January 20, 2025

The Fédération des cégeps is requesting $705M in the Government of Québec’s next budget to fund infrastructure projects and student support services at cégeps. In a press release last week, the federation pointed especially to the poor condition of many cégep buildings–some of which have not been updated in decades–and underlined the need for more funding to overcome their state of disrepair. Le Devoir reports that in addition to a $300M maintenance fund request, the Fédération des cégeps is asking for $300M to finance specific infrastructure projects, $60M to subsidize furniture and equipment costs, $25M for student well-being and mental health, and $20M to support Attestations d’études collégiales programs.

The Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) has received approval from Red Deer County’s municipal planning commission to open a firefighter training program in Springbrook. Students will be able to take the Advanced I and II Training Program at the Springbrook location, where four training sessions will be held each year. CFRC plans to use two buildings and open space in the Harvard Business Park to train firefighters. The college is also seeking licensing to add an Enhanced Firefighter Training Program, which would include a three-month practicum and potentially double class sizes.

The Government of Canada is investing over $3.5M to support the establishment of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Centre for Housing Innovation. This accelerator will be led by TMU’s startup incubator DMZ and will bring together innovators, developers, contractors, and municipalities to develop and commercialize housing technologies. “With the establishment of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Centre for Housing Innovation, we are helping to equip entrepreneurs, manufacturers and developers with the tools and expertise needed to create advanced, sustainable housing solutions for Canadians,” said Canada Minister of Democratic Institutions Ruby Sahota.

Brock University, McMaster University, Mohawk College, and Niagara College appeared on Hamilton-Niagara’s Top Employers list for 2025. The competition acknowledges exceptional places to work in the Hamilton-Niagara region, evaluating employers based on key criteria such as health, financial and family benefits; performance management; and community involvement. The list especially spotlighted Brock’s tuition waivers for employees and their dependents, McMaster’s phased-in retirement work options, Mohawk’s health benefits plan, and Niagara’s pension plan and formal retirees’ association.

Globe and Mail reporter Marie Woolf writes that nearly 50,000 international students who received study permits failed to enrol at Canadian postsecondary institutions in March and April 2024. The PIE reports that these non-compliant students most commonly came from countries such as India (19,582), China (4,279), Nigeria (3,902), or Ghana (2,712); the Globe indicated that—by percentage—the greatest non-compliance rates were seen from origin countries such as Burundi (49%), Rwanda (48.1%), and Chad (44.6%). Additionally, Woolf reports that institutions did not report on the status of 3.3% (23,514) of those who received study permits.

Last week, Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue unveiled its new logo to the community. The cégep’s directeur général Sylvain Blais told Radio-Canada that the bright-blue logo signifies thought, openness, and movement, as well as non-linear pathways. While some community members have praised the new brand identity for its modernity and originality, others have taken to social media to criticize the logo and question its meaning. In a comment on Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue’s official Facebook page, the institution defended the logo and explained that it was developed in consultation with students and the community.

Conestoga College and the Grand Erie District School Board have partnered to launch a College-Within-a-School (CWAS) program. Through this partnership, high school students can seamlessly transition into postsecondary education at Conestoga’s Tollgate Technical Skills Centre (TTSC). The centre will undergo $5M in renovations to accommodate this change. Conestoga will relocate the programs that are currently delivered at the Brantford Airport to the TTSC and to increase its range of programming in areas such as trades training, personal support worker programming, and academic upgrading. The CWAS program is reportedly the first of its kind in Ontario and builds on existing CWAS initiatives and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.

The University of Victoria is raising new banners on campus that celebrate the Lək̓ʷəŋən Nation’s origin story. The university will display 48 banners designed by Lək̓ʷəŋən master carver and artist Dr Clarence “Butch” Dick that depict the story using a contemporary approach. “It is said that our peoples’ existence came from the killer whale, to sea wolf, and then to wolf, with the eagle as the powerful messenger sharing this part of our People’s history,” said Dick. UVic President Kevin Hall said that the banners demonstrate the university’s commitment to providing a welcoming and respectful environment.

The University of Waterloo is one of the founding partners of a new Canadian non-profit focused on democratizing quantum computing. The non-profit—Open Quantum Design—has reportedly created the world’s first open-source, full-stack, trapped-ion quantum computer. The goal of Open Quantum Design is to share the intellectual property related to this computer and to accelerate quantum research by bringing academia and industry into a collaborative ecosystem. UWaterloo has formally signed on to participate in the organization’s open-source platform, which will give the university access to design forums and key information about the quantum computer. The organization’s founders include UWaterloo researchers Roger Melko, Crystal Senko, and Rajibul Islam.

Lethbridge Polytechnic has officially named its wildlife teaching lab the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society Wildlife Conversation Lab. The name was chosen to recognize the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society, which has invested $350K over the last two years to support the polytechnic’s pursuit of Canadian wildlife conservation. The newly named instructional lab will be used by Environmental Sciences students for research and training opportunities. “Thanks to the dedication of the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society, we are proud to reaffirm our commitment to conservation and sustainability practices promoted within our Environmental Sciences programs,” said Leth Polytech President Dr Brad Donaldson.