April 10, 2025

A McGill University undergraduate student has applied to launch a class action against the institution, alleging that it failed to protect Jewish students from antisemitism, harassment, and discrimination since October 2023. Backed by a Montréal law firm and B’nai Brith Canada, the lawsuit accuses McGill of breaching its obligations under the Code of Student Conduct and other internal policies by allowing an environment of antisemitic sentiment and failing to take adequate disciplinary measures. The student is seeking a one-third tuition refund and $5M in punitive damages, both to be distributed among McGill’s Jewish student population. The application was filed in the Superior Court on Tuesday but has not yet been authorized.

The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies has officially broken ground on the expansion of its Saskatchewan Aviation Learning Centre. This project will double the size of the current facility, adding more classroom space, a dedicated avionics lab, and increased hands-on training opportunities for students. Boeing Canada previously committed $17M to help SIIT create a province-wide hub for aviation training and improve gccess for Indigenous learners. “With the support of Boeing, this facility will play a crucial role in addressing the skilled labour shortage in aerospace while empowering Indigenous professionals with high-demand career opportunities,” said SIIT President Riel Bellegarde.

The University of Lethbridge has launched the new Experiential and Career Education Plan. Called “Kakó Stamistotsit,” it is grounded in the Blackfoot direction of Kakó Stamistotsit (“Go ahead — Experience it”). At the heart of this plan is a commitment to support participation in work-integrated learning and experiential education. The plan’s development process involved discovering how WIL programs and career education initiatives were perceived and assessing the areas in need of improvement. “This ensures that career development and experiential learning continue to play a central role in shaping student success, institutional priorities and community impact,” said ULethbridge Provost and VP (Academic) Michelle Helstein.

In an article for University Affairs, Yukiko Tanaka (University of Toronto) and Jessica Fields (University of Toronto Scarborough) make the case for creating postdoctoral fellowships within dean’s offices and other university administrative departments. They argue that these “administrative postdocs” benefit both the scholar and the institution. For postdoctoral researchers, such roles offer experience in project management, professional consulting, strategic planning, and research analysis. Meanwhile, universities gain access to highly trained research specialists who can examine the complex issues facing today’s institutions—like budget constraints, academic freedom, and generative AI. Tanaka and Fields conclude by encouraging universities to adopt the administrative postdoc model, citing its “immense benefits.”

Western University has opened a new, expanded home for its Mary J Wright Child and Youth Development Clinic (MJW-CYDC) within its Faculty of Education. The new space triples the clinic’s former footprint and will allow staff and students to double their service capacity. MJW-CYDC provides a full continuum of affordable psychological services for children and youth in London, while also serving as a training site for graduate students in Western’s School and Applied Child Psychology program. “I am excited about what our future holds and the impact we can continue to make in the lives of children and families,” said Western MJW-CYDC Clinic Director Colin King.

The University of Calgary’s Sport Medicine Centre has launched the Shoulder Care Access Project (SCAP) Clinic. The clinic helps patients with shoulder pain and injuries to navigate access to specialist care using a simple and efficient system that uses a self-referral questionnaire. “For at least two-thirds of our patients, we know what we’re dealing with before they even walk into the clinic,” said UCalgary Professor Dr Nick Mohtadi. “We can then manage them effectively and move them down whichever path is appropriate.”

Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne is relocating its arts facilities from the Saint-Paul building to the Ignace-Bourget building. The redevelopment aims to enhance the arts experiences offered by the college while better maximizing the use of space in the Ignace-Bourget pavilion, which is open seven days a week and offers a spacious exhibition space for art productions. As part of this project, the new space will be renovated to accommodate arts teaching activities.