Michel Beaulieu

Northern Issues | Community | Migration | History | Applied and public history, Canada and Finland, Canadian political history, Canadian labour history, governance and leadership, heritage planning, northern Ontario, Ontario history, resource development history.

Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu is Provost and Vice-President, Academic at the University of Northern British Columbia and Professor in the Department of History. An internationally recognized scholar, Michel also holds academic appointments at the University of Oulu and University of Helsinki, Finland. Prior to his appointment at UNBC, Michel served as Lakehead University’s Associate Vice-Provost Academic between 2019 and 2025 where he provided strategic direction for building and developing innovative academic and non-academic programs, associated facilities, and supporting the administration of academic affairs and operations on all of Lakehead’s campuses and at partner institutions. Before that role held numerous leadership roles at Lakehead, including Chair of the Department of History, Coordinator of Interdisciplinary Programs in Northern Studies, and Director of two research centres. He also served extensively on university governance bodies. Deeply committed to collaboration and community engagement, Dr. Beaulieu’s experience includes regional and nationally not-for-profit board leadership and governance, with a strong track record of guiding organizations through strategic decision-making, fostering organizational and fiscal accountability, and ensuring effective community engagement and collaboration. This has included driving strategic planning and organizational change to enhance performance, adaptability, and long-term success. Dr. Beaulieu is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS), Honorary Colonel of the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment, and a registered Professional Member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP). His academic and community contributions have been recognized by numerous awards including Lakehead University’s Distinguished Research Award (the highest honour conferred by Lakehead for research and scholarly activity), the Cruikshank Gold Medal, the City of Thunder Bay’s Spirit of Thunder Bay Award and Heritage Award, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal.