The Town of Perth says it remains strongly committed to maintaining post-secondary education at the soon-to-close Algonquin College Perth Campus, despite ongoing public discussion about the site’s future.
Algonquin College has announced plans to close the Perth campus in Spring 2026, prompting the town to step up advocacy efforts.
Municipal officials say those efforts have included meetings with the local MPP and provincial representatives, participation at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference, and a formal letter of support used in discussions at Queen’s Park.
Mayor Judy Brown says council and staff have consistently supported initiatives aimed at keeping post-secondary education in Perth.
Council’s position was reinforced on Nov. 25, 2025, when members unanimously passed a motion recognizing the campus as a vital public asset. The motion highlighted the value of trades and heritage programming, the public investment in the site, and the importance of maintaining rural access to post-secondary education.
At that same meeting, council considered a request to rezone the property to “private school only.” Following legal and planning review, council opted to maintain the existing zoning, noting a private school is already a permitted use and that limiting the site to a single use could pose planning and legal risks.
Town officials say they will continue to support efforts to keep education at the site as the property sale process moves forward.
