Lambton College is stressing the importance of community support and partnerships as it paves a way forward over the next four years.
Members of the college, elected officials, and donors gathered at the school's NOVA Chemicals Health and Research Centre on Thursday to launch the 2025 to 2029 strategic plan.
Attendees heard about the important role Lambton College has in preparing students for the local workforce and how donations help fund learning opportunities for students.
Bluewater Health President and CEO Paula Reaume-Zimmer highlighted the collaboration between the two facilities in regards to the nursing program.
A Lambton College staff member, who asked not to be named, also shared her personal story about how donations to support student success ended up helping her family during a difficult situation.
She recalled a day in 2021 when a team of firefighters, paramedics, and police officers responded to a call for help for a loved one.
"After performing some testing, they placed [him] on a stretcher and into the ambulance," she said. "I climbed in after him, and just before they shut the door, one of the police officers looked at me, and she pulled down her mask. I immediately recognized her. She was an alumnus of our college and a mentor in the mentorship program."
During their trip to the hospital, she learned that the paramedics in the ambulance were also graduates of Lambton College.
"When we arrived at the hospital, the nurse tending to my son had a Lambton College nursing sweater tied around her waist," she said. "On the most difficult day of my life, I called for help, and Lambton College's alumni responded."
While collaboration with local partners is an important pillar at Lambton College, connections with Indigenous communities and students were also highlighted during the launch.
Lambton College President & CEO Rob Kardas said with this renewed "All In" strategic plan, one of their seven goals is to advance truth and reconciliation through Indigenous protocols.
"We want to now, look at the calls to action and what calls to action Lambton College can take and implement here to really improve our environment for Indigenous learners," Kardas said.
A new Indigenous Outdoor Gathering Space, located on the south side of campus, is currently under construction. Plans for the space were unveiled in 2022.
Kardas said they're aiming to have the build complete by July, with a grand opening slated for the fall.
"We're really looking forward to that," he said.
Other goals in the strategic plan include elevating the school's research and reputation, enabling student success and wellbeing, and being a first choice for students and clients.
"As we go through some turbulent times here, not only at Lambton but in the sector, I think a good strategic plan becomes more important than ever because it's going to become really important that we have a bit of a north star to look to as we try to make decisions with limited resources. So the strategic plan's really going to be our foundation here for moving forward."
Lambton College, like other post-secondary schools, is starting to feel the effects of having fewer new international students.
Kardas said announcements will be made throughout the year about steps the college is taking to see continued growth in domestic enrolment.
The full strategic plan can be found on the school's website. Kardas said it was developed after a year-long consultation process with stakeholders and students.