A conversation with President Alastair Summerlee on the U of G’s past, present and future
This May, the University of Guelph will reach the half-century milestone; 50 years since the amalgamation of the Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinarian College. So this semester, as you’re walking along red-bricked walkways, beside ivy-clad stone buildings, meandering through the Arboretum between classes, or studying away in McLaughlin Library, take a moment to remember some of the things that make the University of Guelph special to you.
I sat down with President Alastair Summerlee (whose own term as president was extended an extra year to synchronize his retirement with the 50th anniversary) to talk about this historic occasion. He said his fondest memory of the university took place in 2011:
“The food packaging events, particularly the first one, [I remember] being really nervous about. Would we get enough volunteers? And would we be able to pack, at that stage, 150,000 meals? And then being overwhelmed by people turning up and actually seeing it happen.”
The university has had its roots in food studies since the OAC was founded in 1874, and the food packaging program is one of many successful programs recently contrived under the BetterPlanet Project – an initiative which requires a high level of involvement from students and faculty.
It was no surprise then, that when I asked President Summerlee what he believes to be the most attractive quality the university has cultivated over the past five decades, he gave a confident response:
“It’s the community engagement. It’s the spirit of volunteerism… Whether you’re a student or faculty member, I am stunned at the number of people who are involved in the community in such a host of ways.”
This sentiment was also easy to recognize at Club Days in the University Centre this past week, as over 100 student-run organizations set up camp in the courtyard to recruit new members.
“People are engaged for no reason other than they want to be engaged,” said Summerlee.
Alongside the BetterPlanet Project there has also been a ‘BetterCampus’ venture of sorts. Several beautification projects have been undertaken around campus over the past few years, all with functionality, aesthetics, and the 50th anniversary in mind, according to Summerlee.
Some of these projects include the re-paving of Winegard Walk, renovations to War Memorial Hall, and the brand new Branion Plaza and Johnson Walkway. More campus upgrades loom in the future, and President Summerlee had some particular projects in mind.
“I would love to see the development of athletics. Last year, with the Ti-Cats here, and being able to do something with the stadium made a huge difference…We have the largest number of varsity teams, despite our size. We’ve also got the highest participation from the whole community in intramurals and yet we have some of the worst facilities,” said Summerlee.
“We absolutely have to renew the Small Animal Hospital for the Veterinary School; and [another] big project that’s coming down the pipe is that we are going to take Mac Hall off of the residence list and we’re going to make it the home for the College of Management and Economics.”
While he hopes to see these changes take place close to home, President Summerlee imagines the University of Guelph’s future will be characterized by the development of international programs.
“We really, I think, have the potential to export people during their degrees; and to import people. We have established the Guelph-East Africa Institute in conjunction with the government of Tanzania… That gives us access to all of the East African countries from southern Sudan all the way down to Tanzania. The long term hope is that we might be able to exchange one thousand students a year,” he said.
Summerlee says one main goal of this coalition is to “support those communities, looking at developing agriculture and developing their communities and improving the roles and responsibilities of women in those communities.”
There are several events occurring this semester in celebration of the 50th anniversary that are open to all students. The university kicked off the celebratory year on Thursday, Jan. 23 in the University Centre courtyard, while simultaneously inaugurating Lincoln Alexander Day and introducing the next U of G president, Prof. Franco Vaccarino. The main event of the year will take place on June 21 as the university opens its doors to friends, alumni and neighbours to celebrate 50 years of U of G. Tickets are now available online for the occasion that includes an elegant, community-wide dinner on Johnson Green, admittance to six themed party sites on campus, a midnight buffet, and a firework show.