June 2, 2025

Postsecondary institutions across Canada are hosting events and initiatives to celebrate Pride Month. Institutions such as the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Winnipeg, Vancouver Island University, and York University are kicking off the month by raising flags recognizing the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Brock University and YorkU highlighted ways that their communities could learn more through themed talks and learning sessions. Several institutions encouraged community members to take part in events throughout the month: Okanagan College and the OC Pride Community hosted a Drag Queens and Kings event, for example, while UWinnipeg highlighted events such as the UW Pride Parade Party and a Drag Storytime event for children.

Universities in Canada and around the world are continuing their efforts to attract researchers and students from the US. La Presse reports that Québec university leaders are pushing for rapid financial support from the federal and provincial governments, which they would use to employ American researchers. On a recent panel, university rectors such as Sophie D’Amours (Université Laval) and Stéphane Pallage (Université du Québec à Montréal) indicated that while American academics have shown an interest in working at their institutions, those academics may go elsewhere if funding is not available. CBC reports that in countries such as China and Japan, universities are offering tuition waivers, research grants, and other supports to attract researchers and students who were considering studying or working at American institutions.

Holland College has unveiled its new branding, which includes a new logo and refreshed visual identity. The logo features an icon made up of an H and C arranged in the shape of a shield, as well as the name of its location in both English (Prince Edward Island) and Mi’kmaq (Epekwitk). “People in our focus groups talked a lot about building their future through education, so I shaped the H and the C within the shield to look like building blocks,” said Holland College Graphic Designer Lisa Stapleton. “It represents growth, transformation, and the college as a foundation to student success.” The logo and visual identity will be rolled out across the college’s campuses, digital presences, and official materials.

Keyano College has announced that its Bridge to Canadian Nursing program is now a credit-bearing certificate. This one-year program prepares internationally educated nurses for the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta’s registration requirements, which will help them gain their license and find work in the province. Students take part in classroom learning, labs, simulations, and supervised clinical practice. Since the program is now for credit, students are also able to apply for student loans to help address financial barriers.

George Brown College has partnered with Lavazza to support student learning. This four-year partnership includes a variety of initiatives, including the creation of the Lavazza Scholarship, the development of the Lavazza Beverage Simulation Lab, and the use of Lavazza coffee equipment for students to work with at The Chefs’ House. Through these initiatives, the partners will help students prepare for their careers with hands-on training, participate in industry events, and gain real-world experience. “This partnership enhances our students’ learning experiences by connecting academic knowledge with industry expertise,” said George Brown Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts Dean Rudi Fischbacher.

The University of Saskatchewan’s College of Law has received a $750K donation from McDougall Gauley LLP. This gift will be used to support scholarships and bursaries, the College of Law First-Year Welcoming Ceremony, and the study of business law. “Financial support for students is essential for ensuring the development of lawyers ready to become leaders in the provincial legal community as it allows them to focus more closely on their studies,” said USask College of Law Dean Martin Phillipson.

The University of Toronto has announced two technology-focused partnerships recently. The university’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine has partnered with LGI Healthcare Solutions to launch a cloud-based education platform for medical learners throughout the full medical training continuum. The platform provides a fully integrated experience encompassing admissions, progress tracking, assessment, and analytics. U of T has also partnered with US investment advisor Vanguard to advance AI research and innovation. Professors, post-doctoral fellows, students, and members of Vanguard’s AI research team will collaborate on a variety of related fronts, such as the ethical and transparent use of AI and more natural interactions between AI and humans.

Horizon College & Seminary, the Institut Biblique du Québec, and Master’s College and Seminary have partnered to offer English-language Christian education in Québec. Through the agreement, Horizon and MCS will offer courses in English to English-speaking students in QC, empowering them to pursue theological education and ministry training while staying in the province. IBQ will continue to support these students with mentoring, coaching, and pastoral care. “We believe this partnership is a Spirit-led response to the unique needs of Quebec’s English-speaking church communities,” stated Horizon.

Mount Saint Vincent University was closed last Thursday after a lockdown was ordered by the Halifax Regional Police. The Chronicle Herald and Haligonia report that police searched the school after receiving second-hand reports of an alleged armed robbery on campus. The search did not yield any evidence of a threat. “Better safe than sorry,” commented MSVU Student Kassi Brightman, who was on campus at the time. “It could take one incident just for someone to lose a life or get injured, so I think it was a good response.” The university has since announced that Thursday’s classes, exams, and programs will be rescheduled.

In a recent letter to the editor of the Edmonton Journal, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Student Rhekia Fahssi calls on NAIT to reinstate its Captioning and Court Reporting diploma. Fahssi argues that the diploma leads to a valuable career in a field with an aging labour force. “Pausing our sole accredited pipeline accelerates that [labour force] crash, and hands the field to US transcription firms hungry for our work and data,” explains Fahssi. CTV News reports that the program was one of 18 placed under review due to high costs and low enrolment. Fahssi and NAIT graduate Tara Teves told CTV that the program might draw more applicants if the salary and career opportunities were better advertised.