December 10, 2024

AGE-WELL is distributing a total of $2.4M to nine projects focused on developing and applying technology-enabled solutions to support healthy aging. All projects are led or co-led by early career researchers and actively engage older adults and caregivers to ensure that the resulting research reflects real-world priorities. The project leads include researchers from postsecondary institutions such as McGill University, McMaster University, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Victoria. The funds for this investment are provided by AGE-WELL and partners from various sectors.

Memorial University recently approved several initiatives to address a projected funding shortfall. Memorial is reporting a 5.4% decline in Fall 2024 enrolment compared to the previous year, leading to an anticipated loss of more than $9.5M in tuition revenue. In response, the university is implementing a limited hiring program that restricts the filling of new or vacant positions, prohibiting units from carrying over surpluses, and developing a new budget model. Memorial President Neil Bose assured CBC that tuition fees will not increase. “We are planning for the future to ensure the university continues to focus on its core mission,” read a statement from Memorial. “The end result will be a more focused, likely somewhat smaller, well-funded, culturally rich institution.”

The University of Ottawa has announced a multi-year partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart that will increase access to healthcare and bring new learning and research opportunities to campus. The partners will open a new pharmacy clinic—the Shoppers Pharmacy Care Clinic—in UOttawa’s Student Health and Wellness Centre in February 2025. Shoppers Drug Mart has also donated over $2M toward the expansion of the health and wellness centre. The two partners have further agreed to engage in collaborative research on the health outcomes associated with an integrated primary care model that includes pharmacists. Additionally, the partnership includes clinical placement bursaries, funding to support the construction of a mini-pharmacy simulation lab, and support for social enterprise projects.

The Government of Canada has announced that it will expand the Integrated Youth Services (IYS) to make mental health care more accessible for youth across the country. As part of this announcement, Canada’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Ya’ara Saks announced the launch of the IYS Data Platform, which will provide researchers, decision-makers, service providers, and others access to data sets to support youth health care related to mental health and substance use. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research will provide over $17M over four years to support the development of the platform.

Algoma University recently inaugurated two research facilities on its Sault Ste Marie Campus: The Containment Level 2 (CL2) Laboratory and the renovated Animal Care Facility. The CL2 Laboratory allows researchers and students to work with microorganisms, tissue cultures, and other sensitive research areas; while the renovated Animal Care Facility provides a space for responsible research using small animals and aquatic models. “These spaces are more than just labs–they are hubs of discovery and innovation that will prepare the University’s researchers and students to tackle the challenges of tomorrow while working with state-of-the-art technologies,” said AlgomaU Board of Governors Chair Kelli-Ann Lemieux.

In an article for the Globe and Mail, Andrea Yu explores the growing use of sports technology in Canadian university athletics. Yu discusses the range of technological innovations hitting the field, from AI-operated cameras that follow and record game action to wearable athlete monitoring systems that track metrics such as velocity, heart rate, and movement. While these tools can provide university teams with a competitive edge, they also raise concerns about data privacy among younger athletes and the potential for increased disparities between smaller, less-funded institutions and their larger counterparts. Yu adds that although these technologies can enhance training, recording, and officiating practices, they still fall short of accurately predicting game outcomes.

Anderson College and Holland College are each celebrating the accreditation of health-care programs. Anderson’s Cardiology Technology (CT) program accreditation has been renewed through Accreditation Canada’s EQual program. Holland College’s Occupational Therapist Assistant / Physiotherapist Assistant (OTA/PTA) program received national accreditation through the OTA & PTA Education Accreditation Program, which is governed by Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. The accreditation is valid for six years.

Georgian College has unveiled the name of a new roundabout space on campus that recognizes Second World War veteran Major-General Richard Rohmer. Barrie News and CTV News describe Rohmer—who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve—as Canada’s most decorated veteran. The Major-General Richard Rohmer Roundabout encircles the cenotaph at Georgian’s Barrie Campus; it is intended to help Canadian Armed Forces members see themselves at the college. “It means a tremendous amount [as a military-connected college] to have a living legend and truly a Canadian hero, to have his name permanently installed on the Barrie campus of Georgian College,” said Georgian President Kevin Weaver.

A third-party review of the University of Alberta’s decision to remove an encampment on its campus in May has been presented to UAlberta’s Board of Governors. Conducted by retired Court of King’s Bench Justice C Adèle Kent, the review concluded that UAlberta had the legal authority to involve the police in removing the encampment. However, Kent noted that applying for an injunction and negotiating with protesters “would have been the cleanest route” to resolve the situation. The 142-page report includes several recommendations for UAlberta moving forward, such as compensating campers for destroyed belongings, reviewing its responsible investment policy, and improving its crisis reporting system. UAlberta stated that it will carefully review the report and provide a detailed response in the coming weeks.

Cégep de Thetford, Fleming College, and the University of British Columbia Okanagan have each launched new courses in their continuing education and professional development departments. Cégep de Thetford’s continuing education department has partnered with the active-listening organization Expression to offer a course for managers that is focused on improving communication within work teams. Fleming is expanding its Continuing Education language courses in January with evening French, Spanish, American Sign Language, and Italian classes. UBC Okanagan has launched a series of continuing and professional education courses on Early Medieval Christian Art and Architecture, which will explore the artistic and cultural history of the early Middle Ages.