Top Ten News

Jun 21, 2024 • National

Postsecondary institutions across Canada are celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day today. Institutions like Fleming College, Loyalist College, and Vancouver Community College announced festivities such as musical performances, food, parties, and workshops. Some partnered with other organizations to host programming: The University of Calgary partnered with Heritage Park to host Campfire Chats 2024, and the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières is hosting an event organized by Centre d’amitié autochtone de Trois-Rivières that will give the community the opportunity to learn more about Indigenous art, music, talent, and history. York University and the University of Manitoba shared Indigenous students and alumni reflections on the day.

Fleming, Loyalist, VCC, UCalgary, UManitoba, UQTR, YorkU

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Jun 21, 2024 • ON

The Ontario Superior Court listened to the University of Toronto’s application for an injunction against the encampment on its campus on this week. On Wednesday, U of T’s lawyers presented their arguments for the injunction, which include an assertion that protesters have taken control of campus property and prevented others from using it. On Thursday, representatives of the encampment made their arguments, which included an assertion that the site used for the encampment is “closer in character to a public park” than private property and that the university’s claims of irreparable harm are based on mischaracterizations of the encampment. The Canadian Press reports that numerous groups—including Jewish advocacy groups and student and faculty unions—have been granted intervener status in the case. At the time of writing, a ruling has not been released.

CTV News (Court Livestream), Global News (CP, Wednesday), Toronto Star, Soo Today (CP, Thursday)

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Jun 21, 2024 • MB, ON, QC

Humber College, McGill University, and Red River College Polytechnic have announced tuition and application fee waivers for Indigenous students. Humber announced that it will offer free tuition to Indigenous students from eight First Nations communities starting this Fall: Alderville First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Mississaugas of the Scugog Island First Nation, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (Tyendinaga Mohawk), and Six Nations of the Grand River. Similarly, McGill has announced that it will cover tuition and mandatory fees for Indigenous students from local and proximate First Nations communities, as well as those pursuing programs that are delivered through Indigenous partnerships. RRC Polytech is waiving application fees for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit learners during the month of June to reduce barriers to education and increase Indigenous enrolment.

Humber, McGill, RRC Polytech

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Jun 21, 2024 • SK

The University of Saskatchewan’s Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) has received $5M from Farm Credit Canada (FCC) to create the FCC Accelerated Breeding Program. USask explains that accelerated breeding is a field that combines a variety of technologies to “increase the rate of genetic gain for crop and livestock breeding programs.” USask GIFS CEO Steven Webb said that this program will provide public and private sector organizations with “access to the most advanced tools and technologies” available and will accelerate “the productivity gains for new crop and livestock varieties and hybrids in Canada.”

USask, Northeast Now

Top Ten News

Jun 21, 2024 • ON

The final class of graduates at Brescia University College have made the traditional walk—accompanied by bagpipes—to their convocation ceremony on Western campus and crossed the stage for their certificates. The university-level women’s institution integrated with Western University, in May. “It’s very emotional for all of us,” said Brescia President Dr Lauretta Frederking. “To march together, to walk together in solidarity and support for the future, the trust that in the uncertainty and mystery, great things will happen. Brescia lives in our hearts and all the hearts of the employees, the faculty, staff and students.”

CTV News, London Free Press

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Jun 21, 2024 • AB, NL

Memorial University and the University of Alberta have announced their intention to disclose investments in the future. Memorial committed to the annual publication of all direct investments and the names of pooled funds held in endowed, non-endowed, and pension funds. As part of the announcement, Memorial also confirmed that less than 1% of its portfolio is invested in companies on lists provided by student protesters. UAlberta’s board of governors unanimously passed a motion to disclose a complete list of its investments and review its policies and practices. The university also committed to exploring how it can support Palestinian scholars and students, as well as an independent third-party review into the removal of the encampment on campus.

Memorial, Memorial (Disclosure), UAlberta, CBC (UAlberta)

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Jun 21, 2024 • BC

An Indigenous-led adult education centre in Brentwood Bay, formerly known as Saanich Adult Education Centre, has unveiled its new name: W̱SÁNEĆ College. W̱SÁNEĆ College—which started in 1990—serves the four W̱SÁNEĆ nations in the Saanich Peninsula and offers Dogwood diplomas for adults who finish high school, college prep courses, and other courses and certificates that are accredited by Camosun College and the University of Victoria. W̱SÁNEĆ College Director Kendra Underwood said that the name change reflects the college’s ambitions and scope of its offerings. Over the next four years, W̱SÁNEĆ College will work toward creating its own registrar system, hiring its own faculty members, and increasing its administrative staff.

Times Colonist

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Jun 21, 2024 • International

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has released the Best Student Cities 2025, which ranks the 150 most student-friendly locations from around the world. Cities are assessed according to six criteria: Affordability, desirability, employer activity, student mix, student view, and university rankings. Five cities from Canada appeared in the rankings: Montréal (#10), Toronto (#11), Vancouver (#19), Ottawa (#57), and Québec City (#128). The top three cities overall were London, UK; Tokyo, Japan; and Seoul, South Korea.

QS (Ranking), QS (Method), McGill

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Jun 21, 2024 • AB

Athabasca University is gifting high school graduates from Aspen View Public Schools a complementary Athabasca University course. Graduates from the Class of 2024 will be able to take the course anytime in the first year after their high school graduation. “This initiative speaks volumes about Athabasca University’s dedication to fostering educational opportunities that are inclusive, accessible, and flexible, and within our own community,” said Aspen View Superintendent Constantine Kastrinos, who added that Aspen View graduates have limited access to postsecondary education by virtue of geographic remoteness.

AU

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Jun 21, 2024 • SK

Northlands College, the City of Flin Flon, the Town of Creighton, and the Northern Health Region have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will enhance professional development, service delivery, workforce development, and community well-being in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The MOU provides a framework for joint projects, academic programs, and collaborative initiatives and identifies key areas of collaboration such as the exchange of professional services, education, and research and innovation. Northlands will provide training programs, facilitate workforce development initiatives, contribute to research and innovation projects, and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

Northlands