April 22, 2025

To celebrate Earth Day, postsecondary institutions across the country have arranged special events and activities focused on the theme of environmental sustainability. Institutions such as Dalhousie University, Mohawk College, and the University of Waterloo are taking action on and around their campus by picking up litter or planting gardens and trees. Others—such as Collège Lionel-Groulx, Concordia University, the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and MacEwan University—are holding informative events about their sustainability efforts to date and how the campus community can contribute in the future. JIBC and Northern Lakes College are giving away flowers and seed packets.

Collège LaSalle, Collège Montmorency, the Institut national de la recherche scientifique, the Université du Québec à Montréal, and the City of Laval have joined forces to create the Consortium de collaboration pour le savoir et l’enseignement. The new consortium aims to expand postsecondary offerings in Laval to train the next generation, retain talent, generate high-impact projects, and foster networking. The first phase of this collaboration will involve the creation of an innovation centre that will house research laboratories and business accelerators. It will also provide collaboration spaces for industry, academia, and the community. The five partners hope to begin offering postsecondary programming and initiatives within the next year.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is reportedly laying off 27 full- and part-time employees. In a statement, the institution said that it is “facing a decrease in international student enrolment and a reduction in revenues, which directly impacts programming and budgets” as well as economic uncertainty created by tariffs. It added that this decision follows an operational review that focused on its program alignment with current market demand, operating efficiencies, and budget accountability. While it has not disclosed the specific positions or departments affected, the polytechnic has revealed that these layoffs will include 13 faculty, 10 professional service employees, and four out-of-scope employees.

Trent University has launched two new AI-focused degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in AI and a Bachelor of Science in AI. The BA in AI—which Trent says is the first of its kind in Canada—will include technical training in programming and analytics, as well as lessons on the philosophical, social, and ethical concerns around intelligent systems. The BSc in AI will prepare students to build tools and systems that drive AI through an education on topics such as programming, machine learning, data science, and statistics. Both programs will include paid co-op options. “These new degree programs give students a strong interdisciplinary background that prepares them to be the AI custodians of the future,” said Trent Durham GTA Dean Dr Wenying Feng.

The University of Regina’s Women’s Centre and UR Pride are both taking the University of Regina Students Union (URSU) to court, claiming that URSU has not paid them their portion of student fees, reports 650 CKOM. The Women’s Centre claims that URSU has withheld roughly $200K in funds without legal explanation, negotiated in bad faith, and spread misinformation about the centre’s operations. URSU claimed that it is not obligated to pay the Women’s Centre since it has not complied with its funding agreement, and noted that it would further be unable to pay since it has not received the student fees for the 2025 winter semester. UR Pride VP Style Stenberg alleges that URSU has not distributed approximately $100K in student fees.

Conestoga College is relocating select programs and services as it consolidates its Brantford and Kitchener campuses. “The college’s leases at 274 Colborne Street in Brantford and 49 Frederick Street in Kitchener will soon expire, providing Conestoga with a chance to […] better utilize our existing facilities,” said a Conestoga spokesperson. Programs at these two sites will move to other facilities between May and September. Meanwhile, CBC reports that the college’s student association—Conestoga Student Inc—is reducing its services. Among other changes, it will close the Emergency Support Bursary application, withdraw support for academic appeals, and scale back its shuttle service. These college and student association changes are part of broader restructuring taking place as the institution responds to the impacts of declining international student enrolment.

Thompson Rivers University and the Skeetchestn Indian Band have signed an affiliation agreement committing to recognition, respect, and a shared purpose. The agreement—signed by TRU President Brett Fairbairn and Skeetchestn Kukpi7 Eddy Jules—reaffirms TRU’s commitment to increase postsecondary access and improve outcomes for Indigenous students. It also recognizes Skeetchestn’s right to lead educational efforts aligned with its methods of teaching and learning. TRU will work with Skeetchestn on new programs, training, and supports and ensure that the Skeetchestn Indian Band has a voice in university governance. “This agreement strengthens our relationship, builds trust and helps ensure TRU is the university of choice for Secwépemc and Indigenous peoples,” said Fairbairn.

The University of Toronto Scarborough recently opened the Sam Ibrahim Building, which will be the official home for the Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Leadership. The building features study spaces, lounges, labs, open seating areas, and technology-enhanced classrooms and lecture halls. Its design meets high sustainability standards, achieved in part through the building envelope’s advanced thermal insulation. The development of both the building and the centre was made possible through a $25M investment from entrepreneur Sam Ibrahim, whose contribution will also fund a research chair, an entrepreneur-in-residence position, and three student awards.

The University of Saskatchewan will be proceeding with the demolition of two vacant on-campus properties: the former Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) building and an adjacent student residence. USask’s Board of Governors reviewed five expressions of interest to help fund the restoration of the LTS building, but determined that none of the proposals were financially viable; the university also said it was unable to find buyers or tenants for the building. “While the board appreciates the historical significance of the [LTS] building, this does not outweigh the very real and immediate risk to public safety posed by these vacant and deteriorating buildings, nor does it supersede the board’s fiduciary responsibility,” read a statement from USask.

A candlelight vigil was held last weekend at the Hamilton City Hall for Mohawk College student Harsimrat Randhawa. Originally from India, the 21-year-old student was killed last week by a stray bullet during a shooting incident in Hamilton. The Hamilton Police report that Randhawa was waiting for the bus at the time of the incident and was an innocent bystander. Mohawk President Paul Armstrong said that the institution is mourning Randhawa, describing the events as “[a]n extremely tragic and absolutely unnecessary loss of a young life full of promise.”