January 6, 2023

In a new interview in the Montréal Gazette, Vanier College Director General John McMahon discusses the debate around Bill 96 and the challenges associated with its rapid implementation. “It was a difficult year — we were being blamed for the so-called demise of French,” said McMahon. McMahon also shared that he was “shocked” by the way that the bill was implemented, with “absolutely no consultation, phone call, email or text message [with English cégeps] prior to the amendment being adopted by that committee.” He argues that advocacy from the English cégeps and broader community was ultimately what led to the bill being amended. “I hope the politics will move aside and people will realize that English colleges are fully committed to preserving and promoting French for all our students,” said McMahon.

At Keyano College, nearly 20 new and revised programs are being put through the approval process as the college repositions itself for the Fall semester. President Jay Notay explained that the college is making the changes to ensure that it is positioned competitively and is meeting local needs: “Our mandate is to look at labour market data, and provide programs and options available to our community based on that data.” The new certificates, diploma, and post-diploma programs will focus on topics such as information technology, AI, digital marketing, and cyber security; and the college is reportedly in discussions about creating a pathway from a computer science program into a degree at Northwestern Polytechnic. “We’re focusing on opportunity-mode as opposed to cut-mode,” said Notay.

In a recent article, CBC Reporter Daren Bernhardt discusses the remains of prominent scientist Arthur Henry Reginald Buller, which are buried on the campus of the University of Manitoba, and the glimpse they offer into the university’s history. The Tyndall stone monument outside the Buller Biological Laboratories contains the cremated remains of Buller in its base. “The monument that the cremains are interred in is fairly nondescript,” said UManitoba Head of Archives and Special Collections Heather Bidzinski, who noted that people likely do not know they are passing by the remains of Buller. Bernhardt discusses Buller’s work in establishing the school; his relationship with the school, which ended on a negative note; and the reasons why his remains and materials were given to the university after his death despite his wishes that they not be.

The Justice Institute of British Columbia and the University of Lethbridge have recently launched new micro-credentials. JIBC has created new cybersecurity training opportunities in the form of three micro-credential programs: Basics of Defending Against Cybercrime, Essentials of Investigating Cybercrime, and Malware Detection & Protection Basics. The programs will help students and working professionals to acquire critical insight into cybercrime and malware and the impact these attacks have on the workplace. At ULethbridge, the Department of New Media has launched a micro-credential focused on New Media that is comprised of five modules. Learners will receive badges of recognition for completing the module, and a Foundations of New Media Certificate of professional development if they complete all five modules.

An international student who chose to study at the Atlantic Business College because of its involvement in a government pilot program is expressing frustration after learning that his college no longer qualifies for the program, reports CBC. The New Brunswick Private Career College Graduate Pilot program was expected to lead to a work permit, and the college’s website still points to the work permit as a benefit of the program. Government of New Brunswick officials have reportedly not provided an explanation for why the college was dropped and student Omar Burqan says that the college has not responded to his messages. Burqan and four other international students are reportedly talking to a lawyer about suing the college for tuition paid.

Red Deer Polytechnic and Brandon University have recently launched new one-year certificate programs. RDP launched a new Life and Employment Skills for Independence (LESI) certificate, which will help learners with developmental disabilities to acquire critical life and work skills and develop these skills through work experiences and experiential learning. “With a range of valuable course offerings and relevant work-place experiences, this program has a more inclusive approach to provide enhanced support and training for students while also helping to build their confidence,” explained RDP Dean of Extended Education Kim Hogarth. In Manitoba, BrandonU relaunched its one-year Certificate in Business Administration. The program provides learners who have limited or no prior knowledge of business administration with a strong foundation of business concepts.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology has partnered with Tesla START to offer specialized electric vehicle training to students interested in becoming Red Seal Certified Automotive Service Technicians. The pathway is a four-year apprenticeship program that will provide 12 students a year with technical training through labs, self-paced learning, and in-class theory. The curriculum will cover a variety of topics, including high voltage safety, electric fundamentals, and Tesla mindset and culture. Program graduates will receive accreditation from BCIT and Tesla, are qualified to take the Red Seal Automotive Service Technician Certification, and are invited to work as Tesla Service Technicians.

Concordia University recently made two announcements related to international partnerships. The university’s Applied AI Institute has partnered with AI Sweden on a project focused on scientific information and educational resources, faculty and student mobility, publications and training, and collaborations with industry and civil society. Concordia will also host the Canadian office of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC). The CABC will be housed within the John Molson School of Business, and will focus on advocacy, education, and more within the Canada and Southeast Asian Nations economic corridor. Concordia says that the partnership comes in the wake of the Canada and Quebec Indo-Pacific Strategies.

The University of Toronto Scarborough will host the Canadian Black Scientists Network (CBSN) for the next five years. The partnership will raise the visibility of the network. “It really advances the vision of both organizations and also aligns with the institutions that signed the charter from across the country. It’s providing essential support because although we are a virtual network, we do need some physical support – and the campus has been very generous in contributing to our operating requirements,” said CBSN co-founder and U of T Scarborough professor Maydianne Andrade.

The University of Prince Edward Island has announced that it has launched REACH Nexus’s I’m Ready to Know project on its campus, which is focused on eradicating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Canada. The project, which has targeted numerous universities, implements and evaluates low-barrier options for HIV self-testing. UPEI will offer services to testers and will place specific emphasis on reaching those who are undiagnosed or who are first-time testers with self-testing kits. Those who complete their tests are asked to anonymously record their results and are given the option of accessing more information and support. UPEI says it is the first university in Canada to complete training so that it can offer the services.