February 04, 2026

NOSM University has received a $5M gift from anonymous donors to advance Indigenous health equity. This gift will support the creation of the Circle for Indigenous Health Research and Innovation. Once established, the circle will foster Indigenous-led, health- and wellbeing-focused work that emphasizes place, relationship, and self-determination. “The Circle is grounded in Indigenous leadership and community governance, ensuring that community voices and priorities guide the work from the outset. This investment strengthens our ability to create lasting change across the North,” said NOSM U Associate VP, Equity and Inclusion Dr Joseph LeBlanc.

Yukon University has announced that it will withdraw from its hosting role for the Arctic Winter Games, which are scheduled for early March. In doing so, the university has cancelled its food services contract, the in-kind venue and space use agreements, and its plans to host the games’ badminton event. YukonU Interim President Shelagh Rowles explained that the university was looking forward to providing facilities for the games but, “in recognizing the impact that a potential labour disruption may have on the success of the games should the university have remained a main hub, we had no option but to withdraw our agreement with the AWG Host Society.” Alternative arrangements for the games will be shared in the coming days.

Journal de Montréal reports that three youths have pleaded guilty to vandalism at Cégep Édouard-Montpetit last Spring. The cégep’s newly renovated pool reportedly suffered an estimated $1.4M in damages after the vandals entered through an unlocked door and took advantage of the equipment, tools, and objects found at the scene. All three youths have pleaded guilty: One will return to court on Monday for a procedural hearing, while the other two have received their sentences.

The University of New Brunswick and the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College have signed a memorandum of understanding focused on health education and research. The agreement commits the institutions to future collaboration on musculoskeletal health education, research, and care in the region. The partnership will allow CMCC to support UNB’s Building Healthy Communities strategic framework, which is designed to address healthcare worker shortages through education. Potential areas of collaboration between the partners include academic delivery, clinical education, experiential education, and joint research initiatives.

Western University has partnered with German submarine builder TKMS to join TKMS’s newly launched Canadian Defence and Dual-Use Innovation Ecosystem (CDDE). CDDE is designed to further Canada’s defence capabilities through research by linking universities, Indigenous businesses, and industry partners in Canada, Germany, and Norway. The ecosystem will focus on several areas, including Arctic research, clean technologies, AI, and multi-domain operations. Western VP Research Penny Pexman explained that the partnership would strengthen Canadian sovereignty through growing domestic talent in the defence space, adding that Canada’s research universities “must be part of discussions about Canada’s sovereignty and place in the world.”

Assiniboine College has announced that it will be celebrating its 65th anniversary by distributing 65 $1K tuition credits. Potential learners of all ages will have the opportunity to secure tuition credits at events that range from Assiniboine’s annual Easter Egg Hunts to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. “For kids whose first day of school is yet to come, for those navigating junior high, for high school students exploring their options, or for adults seeking a new or refreshed career direction, this is our way of letting you know that we’re here for you when the time comes,” said Assiniboine College President Mark Frison.

Thompson Rivers University has announced that it will sign the Scarborough Charter later this month. As a signatory, TRU will commit to principles and calls to action related to confronting anti-Black racism, such as strengthening accountability, supporting Black inclusion, and improving representation among faculty and staff. The charter will also connect TRU’s Black faculty, staff, and student groups to a network of other institutions across Canada who are advancing this work. “TRU already has a history of promoting diversity and interculturalism,” said TRU Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism EDI Manager Keisha Morong. “It’s really important that we ensure our Black students—many of them international students—find a space to flourish here, free of anti-Black racism.”

Cégep de Lanaudière and Cégep de Lévis have each announced new training programs. Cégep de Lanaudière will offer two professional development courses: one in brand image and web presence and the other in SEO. Cégep de Lévis is launching a training program that will help small- and medium-sized enterprises harness AI while staying within regulations regarding protection of personal information. Both institutions are offering this training at $5 an hour for eligible individuals, thanks to support from the Government of Québec.

The University of Guelph has partnered with Gastronomous Technologies Inc to bring advanced kitchen automation to campus. As part of this agreement, the university will implement the ChronoGrill, an autonomous charbroiler that is designed for high-volume environments and uses AI, automation, and advanced vision systems to deliver consistent results with improved efficiency. “The ChronoGrill represents a thoughtful application of automation that supports our teams, maintains high food quality standards, and aligns with our broader operational and sustainability objectives,” said UoGuelph Associate VP, Ancillary Ed Townsley.

At Okanagan College’s Salmon Arm campus, the recently-established not-for-profit organization Food for Brains has been helping students to access food. Created by Salmon Arm resident Marcela Jara, the initiative produces 300 free, pre-made meals each month for students in need of a healthy meal. “We feel it’s a real necessity that the kids should be… nutritionally well fed, because they can have a better school year, they can concentrate and they feel supported by the community,” said Jara. Jara plans to expand the initiative to other Okanagan campuses, and to offer cooking workshops for postsecondary students. The college issued a social media post recognizing Jara and thanking her for her work.