The Rural Voice, 1993-02, Page 31Centralia College:
25 years
of evolution
Centralia's program keeps changing
to meet the needs of agriculture
Story and photos
by Yvonne Reynolds
The evolution of Centralia College
of Agricultural Technology from its
1967 inception at a former flying
school to its present influence and
outreach is as remarkable as the
evolution from the valiant little
Harvards once flown at the site to
today's magnificent Concorde jets.
Two provincial cabinet ministers,
Huron MPP Charles McNaughton
and Middlesex MPP William A.
Stewart, were primarily responsible
for establishing an agricultural
college in Huron County at Canadian
Forces Base Centralia, which had
been closed down the previous year.
Both spoke prophetically at the
official opening on March 1, 1968.
Addressing a crowd of 1,500,
McNaughton said no expenditure
since he became treasurer of Ontario
Jan Gardiner (left) and Shelley McInnes mix up some goodies in a
popular CCAT Christmas cooking workshop.
had given him more satisfaction
because "I know of no better profit or
richer reward than the one which
contributes to the progress and
advancement of the agricultural
community and helps their young
people prepare to meet the
opportunities that lie ahead for
farming in Ontario."
Stewart, minister of agriculture,
added "There is more emphasis
needed on how to finance and run a
farm successfully and that's why
Centralia College is here."
CCAT has followed that visionary
flight plan in the ensuing 25 years,
constantly adapting and expanding in
a never-ending quest to search out
and meet the needs of not only its
diploma students, but a broad
spectrum of people for miles around.
In that time, CCAT has racked up
an impressive list of "firsts". It was
the first to rely on the surrounding
community for part-time teachers,
and on neighbouring farms as
laboratories to give students practical
training through the Farm Project
Analysis program. The Food
Services Management program was
the first in Ontario to be approved by
the Canadian and Ontario Dietetic
Associations. CCAT became the first
agricultural college in Canada to be
headed by a woman when Kathy
Biondi was appointed director in
1991.
Classes began in mid-October of
Canada's centennial year. Seventy-
five students were enrolled in one or
other of the original two educational
programs, agriculture or home
FEBRUARY 1993 27