On April 4, 2017, two delegates from Lakehead University, Canada paid a courtesy call on President Hisataka Moriwaki. They were Mr. James Aldridge, Vice Provost, International, and Professor Kim Fedderson, Principal of Orillia Campus. Gifu City and Thunder Bay signed a sister city relationship in 2007, and one of the campuses of Lakehead University is located at Thunder Bay (the other is Orillia Campus). Since last year, Gifu University and Lakehead University have held talks for a conclusion of university level exchange agreement.

The two delegates' meeting with the President was joined by Dr. Fumiaki Suzuki, Executive Director for International Affairs and Public Relations and Professor Mutsuhiro Shima of the Faculty of Engineering. Also from the Faculty of Regional Studies, Professor Kazuo Nakagawa, Associate Professor Muneaki Kamiya and Mr. Takaaki Miyagawa, General Manager took part in. In the meeting, Dr. Suzuki reported to the President that the two universities are reaching a final conclusion about the university level exchange agreement. Mr. Aldridge said, "We truly look forward to starting exchange with Gifu University and strongly hope that students of the two universities are involved in robust inbound and outbound activities. As a first step, we could kick off student exchange or short-term language study programs, and by extension, both institutions could expand the relationship into faculty exchange in the near future."

The Faculty of Regional Studies opened the International Studies in Liberal Arts in 2015 where one-year study abroad is mandatory for students. In this respect, Lakehead University is more likely to be one of students' destinations. In addition, the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences are planning to send students to Lakehead University for short-term language studies.

After their meeting with the President and others, the two paid a courtesy call on Shigemitsu Hosoe, Mayor of Gifu City at Gifu City Hall and they reported the ongoing negotiations about the university level exchange agreement. Mr. Hosoe made the following comment; "I would like to ask President Moriwaki to visit Lakehead University. I believe that it will definitely pave the way for a stronger bond between Gifu City and Thunder Bay in the days to come."

There are a number of common aspects between the two universities such as composing faculties, scale, location and close ties with local communities. It is highly expected that active exchange will continue between two universities in wider range of fields in the future.