June 15, 2026

The Government of British Columbia has announced that Okanagan College will receive 256 new skilled trades training seats as part of its broader Look West strategy. The new seats are expected to reduce waitlists for in-demand apprenticeship programs that will lead to careers in high-demand fields. “Our region is growing, we see it in the population growth, in housing demand, and expanding public services,” said Okanagan College President Neil Fassina. “That growth creates pressure across many parts of the economy, but especially in the skilled trades that quite literally build and maintain our communities.”

The Lutheran Theological Seminary and St Andrew’s College have announced their intent to move into a model of shared ministry and theological education. In the coming months, the two partners will determine governance structures, academic planning, and organizational arrangements. The leaders of both institutes noted the longstanding relationship between the institutions and their shared mission. “The decision to grow into one is born of love between us and of belief that we have a common mission: serving God by fostering lay and ordained leadership in western and northern Canada, in our denominations and beyond,” said LTS President Rev William H Harrison.

Dalhousie University has begun construction of a $67M student residence, planned to open in Fall 2028. The new facility will have space for about 213 students, offering apartment-style units geared towards upper-year undergraduate students or graduate students. Dal VP of Finance and Administration Cathie O’Toole said that the university is hoping to offer these units at below-market rent and will not require residents to purchase a meal plan. The Dalhousie Faculty Association has raised concerns about the new residence, with president-elect David Westwood called the project a “terrible idea” at a time when international student enrolment is declining. CBC says that $20.3M of Dal’s 2025–26 operating funds from the Government of Nova Scotia is dependent on the project.

Algoma University and Sault College have signed a memorandum of understanding focused on supporting student success and economic development in the Algoma District region. The framework includes opportunities to co-operate on academic pathways, recruitment, and shared resources. “At a time when the postsecondary sector is navigating significant change, collaboration between institutions is more important than ever,” said Algoma Interim President Dr Sheila Embleton. “Together, we can build on our respective strengths to better serve learners, communities, and the region we are proud to call home.”

The University of New Brunswick McKenna Institute and Wallace McCain Institute have officially launched a people-first AI adoption pilot for New Brunswick SMEs. The pilot will involve 16 companies from across NB, with each company running a six-month AI pilot within their organization in a particular area of business operations. They will have access to mentorship, peer coaching, and regular check-in points. “What we hear from business leaders is that the hard part of AI isn’t the technology, it’s the people,” said UNB McKenna Institute Executive Director Kathryn Lockhart. “So we built this program around people first. Give leaders the know-how, the confidence, and the right support to use AI on their own terms, and adoption becomes much more realistic.”

Georgian College has received a $1.25M donation towards its Student Success and Care Centre from GuardMe International Insurance. This centre offers students personalized services, support systems, and connection opportunities so that they can build the skills and sense of belonging they need to succeed in their careers. It will be renamed to recognize GuardMe’s contribution. “We’re incredibly grateful for this partnership, which strengthens our ability to provide meaningful support, opportunities, and resources that are accessible to students across the college, both inside and outside the classroom,” said Georgian President Kevin Weaver.

McGill University has partnered with France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment and Oniris VetAgroBio Nantes to open a new lab. The Food and Chemical Exposome Associated Laboratory (FOCAL) will study chemical contaminants in what we eat. “We now have the tools to detect thousands of chemical substances in food in a single analysis,” said FOCAL Co-director Stéphane Bayen. “FOCAL allows us to put this capability at the service of a question that affects everyone: how can we reduce our exposure to harmful chemical substances present in our diet?”

Castanet reports that Thompson Rivers University is combining its international and student services divisions as part of its broader restructuring effort. “Our goal is for students to benefit from student support services for both domestic and international students within one leadership structure,” said TRU President Airini. “By aligning these areas, we’re enhancing a connected and consistent experience for all learners while strengthening collaboration across the university.” Castanet reports that other restructuring is also under consideration, including the possible combination of the departments responsible for co-op and experiential education and the library.

The University of Guelph has partnered with Talent Innovation Canada (TICAN) to support agri-food innovators. This partnership will enable TICAN to pair UoGuelph graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with agri-food companies for work on industrial challenges and technology development. Participants will receive funding packages to support their projects. “By connecting emerging researchers with industry partners and providing leadership development alongside research experience, this initiative will help prepare the next generation of innovators to lead Canada’s agri-food sector,” said UoGuelph President Dr Rene Van Acker.

A group of 10 institutions have been selected for Colleges and Institutes Canada’s project focused on supporting institutes in Tunisia. Cégep de Saint-Laurent, Collège de Maisonneuve, and Collège Montmorency announced that they will be a part of the consortium. Over the next three years, this partnership will strengthen the training offered by these two institutes in energy and the environment by integrating content related to the environment. The Canadian institutions will also support the development of the Tunisian institutions’ applied research activities, innovation projects, and partnerships; and promote an environmental culture that supports the transition to the green economy.