Community rallies to save Algonquin College Perth Campus as closure looms
A growing online coalition is urging the Algonquin College Board of Governors and the college’s president to reconsider the planned closure of the Perth Campus by August 2026, calling for its regular programming to continue.
As previously reported by Lanarkist, on January 10, 2025, Algonquin College announced its intent to close the Perth Campus as a result of a significant financial deficit. Although current students will be able to finish their programs, the decision has sparked widespread concern among community members, faculty, and students, as evidenced by the change.org petition being shared online.
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The Perth campus provides post-secondary education to locals from Perth, Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, and other nearby areas, not to mention students from across Canada and internationally. According to Braeden Suggit, the change.org petition creator, “The campus offers a range of programs, such as Heritage Carpentry & Joinery, Business Agriculture and Practical Nursing. These programs not only prepare graduates for careers in high-demand fields but also contribute to the local workforce and economy.”
Suggit attended Algonquin College Perth from 2022 to 2024 in the Heritage Carpentry & Joinery Program, which is the only program of its kind in the country. “Graduates have moved all over the country, working in both public and private sectors and are amongs the best tradespeople working in the heritage sector,” explained Suggit, who has since moved to the Yukon with Parks Canada to work on a multi-year restoration project of the SS Klondike National Historic Site.
“My time at Algonquin set me up perfectly for this job. Skills I learned in class are put to use on a daily basis, and the leadership skills I developed have given me greater responsibility on-site.”
Although the college has indicated that these programs may continue at its main Ottawa campus, critics argue that the urban setting lacks the specialized facilities and close community ties that the Perth campus has offered community members in rural settings. Algonquin College Perth has also become a veritable social hub, hosting markets for local artists and craftspeople as well as other events and courses.
Suggitt told Lanarkist, “When I first heard the news about the proposed closure, I knew something had to be done. If for nothing else, to show the college administration how many people care and what the campus means to them.”
Opponents of the closure contend that the decision offers no clear benefits to students, the community, or the programs being relocated. Suggit shares, “The decision to close the Perth Campus is a short-sighted one. It’s a bandaid fix for a much larger problem. If they were to sell the property and buildings, that is still only a one-time cash infusion, which given their deficit predictions will run out quickly and they will be back to square one.”
Petition organizers are calling for the board to reverse the recommendation and preserve the campus, which has been a cornerstone of the region for decades. “Rural education is critical to local economies, it allows residents to upgrade their skills without having to uproot their lives. As a society we should be investing more into rural education opportunities, not cutting them away,” urged Suggit.
A critical board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 24, to determine the future of the Perth Campus. The petition supporting the campus’s continuation will be presented at this meeting as evidence of the community’s strong opposition to its closure. Thus far, the petition has garnered over 1000 signatures.