A new partnership between Caldwell First Nation, Fanshawe College, and the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) aims to remove barriers to education and strengthen lifelong adult learning opportunities for Indigenous community members.
Partnership formalized in Leamington
The agreement was signed on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at the Caldwell administration building in Leamington. The collaboration will offer adult learners greater access to high school completion, upgrading opportunities, post-secondary pathways, and skills development that support employment and personal growth in an inclusive and culturally respectful environment.
“Education is a powerful tool for strengthening our Nation and creating opportunities for future generations,” said Caldwell Chief Nikki van Oirschot. “These partnerships reflect our commitment to supporting lifelong learning and ensuring our members have access to quality educational opportunities that meet them where they are.”
Overcoming historical challenges
Chief van Oirschot highlighted the challenges caused by displacement from traditional First Nation lands, including family separation and limited educational opportunities. Despite these obstacles, she emphasized that learning never stopped. “Knowledge has always been a part of who we are,” she said. “Long before classrooms, our ancestors taught through stories, observation, relationships, ceremony, and by living alongside the land. Today, we honor both those traditional ways of learning and the opportunities that contemporary education can provide to us.”
The partnership is part of Caldwell First Nation’s ongoing efforts to invest in community well-being, workforce development, and educational excellence.
Support for adult learners
Councillor Randy DeGraw, who holds the Caldwell education portfolio, acknowledged the challenges of returning to school. “One of the hardest things about going back to school is taking those first steps,” he said. “It’s been a while since some people have been in school, so there’s a lot they might not know. They might not understand computers. But what the great part about this program is that there’s so many people to help them through the journey.”
Future students will have the flexibility to choose where they learn based on their location—closer to London or Windsor. Rich Reid, principal at Windsor’s Mason Education Centre, said fostering student success and creating inclusive learning environments “where all learners feel valued and supported … through collaboration and committed to reconciliation” will help build opportunities for life-long learning, workforce development, cultural awareness, and community engagement.
