Capped by record enrolment
By Tara Jeffrey www.theobserver.ca The Observer
The year 2011 was a booming year for Lambton College.
The Sarnia facility boasted record enrolment numbers, launched a hugely successful capital campaign, and added to its illustrious reputation as a top competitor for firefighting across Canada.
“We have a tremendous number of students coming from outside this area,” spokesperson Cindy Buchanan told The Observer. “Lambton is offering programs that folks are looking for.”
Buchanan said enrolment numbers jumped from 3,079 in 2010 to 3,225 this fall, pointing to popular programs like Preservice Firefighter, Chemical Production and Power Engineering Technology, Bachelor of Science and Nursing, Child and Youth Worker, Paramedic, Practical Nursing and Personal Support Worker.
New this year are the Law Clerk and Esthetician programs, along with Retail Pharmacy Assistant, Enterprise Database and Programming Management, and planned for 2012 are the Perioperative Nursing and Therapeutic Recreation Ontario Graduate Certificates, as well as diplomas for Hairstylist and Digital Photography.
Throughout the year, industry donations were piling in for the college’s $5 million “Inspiring the Future Campaign,” most notably, gifts from CF Industries ($100,000), Suncor Energy ($500,000), Cabot Canada Ltd. ($100,000)and RBC ($100,000).
Lambton also unveiled a new sate-of-the-art Sustainable Smart Home — a $1.2 million facility designed for academic and research opportunities, as well as expanding student and community education on green, sustainable energy options.
Students from the college’s Firefighter Combat Team continued to thrive in competition, including a bronze medal at the FireFit National Championships in Alberta.
A sixth consecutive fire school championship win was nixed, however, after no other college teams showed up to compete in the division.
In August, Derek Buchanan and Ryan Kennedy took gold in the school’s first entry into tandem relay competition at the Quebec Regional Scott Firefit competition in Ottawa.
The team had an “incredible” year, team coach Ron Sparling said, noting Lambton took on only two competitions in Ontario before going to nationals. Normally teams compete in four.
The Lambton program offers a one-year pre-service study, followed by a two-year, hands-on fire science and technology program, the only one of its kind in Canada
Meanwhile, college officials reported only minor disruptions after some 8,000 support staff across Ontario — including registrars, counsellors, librarians, administrators, IT staff and cleaners —walked off the job Sept. 1.
Two weeks later, a tentative agreement was reached between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the College Employer Council — representing Ontario’s 24 colleges.
Finally, after 10 years on the job, college President and CEO Tony Hanlon announced this summer he will retire at the end of 2011.
Judith Morris will be the new president and CEO. 1.A nine-year veteran of Lambton College, Morris was vice-president of academic and student services at the college.
When Hanlon arrived a decade ago, the college had a full-time enrolment of 2,100 and a deficit of $2.5 million.
Hanlon pledged to “grow” the college and improve its financial position.
Today, The deficit has been eliminated and Lambton College has a $4.5 million surplus this year. Part of that can be attributed to a change in government policy that has provided an additional $4.2 million to Lambton every year since 2005.
Observer Article ID# 3422159
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