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Ontario college pays homage to its past as it plans for the future of its students with new student residence.
From left, Brian White, Sarnia city councillor and Lambton county councillor; Kendra Kusick, Teeple Architects; Jason Ball, Ball Construction; Mark Walker, Fengate; Jack Federer, Tilbury; Michael Kaye, Tilbury; Rob Kardas, president & CEO, Lambton College; Tania Lee, chair, Board of Governors, Lambton College; Brandon Ackerman, Varsity Communities; Diane McCahill, manager, EarlyON, Lambton College; Sara Arsenault, student, Lambton College; Bob Bailey, MPP, Sarnia-Lambton; Marilyn Gladu, MP, Sarnia-Lambton; Brad Loosely, mayor of Petrolia; Adam Kilner, Sarnia city councillor; and Mike Bradley, mayor of Sarnia. (Photo courtesy of Lambton College)
The largest capital project in the history of Lambton College is officially underway. The public college in Sarnia, Ont., recently broke ground on a new student residence, with college students and employees being joined by elected officials, partners and community stakeholders for the occasion.
“We’ve been saying this residence is ‘Here for the Future’ because our students are the future,” said Rob Kardas, president and CEO of the college. “We’re grateful to everyone involved in this partnership for the way it’s going to strengthen our college and community.”
Following the ceremony, Lambton College Student Administrative Council hosted a celebratory street party to underscore the importance of residence to the student life experience.
“My time in residence is what set me up to have such a great experience at Lambton College,” said Sara Arseneault, a Pre-Service Firefighting Education & Training and Fire Science graduate. “I started my year in residence not knowing anyone, and by the end of it I knew almost all 250 residence students. I made lifelong friends and took part in so many events. I actually got so involved in college and residence life that I became Lambton College’s lead student ambassador, and I now work at the residence where I try to help students feel the way I did when I lived there.”
“Fengate and our partners at Tilbury are proud to be delivering this essential home-away-from-home for students of Lambton College, and we are proud to be on site to break ground on the largest project in the college’s history,” said Mac Bell, managing director of infrastructure investments at Fengate.
The college has a long history with Tillbury, as Michael Kaye, partner with the company, explained.
“In 1969, my grandfather’s construction company was awarded the contract to build the first ever Lambton College building on this campus,” said Kaye. “My grandfather helped usher in an enduring era of student and community success at Lambton College. To be following in his footsteps and partnering with the college on this legacy project that will have a similar impact on the community and Lambton College students for decades to come is truly an honour.”
To mark the occasion, and to pay respect to the past, Kardas and Kaye each had a hand on the original ceremonial shovel used to break ground for the original construction of Lambton College on December 18, 1968.
Along with Tilbury Properties Corporation, Fengate Asset Management, Ball Construction, Teeple Architects and Varsity Communities, are also working on the new structure. The new student residence is scheduled to open in September of 2027, during the college’s 60th anniversary.