Lakehead University - Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism

10/11/2026

Wow! We are thrilled to learn that we are finalists for the Workforce Innovation and Collaboration Award with Lakehead University’s office of Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning and Parks Canada Bethune Memorial House!
Winners will be announced later this month at the Ontario Tourism Summit.

🎉 The 2026 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence finalists are here!

This year's response was incredible, and it shows just how much talent, creativity and passion is driving tourism across Ontario. Today, we're celebrating the people, organizations and experiences moving our industry forward.

📰 See the full finalist list in today's Globe and Mail.

📍 Join us in Ottawa on October 22 to celebrate the winners at the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence.

🎟️ Get your tickets for the full Ontario Tourism Summit or the Awards & Gala only: tiaontario.ca/ots26

10/08/2026

What an incredible learning opportunity! Thank you so much for hosting us, Manitou Mounds!

10/07/2026

Here’s a great opportunity for professionals to develop skills and knowledge of the tourism sector!

Registration is open for the Ontario Professional Tourism Industry Specialist (OPTIS) and Northern Ontario Professional Tourism Industry Specialist (NOPTIS) micro-credentials, starting October 19th.

Offered by Lakehead University - Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism in partnership with Destination Northern Ontario and Collège Boréal, the programs provide practical training in tourism products, marketing, equity, diversity and inclusion, and international tourism protocols.

Learn more and register:
https://ec.lakeheadu.ca/community-zone/optis-noptis

Lakehead University

09/30/2026

As part of their Food Systems course, senior students in Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism and Social Justice Studies experienced Manoomin (wild rice) harvesting at Whitefish Lake with Rhonda Leclair and Elder Dennis Jones this weekend.

Back on campus at Lakehead University, they dried the Manoomin, parched it over fire, cooled it, and danced on the grains with freshly made moccasins to begin the dehusking process. They then winnowed the grains, working with the wind to separate the husk from the grain, followed by manual dehusking and sorting. After all their hard work, the group got to sample some delicious puffed rice!

08/31/2026

This weekend senior Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism students wrapped up their OUTD 4370: Field Explorations II field course through Eagle Dogtooth and Winnange Lake Provincial Parks near Kenora. The group put their expedition planning skills into action, honed their flatwater canoe paddling skills, completed technically challenging portages, learned to solo-paddle, safely waited for lightning storms to pass over, visited pictographs, and ate delicious backcountry meals. On their last night, the group was fortunate to see a gorgeous sunset as well as the lunar eclipse!

08/21/2026

It’s that time of summer again when senior Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism students embark on their Field Explorations II courses, which involve going on an extended backcountry expedition that they planned for a semester earlier this year. The wildfires this summer required some adjustments to their plans, but everyone is excited for their new routes. Bon voyage!!!

08/05/2026

Did you see this month’s issue of the Walleye? If you’re into mountain biking there are some interesting articles in there to get you excited to be in Thunder Bay this fall. As you’re checking out the table of contents, you may see some familiar ORPT scenes!

Riding a bike comes with a lot of built-in benefits: confidence, independence, a fun lifelong pastime that works equally well solo or with friends. Add mountain biking’s challenging terrain and gorgeous surroundings to the mix and you’ve got those benefits to a power of 10, with an extra dose of...

07/13/2026

We got mail! Last year Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism students in OUTD 4813: Marine and Coastal Protected Areas wrote to three federal ministers to encourage Canada to take the lead in proposing new marine protected areas in the high seas now the Canada has signed the international Agreement to protect Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). Honourable Minister of Fisheries, Joanne Thompson wrote us back!
Here's her letter.
To find out more about about the BBNJ Agreement, visit: https://www.un.org/bbnjagreement/en

06/24/2026

We are so fortunate to have Ray as part of our Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism instructional team!
Way to go Rayanna!

06/11/2026

We had a great two weeks in this year's Spring Whitewater course at Lakehead University! Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism students earned certifications in whitewater rescue from Boreal River Rescue and tandem moving water canoeing from Paddle Canada. We spent time paddling rafts, canoes, kayaks, and inflatable kayaks on the Dog River, Matawin River, Shebandowan River, and the Current River.