Skip to content

LETTER: Lakehead plan 'an example of dangers of absentee management'

Doug Lewis says Orillia campus will only flourish and grow if it is 'truly administered from Orillia rather than Thunder Bay'
2018-01-21 LU.jpg
Lakehead University, Orillia

OrilliaMatters received the following letter from Doug Lewis in the wake of a story about Lakehead University exploring the possibility of expanding programming to Barrie.

***********************

An open letter to Dr. David Richards, Assistant Dean and graduate co-ordinator in the faculty of Business Administration at Lakehead University:

You were recently quoted as considering expanding Lakehead's Master of Business Administration program into Barrie. Apparently, you are working with the City of Barrie to reach out to the business community (of Barrie) as you examine the possibility.

I have always been supportive of Lakehead's initiative in Orillia, with one reservation. 

Lakehead's campus in Orillia will only really grow and flourish when it is truly administered from Orillia rather than Thunder Bay. This is a perfect example of the dangers of absentee management not fully understanding what is at play, and poor public relations.

In 2005 the City of Orillia made a commitment to support Lakehead's decision to start a campus. Lakehead in turn committed to an enrolment of 6,000 students and growing the Orillia campus.

Since 2005 the City of Orillia has donated $10M in cash and equivalent (85 prime acres of land).   The County of Simcoe has donated $7.5M in cash.  I have no knowledge of the City of Barrie donating anything to Lakehead!

A progress report on Lakehead's progress towards meeting its commitment would be welcomed by the City of Orillia, the County of Simcoe and the taxpayers of both.

There is no question that the enrolment at Lakehead in Orillia contributes to the economic viability of the Thunder Bay campus. In return, Lakehead should be considering its original commitment to Orillia and how it can enhance that commitment and give back to Orillia. The focus should not be on what can be done to enhance Barrie; Georgian College does enough for Barrie already.

When my friend Ross Murray, now Chair of Lakehead's Board of Governors asked for my assistance as a Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario, in securing approval for the law school at Lakehead in Thunder Bay, I did so willingly.

When Lakehead sought the support of the business community in Orillia to thwart the establishment of a university in Barrie, led by Laurentian at the time, I worked my contacts for Lakehead. Laurentian has abandoned its thrust into Barrie.

Once the municipal election is over, I will ask my contacts on City Council to meet with Lakehead's management (in Orillia) to get a progress report on how Lakehead is progressing on its commitment and when Lakehead will truly be managed from Orillia.

Doug Lewis

***********************