June 23, 2025

Several cégep community members are speaking out about the impact that the Government of Québec’s $150M cut has had on their institutions. The leaders of Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Cégep de Sherbrooke, and Cégep de Victoriaville spoke to the press about how these cuts have resulted in significant reductions and budget deficits at their institutions. Each institution has reduced its workforce in response, noting that salaries make up most of their expenses. At Cégep de Victoriaville, La Nouvelle Union reports that the cuts have harmed staff morale. Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf student Ikram El Abied wrote a letter for Le Devoir arguing that reducing cégep resources at a time when many students are struggling with food insecurity exacerbates social inequities.

With National Indigenous Peoples Day falling on a Saturday this year, several institutions held special events and shared resources in advance of the weekend. Institutions such as NorQuest College, the University of Waterloo, and Vancouver Island University held special celebrations with food, dances, and cultural learning opportunities. Dalhousie University hosted a morning smudge. MacEwan University shared what Indigenous staff, faculty, students, and alumni had to say about the day and its relevance. At the University of Manitoba, a special blanket ceremony was held to honour Indigenous members of the campus community.

Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe has begun a $9.5M project to expand and renovate its dental hygiene clinic. This redevelopment will include the addition of a two-storey expansion at the front of the clinic and the optimization of space to meet the cégep’s needs. After this project is complete, the cégep will be able to centralize its dental hygiene programs and better meet community needs. It will also use $1.34M for equipment and programming. The project is supported by funding from the Government of Québec’s Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur.

The Ontario Universities and Colleges Coalition (OUCC) has released a statement expressing deep concern about the Government of Ontario’s Bill 33. OUCC says that the bill “represents an existential threat to the autonomy of our world-class publicly-funded higher education system.” The authors expressed disappointment with ON’s reliance on Ministerial Directives, which they say is not subject to the same scrutiny as other legal instruments. They also highlighted how the “ongoing attacks on equity-based initiatives and the focus on rigid and restrictive admissions policies” will impact student services and destabilize postsecondary communities. The authors conclude by calling for ON to “recognize the value of our postsecondary education sector […] rather than continuing to undermine it.”

Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne and Kwantlen Polytechnic University have each launched new programs. Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne has partnered with Amazon Web Services to launch a Cloud Solutions Specialist program that will train workers to design, deploy, and manage cloud solutions. This 12-month Attestation d’études collégiales program is geared towards women, unemployed individuals, Indigenous people, and immigrants. KPU has announced new programs in brewing and physics that offer a shorter path to completion. These include a one-year Certificate in Brewing, a two-year Diploma in Engineering Physics that provides a pathway into the Bachelor of Science in Physics for Modern Technology, and four micro-credentials in brewing-related topics.

Trent University has broken ground on Gidigaa Migizi College and the Otonabee College residence. The development—which Trent says is one of the largest infrastructure projects it has taken on since its founding—will consist of a 700,000-square-foot transformation. Gidigaa Migizi College will feature flexible lecture halls, a rooftop amenity space, and a Student Services Hub with building features based on Indigenous design principles; the Otonabee College residence will include over 600 beds with an outdoor communal quad and connections to existing dining facilities. “Gidigaa Migizi College and the new Otonabee residence will offer modern, inclusive spaces where students live, learn, and form lasting connections,” said Trent President Dr Cathy Bruce. The project is expected to be open in Fall 2028.

Athabasca University has improved its Nukskahtowin website to ensure staff, faculty, students, and the broader community can access Indigenous knowledge and supports more easily. The hub was first established in 2001 as the Centre for World Indigenous Knowledge and Research and was given its current name by AU Elder in Residence Maria Campbell in 2018. The updated website will serve as an extension of Nukskahtowin’s physical space and ensure that the broader community can access Indigenous teachings and culture. “Improving our Nukskahtowin section of the AU website is a renewed commitment to honour Indigenous Knowledge, strengthen community connections, and expand access to cultural and academic support,” said AU AVP of Indigenous Conciliation Priscilla Campeau.

Dalhousie University will be using a $2.2M investment from the Government of Nova Scotia to expand its Doctor of Medicine program. This Fall, five additional seats for students from Nova Scotia will be added to the program; another five first-year seats will be added in 2026-27. As a result of this investment, 2025-26 will see 114 seats reserved for students from Nova Scotia, six reserved for students from Prince Edward Island, and nine reserved for students from outside the Maritimes. Through investments in our postsecondary partners, we are training the doctors we need today and for tomorrow,” said NS Minister of Advanced Education Brendan Maguire.

College of the Rockies, Selkirk College, and the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise Society (KORE Outdoors) have partnered to turn COTR’s Mobile Education Lounge into a mobile outdoor gear repair and education project. The mobile repair station will offer free repairs on gear, host skill building workshops, and collect items that need to be taken to Selkirk’s Technology Access Centre for more complex fixes. “The Re-Hub Tour is helping to reduce landfill waste, extend the life of valuable gear, and show how the outdoor industry can support a circular economy,” said COTR Manager of Applied Research and Innovation Paul Tiege. “We’re proud to contribute by supporting a sustainable business practices study and supplying the Mobile Education Lounge.”

A team of MBA students from the University of Windsor has partnered with the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Corporation to launch a campaign aimed at drawing American tourists to Windsor. The 40-40 YQG Tourism Campaign emphasizes the 40% advantage of the American dollar on the Canadian dollar so far in 2025 while offering American tourists a digital passport that they can use to track visits to 40 local businesses, access discounts, and enter prize draws. UWindsor student and team leader Olivia Sylvestre explained that the campaign is focused on showcasing locally owned arts, culture, and retail destinations.