Top Ten News

Feb 03, 2025 • National

Postsecondary institutions are observing Black History Month/African Heritage Month with a variety of initiatives, celebrations, and resources. Several institutions, including Brock University, Humber Polytechnic, Saint Mary’s University, and York University invited their communities to engage with the Black Canadian community through events such as film screenings, workshops, cultural performances, sports games, and markets. Camosun College, Collège Montmorency, and SMU recommended resources such as podcasts, reading materials, and online library guides showcasing works by Black authors. Individuals from Brock and the University of Manitoba shared reflections on the significance of the month and the opportunity that it presents to share and better understand African and Black experiences and heritage in Canada.

Brock, Camosun, Collège Montmorency, Humber, SMU , UManitoba, YorkU

Top Ten News

Feb 03, 2025 • National

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has shared the results of its Fall 2024 Project Grant competition. As a result of increased investments from Budget 2024, CIHR has distributed $411M across 453 projects—an increase of 98 projects above what was planned—for this round of the competition. These grants will help researchers across the country foster new ideas to improve prosperity, health, and well-being. Of the 453 grants, 442 were awarded to individually nominated principal investigators, 116 were presented to early career researchers, and 12 were awarded for Indigenous health research projects.

CIHR (1), CIHR (2)

Top Ten News

Feb 03, 2025 • AB

The University of Alberta and the University of Calgary have both received federal funding to support research projects in carbon capture, utilization, and storage. These investments—$4.3M for UCalgary and $1.8M for UAlberta—are part of a broader $13.4M Government of Canada funding initiative to support made-in-Alberta carbon capture technologies while growing jobs in the province, bolstering economic prosperity, and advancing sustainability. “This investment will play a pivotal role in transforming Canada’s energy system,” said UAlberta VP, Research and Innovation Dr Aminah Robinson Fayek. “By advancing carbon capture, utilization and storage, we are building a cleaner, more sustainable future for Canada and beyond.”

Canada

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Feb 03, 2025 • ON

Government of Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently announced several pledges of funding to skills development and training initiatives, including a pledge of $1B to the Skills Development Fund (SDF) and $1B for the construction of a new police college. The SDF investment would build on existing funding in order to expand training and employment programs, including those devoted to reskilling and upskilling workers. CTV News and the London Free Press report that Ford announced the new police college at events in London and Peel, but further details have not been provided on the development.

CTV News (Police), London Free Press (Police), London Free Press (SDF)

Top Ten News

Feb 03, 2025 • National

The Canadian Press reports that the “dramatic decline” in international study permits poses an “existential threat” to Canada’s postsecondary sector. The article includes discussions from postsecondary leaders on the impacts of the Government of Canada’s 2024 and 2025 study permit allocations. Universities Canada President Gabriel Miller linked the drop in international students to “an earthquake hitting an education system that’s already structurally weakened by years of underinvestment.” Colleges and Institutes Canada President Pari Johnston added that “Canadian student access to high-demand programs, the training and talent pipeline employers depend on, and local research and innovation capacity are all at risk.” In response to dropping study permit approvals, many institutions are bracing for fallout while urging greater public investment in postsecondary education.

CTV News (CP), Vancouver Sun (Acct Req)

Top Ten News

Feb 03, 2025 • SK

Collège Boréal and Collège Mathieu have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand French-language postsecondary education in Saskatchewan. The partnership will introduce more opportunities for Mathieu students to pursue online, French-language studies, such as in Public Administration, Business, and Social Services Worker programs. “This new partnership between Collège Mathieu and Collège Boréal reaffirms our institution’s commitment to fostering the growth of the communities we serve,” said Mathieu President Francis Kasongo. “The addition of new programs will help address the shortage of Francophone and Francophile workers in in-demand sectors.”

Boréal, Mathieu

Top Ten News

Feb 03, 2025 • National

The Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) and the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) have announced the launch of the Campus Mental Health Action Tracker. This free, bilingual, online tool allows institutions to use a central framework for the self-assessment, documentation, and improvement of their mental health initiatives. Institutions can use the tracker to evaluate their mental health efforts in five dimensions: Institutional Factors, Planning, Socio-Ecological Framework, Evaluation and Reporting, and Continuous Improvement. The tool’s development was guided by principles of student-centeredness, equity, diversity, inclusion, and health promotion.

SRDC

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Feb 03, 2025 • ON

Canadore College and the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) are partnering to offer cohabitation options for students and older adults in a local apartment building. More than 60 two-bedroom apartments will be made available at the residence for students and seniors to live together. DNSSAB Board Chair Mark King explained that this “outside-the-box” solution offers affordable student housing options while fostering companionship and security for older residents. Canadore President George Burton said that this initiative is part of the college’s “village model” of health and wellness services, which “is based on bringing the very best of Indigenous, eastern and western wellness practices together in a multidisciplinary approach with the individual at the centre of all this.”

CBC

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Feb 03, 2025 • QC

Concordia University will launch a Minor in Black and African Diaspora Studies in the Canadian Context program this September. This 24-credit program will be hosted by the Interdisciplinary Studies section of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and led by Senior Lecturer Christiana Abraham. “The creation of this program responds to a long-standing demand,” said Concordia Provost Anne Whitelaw. “In addition to being a key recommendation from the President’s Task Force on Anti-Black Racism, it underscores our commitment as a signatory of the Scarborough Charter to combat anti-Black racism and foster Black inclusion in higher education in Canada.” Concordia states that the program is the first of its kind in Québec.

Concordia

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Feb 03, 2025 • National

CBC reports that the United States’ recent federal health spending pause and communications freeze is affecting Canadian research labs. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) had a $47B USD budget last year, $40M USD of which was provided to Canadian researchers. According to CBC, the US government implemented a communications freeze on January 21st, after which key meetings to decide on scientific research funding were cancelled; the NIH website reportedly references unspecified changes affecting “research project grants, fellowships and training grants” made on or after January 25. CBC reports that these changes have left scientists in both countries unsure of how their work will be impacted. Steffanie Strathdee (University of California San Diego) said that the confusion surrounding US funding may provide an opportunity for Canada to attract American scientists or encourage Canadian expat scientists to return.

CBC