Lakehead University’s Thunder Bay campus will close its main athletics facilities at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, and is expected to reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, pending a safety assessment of campus grounds and travel conditions. The shutdown affects all indoor activities, including varsity practices, intramurals and community programs.
The closure covers the C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse (the Thunderdome), The Hangar and the Wolf Den. Campus recreation users will not have access to gym courts, weight rooms, the swimming pool or the indoor track during this period. Notices were distributed via the LakeheadMOVE app, the university’s social media channels and the Athletics & Recreation web portal.
Thunder Bay frequently experiences heavy lake-effect snow and freezing rain in winter. Lakehead Athletics says it follows a safety-first approach and monitors Environment Canada forecasts when making decisions about facility operations; the university has proactively closed facilities in past storms to allow crews to clear parking and walkways and to protect students and community members.
Students, varsity athletes and community groups should check the Thunderwolves schedule for any changes to practices or events. For questions about facility reopening, program make-ups, or whether the pool will be available when facilities reopen, contact the athletics front desk at (807) 343-8585 or athleticsfrontdesk@lakeheadu.ca, or consult the LakeheadMOVE app for updates.
