July 29, 2026

Confederation College has received $2.78M from the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario to help tariff-impacted workers and jobseekers in Northern ON retrain for in-demand careers in the skilled trades. The college will offer training to 110 workers and jobseekers affected by the restructuring of the forestry and pulp and paper sector. These workers will be able to develop their skills in heavy equipment operation, millwrighting, welding, electrical work, and commercial driving. “As tariffs and global economic pressures continue to affect workers and communities, no one will be left behind,” said Canada Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu.

The University of Calgary has received a $52M investment from the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta to support the modernization of the Olympic Oval. The funds will be used for a new tunnel, ice plant, and refrigeration slab, as well as other planned upgrades in the areas of safety, accessibility, and sustainability. “Complementing the Oval’s elite training and event-hosting capacity is decades of globally recognized research undertaken at the University of Calgary, in human physiology, injury prevention and recovery, and equipment design,” said UCalgary President Dr Ed McCauley. “[This funding] supports athletic excellence, scientific innovation and community connection.”

The University of Saskatchewan and the International Atomic Energy Agency met in Vienna, Austria last week to sign an agreement furthering nuclear research and training. The agreement establishes a framework to guide the university in providing further nuclear training to professionals, as well as expanding research in the field. USask College of Engineering Associate Dean, Research and Partnerships Jafar Soltan explained that the agreement will position the university as a “Canadian hub” in the nuclear field, while USask VP Research Baljit Singh added that it will provide local talent with access to a global network.

In a recent article, Colleges & Institutes Canada President Pari Johnston asserts that the future of AI in Canada is a “story of skills” that recognizes that behind every AI task is a human user who needs to be supported by their employer and trained by a postsecondary institution. To achieve the Government of Canada’s goal of increasing AI adoption from 12% to 60% of businesses within a decade, Johnston says that Canada should look to colleges and institutes to provide necessary training to learners and applied research for businesses. She encourages colleges to be involved in major initiatives like the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative, and calls for targeted investments to support workforce-aligned AI skills training.

The University of Alberta and Maskwacîs Health Services have signed an agreement to provide family medicine residents with training opportunities in Indigenous communities. Starting this summer, medical residents will be able to spend a six-month period of their residency in Maskwacîs, where they will participate in community events and spend time with local Elders. UAlberta Indigenous Physician Lead for Family Medicine Dr Cayla Gilbert emphasized that the cultural components are part of the training, as relationships, love, and care for each other are key components of medicine.

International students who were denied post-graduation work permits recently held rallies across Alberta to call for answers regarding why their permits were denied. Students studying through Portage College’s partner institutions—Campbell College and the College Institute of Osteopathic Therapy—gathered in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lac la Biche. In Calgary, students held a hunger strike which was paused after community leaders spoke with them, while in Edmonton, students protested around the clock. Over 500 recent graduates traveled to Lac La Biche to gather on Portage’s campus and speak with Portage officials. “[T]he College has provided contact information for an independent immigration consultant on its PGWP information webpage,” said Portage Corporate Communications Manager Jaime Davies. An IRCC statement asserted that IRCC is processing applications fairly and consistently.

The Université de l’Ontario français recently shared two major announcements. First, the institution has announced the launch of a specialized bachelor in social work program, which will include 700 hours of supervised internships, theoretical learning, and personalized coaching and networking opportunities. Graduates will also be eligible to seek professional designation through the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. The university also signed a collaboration agreement with the Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario focused on teacher training and educational innovation and research for the benefit of Francophone communities. The partnership will include UOF Bachelor of Education students training at SSPNE schools, the development of professional development activities, and other projects.

The University of Winnipeg has launched the Certificate in Urban and Community Planning, an interdisciplinary program that will train students in urban issues and city planning. The program draws on courses and expertise from several departments at the university in order to cover the topic of urban planning in a more comprehensive manner. Students will be equipped with the knowledge they need to work on inclusive policies. “Students interested in shaping more equitable cities must first understand the historical and contemporary socio-political contexts that have led to the inequities that exist in cities across the globe,” said UWinnipeg Professor Dr Shauna MacKinnon.

Iranian international students and representatives recently gathered at Queen’s Park to call on the Government of Ontario for urgent assistance in light of the impact of the war in Iran. Students from Toronto Metropolitan University, the University of Toronto, and York University were among those present at Queen’s Park to share how the devaluation of Iranian currency, bank freezes, and other challenges had affected them. U of T student Fatan Niyazi explained that the same tuition payment now costs his family six times more than it did prior to the war, and Queen’s University student Sara Fard added that many students find themselves needing to reduce their courseload or put their studies on hold to survive. The students said they plan to launch a petition that will be presented to the ON Legislative Assembly in the fall.

In a recent article for University World News, Richard Holmes discusses the shortcomings of Times Higher Education’s Sustainability Impact Ratings. Holmes highlights several issues, including the decline in participant numbers over time, the use of AI to rank institutions, uneven representation of universities from around the world, and dramatic changes in rankings from year to year. Additionally, the author notes the disparities between THE’s Sustainability Impact Ratings and other sustainability rankings, as well as with the UN SDGs. Holmes concludes by asserting that the rankings are unlikely to help universities facing future challenges.