The portraits of OVC's past principals and deans are now on display near the C. A. V. Barker Museum of Canadian Veterinary History.

Until recently, there was no inventory of the location of the artwork. As part of our 150th Anniversary planning, a student assistant catalogued their locations this summer as she sought to secure information about these past leaders for a collection of biographies being developed for the celebratory year.

With the College in the midst of major construction and renovation projects, Dean Ole Nielsen's portrait in the Lifetime Learning Centre had to be taken down as changes were being made in the adjacent electrical panel to accommodate connection with the new Pathobiology/AHL building. When the main OVC corridor was painted, the portrait of Dean Alan Meek was removed for safekeeping. The College's physical state of flux made it difficult to decide exactly where these portraits should be hung and so they remained out of sight.

Recently, in consultation with an interior designer, the past nine principals and deans have been reunited, if only symbolically, in that same hallway. The C.A.V. Barker Museum, which is in the main entrance hallway of the College, seemed to provide the perfect anchor for the portraits.

Already the portrait gallery has generated a great deal of hallway discussion. One of the biggest benefits is that current students are stopping and discussing the past leaders. Some are simply asking as they quickly rush by to class, "Who are these guys?" while others are taking the time to look closely at the nameplates and express interest in knowing more.

A chronological listing of the principals and deans is being prepared and will be added to the gallery to provide a clearer description for those who stop and look. This interest by many, but especially by current students, brings history to life. The portraits are not just about individuals, but about nine men who led and shaped the direction of the College. All members of the OVC community are invited to visit the "Wall of Deans". The portraits now hang where most of these leaders worked and shaped the College's future.

Scott Weese, DVM '96 D.V.Sc. 2000, a pathobiologist at OVC, has been named a Canada Research Chair (CRC), along with Christian Blondau of the School of Environmental Sciences. As Tier 2 research chairs, they are considered to have the potential to become world leaders in their fields and will receive $100,000 a year for five years.

The University of Guelph will receive $2.4 million over the next five years through the new prestigious CRCs and the renewal of another. A Tier 1 chair worth $200,000 annually and currently held by environmental biologist Chris Hall was renewed for another seven years.

In total, there will be 182 new CRCs across the country, worth an estimated $152 million. Guelph's CRC count now stands at 34.

Dr. Weese will hold the Canada Research Chair in Zoonotic Diseases, working to provide new insight and understanding about diseases that can spread from animals to humans. More than 70 per cent of new infectious diseases that threaten human health are zoonotic.

He is a leading researcher on two zoonotic pathogens -- Clostridium difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus -- and in veterinary infection control. He and his research team will simultaneously study people, animals and food to learn about the factors associated with the transmission of infectious diseases.

"It's becoming increasingly clear that we need to broaden our approach to the study of zoonotic diseases, particularly diseases involving pets," Weese said. "This chair will greatly facilitate research in this area, both independent research in my lab and collaborative research with colleagues in human medicine, veterinary and public health fields."

His ultimate goals are to increase understanding of how pathogens are spread and to help prevent and control new and re-emerging animal-related diseases that threaten public health.

The CRC program was established in 2000 as a way of enabling Canadian universities to attract and retain excellent faculty. The program is governed by a steering committee made up of the presidents of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, as well as the deputy minister of Industry Canada.

Physical resources has provided details on the anatomy teaching area construction now underway at OVC.

Corridor work Phase 1

Starting Sept. 8 Corridor C1610 will be closed for approximately one week for the removal of the existing interior door and wall to open up this corridor. The bulletin boards from corridor C1609 also will be relocated to this area.

During the closure, access to the labs and offices in rooms 1682 and 1685 will be through the storage and freezer levels on the east side of the ground floor of Building #39. Access to lab 1691 will not be affected.

Corridor work Phase 2

Starting the week of Sept. 14 Corridor C1612 (from corridor C1610 to locker room 1630) will be closed for approximately two weeks for the removal of the existing interior doors on each side of the corridor C1609 to open up this corridor.

Use corridor C1627 (past the Animal Anatomy room 1618) and corridor C1632 towards the archway and along the renovated corridor C1610 to access the Lifetime Learning Centre.

Access into room 1642 will be through the rear exit door located off of the northwest corridor C1632 of Building # 40. Access to lab 1611 will be from corridor C1611 through either of the two alternate entrance doors.

Corridor work Phase 3

Once renovations are complete to corridor C1612 and it is reopened, corridor C1609 will be closed off as part of the Main Human Anatomy Project. Access to the Lifetime Learning Centre will be through Corridor C1612 and down corridor C1610.