December 16, 2025

Queen’s University and communications company Bell have partnered on the construction and operation of an AI supercomputing facility. This facility will aim to accelerate Canada’s AI ecosystem and strengthen digital sovereignty. Bell will lead the building’s design, construction, financing, and maintenance; while Queen’s will develop the new supercomputer and lead activities related to research, system architecture, programs, and the supercomputer’s operation. “This new facility will serve as a national testbed for Canadian technology and significantly strengthen our capacity to advance AI innovation, support research and discovery, attract top talent, and ensure that critical AI development remains in Canada,” said Queen’s Vice-Principal (Research) Nancy Ross.

Researchers at the University of Calgary have joined the Calgary-based Co-creating Opportunities through Physical Literacy for All newcomer children and Youth (CO-PLAY) Network Hub to research and develop physical literacy programs for newcomer youth. The hub brings together researchers, community partners, and government agencies to explore how sport programming can build a smoother settlement experience for newcomers. “Calgary is one of Canada’s fastest-growing newcomer hubs, and that creates both urgency and opportunity for the work we’re doing,” said Calgary CO-PLAY Hub leader Dr Turin Chowdhury. The initiative builds on the eight-week Immigrant-focused Physical Literacy for Youth (IPLAY) program started in Calgary in 2022, which provided weekly activities like human curling and archery for refugee youth.

The University of Toronto has launched an industry–academic partnership focused on accelerating EV and mobility technologies, which is supported by a more-than $10M investment from the Government of Canada, industry, and academic partners. Electric Vehicle Innovation Ontario (EVIO) will be led by U of T and will be delivered through a network composed of Queen’s University, Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Ottawa, the University of Waterloo, University of Windsor, Western University, and York University. EVIO will focus on challenges that impact EV adoption—including charging reliability, cold-weather performance, and advanced manufacturing—with the aim of strengthening Canada’s position in the global EV market.

In a recent piece for eCampusNews, Steven M Baule (Winona State University) and Marilynn Helene Spencer (Winona State University) offer a “practical publishing playbook” for new faculty members. Baule and Spencer explain that scholarly writing is about developing habits and encourage faculty to “train like a writer” with short, regular writing sessions. They offer a variety of tips for gathering inspiration, including using the classroom, advising hours, and inbox as “idea engines;” openly discussing interests and pursuits; and keeping multiple projects going. They also advise faculty members to build support systems through campus writing centres and faculty writing groups. In conclusion, the authors offer a plan for a consistent writing schedule and actionable ways to get started with a writing cadence.

Capilano University has announced that it will close its ḵálax̱-ay | Sunshine Coast campus on April 24, 2026. The university explained that despite efforts to increase participation at the campus, it is no longer financially viable. There will reportedly be no disruption to students currently enrolled at the campus. In the future, CapU intends to explore other options for learners in the area, particularly in subjects like adult basic education, early childhood education, health, and Indigenous language and culture. “We look forward to building new pathways for learning—shaped by community input—that will continue to support the Sunshine Coast’s economic and social vitality,” said CapU Interim President Laureen Styles.

Horizon College & Seminary has announced that it is accepting applications for its new Master of Arts in Pastoral Psychotherapy program for Fall 2026. The 54-credit program is designed for individuals with an undergraduate degree who wish to serve the church and broader community through psychotherapy. The program is only open to Canadian residents. Graduates of the program will also be able to register with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and embark on their pathway to practice professionally.

Rural communities are being hit hard by international student caps at Canadian colleges, according to Selkirk College President Maggie Matear. In her article for Maclean’s, Matear asserts that provincial funding for education has dropped by roughly 30% in the past 18 years while provinces have simultaneously limited or frozen tuition increases. As a result, international students became key in generating enough revenue to support the programming that gives domestic and international students alike the skills necessary to work in local communities. Colleges like Selkirk provide life to rural communities, she said, and that the promise of what they offer communities is now at risk. “Our work now is to make sure that promise survives this period of upheaval,” said Matear.

Sheridan College is launching a new four-year degree in CGI, visual effects, and animation: the Honours Bachelor of 3D Animation and Emerging Technologies. Sheridan explained that this is the first honours degree program at a Canadian college devoted to computer animation and visual effects. Students will develop their skills and knowledge through courses in computer animation and design, hands-on projects, a research capstone, and a 420-hour internship. “By blending traditional artistic principles with cutting-edge techniques, [the program] will prepare students to capitalize on the growing variety of opportunities in the field of 3D modelling, real-time graphics, and animation,” said Sheridan Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design Dean Mark Jones. The program is set to begin in September 2026.

The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce is reportedly urging the Government of the Northwest Territories to move quickly on a proposal to house Aurora College’s North Slave campus in the city’s Centre Square Mall. The chamber says that the location in Yellowknife’s centre would both serve to revitalize the city’s downtown, while also costing a fraction of the funds that would have been required to build a campus on Tin Can Hill. “No other project before us carries this level of transformational impact,” said chamber president Mark Henry. The chamber stated in a release that the proposal has been before NWT for over 12 months, during which time the private sector proponent has borne the cost of the acquisition, and asserts that the opportunity is time-limited.

George Brown Polytechnic has announced that it will be naming its Chef School atrium in honour of Toronto’s first Black elected official, William Peyton Hubbard, in February 2026. The polytechnic first began to consider naming a space after Hubbard three years ago, and subsequent research on Hubbard showed he was an influential leader in Toronto. “At every step, he expanded what was possible through discipline, brilliance, and an unwavering commitment to his city,” said George Brown Associate Vice-President, Anti-Racism, Equity and Human Rights Jennifer Grant. “His story reminds us that possibility can be created even in places where it has never been seen before.”