Cody Avery makes no bones about it: He’s a small-town boy.
So, the Tottenham native was thrilled he could pursue his academic ambitions close to home and complete his studies in another small town within Simcoe County.
“I had absolutely no intention of ever attending university,” Avery said Wednesday morning, noting he was a transfer student who first received his Police Foundations diploma at Georgian College. “I’m so thankful I was able to go to university, live in a small town, but still meet many influential people and students from all over world.”
Avery, the first from his family to attend university, said he learned a lot during his four years at Lakehead. “I spent a good portion of my life here, developed, really, a family here in this community,” he said. “Lakehead will always be part of me and I know the possibilities are endless.”
He also recognized those possibilities may not have been available locally if not for the support of the County of Simcoe. Warden Gerry Marshall presented a cheque for $1 million to the Orillia campus Wednesday; the county has now invested $8.5 million as part of its 10-year $10-million pledge to the university.
“I ask you all to raise a glass in tribute to the generosity of the County of Simcoe,” said Avery, while hoisting a flute of orange juice at the cheque presentation in the Orsi Family Learning Commons. “We look forward to continuing to celebrate our partnership. Thanks for the support.”
Marshall said Avery was a perfect example of why the county’s support is critical.
“(Avery) is the first to graduate from his family and that’s happening a lot now in the County of Simcoe thanks to Lakehead University,” said Marshall. “It’s a great facility and a great part of Simcoe County.”
He said the county’s financial support is neither a gift nor a donation, but rather an investment in the future. “This investment supports our economy, fuels our labour market and provides our students with a more affordable local opportunity to obtain a world-class education,” he said.
Orillia campus principal Dean Jobin-Bevans agreed.
“One of our primary goals is to ensure local students do not have to leave the county or their homes to come to school,” said Jobin-Bevans, noting enrolment has grown from 100 students in its first year to more than 1,400 today. “Forty-eight per cent of our student population comes from Simcoe County and I can tell you we are committed to that mandate to be Simcoe County’s university.”
He said Lakehead’s partnership with Georgian College will mean much more growth in the future; he expects enrolment to jump to about 3,000 students within 10 years.
To help prepare for that growth, Lakehead officials have begun a visioning process to discern how to best accommodate the next generation of students.
Jobin-Bevans said “broad-based internal” consultation with students has begun. He also noted there has been a town hall meeting in addition to engagement with the student union, faculty and staff.
“Lakehead University is committed to improving student experience on our campus and I’m pleased to inform you that … we have begun to engage in a consultative process with the goal to develop a shovel- ready project,” Jobin-Bevans said.
Based on identified needs, several options are being considered; they include the creation of an athletic/recreation facility, student social and meeting spaces and the development of health and wellness services.
“The creation of infrastructure and continued visioning of future infrastructure will really depend on our partnerships with the city, with the county and others,” Jobin-Bevans told OrilliaMatters. “That’s why their support is so important. This financial support transforms not only the look and feel of our campus, but the lives of our students.”
