College News

The University of Guelph’s investments in teaching and research, people and organizations generate $8.6 billion for the national economy, according to the latest U of G economic impact report. The Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between U of G and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, contributes $1.44 billion to Ontario’s GDP. This partnership benefits provincial industries by supporting research, commercialization and innovation, creating products and jobs, and increasing business productivity.

Even during COVID-19 lockdowns, students found Dr. Martin Holland’s door “open” when they needed help navigating academic decisions in the bachelor of landscape architecture (BLA) program. Holland’s commitment to student success as a BLA faculty adviser in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) helped earn him the University of Guelph’s 2022 Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising Medallion.

Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald, professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture, was the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Researcher Award presented by the Canadian Phytopathological Society (CPS). The award was recently published in the Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology here.

The CPS presents annual awards to acknowledge the achievements of its members. The Outstanding Researcher Award is the most prestigious award of the society and recognizes outstanding contributions to applied and basic research in plant pathology in Canada.

The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) Dean's Office is pleased to welcome Matthew Lawrie as the new Manager, Finance and Administration. Lawrie will begin the role starting April 1, 2022. 

The University of Guelph’s 98th College Royal, March 19-20, will return to being mostly in-person this year and will be open only to students, staff and their immediate families.
Before the pandemic, the annual open house was the largest student-run open house in North America, attracting thousands of public visitors. 

It is with sympathy and sadness that we share the passing of Eric Milne, fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Agriculture student, on February 20, 2022. 

Eric was a proud member of the OAC Class of 2022, the Longhorns. Eric wore the maroon and charcoal gray colours with pride and was always keen to be part of class and college activities. 

It is with sympathy that we share the passing of Dianne Hope, OAC '82, on February 8, 2022.

Dianne's obituary can be found here.

It is with sympathy that we share the passing of Brian Ellsworth, OAC '59, on February 10, 2022. Brian was an active OAC alumnus and U of G community member. The Brian Ellsworth Ontario Graduate Scholarship, was established some years ago, by friends and colleagues to pay tribute to Brian's agricultural leadership. Brian was inducted to the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame in June 2005. 

Brian's obituary can be found here.

The OAC Dean’s Office is pleased to welcome Robyn Purcell-Sturge as the new Program Counsellors’ Assistant. She began in the role on Monday, February 7, 2022.  

As the Program Counsellors’ Assistant, Purcell-Sturge acts as the first point of contact for the students in the Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management, Bachelor of Indigenous Environmental Science and Practice, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and Diploma in Turfgrass Management programs.

Two University of Guelph post-doctoral researchers – one looking to better manage harmful algal blooms, the other seeking to bring Indigenous values into wildlife conservation – have been awarded Liber Ero fellowships.

The highly competitive fellowships, launched in 2013, are awarded to only four post-docs in Canada each year and provide recipients with $155,000 each over two years.