About Us | County of Lambton

We work to promote and strengthen Sarnia-Lambton as a welcoming community where everyone feels at home.

The Sarnia-Lambton Local Immigration Partnership (SL-LIP) is a federally funded initiative through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and is housed with the County of Lambton. The SL-LIP works alongside organizations to enhance settlement services and foster inclusion through the coordination of efforts across the healthcare, education, business, and social services sectors to ensure newcomers have access to the resources they need to thrive. Immigration is incredibly beneficial for Sarnia-Lambton, driving economic development, enhancing workforce sustainability, and enriching cultural diversity. Skilled workers, international graduates and their families bring new perspectives and talents that enrich the region. By utilizing research and fostering partnerships with local employers, we are addressing workforce shortages while creating valuable employment opportunities for newcomers.

Initiatives like the Welcome to Lambton app and the establishment of an Immigrant Advisory Committee demonstrate our dedication to fostering inclusivity and connectivity. The app serves as a vital tool for connecting newcomers with essential services and community programs, while the advisory committee ensures that immigrant voices are heard and valued in our community development processes. As a community enriched by diversity, we take pride in supporting institutions across different sectors as they collaborate through partnerships to create a warm and inclusive environment for newcomers. This collective effort ensures that Sarnia-Lambton remains a place where everyone feels valued and supported.

Meet the Team

Stephanie Ferrera
Project Coordinator

For nearly 16 years, Stephanie has led the Sarnia Lambton LIP team, strengthening partnerships and fostering new ones within the community. Her experience in social services has equipped her to manage a research team focused on community planning. Balancing roles in coordination, planning, data collection, reporting, and impact measurement, Stephanie is committed to raising the profile of LIPs across Canada to ensure sustainable solutions for newcomer attraction, retention, and inclusion.

Beakal Bekele
Social Planner

Beakal is a systems thinker passionate about community-focused projects, with experience in program development and strategic communication. As a Social Planner at the Sarnia-Lambton Local Immigration Partnership, he uses research to understand local immigration dynamics and assess the impact of activities. He considers it a privilege to support a welcoming community and harness the benefits of immigration.

Our Community Plan

2026-2030 Community Plan for Positive Immigration Outcomes

The 2026-2030 Community Plan for Positive Immigration Outcome is focused on strengthening the local agenda to successfully integrate newcomers and focuses on:

Showcasing Lambton County’s welcoming characteristics
Mobilizing newcomers’ skills and innovation and
Promoting health and wellbeing for a growing community

The Community Plan is anchored on the County of Lambton’s vision to build an innovative and collaborative community of people stewarding the environment and growing together.