January 9, 2026

The University of Saskatchewan Properties Investment Inc, which oversees the development of USask’s endowment lands, has submitted a concept plan for the development of a 45-acre parcel of land. The plan would see new homes with space for up to 2,400 residents constructed on the parcel, according to CBC. The City of Saskatoon’s development review manager Darryl Dawson says that the homes could be built in the next one to five years. CBC reports that the city’s administration has received and will review the concept plan for the parcel; after the review is completed, it will be submitted to an advisory body for their review.

Education marketplace CourseCompare has released a ranking of Canada’s top universities in 2026. Rankings were based on a weighted average of institutional performance in categories such as student satisfaction, career preparation, and teaching. CourseCompare said that it placed particular emphasis on evaluating how well universities create career-ready graduates. The top five universities were the University of Toronto (#1), McGill University (#2), the University of British Columbia (#3), the University of Alberta (#4), and the University of Calgary (#5).

In a recent article for The PIE News, members of the postsecondary sector shared their perspectives on the future of Canadian international education in 2026. Several discussed the difficulties of meeting the 2026 study permit targets or highlighted the programs that they felt would be most likely to attract international students this year. University of Windsor Assistant VP of Enrolment Management Chris Busch noted that the unpredictability in visa outcomes presents another challenge, as students who want to come to Canada may be turned away. As for the push to attract more talent, University of British Columbia Director of Global Engagement Philipp Reichert said this will deepen sector divides, impacting institutions unevenly as undergraduate and college-level enrolment remain restricted. He further suggested that anti-immigration sentiment in many global study destinations will continue shaping international education.

First College, a career college located in downtown Kelowna, has reportedly closed its doors. According to Castanet, the college indicated in an email to students last month that it will be “ceasing academic operations” after careful consideration of ongoing financial challenges. Students were notified that they would be able to meet with college staff by appointment for the remainder of the month for necessary supports. “We understand that this news may be unexpected and we sincerely regret any disruption it may cause to your academic plans,” stated the college.

Cape Breton University has opened Kehoe Forum, an arena dedicated exclusively to women’s hockey, which CBU describes as the first of its kind in the country. Named after community supporters Jim and Roma Kehoe, the facility underwent a $40M redevelopment to add supports for para and sledge hockey and new spaces that include a counselling centre, fitness centre, and multi-use spaces. “This is more than an arena,” said CBU President David Dingwall. “It’s a statement that women’s hockey belongs at the heart of Canadian culture and it is a commitment to equity, opportunity and the future of the game.”

The University of Northern British Columbia will be selling its Terrace campus and seeking a new location in the town, reports the Terrace Standard. UNBC Provost Michel Beaulieu explained to the Prince George Citizen that UNBC is seeking a better location that will accommodate the campus’ needs. “We’ve outgrown maybe not even in the physical square footage sense, but we’ve outgrown just the facility and how it had been renovated to do what it was designed to do and where our programming and staffing needs are at,” said Beaulieu. Beaulieu said that the university will continue to offer nursing, education, social work, and continuing education programming in Terrace. The bulk of the move is planned for the summer.

In a recent article for Times Higher Ed, Catherine Montgomery (University of Edinburgh) and Catelijne Coopmans advocate for the creation of a sense of “visceral safety” in academia to improve outcomes. While academia is an inherently competitive field, the authors explain, academics do not benefit from a chronic sense of being on edge and defensiveness. “By designing academic spaces with awareness of how nervous systems work,” they explain, “we can boost both academic well-being and academic performance.” They outline ways that institutions and individuals alike can use a “visceral safety” lens to create an environment where academics feel comfortable taking more risks, be receptive to cultural criticism, and sustain their creativity.

A protestor suspended from VIU following activities related to an encampment on campus in 2024 has lost their court challenge of the suspension. The former student argued that the university’s actions violated their Charter rights to political expression. Supreme Court of British Columbia Justice Barbara Young rejected this assertion, saying that “the actions which were subject to the disciplinary process related to the use of the university premises, which the university has independence to regulate.” As a consequence of the ruling, the student will be required to pay legal fees incurred by the university.

HEC Montréal has had its European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accreditation renewed for another five-year term. The accreditation—granted by the European Foundation for Management Development—evaluates business schools according to factors that include governance, strategy, program quality, research, and social responsibility. HEC Montréal explained that the accreditation forms one part of its “Triple Crown” of accreditations—which includes EQUIS, AACSB International, and AMBA—held by only a small collection of business schools worldwide.

The University of Toronto Scarborough community is mourning the death of Shivank Avasthi, a third-year student who was killed in a shooting in an area next to campus. Friends set up an on-campus memorial for Avasthi, while campus organizations shared tributes to him. “This is a time of great sorrow in our community and one of unimaginable loss for Shivank’s loved ones,” said UTSC Principal Linda Johnston. Police told CityNews reports that they have arrested one person in connection with the murder, and that the victim and the accused were not known to each other.