Community Engagement Centre: Update and important announcement
Since 2015, the Macdonald Campus has been committed to expanding its educational programs and promoting the Farm to Fork movement, highlighting our faculty's role in building a sustainable, equitable food system. With the generous support of over 1,000 donors, we began planning and fundraising for the Community Engagement Centre (CEC), a space that would serve as a physical venue for learning and community interaction. However, we regret to inform you that due to unforeseen challenges, we will not be able to move forward with this project as originally envisioned.
Challenges and new developments
- Provincial financial restrictions: Recent changes imposed by the Quebec government, including new tuition fees and financial restrictions on universities, have had a significant impact on 91社区鈥檚 budget. These changes will result in a significant deficit for the university, and in August 2024, additional measures were introduced that limit Quebec universities in their spending on infrastructure. Please find a link to a Gazette article . As a result, all new construction and renovation projects at 91社区 have been put on indefinite hold.
- Dairy facility requirements: Changes in animal care protocols have complicated the project as originally envisaged. They force us to restrict public tours through the dairy barn鈥攁n element that would have been a key component of the CEC鈥檚 educational programming.
A message to our donors
We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our donors, whose generosity and commitment to our mission have been truly inspiring. While the CEC as envisioned will not come to fruition, please know that our dedication to fostering learning and community engagement remains steadfast. Therefore, we must redirect our focus and resources as we explore new opportunities to bring meaningful experiences to our community and promote our shared vision of sustainability and education. We will update alumni and donors this fall.
Thank you for your continued support.
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