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Dec 20, 2023 • ON

Trinity College–federated with the University of Toronto–has secured green financing from BMO Financial Group toward the construction of its new Lawson Centre for Sustainability: a mass timber, LEED platinum multi-use building that meets the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Design Standard. The building will be constructed from locally sourced materials and feature geothermal heating and cooling, rooftop photovoltaics, triple-glazed windows, and an underground cistern for rainwater collection. The building is expected to increase residential capacity on campus from 450 to 800 beds, while also adding academic, social, and dining spaces. BMO states that this loan marks the first instance in which a North American postsecondary institution has received a labelled Green Loan. The centre is scheduled to open in 2025.

Newswire
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Dec 20, 2023 • BC

Thompson Rivers University will launch a five-year Computer Engineering program to meet the growing need for engineers in the technology sector. The program will give students a broad background of the theory and application of various hardware and software technologies and include a mandatory one-year co-op placement to ensure students gain hands-on experience and networking opportunities. “In terms of the significance of computer engineering, anyone who has that skill set will have more job opportunities,” said TRU Interim Associate VP Academic Faheem Ahmed. “Because more and more consumer products include hardware and software, this discipline appeals to students and stands out in a market with emerging technologies.” The program will begin in Fall 2024.

TRU, CFJC
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Dec 20, 2023 • QC

The Government of Quebec’s new “Level 5” language requirement for out-of-province students at English language universities has sparked debate in the media. According to the Montreal Gazette, students with “Level 5” proficiency would be able to have an interactive conversation with varied vocabulary on basic topics. McGill University President Deep Saini stated that this target is “academically and technically unfeasible and will only serve to deter students from coming here.” Additionally, Global News and CBC News report that two lawyers believe QC’s English-language universities have grounds to take the province to court on the basis of language discrimination as the result of this new requirement.

CBC, Global News, McGill, Montreal Gazette, Sask Today
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Dec 20, 2023 • ON

Toronto Metropolitan University and Peel District School Board (PDSB) have partnered on the Future of Healthcare initiative, which gives high school students opportunities to explore healthcare education and careers. The initiative will include a speaker series, a university course offering, and experiential learning opportunities to encourage students to consider pursuing postsecondary education and careers in healthcare. The program will include an admissions pathway with mentorship and coaching for PDSB students. TMU and PDSB will collaborate with students and communities to co-design the initiative and the “The Future of Healthcare” course, which will be offered to PDSB students in grade 11 and 12.

Ridgeview Public School, CanIndia
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Dec 20, 2023 • MB

The University College of the North has announced that it will offer a joint Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education in Bunibonibee, Mathias Colomb, Peguis, and York Factory starting in 2024. The Kenanow Bachelor of Education program will provide students with a northern-based, Indigenous-focused teacher education program. “With increasing retirement rates among teachers in the north, a community-based, Indigenous-focused teacher education program is more important than ever,” said UCN President Doug Lauvstad. “UCN is responding to this important need by working in partnership with First Nation education authorities and sponsors to offer more programming in more communities than we ever have.”

UCN
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Dec 20, 2023 • BC

The Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute (WWN) and the University of Northern British Columbia will offer a Bachelor of Arts in Nisga’a Language Fluency program to give students an immersive education in the Nisga’a language. The program, which will be offered at WWN’s campus in Gitwinksihlkw, British Columbia, aims to train fluent Nisga’a language speakers. Around 70% of its courses will have a Nisga’a language component. “By supporting language revitalization in the Nass Valley, UNBC and WWN are helping Nisga’a students deepen their connection with their language, culture and community,” said UNBC President Dr Geoff Payne. The program will launch in September 2024.

UNBC, Winnipeg Free Press
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Dec 20, 2023 • ON

Several Ontario colleges have announced new academic programs. Confederation College launched a Green Energy Micro-Credential program that will teach students, post-graduates, and industry professionals how to move facility operations towards Net-Zero. Global News and Sudbury.com have shared updates on the registered nurse prescribing programs that will be offered by members of a consortium of Ontario colleges. Cambrian College’s board has approved a RN Prescribing micro-credential, while St Lawrence College has announced that it will offer an Ontario Graduate Certificate program on RN prescribing through its online continuing education platform.

Nation Talk (Confederation), Global News (SLC), The Whig Standard (SLC), Sudbury.com
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Dec 20, 2023 • AB

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology has signed an articulation agreement with St Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine (SMUSVM) in the Cayman Islands that will make it easier for NAIT students to pursue veterinary medicine in the Caribbean. Under this agreement, SMUSVM will consider current and former NAIT students for admittance to its Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. Eligible graduates of NAIT’s Animal Health Technology Program will be granted an expedited application review process, guaranteed an interview, and deemed eligible for a $10K Partnership Scholarship and other merit-based scholarships at SMUSVM.

NAIT
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Dec 20, 2023 • SK

University of Saskatchewan researcher Michael Nickerson recently partnered with the Food Centre to create affordable, nutritious soup packets for food banks in Saskatchewan. Nickerson’s research group created a dry soup mix that can be mixed with water to feed up to five people. The soups contain Saskatchewan-grown lentils and oats, which provide protein and all of the micronutrients needed for children to maintain their growth. CBC reports that 15,000 packets were donated to SK foodbanks. Regina Food Bank VP David Froh said that he expects their portion of the donation will “cut its soup costs in half.” “So this project is about caring for communities in developing this product,” said Dr Nickerson. “We have so much food, and so many families in need locally as well as around the world.”

CBC, CTV News, Global News, Swift Current Online
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Dec 20, 2023 • BC, QC

Two institutions and their respective faculty unions recently announced that they had reached agreements. Concordia University and the Concordia University Faculty Association have finalized their 2023-26 collective agreement following a successful ratification vote by CUFA members. “It was a long but fruitful year, and [it] has the potential to lead us to a happier workplace,” said Concordia Professor Linda Dyer, who led the CUFA negotiation team. Capilano University has also reached a tentative agreement with Capilano Faculty Association (CFA), making it possible to move forward with the ratification process. CFA will recommend ratification to its members this week.

Concordia, Capilano
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