Ontario Agricultural College
Encyclopedia
The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) originated at the agricultural laboratories of the Toronto Normal School
, and was officially founded in 1874 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto
. Since 1964, it has become affiliated with the University of Guelph
, which operates four campuses throughout Ontario
.
Its first building was Moreton Lodge, located where Johnston Hall now stands, which included classrooms, residences, a library, and a dining room. (Several buildings constructed during this time period are still a part of campus life today, including President's Residence, Raithby House, and Day Hall.)
The War Memorial Hall (more generally known as Memorial Hall) is a landmark building built in June 1924 as a lecture hall or theatre at the Ontario Agricultural College to honour students who had enlisted and died in the First World War, and in the Second World War. Two bronze tablets in the Memorial Chapel remembers alumni who died in the First World War and in the Second World War.
Subsequently, the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) became one of three founding colleges of the University of Guelph
in 1964. (The other two were the Ontario Veterinary College
and the Macdonald Institute.)
The OAC opened on May 1, 1874 with an enrollment of 28 students. The OAC administration was housed in Moreton Lodge until 1931, when the building was torn down to make way for Johnston Hall. The OAC's offices have resided in Johnston Hall ever since. The Canadian-American economist John Kenneth Galbraith
earned a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry from the College.
August 2008 Dr. Robert Gordon named the new Dean of the Ontario Agriculture College
, founded in 1917 and located at Kemptville, Ontario
about 30 minutes south of Ottawa, and Ridgetown College at Ridgetown, Ontario
founded in 1922 and located in southwestern Ontario near Chatham
. In May 2007, they were renamed Campus d'Alfred, Kemptville Campus and Ridgetown Campus in order to recognize their full integration into the university.http://www.kemptvillec.uoguelph.ca/gen/director.htm
Milestones=
Toronto Normal School
The Toronto Normal School was a teachers college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1847, the Normal School was located at Church and Gould streets in central Toronto, and was a predecessor to the current Ontario Institute for Studies in Education...
, and was officially founded in 1874 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. Since 1964, it has become affiliated with the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
, which operates four campuses throughout Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
History
Ontario farmers increasingly demanded more information on the best farming techniques. Their demands led to farm magazine and agricultural fairs. In 1868 the assembly created an agricultural museum, which morphed into the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph in 1874.Its first building was Moreton Lodge, located where Johnston Hall now stands, which included classrooms, residences, a library, and a dining room. (Several buildings constructed during this time period are still a part of campus life today, including President's Residence, Raithby House, and Day Hall.)
The War Memorial Hall (more generally known as Memorial Hall) is a landmark building built in June 1924 as a lecture hall or theatre at the Ontario Agricultural College to honour students who had enlisted and died in the First World War, and in the Second World War. Two bronze tablets in the Memorial Chapel remembers alumni who died in the First World War and in the Second World War.
Subsequently, the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) became one of three founding colleges of the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
in 1964. (The other two were the Ontario Veterinary College
Ontario Veterinary College
The Ontario Veterinary College is the oldest and one of the most well known veterinary school in Canada and North America. It is located on the campus of the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario...
and the Macdonald Institute.)
The OAC opened on May 1, 1874 with an enrollment of 28 students. The OAC administration was housed in Moreton Lodge until 1931, when the building was torn down to make way for Johnston Hall. The OAC's offices have resided in Johnston Hall ever since. The Canadian-American economist John Kenneth Galbraith
John Kenneth Galbraith
John Kenneth "Ken" Galbraith , OC was a Canadian-American economist. He was a Keynesian and an institutionalist, a leading proponent of 20th-century American liberalism...
earned a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry from the College.
August 2008 Dr. Robert Gordon named the new Dean of the Ontario Agriculture College
Campus
In 1997, three other agricultural colleges affiliated with the Ontario Agricultural College and the University of Guelphhttp://www.kemptvillec.uoguelph.ca/gen/director.htm: College d'Alfred, a francophone college in the eastern part of the province at Alfred, Ontario; Kemptville CollegeKemptville College
Kemptville Campus is a campus of the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, and is located in Eastern Ontario, approximately 30 minutes south of Ottawa in Kemptville, Ontario.-Programs:...
, founded in 1917 and located at Kemptville, Ontario
Kemptville, Ontario
Kemptville is a community located in the Municipality of North Grenville in Southern Ontario, Canada in the northernmost part of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville...
about 30 minutes south of Ottawa, and Ridgetown College at Ridgetown, Ontario
Ridgetown, Ontario
Ridgetown is a community located in south-east Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada. It is home to the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus. It has a population of roughly 3,500 and is one of many small farming communities in Chatham-Kent.-History:...
founded in 1922 and located in southwestern Ontario near Chatham
Chatham, Ontario
Chatham is the largest community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Formerly serving as the seat of Kent County, the governments of the former city of Chatham, the county of Kent, and its townships were merged into one entity known as the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998.Located on...
. In May 2007, they were renamed Campus d'Alfred, Kemptville Campus and Ridgetown Campus in order to recognize their full integration into the university.http://www.kemptvillec.uoguelph.ca/gen/director.htm
Programs
The OAC offers a wide range of degree and diploma programs based on four main pillars: food, agriculture, environment, and rural communities. The following degrees and diplomas are available under the OAC:- Associate Diploma
- Agriculture
- Turfgrass Management
- Bachelor of Arts
- Agricultural Economics
- Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management
- Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
- Agriculture
- Animal Science
- Crop Science
- Horticultural Science
- Organic Agriculture
- Turfgrass Science
- Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences
- Environmental Sciences
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Food and Agricultural Business
- Bachelor of Science
- Animal Biology
- Earth Surface Science
- Environmental Biology
- Food Science
Milestones=
- 1877 - one-year diploma program expanded to two years
- 1887 - B.Sc.(Agr)Bachelor of Science in AgricultureThe Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, usually abbreviated as either B.Sc. or B.S.A. or BScAg, is the first undergraduate degree awarded by university faculty of agriculture and agricultural colleges. The program is 4 years of study above Grade 12 High School graduation.The B.Sc. degree differs...
degree program begins (University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
awards the degrees from 1888 until 1964).
- 1891 - short courses offered to general public.
- 1901 - degree program adds a fourth year (still a U of TUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
degree).
- 1926 - graduate program begins
- 1964 - B.Sc.(Agr)Bachelor of Science in AgricultureThe Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, usually abbreviated as either B.Sc. or B.S.A. or BScAg, is the first undergraduate degree awarded by university faculty of agriculture and agricultural colleges. The program is 4 years of study above Grade 12 High School graduation.The B.Sc. degree differs...
degree awarded by the University of GuelphUniversity of GuelphThe University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
.
- 1988 - Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Environmental Science programs begins.
- 1995 - "Experience Agriculture" curriculum for B.Sc.(Agr)Bachelor of Science in AgricultureThe Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, usually abbreviated as either B.Sc. or B.S.A. or BScAg, is the first undergraduate degree awarded by university faculty of agriculture and agricultural colleges. The program is 4 years of study above Grade 12 High School graduation.The B.Sc. degree differs...
program begins.
- 1997 - Agricultural colleges in Kemptville, Ridgetown and Alfred affiliate with OAC and the University of Guelph.
- 2006 - the Faculty of Environmental Sciences is relocated permanently to the OAC.
- 2009 - the School of Environmental Sciences is formed by a merger of the departments of Environmental Biology and Land Resource Sciences, and the Faculty of Environmental Sciences.