August 20, 2026

The Government of Ontario has invested over $9.8M into six training projects that will prepare nearly 1,150 workers and job seekers for careers in critical industries. ON has partnered with five organizations to deliver this training and workforce development. Funding will support training and upskilling initiatives in areas such as the automotive industry, construction, manufacturing, mining, and seafaring. “These projects complement Skilled Trades Ontario’s mandate to promote the skilled trades, strengthen pathways into apprenticeship and certification, and support a highly qualified workforce,” said Skilled Trades Ontario CEO and Registrar Candice White.

As the four cégeps in the region of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean welcome their students this week, they also are reflecting on how their enrolment has been affected by policy and process changes. Leaders from Cégep de Chicoutimi, Cégep de Jonquière, Cégep de Saint-Félicien, and Collège d’Alma each noted that their enrolment has remained stable overall, but with slight decreases to international enrolment. Christian Tremblay (Cégep de Chicoutimi) credited the stability to the four institutions’ joint effort to recruit in France, but noted that efforts in French-speaking Africa have faced difficulties relating to government policy. Frédéric Tremblay (Collège d’Alma) and Julie Gaudreault (Cégep de Saint-Félicien) noted how changes to financial requirements, processing times, and post-graduation permit requirements have all contributed to a tighter international enrolment environment.

TD has released the results of a recent survey of 255 postsecondary students across Canada about student finances. In the survey, 89% of respondents indicated that they experienced financial stress in the last three months, with 76% of all respondents saying that financial stress negatively impacted their wellbeing and academic performance. The survey also found that nearly one-quarter of students (23%) admitted they lacked basic budgeting skills. Nearly half (45%) of respondents said they used AI tools or social media, with over two-thirds (68%) of these respondents acting on advice without verifying it. “Students aren’t lacking interest in investing; they’re lacking confidence in where to start,” concluded TD Direct Investing Market Technician Hiren Amin.

Selkirk College will be offering tuition-free carpentry training, thanks to an investment from the Government of British Columbia. The Industry-Ready Carpentry Program will provide participants with the opportunity to gain industry-recognized certifications, tools, and financial supports to prepare them for in-demand jobs in carpentry. Selkirk is collaborating with community and industry partners on the program. “The value of this partnership is the additional training and support we can offer to learners seeking to transition into high-demand careers in the skilled trades,” said Selkirk Dean of Industry and Trades Training Tracy Punchard.

Martin Maltais (Université du Québec à Rimouski) has written an open letter to Government of Québec Ministre de l’Enseignement supérieur Martine Biron explaining how the option to turn Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy into the 49th public cégep is the efficient choice. Maltais explained that CNDF has the capacity to quickly alleviate the Capitale-Nationale region’s capacity issues and further expected enrolment. Maltais argues that as a 49th cégep, CNDF would save the government $500M that would otherwise be required to build new space for existing cégeps, while costing only an additional $5.8M per year in funding. Doing so, Maltais writes, would create accessible public education for Portneuf residents, who face lower diploma attainment rates than those in Québec City.

In a recent article for The Conversation, Lydia Scholle-Cotton (Queen’s University), Cheryl Lee-Yow (Queen’s), and Emily Luo (Queen’s) discuss their recent study and workshop project on educator use of AI. Scholle-Cotton, Lee-Yow, and Luo had educators reflect on their comfort with AI, their assessment and educational practices, and their fears and challenges. They found that educators had varying levels of comfort with AI in various areas. They developed two reflection tools—one for educators and one for students—that educators can use to start conversations around AI. They argue that as Canada invests in AI literacy adoption, it must support inclusive initiatives and encourage all educators to reflect on their comfort levels and discuss ethics.

The University of Winnipeg has launched the Certificate in Human Rights. This 30-hour certificate is offered through the Global College and built from UWinnipeg courses. It offers participants an accessible and inclusive way to gain a human rights credential. It includes training in human rights theories, origins, and standards and practices. Graduates will be better prepared for work in areas such as public policy, community service, and education.

Lambton College and Indspire have partnered to help Indigenous learners pursue careers in water and water treatment. Eligible Indigenous students will be able to enter Lambton’s Environmental Technician – Water Treatment Operations program with financial, housing, and student success supports. “This first-of-its-kind opportunity brings together specialized training and Indigenous learners to help meet the urgent need for water and wastewater skills and talent within Indigenous communities,” said Indspire President Jocelyn Formsma. The first cohort will begin their studies in Fall 2026.

A recent paper by Grace Li (University of Technology Sydney) argues that language equity should be treated as a legality and academic ethics problem of assessment design. When generative AI usage is treated in sweeping terms as unauthorized assistance, Li explains that students who speak English as an additional language are disproportionately affected by “suspicion, inconsistent enforcement, and sanctions”. To ensure universities can preserve their academic standards while avoiding unfairness in GenAI-era assessment, Li outlines a framework that uses calibrated disclosure and links academic integrity enforcement to reasons, proportionality, and fair evidence standards.

The University of Manitoba is hosting roughly 20 papyri from ancient Egypt in its exhibit entitled The Ancient Inbox. The documents—written in Ancient Greek—are on loan from the University of Michigan and contain glimpses into life roughly 2,000 years ago. Earlier this summer, UManitoba brought together researchers and lecturers from around the globe to study the documents. UManitoba Professor Mike Sampson explained that despite the apparent mundanity of documents, which include a marriage contract and a record of a labour dispute, researchers have much to gain from examining them. “In antiquity, if it was worth writing down, it means it was important for one reason or another,” said Sampson.