Lakehead University and City of Thunder Bay sign 
MOU to pursue shared opportunities

#LSN_News    Thunder Bay  Mayor Hobbs, Dr. Brian Stevenson, Lakehead University’s President and Vice-Chancellor

THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO  - December 20, 2017   (LSN)   Dr. Brian Stevenson, Lakehead University’s President and Vice-Chancellor, and Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs signed a memorandum of understanding today to pursue new collaboration opportunities that will build on mutual strengths and interests.

“The City of Thunder Bay and Lakehead University have a shared interest in making our city attractive to businesses, investors, highly skilled jobseekers, entrepreneurs and innovators, students and a diverse work force,” Mayor Hobbs said. “We will work together to foster dialogue, partnerships and economic development initiatives that build an innovative and prosperous City.”

Dr. Stevenson explained that the purpose of the MOU is to introduce more strategy into the relationship between the Lakehead University and the City of Thunder Bay.

“Our University and City have a long history of working together and benefitting from each other,” said Dr. Stevenson, who made a presentation about the MOU to Thunder Bay City Council at its Monday, Dec. 18 meeting. “This MOU serves to take our relationship to the next level in the interest of fostering a more strategic means of growing Lakehead and Thunder Bay, and furthering our success, together.”
Some of the shared goals include:

• Supporting policy development through shared expertise
• Supporting collaborative opportunities for engagement in areas of mutual expertise and interest
• Improving opportunities and outcomes related to making Thunder Bay a better place to live, work and prosper
•  Raising the profile of both Thunder Bay and Lakehead University as leaders and collaborators

A few specific areas of collaboration may include:

• Joint partnerships
• Funding opportunities from other entities
• International engagement
• Entrepreneurship
• Advocacy with other levels of government

City Councillor Brian McKinnon is Council’s representative to the Lakehead University Board of Governors and he engaged in a discussion with Dr. Stevenson and University staff about creating a Memorandum of Understanding between the University and the City of Thunder Bay.

This MOU formalizes and gives momentum to the pursuit of future cooperative efforts and initiatives that the City and University can undertake. Meetings with City Administration to review this concept led to the motion below, approved by Thunder Bay Council on Monday, Dec. 18.

That with respect to entering into a formal partnership with Lakehead University to foster dialogue, partnerships and economic development initiatives, we recommend that City Council authorize the Mayor to execute the proposed Memorandum of Understanding, together with the President of Lakehead University; And that the City Manager be directed to assign such personnel deemed appropriate in support of the intent and purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding. And that periodic joint reporting on progress and activities made be provided to City Council.

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