August 14, 2026

Fleming College and Scarborough Health Network (SHN) are partnering to provide health care training to 110 individuals. SHN is receiving over $2.2M from the Government of Ontario to fund the training, which it will conduct in partnership with Fleming. SHN will use a Virtual Standardized patient platform where students can access hands-on learning, mentorship, and accelerated training pathways. ON Member of Provincial Parliament for Scarborough North Dr Raymond Cho explained that the initiative will provide participants with “hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for careers supporting patient care in hospitals and long-term care facilities across Ontario.”

The University of Alberta and quantum computing company Xanadu have partnered to build software that will assist with testing and predicting compounds for potential use in cancer treatment. The work will focus on using quantum computing to model photodynamic therapy, where light-activated compounds are placed in the body and activated with a laser to destroy tumor cells. UAlberta Professor Dr Alex Brown and Xanadu’s algorithms team will lead the research. “By combining Xanadu’s quantum expertise with our experience in modelling photodynamic therapy, we’re excited to explore how quantum computing could provide new tools for designing more effective treatments,” said Brown.

A recent study of university students in Toronto found a connection between academic performance and where students live. Kiana Basiri (Toronto Metropolitan University), Cynthia Holmes (TMU), Shelagh McCartney (TMU), and Ximena Rosenvasser (TMU) found that commutes were linked with lower grades. Additionally, living close to campus does not bring all the benefits of living directly on campus, which the authors say appears to come from on-campus institutional and social infrastructure. The study also found that though students living with parents reported similar levels of satisfaction to those living in residence, their grades were still connected to their commute time. “If governments that fund universities are serious about student outcomes, on-campus housing must be funded and built at scale, as core academic infrastructure,” conclude the authors.

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and Thompson Rivers University have signed a new memorandum of understanding that formalizes their work and establishes a framework for continued collaboration. The MOU includes collaboration on the delivery of TRU credentials with NVIT and on Indigenous language credentials. It also provides principles that will support responsive education and curriculum development. “This agreement opens the door to innovative approaches and new opportunities to extend education and services to Indigenous communities,” said NVIT President Dr John Chenoweth.

The University of Winnipeg has announced that it is introducing a Certificate in Justice, Law and Rights in the 2026–27 academic year. The certificate includes courses in policing and fundamental elements of law. It is aimed at both current UWinnipeg students and those interested in law school. UWinnipeg Program Director of Human Rights Dr Kristi Kenyon explained that the program will particularly benefit students in the university’s pre-professional law program, in addition to those looking for a designation with a legal focus.

New charges have been laid against the four individuals who were involved in an explosives investigation. This investigation began with a trespassing call at Western University and ultimately involved the search of residences in London and Ottawa. A total of 19 additional charges have been laid, including possession of explosives, firearms-related charges, and possession of stolen property that the court document said belonged to Western. According to The London Free Press, the London Police Service says that the case is not connected to any national security threat.

Langara College has launched a certificate and diploma program in Occupational Health and Safety that will train learners to create safer workplaces. These programs will prepare working professionals to support compliance, prevention, and employee well-being. They are offered in an online asynchronous, part-time format, and those who complete the one-year certificate can ladder into the diploma program. Graduates will be prepared for roles in a variety of areas, including manufacturing, health care, and government. Langara said that the program will meet the province’s labour market needs.

The University of New Brunswick has signed a collective agreement with Unifor Local 4504. This bargaining unit represents approximately 220 support staff employees such as administrative assistants and library assistants at the university. The UNB release explained that the parties celebrated their joint commitment to students and to the university’s mission. Both UNB and Unifor Local 4504 were “pleased with the terms of the agreement.”

An international team of researchers recently discovered a new seahorse species from the Indian Ocean, which has been named after University of British Columbia marine biologist Dr Amanda Vincent. Hippocampus amandavincentae was discovered in heaps of fish bycatch at a harbour in southern India. Its name was chosen to honour Vincent’s work in conservation. “Knowing that Hippocampus amandavincentae exists as a separate species, recognizing what makes it unique and understanding where it lives is obviously critical for its conservation,” said Vincent.

The University of Toronto’s Housing Justice Lab and Yonge Street Mission (YSM) have launched a research partnership that will seek to address issues related to housing affordability and homelessness. The partnership will use an evidence-based housing model, focusing on how a new YSM housing development can provide affordable housing that reduces housing instability. U of T will begin by leading a national scan of relevant housing models and their operational structures, target populations, funding models, and community outcomes. Future work will involve tracking and evaluating resident outcomes.