Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Day 1: The journey begins

With blue skies and sun, we couldn’t have asked for a better day to start our North American Study Tour. The majority of the class gathered at the Rural Ontario Institute parking lot and we are thrilled to reunite with our classmates, and to see that our chariot is NOT a yellow school bus but in fact a coach bus. After Andy McTaggart confirms that all are present -- although it takes a couple of counts -- we start off on the first leg of our journey. Meghan Burke introduces us to our bus driver Nancy Watson, who comes from a dairy background, has four kids and has had 36 years of driving under her belt – we’re in good hands! The journey begins!

These buildings are situated right by Lake Ontario and there are plenty of rumours and stories associated with these historic structures and the people that resided within those walls. The historic homes along the lakeshore are stunning. We drive by Sir John A MacDonald’s home, Bellevue House, complete with red roof. Apparently his stay in Kingston was limited as his wife was unwell. Another stop worthy of noting is Queen’s University. The campus is relatively large but what is striking is the old limestone buildings that impart a similar feel to the University of Guelph. Blocks away are the Frontenac Courthouse, as well as the Sir John A MacDonald Park. After our tour, we search for a park to enjoy Colleen’s picnic lunch and find a historical waterfront park surrounded by modern conveniences and a diverse mix of Canadians all enjoying the picturesque sites. Lunch is delicious -- and who couldn’t turn down fresh strawberries and brownies!

With a couple of hours to kill, some of us venture down the city streets of Kingston. Many cafés and bistros in the area are located in old historic buildings which add to the ambiance of the city. There is no question that Kingston is a tourist draw with many taking in opportunities to experience a multitude of activities. With Canada celebrating 149 years as a country headed by countless leaders, some well known and others less so, all had the best of intentions of creating a better future. This is what has brought all of us together as AALP Class 16 and one can’t help but wonder what mark we will make on our respective journeys through life.

A tour of Kingston wouldn’t be complete without a boat tour of the Thousand Islands which is actually made up of about 1800 islands. Homes fronting onto the lake start at about $1,000,000, although we suspect these are hard to come by.This area is certainly not where you would find a starter home! Our boat tour takes us around a good portion of Wolfe Island. It boasts a strong agricultural sector. Wind turbines throughout the island capture the strong winds from the lake and provide renewable energy. Residents on the island no longer have to follow the Christmas tree lined path across Lake Ontario to get to the mainland, as a ferry service runs year round. With the sun still shining, today couldn’t be a better day to experience being out on the water. Time to head back onto the bus and make our way to Montreal!

The perfect end to our day involves the tastiest chicken and ribs at Bar-B-Barn, a local family run business. The day flew by but we are looking forward to more adventures!

-Class 16

Views: 461

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

The 13-Year Lag: Why Today’s Wheat Breeding Success Depends on Yesterday’s Investment

Wheat varieties are performing better than ever, but a “slow drip” of budget cuts means the next generation of innovation is at a critical crossroads. Wheat varieties that deliver high yields, exceptional quality and strong disease packages are available in abundant choice to Manitoba farmers. This choice and performance are thanks to an often-overlooked wheat breeding innovation system. “Wheat is one of my favourite crops to grow; it can withstand whatever the year throws at it,” says Jocelyn Velestuk, chair of the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC). “In past decades that hasn’t always been the case.” There’s lots of variables driving the success of wheat in Western Canada, but Velestuk is adamant that the foundation of that success is our wheat breeding programs. “We can’t take that system for granted and right now, it’s at risk,” she says. While the varieties available today are excellent, the process of plant breeding means those successes are built on efforts made over 1

Rotimi Aluko, professor, University of Manitoba

Rotimi Aluko is a professor at the University of Manitoba (UM) in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, as well as director of the Richardson Centre for Food Technology and Research. Originally from Nigeria, he completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees in biochemistry there before earning a PhD in food science at the University of Guelph. He moved to Winnipeg in 2001, where he lives with his wife. Their two children are grown; one lives in Winnipeg and the other is in Alberta. Where did you work before UM? I’ve been here for 25 years, but before UM I worked as a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Saskatoon. What got you interested in becoming a professor? From my undergraduate days I was fascinated by my professors, how they taught, carried themselves and were respected in society. I worked as a scientist with AAFC after my PhD, but I was always on the lookout for a professorial position. It had been a longtime goal, so when t

Canadian Cattle Association Statement on Revised Regulatory Approach to the Livestock Traceability Regulations

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is pleased by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) announcement that new movement reporting requirements for cattle will not be moving forward while changes for other species will proceed. CCA remains committed to our support for livestock traceability as a core pillar of disease preparedness, market access and confidence in Canadian beef. CCA and provincial member organizations are in the final stages of convening a Task Force to work for producers on a risk-based, industry-led approach to disease preparedness and emergency management and will be making an announcement soon, pending finalization of the Task Force members.

Waterton Biosphere Region seeking input on predator losses

The Waterton Biosphere Region is seeking input from livestock producers who have experienced losses to bears, wolves or cougars between 2021 and 2025. Information collected through the survey will be used to help inform discussions around Alberta’s predator compensation program.  Producers are asked to provide up to five years of data on livestock inventories, overall death losses and predator-related losses. Personal information will remain confidential and will not be shared externally.  The survey is currently open to producers located within the Waterton Biosphere Region and will remain open until the end of June.  The survey is available online:  Producer Data – Predator Losses  Paper copies can also be obtained through local municipal district offices.  Understanding the biosphere region The Waterton Biosphere Region is a biosphere region located in southwestern Alberta. According to the organization, biosphere reserves are traditionally organized into three zones, known a

Wild boar eradication efforts continue across Alberta

Province reports nearly 600 animals removed since 2018 Alberta’s Wild Boar Control Program says efforts to eradicate invasive wild boar from the province are continuing to advance, with nearly 600 animals removed since 2018. In an update shared through the Alberta Invasive Species Council (AISC), the province reported that 595 wild boar have been removed through trapping efforts since the program began, including 108 animals in 2025 and nine more so far in 2026. Tracking progress toward eradication Wild boar are considered one of the most destructive invasive species affecting agriculture in North America due to their ability to damage crops, pasture, fencing, water systems and native ecosystems. They can also pose disease risks to livestock and wildlife populations. “The Wild Boar Control Program is taking some big steps towards eradicating wild boar in Alberta with the support of all our amazing partners,” wrote Hannah McKenzie, Wild Boar Specialist with the Alberta government,

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service