Marianne Matichuk named CAO of Laurentian research centre

Laurentian University has appointed Marianne Matichuk, the former mayor of Sudbury, aschief administrative officer of its Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health.

Matichuk will be responsible for steering the centre's efforts to achieve "key strategic priorities," including the launch of the planned mobile research laboratory, M-CROSH, according to a Laurentian press release.

"Marianne was the ideal candidate, as she is a passionate advocate for health and safety in the workplace and has over 30 years of OHS experience," said CROSH Director Dr. Sandra Dorman.

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"My roots in this community run deep, and I am thrilled to be working with Dr. Dorman and theCROSH team to transfer the intellectual capacity we have generated in occupational safety andhealth to our northern workplaces and communities," said Matichuk.

"The research that is ledby CROSH is making a vital difference in the lives of workers and their families and I am proudto play a part in it."

The position is funded in part by a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Labour.

According to itswebsite, the research centre aims tobe an "active agent for discovery and innovation ...[to] eliminate occupational injury and disease from [the] workplaces."

Prior to serving as the mayor of Greater Sudbury between 2010-2014, Matichuk worked as an occupational health and safety professional with Vale and with the City of Greater Sudbury.

Matichuk opted out of running for a second term in office, but rumours soon began swirling she would seek a nomination in either the provincial or federal election. She eventuallylost the Liberal nominationto current MP Paul Lefebvre.

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