April 14, 2026

The Government of Ontario is introducing legislation to condense teacher education programs from four semesters over two years to three consecutive semesters over 12 months. The changes would reduce tuition costs and enable students to enter the teaching workforce more quickly. The legislation would also enable ON to explore prior learning and work experience recognition opportunities. The province also announced a $16.8M honorarium for classroom teachers who mentor, supervise, and evaluate students completing practicum placements. Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario VP Shirley Bell praised the changes but asserted that ON needs to change the working conditions of teachers to improve retention.

In recent weeks, institutions from across Canada have approved and published their balanced budgets for 2026–27. Given reduced revenues at several of these institutions, several of the budgets reflect cost-cutting efforts such as organizational restructuring and programming reductions, as well as revenue-generating activities such as ancillary services. Institutions also highlighted some of the areas they intend to invest in the upcoming year, such as in continuing education offerings (University of Prince Edward Island), AI and technology adoption (University of British Columbia, University of Toronto), and supports for students (Northern Lights College, UBC, U of T, Vancouver Island University).

The University of Calgary recently broke the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people dressed as dinosaurs. For UCalgary’s 60th anniversary celebrations, the university invited community members to attend campus wearing dinosaur costumes. Scrutineers completed an official count and found that 682 people in dinosaur suits gathered at the event. UCalgary President Ed McCauley dressed as a dinosaur for the event, and the Dinos’s mascot Rex was in attendance. “The old record is extinct,” said UCalgary President Ed McCauley. The university will display the plaque prominently so the whole community can see it.

York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School has established the $1M Osgoode Access to Justice Fund, thanks to a gift from the Raj Anand and Lesley Valentine-Anand Foundation. The fund will support two key programs in particular: The Osgoode Access to Justice Internships and the Raj Anand and LCO Access to Justice Research Fellowship. The internships funding will provide JD students with financial support to pursue summer placements at public-interest organizations, while the fellowship program—housed at the Law Commission of Ontario—will enable academics, legal professionals, and postdoctoral researchers to undertake law-reform research and contribute to public projects. YorkU Osgoode Dean Trevor Farrow welcomed the gift, noting the “critical time for the rule of law and justice.”

In a recent Nature article about a study of 3,700 doctoral candidates, 14 PhD students reflected on how their supervisors supported them throughout their studies. The survey asked doctoral candidates to respond to the question “what is the best thing your supervisor has done for you during your studies?” Students reported several meaningful moments that impacted their experiences, such as when their supervisors listened to their concerns, accommodated needs related to their health and wellbeing, and protected them from external pressures. Others shared more significant moments such as being supported through a gender transition, being offered funding for their research, and getting help with settling in a new country. The author notes that these moments highlight how supervisors can profoundly impact students’ academic trajectories.

Collège Boréal celebrated a new partnership with Les Compagnons des francs loisirs—a North Bay organization created to support Francophone culture and programming—by opening a shared office space in North Bay. As a part of the partnership, Les Compagnons des francs loisirs will provide French-speaking newcomers with orientation and settlement support, referrals for services, and networking opportunities. Boréal Director, Immigration Programs and Services Frédéric Boulanger explained that socioeconomic integration of newcomers requires a wide range of supports, which the college will be able to provide though its partnership with Les Compagnons des francs loisirs.

Brandon University and Juntendo University in Japan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a collaboration framework for student and faculty exchange, joint research initiatives, and academic resource and expertise sharing. This partnership aligns with BrandonU’s focus on applied disaster and emergency studies, and is expected to give students and researchers opportunities in areas related to emergency management, public safety, and community resilience. “As our first MOU in Japan, we hope this partnership will open the door to further collaborations and inspire additional departments to explore opportunities in the region,” said BrandonU Director of the Office of International Activities David Rowland.

The University of Ottawa went into a lockdown on Friday after reports of a man carrying a firearm at the UOttawa LRT station. Police arrested the man, determined that the weapon was a replica, and laid charges of possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace and mischief. The UOttawa Students’ Union criticized the university’s handling of the lockdown, saying that messaging was inconsistent and relied too heavily on students having downloaded the university’s SecurUO app. In response, UOttawa has begun a review of its safety protocols, with UOttawa Director of Public Affairs Jesse Robichaud writing that “[t]hese protocols are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure continuous improvement.”

In a recent Nature article, Lingling Yuan (Southern Medical University) reflects on lessons learned from playing Green Pepper Simulator, a Chinese game that gamifies the life of early-career academics. The game, named for the similarity between the Mandarin word for green peppers and a term for early-career faculty, lets players manage papers, grants, reputation, and mental health to become successful researchers. Yuan says that the game, which has attracted over 600,000 players, illustrates three key lessons for early-career academics, including the metrification of goals, uncertainty, and that the humanity of science rarely counts. She adds that playing the game gave her a new sense of understanding for her early-career colleagues as, unlike in the game, “when they’re faced with game over, there’s no easy option to play again.”

ILSC Language Schools and Kwantlen Polytechnic University have signed a joint pathway partnership agreement that will create new language training and study opportunities for international students. Students can begin their studies at any ILSC Language Schools campus in Canada, after which they can enrol at KPU for further language training and direct entry into a postsecondary diploma or degree program under the same study permit. “We are pleased to partner with ILSC Education Group to create a strong and supportive pathway for students,” said KPU Interim AVP International Zainab Al-koubaisi.