WINNIPEG – Let the wrecking ball swing.
Staff, students and alumni of the agriculture faculty at the University of Manitoba gathered last week to kick off a $12 million building campaign.
If there was any doubt in their minds that the renovations were needed, it was quickly dispelled over lunch. Guests nibbled on sandwiches in a stifling hot lecture hall complete with a very large hole in one wall.
Before the First World War, the University of Manitoba built two livestock barns. After the Second World War, the barns underwent the unlikely conversion to classrooms, offices and labs.
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Students have been studying in these buildings ever since. Two years ago most of the west wing, including the library, was closed for safety reasons.
The faculty asked Kerry Hawkins, president of Cargill, and Bill Parrish, president of Parrish and Heimbecker, to head up a fundraising campaign to replace the buildings and repair three others that date back to the original campus.
The campaign has already secured more than $7 million in funding from governments, the university, industry, alumni and staff.
Hawkins said the remaining $4.9 million will be raised from the private sector. “I think we’ll be able to get it done by the end of the year.
“And we’re so confident that we’re starting to break ground, literally … within two or three weeks.”
Crop research centre
The university also plans to use $1 million from the campaign to build a satellite crop research and continuing education centre at Carman, Man.
Ken Edie of Manitoba Pool Elevators was one former student on hand for the sod turning. He said it’s important for the faculty to keep up with the times.
“People who have been involved with the university understand the necessity in today’s world that we have the kinds of facilities to turn out the kinds of graduates that will be current with today’s environment in agriculture,” Edie said.
Manitoba agriculture minister Harry Enns said the campaign shows stakeholders are confident in the future of the industry.
“I know that we have a lot to be concerned about, there’s a lot of uncertainty in agriculture … as a result of the loss of the Crow Benefit,” Enns said.
Hawkins said the campaign team will try to canvass every graduate to contribute to the fund. Does this mean the campaign will be asking farmers to donate part of their Crow Benefit payments?
“I wouldn’t want to suggest that somebody give us their Crow Benefit payout,” Hawkins said. “But if they want to, I can certainly tell them to call me without fail.”
