This year at the annual Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce dinner, a brand-new award was presented—and it went to two familiar faces from the LSSU family. Dr. David Travis and his wife, Lynsey Schwabrow, were named the first-ever recipients of the Community Champion Award, recognizing their efforts to bring the university and the city closer together.
For years, Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Don Gerrie and City Manager Brian Chapman have presented a special recognition during the Chamber event. But this year, they decided to change things up. The idea behind the new Community Champion Award is to highlight individuals, businesses, or organizations that go above and beyond to make a real difference in the community. It’s about celebrating the people who roll up their sleeves and help move things forward—quietly, consistently, and with a whole lot of heart.
David and Lynsey were chosen for their work launching the Campus and Community Partnership Fund, a new initiative that helps support projects connecting LSSU and Sault Ste. Marie. The fund’s inaugural project placed LSSU flags throughout downtown, symbolizing the strong and growing partnership between the university and the city.
The Chamber’s printed brochure still called it the “Economic and Preservation Award”—an old title that didn’t quite capture the spirit of what this recognition is now all about. But if you ask anyone who was in the room that night, it was clear: David and Lynsey were the right people to kick off this new tradition.
Their work reminds us that great things happen when campus and community come together—and we couldn’t be prouder to see them leading the way.