News

Over 700 members of the OAC community came together on Saturday night to celebrate the College’s 150th anniversary during U of G’s annual Alumni Reunion Weekend. The OAC Celebration Dinner, held in the U of G’s Guelph Gryphon’s Athletic Centre gave a chance for alumni to reconnect with classmates and alumni throughout the decades in an atmosphere that resembled OAC’s infamous “Good Times Banquet.”  

June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day, recognizing and celebrating the history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada. Since much of Canada’s resources and extraction occurs on Indigenous territory, U of G’s BIESP student Marah LaForge believes it’s critical that braiding together Indigenous and Western perspectives is critical to long term environmental sustainability. An Indigenous student from the GTA, Marah’s experiences in the BIESP program has helped her blend knowledge systems to mitigate the impact of climate change and protect the environment. 

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In the lush countryside of Leamington, Ontario, Joe (OAC ’51) and Barb Maxwell reflect on their legacy of supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders - one that’s deeply connected to the U of G’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC).

U of G’s Ridgetown Campus once again has a dedicated entomologist that will boost its teaching and research impact. Leading entomologist, Dr. Jocelyn Smith is Ridgetown’s new Assistant Professor in Field Crop Entomology. Dr. Smith will continue to be based out of the Ridgetown Campus as she joins OAC’s School of Environmental Sciences.

The OAC community mourns the passing of alumnus John Gerald Vanderspank, OAC '98A class president. Ken was admired for his scientific insight and talents, especially in the area of data analysis, which significantly benefited the Department’s cropping systems research program for over 30 years.  

Lara-Nicole Cochrane, an agriculture diploma graduate from U of G's Ridgetown Campus, chose the program for its strong agri-food focus and close-knit community. Her two years were packed with hands-on learning, research collaborations, and a life-changing trip to Belize. Discover Lara-Nicole's unique Ridgetown journey!

Madeleine Landell, a BSc Plant Science graduate from U of G’s Ontario Agricultural College and current MSc Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences student at the University of Edinburgh, shares her journey of bridging the study of plants to exploring space.