Educational Doctorate from Northern Illinois University and was admitted to Phi Beta Delta, an Honor Society for International Scholars. Her research was conducted in Thunder Bay on Older Adult Urban and Rural Volunteerism, with 150 surveys for volunteer administrators and volunteers and 14 in-depth interviews. Jane received the EdD degree at age 70 while she was teaching Ontario Curriculum English in China. In 2008 she received an award from New Horizons for Seniors for editing Neebing Settler Descendants, a local history, and this year she is completing her autobiography, writing numerous proposals for funding, and tutoring “at risk” adolescents.
• Frank Elsner (BA '00) The Greater Sudbury Police Services Board has appointed Frank Elsner (BA’00) as Chief of Police. Frank has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from The University of Western Ontario and more than 27 years of policing experience, starting his career with the RCMP in 1982, moving to the Ontario Provincial Police in 1985, and then joining the Thunder Bay Police Service where he has worked in every area of the organization.
• Jeff Hand (BSc '99) attended Northwestern College of Chiropractic in Minneapolis, MN, for his doctor of Chiropractic degree. Dr. Hand now practices in Baxter, MN, at Family Chiropractic Clinic.
• Debra Fawcett (HBSW '96) is a contract instructor in the Business Department, Continuing Education, at College of New Caledonia in Prince George. She completed a Graduate Diploma in Management in 2009 and is currently doing her Masters in Integrated Studies.
• Petar Knezevich (BEng '95) says he has worked at various jobs in BC for the past six years and has been working in the Caspian region, first for Amec and now BP. On March 7, 2009, he and his wife Nelly welcomed their first child into the world. Petar says “Aaron is an amazing baby and we invite everyone to share in our joy by viewing the photos on Facebook.”
• Gregory Peterson (HBSc '94) writes to say that after 15 years away from the Lakehead he came back for an intense three-week ancient DNA training program with the Paleo-DNA Lab. “The campus was a dichotomy with so much having changed yet so much staying exactly the same,” he says. “It was hard not to spend time reminiscing about undergraduate days, labs in the Centennial Building, and meeting my wife by the tennis courts at Residence."
• Danielle Kovanchak (BEd '89) has published her first children’s book which teaches children how to tell time. It’s About Time, published by AuthorHouse, is targeted for children ages 4-7.
• Irmo Marini (HBA '84) Professor and PhD Coordinator, Department of Rehabilitation University of Texas-Pan American, was awarded the Distinguished Career Award from the National Council on the Rehabilitation Education. In addition, he was awarded a faculty research award for 2009 and published a co-edited textbook in December 2008.
• Garry J. Clark (HBSc '83) is a Professional Geologist and an independent geological consultant. Over the past 26 years, he has been involved in mineral exploration overseas and throughout Canada with a number of exploration companies including Falconbridge, Falconbridge Copper, Noranda, and Gulf Minerals. Garry also serves on various committees and boards that support the mineral explorers of Ontario including the Ontario Minister of Mines Mining Act Advisory Committee and the Ontario Geological Survey Advisory Board.
• Ralph Kermer (ForDip '81) a recent empty nester, decided that after 13 years fighting fires in British Columbia and 13 years fighting fires in the Northwest Territories that he would give Alberta a try. So he accepted a job at the Hinton Training Centre as a Wildfire Training Specialist. He hopes this will be his last stop before retirement.
• Kevin D. Mahoney (BAdmin '79) is the President and CEO of BC Railway Company. Previously he held various other senior executive positions with BC Rail, HSBC Canada, Agra Engineering, Wajax Ltd., Saskatchewan Power Corp., and Manalta Coal Ltd. Mahoney is the Chairman of In Transit BC GP Ltd., and In Transit BC. Within his community, he is a Director for the YMCA of Greater Vancouver.
• Steven E. Franklin (ForDip '76) an interdisciplinary environmental scientist and former Vice-President of Research at the University of Saskatchewan, was appointed President of Trent University effective July 1, 2009. He is Trent’s seventh President and Vice-Chancellor, succeeding Bonnie Patterson, President since 1998. Franklin did his graduate work at the University of Waterloo where he completed his Master of Arts degree in physical geography and a Doctor of Philosophy in remote sensing. He has also held academic appointments at the University of Waterloo, Memorial University, and the University of Calgary. Franklin and his wife Dawn have two daughters, Meghan and Heather.