Lakehead University unveils new branding campaign

Kyle Less

Office Assistant and Illustrator

“I think for myself” is the slogan of the new branding campaign that has been unveiled by Lakehead University for the 2009-10 academic year to attract potential students.

The campaign, which is running both in print and online via iwillthinkformyself.com, mylakehead.ca, and Facebook, is being helped along by many university alumni, including: Michael Rapino, CEO of live Nation; Shy-Anne Hovorka, six-time Aboriginal Peoples Choice Award nominee; and Duncan Weller, author of the Governer General’s award-winning “The Boy from the Sun.”

“It’s a wonderful way to highlight some of our graduates and the success stories they present… it’s not just the university talking about itself,” say Fred Gilbert, President of Lakehead University.

“I had always hoped that we would get to the stage where we would demonstrate, as well as be able to [work with] our alumni.”

The campaign is costing the university $112,000, which is, according to Gilbert, a modest sum when compared to the advertising costs of competing institutions. The main focus is on Southern Ontario, which is currently experiencing a boom in regard to university-bound youths.