Tours and Biosecurity

Tours

Ontario's agri-food research centres are owned by the Government of Ontario through its agency, Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario, and managed by the University of Guelph through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.

Research centre tours are available by request. The University of Guelph COVID-19 safety measures and practices must be followed while visiting all research centres. 

For tour inquiries, please contact

Research Centre Outreach Coordinator at researchstation.info@uoguelph.ca.

Biosecurity at Animal Facilities

The Biosecurity Protocol applies to every person accessing an animal research centre or facility managed by the University of Guelph’s Office of Research through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, including all researchers, students, contractors and visitors.

Diseases can spread from animals to people, from people to animals, and from people to people. Introduction of new disease can have profound effects on human and animal health, and significantly compromise (or stop) research centre activities. The following rules are in place to protect the health of visitors, staff, and animals during periods of normal operation. During times of emerging or rapidly evolving disease threats, access to the animal facilities may be limited. In such periods, updates will be available on this webpage.

All visitors must:

1. Be registered to visit the research centre. Please contact the Research Centre Outreach Coordinator to register (researchstation.info@uoguelph.ca). Visitors must be prepared to indicate countries they have recently visited.
2. Wear clean clothes and footwear that are free from dirt and manure, not worn in farm operations, and not worn at other animal facilities.
3. Abide by facility-specific protocols, such as wearing/providing personal protective equipment or showering before entering a facility (contact the Research Centre Outreach Coordinator for specific requirements).
4. Wear close-toed shoes and boot covers when in the animal housing portion of the facility.
5. Wash hands or use hand sanitizer before entering and exiting the facility.

For individuals who have travelled within the past two weeks

All researchers, students, contractors, and visitors must be in Canada for at least five days* before they can enter an animal facility. 

*Individuals who have travelled to a country affected by a species-specific disease (such as foot-and-mouth disease or African swine fever) must be in Canada for at least 14 days before entering an animal facility. Contact the Research Centre Outreach Coordinator for more information. Visitors may be required to provide proof of itinerary prior to entry. Different or additional restrictions may be added to address emerging issues.

Note: Endemic countries are identified by the World Organisation for Animal Health and/or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

If you’re sick, stay home

Help keep our staff and visitors healthy. Please do not visit an animal facility if you are experiencing clinical signs of illness, such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, or muscle or body aches.

For questions, please contact

Research Centre Outreach Coordinator at researchstation.info@uoguelph.ca.