July 16, 2024

CEWIL Canada has released the “Navigating New Ground: Perspectives from Canada’s WIL Ecosystem” report, which follows the report released earlier this year. The report draws on research and contributions from organizations and individuals involved in WIL to provide insight on how WIL is evolving in response to the changing world. “By addressing the [identified] challenges and embracing emerging opportunities, we can build a more resilient, inclusive, and impactful WIL ecosystem,” commented Academica President and report lead author Dr Julie Peters.

Royal Roads University has received a gift—the largest in the university’s history—from the estate of Susan Bagley Bloom that will be used to bring programming to Salt Spring Island. The gift from the Bloom Canadian Alter Ego Trust 2020 is valued at $9.93M and includes Bloom’s property, home, gardens, and orchard, as well as funds for an endowment. Royal Roads intends to use the gift to offer workshops, seminars, events, and interdisciplinary programming that serves the overarching goal of inspiring changemakers. The land will be stewarded in partnership with the Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust (SSIFLT) and Salt Spring Island Conservancy, and in consultation with the local Indigenous communities.

The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation has pledged $9.9M in support to the Owerko Centre at the University of Calgary. The funding will support the centre’s next phase of growth and development as it continues its work in neurodevelopment and child mental health. The Owerko Centre will draw on the funds to conduct research; provide therapies; and help children, young adults, families, and communities thrive. “UCalgary has a wealth of expertise in neurodevelopment and child health across campus,” said Owerko Centre director Dr Susan Graham. “The Owerko Centre brings that thought leadership together and creates a platform to share ideas and move important research along.”

Humber College and The King’s Trust Canada (TKTC) are partnering to develop courses for TKTC’s The Skills Academy program. The program will help youth aged 18 to 25 overcome barriers to employment and develop their communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. TKTC CEO Farah Mohamed explained that the program will help to address the “silent crisis of youth underemployment” facing Canada. The Skills Academy learners who successfully complete their assessments will be eligible for up to five micro-credentials and a certification from Humber.

As Manitoba faces a teacher shortage, some universities in the province are struggling to recruit education students. CBC reports that Brandon University, the University of Manitoba, and the University of Winnipeg have seen the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their admissions and enrolment. Brandon Teachers Association President Tammy Tutkaluk noted that the stories of the conditions and pressures teachers faced during the pandemic could deter potential teachers from entering the field. Tutkaluk, along with BrandonU Dean of Education Alysha Farrell and University of Manitoba Associate Dean Wayne Serebrin, identified several changes that could help attract more people to a career in teaching, including improved funding and improving the requirements for becoming a teacher.

The University of Victoria has signed a five-year collaboration agreement with the Ts’uubaa-asatx Nation. The agreement was developed in the context of ongoing considerations around the future use of a 25-acre property, which has deep cultural and historical significance to the nation. Together, the partners will embark on initiatives such as educational programs, research projects, and community engagement activities. “Ts’uubaa-asatx is excited to enter into a multi-year collaboration agreement with UVic built on the guiding principles of respect, collaboration, commitment, transparency, culture, education and values for not only the property at Ch’itupt nit, but also in our approaches to education on all fronts,” said Ts’uubaa-asatx operations manager Nation Aaron Hamilton.

A pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Manitoba has come down after the university indicated that it would pursue legal action if the encampment was not dismantled. UManitoba indicated that it expected that the encampment would be removed so that the university space could be used by all community members again and gave the protesters a deadline of 8 am on Monday morning. CBC reports that the protesters dismantled the encampment and left peacefully.

Vancouver Island University issued a trespass notice to the pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. Last Thursday, protesters were instructed to leave the encampment by 8 am on Monday or the university would “take all legal steps necessary to remove them,” including seeking an injunction against the camp and damages from the protesters. VIU said that it issued a trespass notice against protesters in response to the recent escalation of protester actions, including disrupting an exam, occupying buildings, and committing vandalism. Protesters remained at VIU on Monday, saying that they would remain “steadfast.”

A group of Centennial College public relations students have developed a social media campaign to dispel misconceptions about a college education. The campaign follows the theme of ‘What’s the future now?’ and highlights the testimonials of Centennial students and alumni who applied to a postgraduate certificate program to address concerns over career uncertainty. “Our message to new graduates, job seekers and professionals considering a change is: Don’t let preconceived notions about college prevent you from finding your version of career success,” said Centennial student Yvette Ye.

The University of British Columbia is investigating a social media post from an account that appeared to owned by a UBC professor. Shortly after an assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump, the account made a post on X that appeared to celebrate the attempt. Shortly after, the account replied to a response to this post, lamenting that the attempt had failed. The Vancouver Sun states that the account has since been deleted. A UBC spokesperson confirmed that the university is looking into the post, adding that “[t]he university does not condone violence of any kind.”