Cathy Dobson Lambton College is preparing to celebrate its deep community roots with a whirlwind of contributions made in a single day by as many as 3,000 students and staff.
Cathy Dobson
Lambton College is preparing to celebrate its deep community roots with a whirlwind of contributions made in a single day by as many as 3,000 students and staff.
It’s the college’s 50th year in Sarnia, and that deserves to be marked with an event of long-lasting impact, says president Judy Morris.
“There is an energy in this community and a commitment to work together that I think is quite rare,” she said. “Lambton College wouldn’t be what we are without it.”
To mark its golden anniversary the college will hold eleven events simultaneously in Lambton County on April 5 and install a permanent legacy project in each municipality.
In Sarnia, the project involves the planting of 50 birch trees in the Point Lands waterfront park near the Sydney Smith dock. The location was chosen because it has room for a 100-foot swath of trees in a horseshoe around a sculpture, gardens and benches, said Morris.
“We spent a lot of time touring Sarnia and worked with the city on the location,” she said. “There is not enough room in Centennial Park but the point lands are really an extension of Centennial and it complements the city’s parks development plan.”
Landscape designer Adam Allison of Petrolia came up with the concept for the sculpture, estimated to cost $40,000. It features a series of tumbling boxes that will rust to an orange patina colour, each featuring inspirational words like innovation, success, passion and perseverance.
The words were chosen because they reflect the college’s relationship with the community, said Morris.
On April 5, students, faculty and support staff will be bussed to the 11 sites across Lambton to do the tree planting. In Sarnia, hundreds more students will participate in other projects intended to give back to the city.
For instance, the human resources department will build a cat room at the humane society and another group plans to create a meditation garden at Vision Nursing Home.
In total, there are 15 departmental projects to be capped with a barbecue at the college.
In the other Lambton municipalities, ten birches and a single box sculpture will be installed.
Lambton College was established in 1966 by the Province of Ontario with four programs and 54 students its first year. Over five decades it has grown to 3,800 full-time students with another 6,200 part-time, apprentice and online students.
Three major capital projects are underway that will expand the college’s reach and capacity. They include a Health and Research Centre and an Athletic and Fitness Complex, with an estimated cost of $48 million.
This year will also see a multi-million-dollar overhaul of the technology wing. The renovation will give the school a greater focus on energy and biotechnologies and demonstrate it commitment to the direction Sarnia is moving, said Morris.
“It will really show our allegiance to the community. Having a community to grow hand in hand with us is very special.”
