January 13, 2026

The Government of Ontario has sued Keel Digital Solutions, which received public funds to run a student mental health program, over alleged fraudulent misrepresentation. ON alleges that the company “provided false and misleading quarterly reports of their corporate performance measures,” resulting in overpayment. The province is now seeking the repayment of $25.9M that was provided through the ministries responsible for higher ed and labour, as well as $100K in punitive damages. Keel has rejected the allegations and asserted that the ON lawsuit is based on misstatements and inaccuracies; several critics questioned the lawsuit in their comments to the Canadian Press and noted Keel’s connection to the Skills Development Fund.

Okanagan College has announced that it will be exiting its leases for facilities in Revelstoke and Oliver, instead renting space for programming in these communities on an as-needed basis. In Oliver, Okanagan has begun to share its classrooms with OneSky Community Resources, with the organization becoming the primary leaseholder of the facility earlier this month. In a release, the college explained that it will be “partnering with employers or other organizations in the community, sharing or renting spaces with other groups, and expanding access to programs available in hybrid and online formats.”

Three Université de Saint-Boniface faculty members—Pierre Minkala-Ntadi, Renée Desjardins, and Frédéric Jubinville—recently connected with La Liberté to discuss the risks and responsibilities associated with AI. Minkala-Ntadi said that AI is a tool that can facilitate reflection, but it must be used as an aide rather than a source of work. He said that the most pressing issue is the ethical use of AI, especially in the context of intellectual honesty. Desjardins agreed, adding that AI use must be transparent and that institutions should strive to make coherent AI policies to reduce confusion among faculty and students. Jubinville likened AI to fire, a tool that can be destructive or provide significant benefits, depending on how it is used.

Several postsecondary institutions have forged pathways and partnerships to bring programs to more students. Cégep Limoilou and Cégep de Jonquière have partnered to co-deliver a film and television program, with the first year offered at Cégep Limoilou and the upper years offered in Jonquière. Meanwhile, in Ontario, Sheridan College and Six Nations Polytechnic have signed an MOU that will bring Sheridan’s Construction Techniques program to SNP. St Clair College and the University of Windsor have created a pathway that will enable graduates of the college’s Occupational Therapist Assistant/Physiotherapist Assistant program to receive transfer credit towards a UWindsor Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health Studies.

In a recent article, the evoLLLution summarizes how leaders in higher ed are reshaping the learning experience in response to structural shifts in the sector. In particular, the article points to the importance of reframing communication efforts strategically, personalizing the learner experience, understanding the expanded definition of a “student,” ensuring technology such as AI is human-centered, and prioritizing outcomes. “The institutions that lead this shift will be the ones that turn complexity into clarity, connection into confidence, and learning into lasting impact,” concludes the article.

Simon Fraser University has fully divested its public equity and fixed income portfolios from fossil fuels. The university made a pledge in 2021 to move all investment portfolios away from fossil fuels by the end of 2025. Last year, the university finished transitioning all assets that had carried direct fossil fuel exposure, meeting this goal. SFU will now be working on meeting its commitments to reducing its public equity investment portfolio’s carbon footprint and updating its responsible investment policy.

The University of Toronto Governing Council has approved an updated Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment. The Varsity reports that the policy came into effect at the beginning of the year after a policy review; an independent review by a legal expert; and consultations with students, staff, and faculty members. This policy includes recommended timeframes for closing cases, with consideration of the “circumstances of the particular matter.” Additionally, the policy reportedly includes expanded definitions of key terms such as procedural fairness, reprisal, and tech-facilitated sexual violence.

At Cégep de Shawinigan, a burst sprinkler pipe caused significant damage to several classrooms. The pipe burst before the holidays, causing damage to the ceilings and flooding several classrooms, some of which contained technological equipment. While no classes have been affected, professionals are still completing work to clean and repair the spaces and ensure the equipment is fit for use. Radio-Canada reports that the damage has been assessed at $600K so far, with the total amount anticipated to be higher.

The University of Calgary has made nasal naloxone kits available in all residence buildings through the three-year Residence Nasal Naloxone Project initiative. The university explained that it identified residence buildings as key locations because of the number of students who spend time there. The kits, which each include two nasal naloxone sprays and instructions on how to use them, have been installed in shared common areas on all 93 residence floors in easy-to-find locations, enabling a quicker response to emergencies. The initiative is funded by the students’ union.

Laurentian University has reportedly transformed its former campus pub into a free store and a food bank. Laurentian VP of Student Services Mark Walma explained that the university’s facilities department identified as the former PubDownUnder as a “centrally located, good-sized space” for the Laurentian Re-U Free Store, which offers everything from clothes to kitchenware. The food bank, which is run by the university, opened in the space in November 2025 and allows students to pick up a bag of food once a month. Laurentian Peer Programs Co-ordinator Sterlin Vaillancourt shared that the food bank is planning to bring in refrigerators and freezers so that dairy, produce, and meat can be offered in the future.