On Tuesday, January 26th, the Macdonald Campus of McGill University held its 17th annual luncheon at Ormstown’s Qué Pasa restaurant.
Held in honour of the college’s alumni, this year’s gathering filled the venue to capacity, with a crowd eager to indulge in both a delicious meal and an engaging afternoon agenda featuring a number of special guests, including Macdonald Campus’s new Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Macdonald Campus, Anja Geitmann, and Urban Barns Foods Inc.’s Robyn Jackson.
At noon local Peter Finlayson welcomed everyone, introducing the Macdonald guests at the head table, while Roland Greenbank, the originator of the event, proposed a toast to College Founder Sir William Macdonald, followed by a Scots meal blessing (Robert Burns) which was appropriate to the college’s founder, while honouring the heritage of Chateauguay Valley. The event was chaired by Finlayson and George Eades.
At the debut of the afternoon, Eades introduced Anja Geitmann, who began at Macdonald Campus this past September, taking up the position of Dean of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Associate Vice-Principal at Macdonald Campus. Geitmann spoke a little about her field, plant reproduction, while engaging with many of the alumni, in turn learning a little something about the heritage and lifestyle of the Chateauguay Valley. Geitmann, who did much of her studying in Germany and Italy, currently serves as the President of the Microscopical Society of Canada and Vice-President of the Canadian Society of Plant Biologists.
The featured speaker of the day was Robyn Jackson of Urban Barns Foods Inc., a company that, according to its website “…uses patent pending and proprietary growing equipment to produce premium quality, chemical-free and non-GMO leafy vegetables in a secure and controlled indoor environment, including lettuce and basil that is Kosher-certified.” Through a power-point presentation, Jackson explained a farming venture new to most of his audience—the hydroponic, inside growth of three varieties of lettuce and some herbs. Jackson first worked on such a project in Langley, B.C. In April 2015, his farm in Mirabel, Quebec, began delivering produce to restaurants in the Montreal area.
Other speakers included Paul Meldrum, who has long been associated with the Macdonald Farm. These days, he is involved with a new Macdonald project, a Farm Interpretation Centre for the community at large, an exciting concept that will help inform non-farm dwellers about food sources and more. Eleanor Finlayson presented a pictorial report on the Class of ’63 Rock and Tree project, which was the result of pointed comments made several years ago regarding the lack of character shown by the campus entrance off Route 40. A local benefactor, Robert Rogantini, provided the rocks from his property on the Rockburn Sideroad to the Class of ’63. The boulders are now on place, with a completion date set for 2018.
Finlayson and Eades wish to extend a thank you to the Qué Pasa staff for their good work and cheerful service throughout the afternoon.
