For immediate release: 26 August 2006

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT STRENGTHENS RURAL COMMUNITIES
BY SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
New Advisory Panel To Examine Future Revitalization
Of Vineland Research Station

LINCOLN - The Ontario government is appointing an advisory panel to examine the future revitalization of the Vineland Research Station in the Niagara region, Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced today.

"We believe in building partnerships and supporting research that will improve the agri-food industry and the quality of life for rural Ontarians," said Dombrowsky. "That is why I am pleased to announce that our ministry is providing $200,000 to establish the Vineland Renaissance Advisory Panel."

The panel, which will be headed by Donald Ziraldo, co-founder and president of Inniskillin Wineries, will explore how the facility can be transformed into a modern, revitalized centre of excellence that will continue to serve the agri-food industry in the Niagara region and throughout Ontario.

James Farrar, Dr. Cal Stiller, and Jamie Warner will also serve on the advisory panel, which is expected to report back to the ministry this fall.

"I look forward to working with the panel and participating in this renaissance effort," said Ziraldo, advisory panel chair. "A new model for Vineland has the potential to accelerate innovation and commercialization, act as a catalyst for reinvestment in world-class agri-food research, and become an economic driver for the entire Niagara region."

Today's announcement was made at the research station's centennial celebrations in Vineland. During its history, the station built a reputation for research and education excellence in the horticulture industry. It became known as the province's centre for plant breeding, releasing more than 50 varieties of peaches, apricots, cherries and plums, and 18 varieties of vegetables. Five new fruit varieties were announced during the day's ceremonies.

The research station is currently owned by the Crown through the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO) and managed by the University of Guelph.

Vineland was transferred to the ARIO by the Ontario government last year, along with 13 other agricultural research stations and three colleges. The move was made in response to a key recommendation resulting from the Premier's Agricultural Summit. The goal of the transfer is to increase collaboration and investment by federal and industry partners.

"We have a strong interest in this process," said Murray Porteous, chair of ARIO. "There is a lot of excitement and potential for research in agriculture and food, and the ARIO is pleased to be involved."

The McGuinty government is on the side of families in rural Ontario. Initiatives include:

• Helping farmers by providing $800 million over the past three years for farm income stabilization and support programs, including $125 million to help grain and oilseed farmers, horticulture farmers and the livestock industry
• Investing over $22 million in rural communities through the Rural Economic Development Program
• Exempting farmers from fees for water-taking permits.

"Research and innovation are crucial in creating new opportunities for Ontario's agriculture and agri-food industry," said Dombrowsky. "The Vineland Renaissance Advisory Panel will play an important role in promoting those opportunities."

Celebrating 100 years of research and education excellence at the Vineland Research Station are, left to right: B.A. (Bruce) Archibald (Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs), Jim Bradley (Ontario Minister of Tourism), Leona Dombrowsky (Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs), Chuck Strahl (Minister, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) and Dr. Alan Wildeman (University of Guelph).

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Contacts:
Christopher Flavelle
Minister's Office
416-326-3072

Dave McLeod
Communications Branch
519-826-3198

BIOGRAPHIES OF MINISTER'S VINELAND RENAISSANCE ADVISORY PANEL

Donald J.P. Ziraldo (Chair)

Donald Ziraldo is president of Inniskillin Wines Inc., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario and Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards Inc., Oliver, British Columbia. He is founding chair of the Vintners' Quality Alliance, past chair of Vincor International Inc., and an honorary board member of the International Wine Institute. Ziraldo has been a dynamic force in building Ontario's wine industry and flourishing reputation both at home and in the international community.

He has served as co-chair of Brock University's Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute Capital Campaign; campaign chair, Niagara College Foundation "Future Ready" Capital Campaign; and chair of the Grape and Wine Coordination Research Committee.

Ziraldo's wide range of interests extends beyond his passion for wine. He is a director, Shaftesbury Films and has served as a member on the Team Canada Inc. Advisory Board, the Canadian Tourism Board, the Shaw Festival Board, and the Greenbelt Advisory Task Force.

He has been recognized for his entrepreneurial leadership and community work through a multitude of awards, including the Order of Ontario (1993), the Order of Canada (1998), the Grindley Medal, Agricultural Institute of Canada (1995), and the Lifetime Achievement Award, Canadian Wine Institute (1999). Ziraldo is a graduate of the University of Guelph (B.Sc in Agriculture) and holds honourary degrees from Brock University, Humber College, and Niagara College.

James Farrar

James Farrar is president of Jayeff Partners, an agri-food management consulting practice founded in 1996, dedicated to providing strategic business solutions to needs of the agri-food sector in Ontario.

Earlier in his career (1982-91), Farrar served as chief financial officer for JB Food Industries, an entrepreneurial, family-owned food processing business in Ontario, where he supported the company's rapid growth and adoption of innovative technology during that period.

During the next five years (1991-96), he worked for the Food Industry Competitiveness Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, where he held several senior positions. As manager of the Client Account Unit, Farrar set up a comprehensive corporate call program through which government identified and supported the needs of Ontario firms to attract investment and export product mandates.

Later, as director of the branch, he contributed to a strategic review with industry partners of government's priorities for the food industry, reorganizing the branch to enhance investment, job retention, and attraction of new product mandates.

In his current consulting practice, Farrar works with agri-food organizations and food processors, as well as all three levels of government, on collaborative projects to build a stronger agri-food sector in Ontario and across Canada. Many of his consulting projects involve facilitating diverse stakeholders and formulating convergent business cases for advancing common interests.

In 2002, he worked with the interim Board of The Ontario Greenhouse Alliance (TOGA) to develop an application to the Rural Economic Development Program of OMAFRA. On approval of this application in 2003, Farrar assisted in the launch of TOGA, and in 2004, he was engaged as the administrator for the organization. In this ongoing role, he coordinates joint initiatives of the greenhouse vegetable and greenhouse floral sectors. These activities have recently included a major economic impact study of the greenhouse sector in Ontario called Greenhouses Grow Ontario.

Farrar obtained his Certified General Accountant designation in 1981. He also has an undergraduate degree in commerce from McMaster University.

Jamie Warner

Jamie Warner is a Beamsville area farmer whose operation spans 100 acres of tender fruit including peaches, cherries, plums, apricots, pears and nectarines. He and his father employ 14 off-shore seasonal workers on their farm.

Warner is a past chair (2004- 2005) of the Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association and has represented the group on the Niagara Agriculture Subcommittee (Region of Niagara Planning Committee). He currently serves as a director for the Ontario Tender Fruit Producers' Marketing Board.

Warner graduated from Lakehead University, Thunder Bay with a concurrent Honours Bachelor, Outdoor Recreation (1996) and Bachelor of Arts, Geography. He also holds a Bachelor of Education (1997) from the same university.

Dr. Cal Stiller

Dr. Cal Stiller is professor of Medicine, and a professor in the Microbiology and Immunology Department at the University of Western Ontario. Stiller established the Multi-Organ Transplant Service in London, Ontario, and served as the unit's chief from 1984 to 1996. During this period, he was principal investigator of the Canadian multi-centre study that established the importance of cyclosporine in transplantation and led to its worldwide use as first-line therapy for transplant rejection.

Stiller is the co-founder of two healthcare funds including the Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund Inc., where he served as chairman and CEO. He was a member of the Council and Executive Committee of the Medical Research Council of Canada (1987-1993), is currently the chair of the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund and a board member of the Ontario Innovation Trust.

Stiller serves on the board of directors of NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Spectral Diagnostics Inc., Residence Retirement REIT, CPL Trust, and several public endeavors and foundations including, chair of Genome Canada, director of MARS (Medical and Related Sciences Discovery District), and OCRN (Ontario Cancer Research Network).

He is also the recipient of numerous awards including the MEDEC Award (1992), the Order of Canada (1995) and the Order of Ontario (2000). In May 2002, Stiller received an Honourary Doctor of Laws Degree from McMaster University in Hamilton.

Contacts:
Christopher Flavelle
Minister's Office
416-326-3072

Dave Antle
Research and Corporate Services Division
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food
and Rural Affairs
519-826-4151