Lambton College Breaks Ground on New Student Residence
SARNIA, June 25, 2025 – The largest capital project in the history of Lambton College is officially underway.
Lambton College students and employees were joined by elected officials, partners, and community stakeholders for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the new student residence.
Member of Parliament Marilyn Gladu, Member of Provincial Parliament Bob Bailey and Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley joined representatives from the College, Tilbury Properties Corporation (Tilbury) and Fengate Asset Management (Fengate) for a ceremonial groundbreaking and student life celebration to mark the start of construction.
Participants donned hardhats and used official Lambton College shovels while Rob Kardas, President & CEO, Lambton College, and Michael Kaye, Partner, Tilbury Properties Corporation, each had a hand on the original ceremonial shovel used to break ground for the original construction of Lambton College on December 18, 1968.
Representatives from Ball Construction, Teeple Architects, and Varsity Communities were also in attendance, representing the scope of the innovative partnership that will turn the residence renderings into a welcoming student community.
“We’ve been saying this residence is “Here for the Future” because our students are the future,” said Rob Kardas, President & CEO, Lambton 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, complete with lunch, ice cream, and outdoor games 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, Infrastructure Investments at Fengate.
Though Lambton College is firmly looking ahead with the new student residence, the event also delved into the College’s history, particularly as Michael Kaye from Tilbury spoke on behalf of the public-private partnership.;
“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.”
The new student residence is scheduled to open in September of 2027, the year Lambton College will be celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Lambton College’s new residence is more than a building – it’s a commitment to Sarnia-Lambton and the students who will shape its future as workers and community members. Learn more at lambtoncollege.ca/newresidence.
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