Lakehead University President Fred Gilbert Retires
by Scott A. Sumner
Fred Gilbert, President of Lakehead University along with his wife Dan and daughter Alyssa were on hand at a gala retirement celebration at the Valhalla Inn June 19th, 2010. The well liked leader of Lakehead University had over 200 people attend a $150 a plate evening to
celebrate his term and to raise $60,000 for a second chance student bursary in his name. The evening included a lot of humour, good natured ribbing and even a song performed by Fred’s wife Dan.Fred Gilbert leaves at the end of July the position of President. “I haven’t started reflecting yet, the reflection will be after July 31st. We will take a break for the month of August and it will be my time,” smiles Fred Gilbert who held the post of president for 12 years. “That
is a long time in this day and age. The average life span of a presidency is 7 years. Many don’t get past the first term.” When asked again about his most important achievements at
Lakehead University, Gilbert stated the new Orillia campus, helping get the medical school here, the new ATAC building and acquiring new science and engineering equipment. “You wouldn’t believe some of the old equipment we had here before. Our technology is now state of the art. In fact, in some instances we are leaders, not just followers. We set expectations for both students and faculty that both students and faculty are meeting very nicely, smiles Fred Gilbert. “Overall if you have to look at the one thing that will resonate with me the most is the stature of the university. All you have to look at is the number of 90% plus high school scholars that we have now compared to 12 years ago, that tells volumes. Also the ATAC is a signature building, architecturally that shows the university looking forward and I think it did that.”
Gilbert also mentioned the medical school has been operational here in Thunder Bay and Sudbury for 5 years. The new strategic 5 year plan has been approved by the board. We have already had two classes graduate, with 48 new doctors graduating in Thunder Bay stated Fred Gilbert.
On a personal note as a past graduate of Lakehead University coming from small town Northwestern Ontario it was great to see the university grow in stature in Canada and greatly improve it's physical presence in the community. There is no doubt Lakehead University is one of the strongest economic engines that Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario have in 2010 and much of the growth, particularly in the medical front can be attributed to the drive of Fred Gilbert and the team he assembled. When you think about it, we are lucky to have had such great leadership in our part of Canada.
