August 6, 2024

The Government of Nova Scotia has signed a five-year, $50.8M agreement with the University of Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Veterinary College to increase the number of seats reserved for Nova Scotians. The number of first-year seats reserved for NS residents will increase from 16 to 24 starting this fall. “Nova Scotia needs more veterinarians to care for our animals,” said NS Minister of Advanced Education Brian Wong. “We’ve had a positive partnership with the Atlantic Veterinary College for many years, and we’re looking to continue investing in the college to offer a high-quality education in veterinary medicine, while increasing the number of available seats to train the veterinarians Nova Scotia needs.”

The Record reports that Ontario’s community colleges have collectively reported operating surpluses worth $1B from the 2023-24 fiscal year. Conestoga College reported the largest surplus—nearly $252M in the 2023-24 fiscal year—which it attributed to the increased international student population. The college stated that “a surplus of this size is a one-time occurrence, and will be less next year as a result of the international student cap.” Conestoga faculty union president Leopold Koff welcomed the cap as an opportunity for college leadership to “reevaluate,” saying that the high number of students at the college has placed a strain on faculty and staff. The Record and CTV News also highlighted the impact that increased student numbers have had on the region’s public services.

McGill University is reopening its downtown campus this week. McGill had initially restricted access to the campus, following the dismantlement of a pro-Palestinian encampment last month. Starting this week, McGill ID cards will no longer be required to pass through campus; pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicle access will be restored; and all classes will take place in their usual location and on their typical schedules. “We understand that this phased reopening has posed significant challenges for some of our community members, and we truly regret these unavoidable impacts,” McGill said in an email to its students and staff last week.

Western University has unveiled the Michael Newark Digitized Tornado Archive, an online platform that provides information about tornadoes dating back to 1792. The archive, which is available for anyone to use, is designed to support meteorologists, emergency planners, insurers, and researchers who are looking to improve their understanding of tornado risks. “It’s about building that knowledge base,” said the archive’s namesake Michael Newark, who initiated the project. “The more you know about tornadoes – where they occur, when to expect them, and how severe they might be – the better prepared you can be.” This archive is the result of a collaboration between Western Libraries and the Northern Tornadoes Project.

CBC reports that two Indigenous leaders who were listed as advisors on the website of the College of Northern Canada are not associated with the private institution. Former negotiator and NWT politician Steven Nitah and Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government Chief Danny Gaudet told CBC that no one had been in touch with them from the college since they had first heard about the institution. After being contacted by CBC, the college reportedly updated its website to remove Nitah and Gaudet and exchanged a photo of a Nordic coastal community for a photo of Yellowknife. University of the Fraser Valley Assistant Professor Dale McCartney also noted that the college website does not make it clear where students will attend classes, which he explained is a more common phenomenon among private colleges.

The Canada Economic Development for Québec Regions (CED) has extended its agreement with the Université du Montréal and the Mont-Mégantic Observatory (OMM). As part of this two-year extension, CED will invest an additional $850K into UMontréal and OMM, enabling them to pursue innovation in optics-photonics, scientific programming, and engagement efforts. “The Observatory will thus be able to continue with its mission to train the next generation of astronomy experts, not to mention its commitment to the public by continuing to popularize this most fascinating science,” said UMontréal Professor and OMM Director René Doyon.

International student Lola Akinlade is reportedly facing deportation after IRCC determined that the acceptance letter from University of Regina that she used to enter Canada was fake. CBC reports that Lola Akinlade applied to study in Canada through an agent. When she arrived in Canada in 2016, the agent told her she had been waitlisted by URegina and she opted to instead pursue an education at Nova Scotia Community College. Shortly after her family joined her in Canada, IRCC notified her that the letter was a fake; Akinlade subsequently lost her study permit and her family members lost their temporary resident status. Akinlade and her family are now filing a humanitarian application to stay.

Assiniboine College and Siemens Canada are partnering to better prepare mechatronics students for their future careers. Via this partnership, Assiniboine’s new Mechatronics Engineering Technology (Robotics and Automation) program–set to launch in 2025–will offer students access to the internationally-recognized Siemens Mechatronics Systems Certification Program (SMSCP). “By offering this program, we are not only responding to industry demands but also setting our students up for success in a rapidly evolving job market,” said Assiniboine Academic Chair of Manufacturing and Agricultural Processing Kevin Rogers. “The comprehensive training provided will cover levels 1 and 2, with the SMSCP certification ensuring our graduates are at the leading edge of industry standards.”

Portage College will broaden its supports for learners, thanks to increased funding for its literacy and newcomer support programming. Portage recently received new and expanded grants through the Community Adult Learning Program, Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy, and St Paul/Elk Point Economic Development Alliance. The projects supported by the funding include a one-year program offering targeted reading instruction for adults who are non-readers or emergent readers, as well as the creation of newcomer supports in the St Paul and Elk Point region. “At Portage College, we believe that education is the key to building stronger communities and empowering individuals,” said Portage President Nancy Broadbent.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s official opposition has called for the removal of Memorial University Board of Regents Chair Glenn Barnes. Official Opposition Education Critic Paul Dinn said that Barnes showed a “severe” lack of professionalism and judgement and violated an alumna’s privacy by forwarding an email to the alumna’s father. “Members of the board are expected to act with integrity, respect, and in a manner of trust and confidentiality,” said Dinn. Bay FM reports that Dinn is urging NL Minister of Education Krista Lynn Howell to address the situation.