December 13, 2024

The Government of Canada recently announced the 2024-25 recipients of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Funding Program, which include several postsecondary institutions. In total, this year’s program is allocating $9.9M to support 30 projects that raise awareness of the SDGs and advance progress on the 2030 Agenda. This year’s postsecondary recipients are Conrad Grebel University College, Fanshawe College, Université de Sherbrooke, and the University of Calgary. “When we invest in and empower people to make a difference where they live and work, we create lasting solutions that drive progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda right here at home in Canada,” said Canada Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development Jenna Sudds.

St Mary’s University’s Faculty of Education will establish the Woitas Centre for Inclusive Education, thanks to a $7M donation from Clayton and Linda Woitas. The centre will be used for training the next generation of educators and equipping Alberta’s teachers with the knowledge and strategies they need to transform learning in the classroom. “Our Bachelor of Education students, and teachers who already are in the classroom, will have access to the latest tools, insights and professional development opportunities designed to empower all students to succeed,” said StMU Dean of Education Dr Laurie Carlson Berg. “It will be a world-class resource.” The centre will open in 2025.

The Government of Canada is investing $10M into 18 applied research projects that are designed to address the country’s housing and infrastructure needs. Eight of these projects are led by postsecondary institutions: McGill University, McMaster University, Polytechnique Montréal, Queen’s University, Toronto Metropolitan University, the University of British Columbia, the University of New Brunswick, and the University of Toronto. The funded projects will address diverse mandates, such as developing a platform to help cities assess the affordability of residential regions and advancing the use of 3D-printed concrete technology in housing construction. Together, the projects aim to generate innovative solutions to the housing challenges faced by Canadian communities.

In a recent University Affairs article, Loleen Berdahl (Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy) explores the challenges that instructors face when using generative AI (GenAI) detection software. Berdahl notes that detection tools lag behind GenAI’s rapid development and fail to identify all instances of student GenAI use. This shortfall causes equity issues by penalizing some students, while overlooking others. The author writes that relying on detection software can also increase instructors’ workloads and cause stress for students who are wrongly accused. To address these issues, Berdahl highlights solutions for instructors, including returning to in-class exams, fostering open discussions about GenAI, and being transparent about using detection tools. She concludes that navigating this evolving landscape requires operating from a place of strength, not fear.

Red Crow Community College will modernize its HVAC system to meet current code standards, thanks to $1.7M in financial support from the Government of Canada. The upgraded system will create a more comfortable and secure environment for students. This federal funding is part of a broader $18.2M investment that supports six community infrastructure projects across Alberta. “We are proud to make these investments that will help strengthen and improve community buildings and infrastructure for Albertans across the province,” said Canada Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Sean Fraser.

Laurentian University Associate Professor Dr Isabelle Côté and University of Ottawa Professor Dr Simon Lapierre recently launched the Protecting Children Against Domestic Violence (PEVC) Institute. The institute delivers specialized training to Francophone professionals working in youth protection, law enforcement, women’s shelters, and legal services. It offers a four-day researcher-led program that equips community service professionals with skills to manage complex cases of domestic violence. “Our work is intended to go beyond intervention,” explained Dr Côté. “It’s about giving children the safe and healthy childhood they deserve, and ensuring that families can break free from cycles of violence.” Recent funding from the Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon will allow the institute to further expand its research and training initiatives.

Acadia University has received a $1.5M donation from alumnus Janice MacNeill towards the Build: theStudentCentre campaign. The donation will support the construction of the new student centre, which will offer students resources, accessible spaces, and community gathering spaces. “I am so grateful for donors like Janice who, by virtue of their dedication to Acadia, are contributing to the Student Centre’s ongoing evolution as an inclusive, accessible focal point where wellness and diversity are celebrated,” said Acadia Chancellor Nancy McCain. “They have created a groundswell of momentum that brings us ever closer to our goal of $24 million.”

In a recent Inuvik Town Council meeting, Aurora College President Dr Angela James faced questions about the programming offered at the institution’s Inuvik campus. NNSL reports that council members expressed concerns about a perceived lack of programming, noting the need for training in information technology, financial accounting, and the skilled trades. James responded that the college’s offerings are affected by the low graduation levels in the territory’s K-12 system, asserting that K-12 students are either not graduating, graduating and not pursuing higher ed, or attempting to pursue higher education without the preparation they need to succeed. “

York University’s Osgoode Professional Development has partnered with Miller Thompson LLP to create a blended training program for the company’s legal associates. The program provides blended learning using self-paced e-modules, which is combined with live training conducted in Miller Thompson’s offices. The in-person training provides learners with an opportunity to discuss firm-specific practices, values, and priorities and receive personal coaching and support. “It’s unlike anything else we’ve done at Osgoode, so it’s kind of groundbreaking,” said OsgoodePD Program Lawyer Dana Shamlawi. “We’re focusing on associates in years one to five and walking them through the practical and strategic aspects of the civil litigation process.”

The University of Saskatchewan recently requested proposals for the demolition of the 1968 brutalist modern structure that formerly housed the Lutheran Theological Seminary. The building has been vacant since the seminary moved to a new location in 2020. USask AVP of Campus Operations Wade Epp said that, since the university has no use for the building and there are concerns around unauthorized access, the university made the decision to demolish the building. The necessary renovations would reportedly cost approximately $26M. However, historians want USask to consider restoring the building due to its architectural significance. “It’s a beautiful example of late modern architecture by John Holiday Scott, a well-known architect in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan,” said Peggy Sarjeant of the Saskatoon Heritage Society.