<iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MF263BM" height="0" width="0"> Skip to main contentSkip to main navigationSkip to footer content

From the President's Desk: February 2026

From the President's Desk

Reflecting on the launch of Lakeland’s Belongingness Compass

 Over the past few weeks, we officially rolled out Lakeland College’s Belongingness Compass across our campuses. This has been an important milestone for our college community — not just because of the framework itself, but because of the conversations it has sparked.

Belonging is deeply personal. It’s the feeling that you are seen. That your experiences matter. That your ideas are welcomed. That you can show up as your full self, whether you are stepping into a classroom for the first time, leading a team, working in the barns at sunrise, supporting students behind the scenes, or participating in campus life.

At Lakeland, we pride ourselves on being hands-on, community-focused and connected. The Belongingness Compass builds on those strengths. It gives us shared language and shared direction. It reminds us that belonging is not accidental; it is something we create intentionally through our actions, our leadership and our everyday interactions.

Circular diagram composed of five interconnected puzzle pieces labeled Actions and Attitudes, Aspirations, Communication, The Lakeland Way, and Align Systems, surrounding the central concept of Belongingness. Each piece is colored differently in shades of blue and green, illustrating key components contributing to a sense of belonging.

Lakeland's Belongingness Compass

This framework is not about adding another initiative to a busy environment. It is about grounding ourselves in what matters most as we continue to grow and evolve. As we welcome learners from diverse backgrounds and experiences, expand programming and strengthen partnerships, the Compass helps ensure that people remain at the centre of every decision we make.

I am incredibly grateful to those who helped shape this work and to everyone who has embraced it with openness and thoughtfulness. The rollout is just the beginning. Belonging is something we must continually nurture — in our classrooms, across our departments, within our leadership teams and throughout our broader community.

Lakeland has always been a place where people roll up their sleeves and work together. The Belongingness Compass strengthens that spirit. It challenges us to listen more deeply, support one another more intentionally and lead with empathy and accountability.

We are proud of this step forward and we look forward to continuing to build a Lakeland where every student, employee, and partner truly feels they belong.

Until next time,
Alice