July 28, 2026

The University of Waterloo has reorganized its Faculty of Arts, collapsing 15 departments and two schools into six schools. The faculty’s academic majors and the faculty members will reportedly remain the same. UWaterloo Arts Dean Alexie Tcheuyap and UWaterloo Professor Ian Milligan explained that the changes are intended to create “more synergy” and “more opportunities among faculty to collaborate,” which positions the schools to better respond to an era of rapid technological change and engage in interdisciplinary research. They also noted that the changes will have minimal disruption for students, while improving access to courses and reducing scheduling challenges. “I think in two or three years, we’re going to look back and say, ‘Why on earth didn’t we do this earlier?’” commented Milligan.

Vancouver Island University will add 64 new seats for trades training in 2026–27 through the Government of British Columbia’s Look West strategy. These additional seats will bring VIU’s total number of trades training seats up to 1,550, reducing wait lists for the most in-demand apprenticeship programs. Of these seats, 16 will be for carpentry and 48 will be for recreational vehicle service technician roles. VIU Interim Dean of Trades and Applied Technology Jessie Chalmers said that the expansion will improve access to the university’s RV technician apprenticeship program, which was previously created to address the demand for training on Vancouver Island.

A joint initiative between Western University and St Joseph’s Health Care London has received $1.3M from Western alumni Marlene McGrath and Graham Porter. The donation will fund an advanced imaging system, which researchers will use to track precisely targeted cancer therapies which replace broader treatments like chemotherapy. In addition to funding the purchase of the system, the donation will also establish the McGrath Porter Fund for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics Trainees to support the recruitment of scholars to work in an associated molecular imaging lab. “This is the next step for treating serious cancers and could have a major impact here and nationally,” McGrath said.

In Tumbler Ridge, School District 59 has begun to dismantle the school building that housed Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a Northern Lights College campus. “Every effort is being made to carry out this work in a way that respects the significance of the site and minimizes disruption to students, families, and the broader community,” read a statement from SD59. While the secondary school sets up a temporary campus and plans for a new future school building, NLC is renovating a new leased space in the community for its use. Tumbler Ridge Lines reported earlier this year that the college intends to have the new space open by September. VP Academics and Research Tara Highland-Russell also stated that the college will offer new programs.

The University of Alberta and the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) have furthered their longstanding partnership by signing a new memorandum of understanding. Under this agreement, the partners will expand experiential learning for students, create joint research opportunities, and showcase university expertise to the public. The partners will also explore further opportunities to use EPL’s facilities, as well as the creation of an on-campus EPL holds shelf. “This partnership aims to bring together the university’s academic and research expertise with the library’s deep community roots,” explained UAlberta President Bill Flanagan. “Our students get real experience in a public setting, and Edmontonians get more direct access to what’s happening at the university.”

Nursing students in British Columbia are expressing frustration after the Government of British Columbia announced that its Nursing Tuition Grant will expire in August rather than being renewed. This program sought to address workforce needs by offering eligible nursing students a $2K grant. University of British Columbia school of nursing Director Elizabeth Saewyc explained that the grant supports nursing students, who must navigate intensive course loads and clinical placements. Nursing students told CBC and the Vancouver Sun that the elimination of this grant may cause financial difficulties for students, which could lead them to leave their nursing programs.

The Ottawa Citizen reports that the closure of the University of Ottawa’s Bernadette Child Care Centre in April has left the university without an on-campus daycare. The child centre board was reportedly working with the university on a plan to relocate the daycare to another space on campus, but these discussions ended with too little time for the daycare to find another location. The university said that it has established a working group to examine childcare needs and options, provided affected students with financial assistance, and signed an agreement securing 34 off-campus childcare spaces.

Despite the widespread use of letter grading, the A–F system does a disservice to both students and employers, argues Patricia Okker. In practice, Okker says that letter grades result in students having no incentive to perform beyond an A-level while also disincentivizing students from taking risks. Okker contrasts higher education with a gym or place of work, where evaluation is based on continuous qualitative feedback and coaching. The author concludes that since narrative evaluations offer a method that highlights the potential that students may have, they should take the place of the outdated letter grading system.

Sprott Shaw College has enhanced its Early Childhood Education program with the addition of several Indigenous components. In addition to a welcome video featuring Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Tsitsáyxemaat (Rebecca Duncan), the program now offers music, language, and storytelling traditions from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit perspectives. Sprott Shaw said that the additions are part of continuous work with Indigenous educators on program development and implementation and reflect the college’s commitment to reconciliation, aligning with TRC Call to Action #12 and #63iii.

Trent University has launched a reimagined Trent Magazine. This redesigned publication aims to provide a more immersive experience by combining feature articles, photography, and interactive online content. In addition to the new nameplate and updated typography and colour palette, the magazine now has a digital edition designed with accessibility in mind, offering interactive content for an immersive experience. “The new edition reflects that impact in a fresh and engaging way, giving readers deeper connections to the learning, research and innovation happening across the University and its alumni network,” said Trent Magazine Publisher and Alumni Engagement & Services Director Naomi Handley.