Sarnia, ON – Community leaders are celebrating five years of collaboration through the Sarnia-Lambton Immigration Taskforce, recognizing its role in strengthening the local workforce, supporting economic growth, and building a more welcoming community for newcomers.
Established in 2020, the Taskforce brought together leaders from business, education, settlement services, healthcare, municipal government, and community organizations to address a shared priority: attracting and retaining the talent needed to support Sarnia-Lambton’s long-term prosperity.
Through a collective impact approach, the Taskforce developed a community-wide framework that aligned partners around newcomer attraction, integration, retention, and workforce development. This coordinated model helped transform individual initiatives into aligned, system-level action—creating sustained benefits for employers, newcomers, and the broader community.
Over the past five years, the Taskforce has supported the development and delivery of several major initiatives that continue to strengthen the region, including:
The impact of this collaborative work is reflected in local outcomes. Over the past five years, Sarnia-Lambton has welcomed approximately 2,000 newcomers, contributing to workforce growth, population stability, and the long-term economic vitality of the region.
“Skilled newcomers play a critical role in contributing to workforce growth and skills gap reductions, population stability, and the long-term economic vitality of the region. Additionally, they balance workforce inflow and outflow to meet the needs of the community,” said Matthew Slotwinski, CEO of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership. “Their contributions strengthen our employers, enhance productivity, increase the tax base, and support the long-term competitiveness of our regional economy.”
These outcomes underscore the importance of sustained, coordinated action across settlement, employment, and community partners, and provide a strong foundation for the next phase of collaborative work.
“Lambton College is proud to contribute to the efforts of the Sarnia-Lambton Immigration Taskforce,” said Rob Kardas, President & CEO, Lambton College. “As a post-secondary institution, we play an important role in developing the talent pipeline that supports local employers and our regional economy. In working with community partners to support newcomer attraction, integration, and long-term success, we are building a stronger workforce and a more vibrant Sarnia-Lambton.”
Moving forward, the Sarnia-Lambton Immigration Partnership will coordinate the Community Plan for Positive Immigration Outcomes, endorsed by Lambton County Council, providing a shared roadmap for collective action on newcomer attraction, retention, settlement, and long-term integration across the region.
“The Taskforce has demonstrated the power of sustained collaboration in building a more welcoming and inclusive community,” says Stephanie Ferrera, Project Coordinator with Sarnia Lambton Immigration Partnership. “As we move into the next phase of work through the Community Plan for Positive Immigration Outcomes, we remain committed to supporting coordinated efforts that enhance newcomer attraction, retention, and integration across the region.”
Lambton College, the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, Sarnia Lambton Immigration Partnership, and other community partners will support the implementation of the Plan’s activities, advancing coordinated efforts in workforce development, employer engagement, and community inclusion to ensure Sarnia-Lambton remains a welcoming community and a destination of choice for talent, investment, and opportunity.
About the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership:
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) is the lead economic development agency for the Sarnia-Lambton area. Funded by the County of Lambton, we focus on promoting the distinct advantages Sarnia-Lambton proudly offers companies and residents. By coordinating community-based economic development initiatives and maintaining a commercially attractive environment, we foster new business creation, help ensure that established firms remain and grow here, and work to attract growing businesses to the Sarnia-Lambton area.
For Media Inquiries:
Arianne Garcia
Marketing & Communications Manager
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
(519) 332 1820 ext 225
arianne@sarnialambton.on.ca
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