The Dennie Sisters: Laurentian Health Promotion Graduates

We present to you another interview with Laurentian Alumni that are relatives! Anik and Alexie are sisters that have both graduated from the Human Kinetics Health Promotion program at Laurentian. This family is highly involved in the Laurentian Community, with their father working as an Academic Advisor in the Centre for Academic Excellence on campus. Both sisters thoroughly enjoyed their time in their undergraduate programs, crediting the infamous Outdoor School experience for the great bonds they formed with their peers. Alexie was a big fan of the canoe trip during Outdoor School 3, and was grateful to be partnered with an experienced ADVL student to help row her canoe.

Both sisters decided to continue their education at Laurentian in the Masters of Human Kinetics program. Alexie is currently finishing off her Masters degree, and is working on a project called Mining Mental Health and Wellness. Her research specifically focuses on the sleep quality of individuals working in the mining industry. Alexie also works as a Laurentian Recruiter with Liaison Services. She plans to apply to medical school after the completion of her Masters degree, and hopes to stay local for the duration of her schooling. Alexie’s ultimate goal is to focus on improving the health of rural populations.

Anik finished her Masters of Human Kinetics in 2017. She currently works as a knowledge translator to evaluate children's health outcomes. She works with a tool known as Aaniish Naa Gegii (meaning How are you? in Ojibway), to evaluate the health and well-being of children living in Indigenous communities. As a knowledge translator, Anik works to form collaborative relationships with communities, and helps to solidify the sustainability of the tool for use in the future.

While interviewing the Dennie sisters, one similarity became very clear, they both share a passion for the health of communities, and have a interest in exploring the unknowns of these communities. In reflection of their classes at Laurentian, both Anik and Alexie reference back to their Community Health class in the work they are doing now. They both have drive to find and help populations who have been overlooked, whether that be the mining community or an Indigenous community.

We would like to thank both Anik and Alexis for taking the time to sit down and chat with us. We can not wait to see what the future holds for you both.