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Times Advocate, 1994-04-20, Page 25IN THE NEWS Times -Advocate, April 20, 1994 Page 25 4 Hopes to save college fade Centralia College's last year By Catherine O'Brien T -A staff HURON PARK - This coming Saturday marks a special day for anyone linked to Centralia College. It was on April 23 last year that the provincial government announced the college-.would—be closing for.. good effective this May along with continuing education programs, the research centre and veterinary ser- vices. Slice that announcement was made, many groups have rallied to- gether in an attempt to reverse the government decision. These groups have been successful in bringing about some changes although the college will still be closing on May 27. The announcement last year came just before the provincial government passed its 1993 budget. "This was the biggest surprise I think I've ever had," said Kathryn Biondi, director of the college when she heard of the announce- ment last year. Although she was surprised by the sudden announcement she said she understood the rationale. "The agricultural sector is experiencing a lot of difficulties and there are less people selecting agriculture for a career," Biondi said at the time. "That impacts on enrolment." The peak years for agriculture colleges, she said, were during 1981-82 when Centralia had up- wards of 350 students enrolled. By 1993, all of Ontario's ag- riculture colleges were ex- periencing low enrolment. The only exception was the Uni- versity of Guelph which has an en- rolment capacity of 400 students and had 378 enrolled. At Centralia there were some170 students enrolled in Agriculture Business Management, Food Ser- vices Management and Animal __Health- Technician programs But the college could hold well over 400 students. When news of the closure hit the community, it only took a few hours for staff, students, alumni along with area politicians, farmers, residents and business repre- sentatives to organize in an attempt to save the college. More than 550 people filled the Recreation Centre in Huron Park just two weeks after the April 25 announcement. The rally was organized by the Friends of Centralia who set up the public meeting to discuss strategies to fight the Ontario government de- cision. People attending the meeting were concerned that the decision to close the college was made with lit- tle regard or understanding of the work done at the facilities. By mid-May 1993 the Friends of Centralia were attempting to set up a meeting with Ontario Agriculture Minister Elmer Buchananan. At this time George Thompson, of Clinton was named as co-ordinator of the working committee. The group worked out of office space that was donated by Stephen Township. Determined to prove the provincial government had made a grave mistake in choosing ' Centralia College as a target of its budget cut the committee broke into sub sections to ensure their message got out. By June momentum started to pick up with the effort. The Friends of Centralia had the support of Huron County council in its fight to keep the college open. In a report to council, Thompson said 69 direct jobs would be lost by the closure as well as 102 indirect jdbs. Area politicians were concerned that the college closure would mean the loss of agricultural ex- pertise in this region. "Huron County is one of the larg- est farm producers in the province and the facilities at Huron Park were' used quite extensively said Tom Tomes, reeve of Stephen Township and county warden. Also in June a press conference was held by area councillors who wanted the government to tem- porarily halt what they called the cannibalization of the college. Of- ficials from Bosanquet and Stephen Townships and the Village of Grand Bend, all part of the Tri - Municipal Liaison Committee an- nounced that they wanted six months to do a feasibility study and discuss alternative business plans for the college, such as creating an aviation training centre. This was the first official step an organization took towards setting up alternative business ventures at the college. As well, five high school students AGRONOMY RESEARCH FARM Someone, likely a student, has already changed with a can of spray paint the sign on the Agricultural Research Farm north of the college in Stephen Township. The farm is being taken over by Ridgetown Collge, but will remain open. who were slated to begin courses at the college in the fall went to court to get an interim order which would allow them to attend and complete programs at the college. The students were among seven plaintiffs who filed, under a Class Proceedings Act, a notice of motion first set for the courts on June 1. Documents from the students' lawyer, Paul Vogel, stated that OMAF entered into written con- tracts with the students when letters of acceptance were sent out. More than 160 students were accepted into one of the three programs that were to be offered in September 1994. By July 26 fie court ruled that Centralia should not be closed until the trial of the proposed class ac- tion suit against the Ministry of Ag- riculture and Food is heard. That meant the more than 160 students who had applied to the col- lege for fist year courses in the fall have the right to attend. In his ruling, Judge J.C. Kennedy of Ontario Court provincial divi- sion, said the seven students who challenged the college closure have a strong case against the provincial government for breach of contract. But as quickly as the court de- cision was made, the ministry of Agriculture and Food launched an appeal and the first ruling was over- turned. The case is still waiting to be heard. By late August some 46 staff membcis at the college learned they would be Zayed off this May. In late September, Premier Bob Rae was in Huron County to meet with commodity groups. He said the closing of Centralia College was a tough decision to make, but the six colleges in the province were running at 65 percent of ca- pacity and this was unacceptable. At that time he promised that re- search in agriculture would con- tinue at Centralia. And Huron MPP Paul Klopp said he would do his best to have the research con- tinue at the 200 acre farm on Con- cession 3 of Stephen township. By mid-November it was an- nounced by MPP Paul Klopp that crop research will continue at Hu- ron Park. Klopp said die station will have a $400,000 budget and employ at least two seasonal staff and several summer students. This is in addition to one professional and two technical staff members who accepted transfers from Cen- tralia to Ridgetown, but will still work out of the Huron research sta- tion. By early December the Huron County Board of Education an- nounced it was looking into a pos- sible joint venture to use facilities at the college after it closes in May. Unfortunately the future for the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab wasn't as bright. The lab stopped taking work in March as it prepares to close down operations. At present, the Ontario Develop- ment Corporation is exploring the possibility of leasing the college buildings to a flight training school or any other interested party, al- though it is unclear whether they will have any success. College started as aentennial year dream HURON PARK - Shortly after the provincial gov- ernment announced the closure of Centralia College last April, organizations began approaching the On- tario Development Corporation with new business Oro lo$b4 ,that could `possibly take the place of the college when it finally closes its doors in late May. It was in this spirit that Centralia College crime into being back in 1967: CIn July 1966 the announcement was made that the anadian Forces Base at Centralia would be closing. At this time Huron County Council as well as groups nom Perth, Middlesex and Lambton counties got to- gether in the fall to discuss the possibility of es- tablishing what would be an experimental research farm and agricultural school. Both the provincial and federal governments were approached and by November 1966, William Stow - art, Minister of Agriculture and Food, toured the base and listened to the proposal. Also on this tour was Charlie MacNaughton, the Treasurer of Ontario and MPP for Huron. n April 1967, MacNaughton announced that the tario government would be purchasing C143 Cen- ia. By July 1967, it was officially announced that an agricultural school would be established with di- ploma programs in agriculture and home economics. Jim MacDonald who had been head of the livestock department at Ridgetown College was appointed the principal at Centralia. When the college opened in July 1967 it was called Centralia College of Agriculture and Home Econom- ics. What had been the RCAF training base became home to two diploma programs - agriculture and home economics. The home economics program evolved into the two year program - Food Service Management. In the coming years more programs were added to the college such as continuing education in 1968 and Veterinary Technology in 1969. By 1975 field crop research began. And Jim OToole has been the head of Agronomy Research since it started. Many important events have taken place since the college began and the following ate a few highlights of the college from 1967-1992 as found in a Ministry of Agriculture and Food commemorative book, Centralia College Cel- ebrates 25 Years: 1967 • The college is established in July and by October 75 students are enrolled in the two programs. 1968 • In March the first college open house is slated to coincide with the official opening of the college. Some 1,500 visitors come to the campus. • By September select farms are used as . la- boratories and for classroom work. In December the first short course programs are introduced for area farmers. 1969 • In May, the first college .graduation takes place with 49 students. • In September the animal health technology course was transferred to Centralia from Ridetown and the diploma in food service management is also intro- duced. 1970 • The official opening of the Veterinary Services Branch diagnostic laboratory is held in May. 1973 • May graduation ceremonies are moved from Hu- ron Hall to the Recreation Centre to accommodate the 122 graduates. 1974 • Orey Hall is opened in September to provide space for engineering and agrology along with a greenhouse. As well, the community home econom- ics course was offered for the first time. 1975 • In May, the agronomy research program is intro- duced to support the western Ontario field bean and rutabaga industry. 1977 In September enrolment reaches 319 students, the largest since the college opened. 1980 • The official opening of Huron Hall, a new 200 bed student residence, opens in July. 1983 • The consumer and community studies program is phased out due to poor job prospects for graduates. 1984 • May marks the official opening of the new ag- ricultural engineering building. 1989 • The college of agronomy field research laboratory is officially opened in June. 1991 • The college receives funding for campus improve- ments. 1992 • The college celebrates 25 years of education and research in the agriculture and food industry.