Sarnia, ON – Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP), in partnership with the Newcomer Centre of Peel, will host the Opportunities in Motion bus tour on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, introducing newcomers from the Peel Region to career opportunities, industries, and communities across Sarnia-Lambton.
Participants will travel to Sarnia-Lambton alongside Andy Thibodeau, an award-winning speaker, leadership trainer, and communications expert, who will lead discussions focused on confidence building, networking strategies, and preparing to connect with Canadian employers. The bus will tour throughout Lambton County, including the Township of Warwick, Sarnia-Lambton Western Research Park, Sarnia-Lambton’s Energy and Petrochemical Cluster, Bluewater Health, and the Blue Water Bridge. Participants will also experience local amenities and waterfront spaces, including Canatara Park.
A networking lunch will take place at the Gateway Room at St. Clair Corporate Centre beginning at 12:30 p.m. Local employers experiencing work shortages will have the opportunity to connect directly with participants to discuss career opportunities within the region.
“We are showcasing the many opportunities Sarnia-Lambton has to offer by connecting permanent residents to employers that are faced with hiring challenges and that are looking for specific talent,” said Cari Meloche, Economic Development Officer at Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership. “This tour highlights our industries while providing the benefits of living in both urban and rural communities. This is a perfect opportunity to showcase how Sarnia-Lambton is the best place to live, work and thrive.”
“This event supports SLEP’s efforts to support local employers and their ability to connect with talent relevant to hard-to-fill positions,” said Matthew Slotwinski, CEO of Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership. “We want to attract skilled talent to our community to support Sarnia-Lambton’s workforce needs and strengthen our economy. This event will help us achieve just that.”
The bus tour is proudly sponsored by Community Futures Lambton through the 2026-2027 Community Futures Grant.
“This bus tour is a great example of community collaboration creating new opportunities for both people and local employers. Community Futures Lambton is proud to support initiatives that strengthen workforce development and showcase all that Sarnia-Lambton has to offer,” said Sarah Reaume, CEO of Community Futures Lambton.
Employers interested in participating in the networking lunch are encouraged to contact Richa Joshi of the Sarnia-Lambton Newcomer Hub at richa@sarnialambton.on.ca.
About the Sarnia-Lambton Newcomer Hub:
Sarnia-Lambton Newcomer Hub is an initiative through SLEP and funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to support permanent residents in Sarnia-Lambton. The Hub provides 12 workshops per year to help newcomers thrive in Canadian employment, entrepreneurship and networking with mentorship opportunities. The Sarnia-Lambton Newcomer has completed one year in their 3-year initiative serving 190 unique permanent residents. Recently, the Newcomer Hub was awarded the Business Facilities 2026 EDO Award in the category of Mid-Sized Economic Development Organization (serving 100K-500K people).
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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