OAC '80: A Celebration Years in the Making

 

For the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) Class of 1980, Alumni Reunion Weekend 2025 (AW25) is more than just a milestone—it’s a long-awaited homecoming. After their 40th reunion was canceled due to the pandemic in 2020, this gathering marks the first time in a decade that many of them will be together again. With plans in motion since the fall of 2023, the excitement is building for what promises to be a heartfelt weekend of reminiscing, reconnecting, and reliving cherished traditions. The reunion leaders for OAC '80 have been working hard to track down as many classmates as possible to come back for this event. Some classmates are coming back to campus for the first time since graduation—one OAC '80 grad is even flying in from the UK. Overall, the class expects 80 -100 classmates in attendance that weekend.

A Close-Knit Class with a Shared Passion

OAC ’80 has always been a particularly close group. With 350 students in their cohort—one of the largest female cohorts at the time—they were bound by a mutual love of agriculture. Whether they were coming from Downtown Toronto or the countryside in the Ottawa Valley, everyone found a place in the class.

One of the Reunion Organizers, Doug Richards, B. Sc. (Agr.) ’80 recalls, “If you were in the class, you were part of the group.” As students, the class planned an annual getaway in Haliburton over the summer between school years, and a ski trip in the winter. Even now, in the years between reunions, OAC ’80 has remained connected, attending alumni events like the OAC Bonspiel and Golf Tournament. 

That bond has remained strong over the years, and for AW25, they are expecting a special guest: Honourary Class President Dr. Swatland, who will be joining them in June.

A Weekend of Nostalgia and Celebration

The reunion itinerary is packed with activities designed to bring back memories and create new ones. The festivities kick off on Friday night with a gathering at Brass Taps—formerly known as ‘The Keg’—a place where many in the class spent their Wednesday nights watching the Maple Leafs, while enjoying $10 pitchers of their favourite beverage.

Saturday will be a day of exploring as classmates tour campus, many seeing it for the first time in 10, 20 years, or more. The university has no doubt changed in the last 45 years. 

Later, the class will celebrate their 45th milestone at the President’s Milestone Lunch before heading back to the Bullring for a special dinner—an especially meaningful location, as the last time they were there as a group was for a grad event, called ‘80 Days Before Graduation’.

Sunday will conclude the weekend with a homemade brunch hosted by a classmate, featuring a special treat—homemade maple syrup made by one of their very own classmates. Doug shared, “I expect us to all be hoarse by Sunday morning.”

OAC ’80 is a class that values tradition. In their second year, they received their Aggie jackets and patches, a tradition started before their time, and for Alumni Weekend, they plan to bring them back—even if they might not fit quite like they used to! And they’ll be reviving another quirky tradition: their class bedsheet-flag. Originally a residence bedsheet transformed into a makeshift class flag, it has followed them to sporting events, and beyond. “You can be sure that’ll be making an appearance this weekend,” Doug shared.

Even the nicknames from their student days have stuck. “Leafroy, Soupy, Crusher—no matter how impressive our professional titles are now, to OAC ’80, we’re still just those same classmates from back in the day,” Doug shares.

Doug’s advice to anyone considering planning their own reunion? “You’ve got to come back. Do a tour of the campus. Reconnect with classmates.”

The spirit of OAC ’80 is proof that the bonds formed at the University of Guelph don’t fade with time. They only grow stronger. And as they gather at Alumni Weekend, they’ll celebrate not just 45 years since graduation but a lifelong connection that continues to thrive.