July 14, 2025

LaSalle College has been fined $30M by the Government of Québec for allegedly contravening QC’s French language laws. CTV News states that the college was fined for taking more students into its English-speaking programs over the last two years than is permitted under an amendment to the charter. In a letter, QC’s Ministry of Higher Education indicated that it “must recover the amount of subsidies paid in excess and collect the adjustment.” LaSalle President Claude Marchand has responded that the penalty threatens the college’s survival, stating that it will “inevitably lead to our insolvency and a default on our obligations.”

Several leaders in Fort Smith are asking Aurora College to stop the process of centralizing its operations in Yellowknife. CKLB Radio reports that Thebacha Leadership Council has accused the Government of the Northwest Territories and Aurora’s board of governors of taking steps to weaken smaller campuses before the institution transitions into a polytechnic university. Fort Smith Mayor Dana Fergusson called for improved community consultation and the protection of leadership roles at the college’s campuses in Fort Smith and Inuvik. Aurora Board of Governors Chair Kenny Ruptash responded that the board’s “top priority is the success and well-being of our students and staff and all our decisions are grounded in that principle.”

University of Toronto Professor Daniel Wigdor has co-founded a venture studio called Axl with the goal of bolstering AI commercialization in Canada. In an interview with CTV News, Wigdor explained that Canada is a global leader in foundational AI research and talent development, but is at risk of falling behind in the global AI race without improved commercialization. Wigdor’s goal with the studio is to build 50 AI-powered companies within five years, with the intent of fueling Canada’s research-to-commercialization pipeline. The venture studio is housed at U of T’s Schwartz-Reisman Innovation Campus and co-located with the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence and U of T’s computer science department.

If Canada is to take advantage of the US-created economic storm, university leaders must do a better job of encouraging university-industry collaborations, write Richard Gold (McGill University), Marc Fortin (McGill), Evan Henry (McGill), and Martin Bader (University of St Gallen). The authors argue that university-industry relationships in Canada currently face several issues, including a “tepid” attitude towards partnerships and policies that encourage the sale of patents to foreign firms. However, university-industry relationships present significant potential benefits for Canadian innovation, the economy, and, by extension, the general public. The authors call on Canadian universities to better support Canadian companies “by prioritizing partnerships, simplifying arrangements with industry, and by building critical knowledge resources.”

Toronto Metropolitan University, Wahsa Distance Education Centre, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) have collaborated to launch new housing courses for NAN housing professionals and community members. The two tailored courses focus on construction project management and tendering and procurement for housing, and draw on relevant case studies and insights for NAN community members. They are intended to help the First Nation to reduce reliance on external labour and ensure housing in the community is built by and for First Nations. All NAN members will be able to take the courses for free.

Nova Scotia Community College has hired Aramark Canada to run food services operations at its campus. CBC reports that 27 food services employees have been laid off as part of the decision. Affected employees are being offered interviews with Aramark, severance pay, and 40 days’ pay in lieu of notice. NSCC VP of Campuses and Communities Lynn Hartwell explained that the college food services operations have “been sustaining quite significant losses” that were unsustainable. Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union VP Rhea Gouthro said that the Aramark jobs are offering lower wages than the NSCC roles. The union called on the Government of Nova Scotia to prevent similar situations at other institutions by implementing stable, consistent postsecondary funding.

The University of Regina has established a five-year partnership with the US-based Howard University that will expand international learning and research opportunities for faculty and students. The partnership agreement covers several initiatives, including educational and research activities; academic material and publication exchange; and reciprocal study, lecture, and discussion opportunities. URegina and Howard University shared that they anticipate that the partnership will strengthen cross-cultural engagement through the arts and create new opportunities for arts and theatre students.

College of New Caledonia has issued a warning to students and employees about a cybersecurity incident that may have exposed some personal information. In a notice, the college explained that there is no evidence that personal information has been misused, but that data such as names, phone numbers, emails, and student/employee ID numbers may have been accessed. CNC President Cindy Heitman explained that the institution was alerted to the incident in early March and immediately launched an investigation. The college also notified the RCMP and British Columbia privacy commissioner.

Several University of Alberta students are seeking new housing after learning that the university will be ending leases with all Greek life organizations in August 2026. The change—which will impact 27 students who are currently living in fraternity and sorority houses—was reportedly made due to rising maintenance costs and inflation. Jack Stoddard, President of the Pi Kappa Alpha Lambda Epsilon, told City News that this change will “have reckless consequences,” while other students referenced how the termination of these leases will lead to a loss of community on campus and higher cost of living.

Emily Carr University of Art + Design has officially opened a new facility within its Centre for Digital Media that includes working areas for Master of Design students, studios for Master of Fine Arts students, critique/gallery spaces, and common amenities. ECU Associate Vice President of Research + Dean of Graduate Studies Justin Langlois said that this facility prioritizes collaboration between the two master’s programs. “It clusters student research interests in a way that hadn’t been possible before,” said Langlois. The centre will also be able to accommodate postsecondary partners and support commercial and public endeavours.