Agri-news publications across Eastern Ontario are printing their respective reviews of the provincial facilitator’s report on the future of Kemptville College. Some see it as a positive report, others not so much. The Brockville Recorder and Times pointed out it will be difficult to preserve a diploma program in the new vision for the college. In the report, the Honorable Lyle Vanclief says he contacted eight educational institutions in Canada and the U.S. about the prospect of providing ag diploma programs at Kemptville College, and he was unable to get a commitment from them.
In the comprehensive report on a future Kemptville College by the Honorable Lyle Vanclief, one thing is clear: the new school won’t look anything like the educational institution that has operated on site for nearly 100 years. No post-secondary institutions stepped forward to provide diploma programs in Kemptville, after consultation with the provincial facilitator. The Kemptville College Renewal Task Force has received support, however, from Trent University, Olds College in Alberta and Vermont Technical Institute with respect to a vision for the Kemptville Centre for Rural Advancement. The Minister is to give his decision on the report by the end of January.
Kemptville College Renewal Task Force Chair Marty Derks says the report from the provincial facilitator is exactly what they were looking for. In an interview with “Real Agriculture,” Derks said the future Kemptville Centre for Rural Advancement would offer options for continuing education in agriculture through modular courses, along with other program offerings. Now the challenge is to get a commitment of financial support from the provincial government.