For immediate release: 15 May2006

FORMER AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES RENAMED
McGuinty Government On The Side Of Rural Parents Who Want Their Sons And Daughters To Find Opportunity

ALFRED - The renaming of three agricultural colleges to reflect their closer ties to the University of Guelph is part of the McGuinty government's plan to strengthen agricultural education, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky said today.

The former agricultural colleges in Alfred, Kemptville and Ridgetown will now be known as the Université de Guelph - Campus d'Alfred, University of Guelph - Kemptville Campus and University of Guelph - Ridgetown Campus,

"We are on the side of rural families and farmers. That's why we're working to strengthen our farm sector through better agricultural education," said Dombrowsky while visiting the Alfred campus. "I want to congratulate the three campuses as they officially change names to reflect their closer relationship with the University of Guelph."

Alfred first opened its doors in 1981, providing agricultural students with an opportunity to learn in French. Today, Alfred attracts students not only from Ontario, but also from Quebec, New Brunswick and Francophone countries around the world.
The Ridgetown Campus offers three major two year diploma programs in Agriculture, Horticulture, Environmental Management and Veterinary Technology to 500 students.
Established in 1917 to support and strengthen farming practices in Eastern Ontario, Kemptville Campus is one of Ontario's oldest agricultural colleges. Today, it is committed to specialized quality education, and builds on a tradition of working with communities to meet the needs of the agri-food industry.
"Today's announcement reinforces the integral role of the three regional campuses in the delivery of education, research and outreach programs for Ontario's agri-food and rural sectors," said University of Guelph president Alastair Summerlee. "It also supports the University's vision of developing regional innovation centres as part of our multi-campus strategy."

Other McGuinty government initiatives for rural Ontario include:

• Providing $800 million over the past three years for farm income stabilization
  
• Investing over $19 million through the Rural Economic Development Program
  
• Investing in rural health care, including 17 new community health centres and seven satellite CHCs that serve rural communities.

"Today marks a milestone in Alfred's history," said Dombrowsky. "I know that your faculty, staff and students are proud to be part of such a highly respected centre of education and that the tradition of excellence will continue."

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Contacts:
Chris Flavelle
Minister's Office
(416) 326-3072

Dave McLeod
Communications Branch
(519) 826-3198