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
