April 2, 2026

Canada’s Top 100 Employers rankings—which assess employers according to their performance in areas such as benefits, community involvement, and training—have released two more regional rankings of note. Two postsecondary institutions appeared in the Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers ranking: New Brunswick Community College and the University of New Brunswick. Both institutions were recognized for their tuition subsidies and complementary learning offerings for staff. In the Montréal’s Top Employers list, four postsecondary institutions appeared: Concordia University, McGill University, Polytechnique Montréal, and Université de Montréal.

Four postsecondary institutions in southern Alberta—Lethbridge Polytechnic, Medicine Hat College, Red Crow Community College, and the University of Lethbridge—have launched the Southern Alberta Higher Education Relationship. The alliance is called Innakotsiiysinni in Blackfoot, which means respect for others. This commitment unites the institutions with a focus on four areas of collaboration: academic programs, research projects, student support services and facilities, and regional stewardship. Each institution will contribute its unique strengths and resources to the alliance. “By working together, we can better support students across southern Alberta, strengthening our college, our community, and our region,” said MHC President Kevin Shufflebotham.

McGill University has launched the Initiative for Transforming Healthcare (ITH), which will use a system-based approach and technology-enabled solutions to transform the Canadian healthcare system. The interdisciplinary initiative is supported by $5.75M in donor funding, and will involve experts from multiple McGill faculties, healthcare leaders, policymakers, and practitioners. “Many of the pressures facing healthcare today are not clinical problems – they are co-ordination and organizational challenges that require cross-disciplinary cooperation,” said McGill ITH inaugural Director Samer Faraj. “The initiative aims to solve long-standing health sector bottlenecks by pioneering organizational and technological solutions that are based on a deep university-health sector collaboration and joint engagement.”

The Government of Canada has announced two investments through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) to support training in Northern Ontario. NOSM University has received nearly $2M to establish and expand its training facilities across Northern Ontario. The funds will be used to retrofit learner spaces and purchase specialized equipment. Lakehead University has received $1.5M to support the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program, which is offered in collaboration with the University of Guelph. The funds will enable Lakehead to purchase the required laboratory and research equipment for the program.

The University of Saskatchewan will be acquiring a quantum computer, which will give staff and faculty the opportunity to explore a quantum computer, shorten research timelines, and create new research opportunities. USask says that the quantum computer will be part of a shared global quantum ecosystem through a connection to the University of Calgary’s Quantum City hub. “As we step into the future, USask is continuing to establish itself as a cutting-edge institution and a hub for national and international quantum-focused research that will propel work in agriculture, health sciences, defence technologies and more across the Prairies,” said USask President Vince Bruni-Bossio. The computer is supported by more than $2M from Prairies Economic Development Canada and Innovation Saskatchewan.

Georgian College and Canadian Forces Base Borden have signed a Memorandum of Collaboration that formalizes and expands their partnership. This agreement establishes a framework for current and future collaboration and a Collaboration Council. The partners will work on a variety of initiatives that will help military-connected learners access education, including enhanced educational pathways and recognition of military training and experience, work-integrated learning, professional development, and community engagement. “[W]e are creating more flexible pathways that recognize military training and experience, support successful transitions, and equip learners with the skills and credentials they need to succeed during service and beyond,” said Georgian President Kevin Weaver.

Memorial University and the University of Alberta have each recently approved new human resources policies. Memorial’s Board of Regents has approved the university’s Human Rights Policy, which it says will provide a consistent, institution-wide framework for human rights, EDI, and anti-racism. The university says that the policy takes a proactive approach that emphasizes prevention, capacity-building, and early intervention efforts. UAlberta’s Board of Governors has approved a new recruitment policy that removes language related to EDI. UAlberta Board Member Diane Wheatley told CBC that the decision was made to ensure that people “didn’t have to fall into one category or another in order to feel that the university was supporting them.”

Heritage Theological Seminary has introduced a new Master of Theology program. This program is geared towards people who are hoping to gain advanced expertise or prepare for further studies through a PhD. Students will develop their critical thinking skills and deep theological insight. It includes two areas of concentration: Biblical studies or Historical & Theological studies. Seminars are offered in a modular, one-week format, and students can complete this two-year program on campus or online.

HEC Montréal has announced the launch of an interdisciplinary research hub: Transitions HEC Montréal. The hub is composed of 12 entities including several of the school’s research chairs and sustainability hubs, which will pool their experience to support sustainability research and innovation. “In a context marked by multiple crises, we are adopting a transformative action-oriented approach, with the aim of strengthening the resilience, innovation capacity and sustainability of organizations,” explained Transitions HEC Montréal Director Joseph El-Khoury. The hub will support training in a variety of subjects, supervised student projects, and territorial and collective initiatives.

Fleming College’s Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services has partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) to launch the Work Well initiative. This initiative is intended to increase awareness around mental health supports in employment services. Work Well will provide the region’s employment service provider staff with a suite of mental health information sessions that will help them support their clients using a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach. Participants who complete the series will receive a digital badge and a letter of achievement. “Our goal is to foster a better understanding of mental health and illness in the employment services sector in order to further reduce barriers to finding meaningful work,” said Fleming AVP, Student Experience Joanne Spicer.