Lambton College’s nearly complete $15-million renovation of the main entrance of its Sarnia campus already has had an impact on at least one student.
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The project included changes to the “bridge” walkway leading to the front doors, including painting the word “welcome” in 26 languages used by its students.
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“Seeing my own language gave me a sense of belonging,” Robyn Gray, a student from Aamjiwnaang First Nation, said during the Nov. 2 opening celebration.
The college board decided after approving the project – which also moved the college store out of the basement and into a larger prominent spot, created an atrium lobby and added a new classroom overlooking an outdoor terrace – it would be named for Judith Morris who was retiring as college president.
Current president Rob Kardas and Morris’ predecessor Tony Hanlon unveiled a Judith A. Morris atrium and welcome center sign over the reception desk in the lobby during the opening celebration.
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“You have honored me beyond my wildest dreams,” said Morris who retired as president in 2021.
“I love how the bridge reflects who we are now as a college,” she said. “It literally speaks to the global powerhouse that we have become.”
Lambton College has been attracting large numbers of international students in recent years and students from several countries in national dress took part in the celebration.
“You really can’t walk around this campus and not see Judy’s profound vision and influence,” Kardas said. “It’s all over the place.”
The renovated entrance is just one of several building projects in recent years at the college, including a new gym and health sciences wing, new technology wing and an outdoor Indigenous center now under construction. There are also plans to upgrade a soccer field, enhance outdoor student spaces and build a new student residence.
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“The work is never done here,” Kardas said.
A few “touch ups” still are being done to complete the entrance project, he said.
“This project was definitely delayed because of the pandemic” with “lots of supply chain issues, delays in getting material.”
College officials were glad to be able to finally celebrate its opening and “so happy to do it for Judy,” Kardas said. “I think it’s her hall of fame moment.”
Morris was a vice-president at the college when she was appointed president in 2012 following Hanlon’s retirement.
“To me, it’s absolutely amazing the amount of growth we’ve seen with the college,” Hanlon said. “Judy was just at the forefront of that.”
“The place is world class now and can proudly say that,” he said.
That “doesn’t happen easily,” with the need to work with governments and raise funds, Hanlon said. “It was a mammoth job.”
Adding a health science facility was “already on the books” when he was retiring, and there was talk about the need to get the campus store out of the basement, Hanlon said.
There was also a desire for many years to do something with the main entrance which previously was a line of wooden doors, set below a slab of gray concrete known informally as “the Kremlin wall,” and opening into a dimly-lit hallway.
“This is fantastic,” Hanlon said about the renovations.
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