March 12, 2025

Canadore College and the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) have officially opened their collaborative cohabitation housing project. This intergenerational housing project consists of 61 two-bedroom units that will house older adults and Canadore students. Ontario Construction News explains that Canadore students will live on-site and offer health and wellness support services to tenants. “Intergenerational housing models like this are essential for building strong communities and supporting healthy aging,” said Canadore President George Burton, who expressed hope that the project could be replicated across Ontario.

Several postsecondary institutions across the country have unveiled new recycling programs to support a greener future. Collège Ahuntsic has installed new waste sorting islands on campus that offer separate chutes for waste, compost, returnable containers, recycling, and paper. Brock University has set up specialized bins to properly dispose of coffee cups; the units have different compartments for the cups, lids, and any remaining liquid. Cape Breton University has partnered with the Electronic Products Recycling Association to provide public-facing electronic product recycling bins on campus. Meanwhile, the University of Guelph has introduced the Oscar Sort initiative: an AI technology-based unit that scans items in real-time and instructs users how to correctly sort their trash.

Polytechnique Montréal and the Palais des congrès de Montréal are joining forces on a new AI project that will advance sustainability. Starting this term, four Polytech MTL students in software engineering will design an AI system capable of identifying, characterizing, and quantifying the waste that is produced at Palais events. Together, the partners hope to gain a better understanding of consumption habits at the venue, develop strategies to reduce waste production, and promote more sustainable alternatives. “This project, integrating artificial intelligence in support of sustainable development, will promote the acquisition of skills in line with the labour market and generate positive spinoffs for our partners,” said Polytech MTL VP, Academic Affairs and Student Experience Pierre Langlois.

The College of the Rockies, the City of Cranbrook, and CityStudio have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster social innovation and change within the community. Under this agreement, COTR and Cranbrook will use CityStudio’s partnership model as they collaborate on projects that will help further the city’s strategic goals. COTR faculty will pair these projects with COTR courses, where students will have the opportunity to work with City staff to the benefit of the community. “This is an exciting step forward for the College-City partnership,” said COTR President Paul Vogt. “This project brings together City staff, students, faculty, and the broader community to collaboratively develop innovative projects and help make Cranbrook more sustainable, equitable, livable, and inclusive.”

The University of Manitoba has embarked on a community development project that will transform a parcel of land into a new urban community called Southwood Circle. UM Properties is the developer for Southwood Circle, which will feature a mix of housing, office and commercial units, and green and park spaces. The development will enable the university to increase its revenue through tenant leases. The Globe and Mail reports that sustainability and Indigenous design principles will be integrated into the development’s design.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University is issuing full or partial layoff notices to 70 faculty members this week to reduce its expenditures. In an online statement, KPU explained that international student enrolment declined by 2,000 this fiscal year and is expected to drop by another 1,500 next year, leading to a projected $49M revenue loss for Fiscal 2026. To address this, KPU is increasing revenue and cutting expenses by implementing layoffs, a hiring review, and reductions in discretionary funding. The layoffs will primarily affect areas where declining international student enrolment has reduced course and program demand. KPU added that it will provide dedicated support to affected faculty members.

Seneca Polytechnic and the British Council Canada have opened a new International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test centre at Seneca’s Newnham campus. The centre will be open to members of the community, as well as students from Seneca and other schools. “We are excited to welcome IELTS to Seneca and look forward to providing test takers with a great experience,” said Seneca VP Academic Michelle Hutt. “Bringing this great partnership to our campus allows us to better serve our students and other community members.”

Adler University and Fleming College have each announced new programs that will launch later this year. Adler is introducing a Master of Psychology in Health and Wellness in Vancouver this Fall. Learners will study evidence-based strategies for mental health, stress management, and organizational wellness. The program, which will replace Adler’s Master of Applied Psychology program, will be offered in a blended learning format. Fleming will offer a Real Estate Learning Program this Summer. The program follows a curriculum developed by the Real Estate Council of Ontario and prepares learners for careers in real estate using experiential learning opportunities. Fleming’s version of the program will also cover key information related to rural real estate.

In an article for The evoLLLution, Lyndi Duff (Salt Lake Community College) argues that postsecondary institutions must rethink how they design, manage, and update curricula to better meet the demands of today’s student population. The author asserts that curriculum management should be reimagined as a strategic function, rather than just an administrative task. Specifically, Duff advises institutions to embed agility into curriculum design to keep pace with workforce needs, eliminate opacity in the curriculum management process, and commit to accessibility and inclusivity as core tenets of academic program development. “[T]he institutions that thrive in the future will be those that recognize the power of curricula as a tool for innovation, student success and institutional resilience,” concludes Duff.

Mount Allison University is incorporating several Indigenous-inspired concepts into its ongoing renovation of the R P Bell Library. These elements include a dynamic tide tracker feature of the Bay of Fundy, lighting that is inspired by traditional basketry, a Mi’kmaq ornamental entranceway, and an atrium ceiling eight-point Mi’kmaq star. These features were selected after the renovation team hosted a Talking Circle with an Indigenous Advisory Circle, which included knowledge keepers, Elders, faculty, staff, students, and alumni from the Mi’kmaq community. The redesign of the library is being conducted in collaboration with Two Row Architect and the Indigenous Talking Circle and will continue to engage Indigenous voices throughout its progress.