August 29, 2023

The University of Guelph has opened a new swine research centre in Elora. The Ontario Swine Research Centre will bolster research efforts in a range of disciplines, including nutrition, animal health, production economics, genetics, and nutrient management. The centre received a $20M investment from the Government of Ontario, the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario, and members of the province’s pork industry. ON and the Government of Canada have additionally announced a $1.75M investment in the centre to fund a feed distribution system and electronic sow feeders.

The Government of British Columbia is investing approximately $15M in graduate scholarships over the next three years. With this investment, the BC Graduate Scholarship award will be increased to $17.5K to contend with the rising cost of living. The scholarship award will be awarded through 10 BC postsecondary institutions: British Columbia Institute of Technology, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Royal Roads University, Simon Fraser University, Thompson Rivers University, University of British Columbia, University of the Fraser Valley, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Victoria, and Vancouver Island University.

Officials from Wolfville and Antigonish, which host Acadia University and St Francis Xavier University respectively, plan to lobby the Government of Nova Scotia to provide more supports to their universities for student housing and on-campus programs. CBC reports that the populations of each town nearly double during the school year. The lack of on-campus housing has reportedly impacted the towns’ housing markets, as well as creating friction between students and the community. “Our university would like to build student housing,” said Wolfville Mayor Wendy Donovan. “They have the land, but they don’t have the resources.”

The University of Regina has partnered with the AIDS Program South Saskatchewan Inc (APSS) to reduce the impacts of the drug overdose crisis. Together, the organizations have launched , a two-year initiative that maps discarded needles in public places and then directs targeted supports–such as harm reduction knowledge, naloxone training, and recovery options–to areas where there is high needle use. The project is funded by the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) and led by URegina Assistant Professor Dr Andrew Eaton and APSS Executive Director Shiny Mary Varghese. “By targeting hotspot areas, we expect to be able to reduce the number of drug-related deaths and encourage safer needle use,” said Eaton.

As campuses hold some of their largest move-in days ever, the housing crisis and its impact on students–particularly international students–is under the spotlight. Sources report that the University of Calgary has experienced a significant increase in demand for on-campus housing, with over 700 students on the campus housing waitlist. states that the waitlist has been reduced to under 100 as some students find off-campus options. Nishat Chowdhury of reports that Edmonton postsecondary schools are welcoming record-breaking numbers of international students this year, but that international students are having more difficulty finding housing than their domestic counterparts. “They don’t have a family friend that they can move in [with]. They can’t move back in with their parents,” said Chris Beasley of the University of Alberta Students’ Union. “International students are […] the most visible victims of [the housing crisis].”

Students Nova Scotia has released a report on university tuition rates in NS, which have increased faster than in the rest of Canada and imposed a major financial strain on young people. The report found that average NS university tuition rose by 20% in the last six years, compared to the national average of 3.2% over the same time period. CBC reports that this report was released amid ongoing negotiations for a new memorandum of understanding between NS and its ten universities. In a statement to CBC, a spokesperson from the province’s Department of Advanced Education said that the government would work with student groups like Students Nova Scotia to ensure ongoing discussions are centred around student needs.

The Université de Moncton has reached a tentative deal with the Association des employés de l’Université de Moncton (AEUM), the union representing the institution’s administration, maintenance staff, and trades. UMoncton and AEUM have been in negotiations since last December. Last week, UMoncton issued a statement advising its community of a likely strike; however, the two sides were able to reach an “agreement in principle” over the weekend. “This stability enables us to ensure a quality student experience, and is in line with our strategy of providing a healthy, stimulating and caring environment for the entire university community,” said UMoncton President recteur Denis Prud’homme.

With the brunt of the housing crisis blame being placed on international students, Vanessa Balintec of reports on the history of international students and related policies in Canada. Balintec interviews Dale M McCartney (University of the Fraser Valley) about how Canada began opening its doors to international students in the 1940s as part of the country’s post-war foreign affairs agenda. McCartney highlights the shifts in regulations, public funding, and the federal government’s perspective on international students through the 1980s and 2000s. Isaac Garcia-Sitton (Toronto Metropolitan University), Natalia Tola (Canadian Federation of Students), and Binny Joseph (International Student Services Organization) comment on the difficulties international students face today, the impacts of a lack of dedicated resources on students and Canada, and what is needed to move forward.

Police have laid an additional charge against the accused in the University of Waterloo stabbing attack. In addition to the original charges of aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and mischief, the accused has been charged with attempted murder. Sources say that the Waterloo Regional Police Service is still investigating the incident and that the accused is expected to appear in court next Friday.

As the status of the wildfires continue to improve in the Kelowna region, two institutions are resuming their campus operations. The Justice Institute of British Columbia announced that its Kelowna campus reopened this week and shared information about the supports available to those students impacted by this summer’s wildfires, including an Emergency Assistance Bursary. The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus stated that in-person classes will begin as scheduled next week. “We recognize that things have not returned to normal in all areas of our community and that many are still displaced or otherwise affected,” said a letter from UBCO. “The UBCO community will continue to stand with you through the course of rebuilding and recovery.”