July 9, 2025

Simon Fraser University Chancellor Tamara Vrooman has written an article for the Vancouver Sun urging Canada to strengthen its postsecondary systems. “Across this country, there is talk of renewal,” writes Vrooman. “But one of the most essential engines of that renewal has been notably absent from the conversation: our postsecondary institutions.” Vrooman points out the key role that postsecondary education plays in research, innovation, and the development of a skilled workforce. If Canada wants to thrive in the future, she concludes, then it must invest in postsecondary institutions and make them “central—not peripheral—to our national ambitions.”

In two parts of Canada, communities are finding new uses for centres that were previously used by local postsecondary institutions. In the Northwest Territories, Indigenous leaders and the territorial government have begun planning for the use of the infrastructure left behind after Aurora College closed its community learning centres. Cabin Radio reports that there is interest in continuing to use at least some of the centres for education and training purposes. In Alberta, Red Deer Polytechnic recently sold the Welikoklad Event Centre to Carnival Cinemas, which will use the venue as a theatre for film and live entertainment. “We are pleased to see it repurposed for other community uses that will continue to serve Red Deer and downtown well,” said RDP VP Finance and Administration & CFO Jim Brinkhurst.

A researcher at St Francis Xavier University has partnered with the craft brewery Candid Brewing to pilot health warning labels on alcohol products that will empower consumer choices. StFX Research Chair in Substance Use Policy and Prevention Dr Kara Thompson is leading the project, which responds to a lack of public awareness about the cancer risks associated with alcohol and Canada’s New Guidance on Alcohol and Health. “This partnership highlights how small-scale, community-rooted actions can contribute to broader conversations around alcohol, risk, and transparency—both in Nova Scotia and across Canada,” said Thompson.

Police associations in Ontario are launching a joint campaign focused on recruiting police officers to address the province’s staffing shortages. The “Answer the Call” campaign aims to improve transparency about training, expectations, and the application process; share honest insights into the daily realities of a career in policing; and offer tools to help candidates find their fit in the police services. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner told CBC that the province hopes to boost the number of graduates from Ontario Police College, which added an additional 80 seats last year.

Drawing on her experience as an executive search consultant, Amy Crutchfield outlines several points of guidance for recruiting postsecondary leaders when the sector is facing challenges and uncertainty. Among her recommendations, Crutchfield encourages those involved in the search to allocate extra time and energy to accommodate the questions from and needs of candidates who may be hesitant to enter into a troubled sector. She also calls on recruiters to reinforce their institution’s core selling points while remaining frank about the institution’s political and financial outlook. “If anything, uncertainty reminds us of the importance of strong leadership and the necessity of choosing leaders wisely,” concludes Crutchfield.

Aurora College’s Indigenous Knowledge Holders Council has released its first framework document: the Flowing Waters Framework. The framework outlines guiding principles, priorities, and goals for the council from 2025 to 2028, and features an infographic that illustrates how the council will achieve its goals during this period. IKHC explained that it was challenging to capture Indigenous knowledge systems in the document, as these are deeply rooted in lived experiences, relationships with the land, and oral traditions. Despite these challenges, the council emphasized the importance of finding a way to capture Indigenous ways of knowing in order to better foster institutional understanding, collaboration, and integration.

Western University student Baylee Bennett recently came across a mystery after purchasing a second-hand dresser. The dresser’s drawers contained documents that included two Western diplomas from 1979 and 1981. After Bennett was told that Western’s Office of the Registrar could not guarantee that they could find the family that these documents belonged to, she took to social media to try to find the family. “I know that if this was my family’s diploma, […] that I would have wanted it,” said Baylee. “Even if it’s not that important, and maybe they got another diploma, it’s still kind of sentimental.”

Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology has launched a new brand that it says provides a “sharper clearer expression” of the college’s identity. The logo includes a line that winds through the letters, symbolizing the unique path that each student takes as they pursue their education. MITT explained that the new “fresh, bold, and student-centred” palette includes the “steady and dependable” blue as a base and accent colours such as green. The release explains that the brand is meant to feel modern, vibrant, and authentic, highlighting that MITT is the kind of institution that will “meet you where you’re at and walk with you toward what’s next.”

A recent CBC article highlights how some students with disabilities face difficulties such as little job experience and loss of social connections as they transition out of high school. University of British Columbia Professor Rachelle Hole explained that transition programs, which are generally understood to be the responsibility of schools, are not mandated by every province or territory. Where programs are not available, students often find themselves facing a “transition cliff” which can become a time of crisis. CBC highlights some of the programs and resources developed to support students, including a free online transition-planning program developed by Hole.

The investigation into a staff member at Holland College’s Canes’ Camp has concluded without charges, reports CBC. The Canes’ Camp is a dedicated camp for students in K-6 that is held during holidays in the public school system. Earlier this year, a staff member from the camp was suspended following a complaint. “The investigations concluded with no findings of guilt from either Charlottetown Police Services or an independent third-party law firm,” said the college in a statement. “Throughout this process we have strived to prioritize the safety and well-being of our camp participants and maintain open communication with our Canes’ Camp families. We consider this matter to be resolved, and we do not have further comment.”