June 5, 2026

The Government of Canada has launched a new national AI strategy called AI for All that is focused on ensuring AI is adopted responsibly and in a manner that serves all of Canada. The strategy will see the development of new legislation, investments, and programs. This includes the provision of training and upskilling opportunities for workers, access to trusted AI agents for postsecondary students, and investments in the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research AI Chairs program. Colleges & Institutes Canada and Universities Canada applauded the strategy and emphasized their members’ readiness to contribute.

The Nunavut Arctic College and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association have collaborated on the first programs that will be offered at the Research Training Centre in Pond Inlet. Starting in September, NAC will offer three programs in Pond Inlet: the Personal Support Worker Program, the Interpreter/Translator (year 1) program, and the Fur production and design (year 1) program. “Education and training are essential to building a sustainable economy for Nunavut,” said QIA President Olayuk Akesuk. “By working together in partnership, we can create more opportunities for Inuit and help bring positive change to our communities. This is just the beginning.”

U SPORTS announced this week that women’s flag football will be offered as a pilot sport beginning in the 2027–2028 season. U SPORTS explained that it decided to pilot the sport due to its inclusion in the 2028 Olympics and the increased interest in the sport across the country. Flag football will retain pilot sport status for five seasons, during which U SPORTS will work with partners such as Football Canada to develop competition standards and championship requirements. Football Canada Chair Jo-Anne Polak called flag football “one of the fastest-growing” sports in Canada, adding that the decision “[creates] a clear pathway for thousands of young women to continue their football journey from community fields to university competition and beyond.”

Cégep de Baie-Comeau has announced that it has formed a new partnership with Librairie A à Z to ensure that students will continue to have access to required texts for their courses. The move follows the dissolution of the Coopérative du Cégep de Baie-Comeau, which was approved in April. Cégep de Baie-Comeau and Librairie A à Z will collaborate on the purchase of teaching materials, as well as installing a temporary point of service in the cégep where students will be able to borrow and return books. Cégep de Baie-Comeau directrice générale Manon Couturier said that the agreement would maintain easy access to books for students while also supporting a local partner.

Lakehead University’s Honours Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Bachelor of Science in Forestry programs have received a renewed six-year accreditation from the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board. Effective from July 2026 to the end of June 2032, the accreditation allows eligible graduates to become Registered Professional Foresters in their provincial forestry associations. “This accreditation not only supports national labour mobility for graduates of the program but also reinforces the Faculty’s commitment to equipping the foresters of the future with the tools to manage our natural resources sustainably and professionally,” explained Ontario Professional Foresters Association Executive Director Louise Simpson.

The University of Prince Edward Island’s Robertson Library and L’nuey—an initiative focused on protecting and implementing the rights of PEI Mi’kmaq—have announced the launch of a new digital archive called Tku Atlasma’lit. The archive contains a wide range of historical records related to the Mi’kmaq of Epekwitk, brought together in one online, Mi’kmaw-led space. The university library will make the collection freely available and searchable by researchers, educators, and communities. “For too long, our history in Epekwitk has been told by others or left out entirely,” said Chief Tabatha Bernard of Lennox Island First Nation. “Tku Atlasma’lit is part of how we reclaim that – ensuring our stories are preserved, accessible, and in our own hands for the generations to come.”

In a recent decision by the Yukon Human Rights Panel of Adjudicators (YHRPA), Yukon University was found to have discriminated against a contract worker who took domestic violence leave. CBC reports that the worker took a week of leave in 2023; upon return, she was told to wrap up her remaining projects “in the next day or two” and that her contract was not renewed. YHRPA awarded the woman $35K in damages and nearly $20K in unpaid wages; it did not award legal costs. Yukon Human Rights Commission Director Karen Moir told CBC that this was the “first time that domestic violence has been recognized in Yukon as a form of discrimination on the basis of sex.”

Durham College has launched the military-connected college initiative. As a military-connected college, Durham will strengthen the pathways it offers for military members, veterans, and their families in their academic journeys. Durham has also launched an online resource hub that provides information and services such as prior learning recognition, academic advising, and financial guidance for military-connected individuals. “Our goal is to ensure military-connected learners have access to that same flexibility and support,” said Durham Associate Vice President, Enrolment and International Education Thom MacDonald. “Our role is to reduce barriers where we can and help them translate their experience into academic and career success.”

Simon Fraser University has officially become U SPORTS’ 59th member. The SFU Red Leafs will begin competing in the Canada West conference in 2027, after their final season as part of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in NCAA Division II. Teams competing in the Canada West conference include men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, and indoor track and field. “Competing against local Canadian universities will enhance natural rivalries and the fan experience on campus for all SFU students, leading to a deeper sense of SFU community,” said SFU Athletics and Recreation Executive Director Luc Simard.

Brock University has launched a new micro-credential that will help marketing professionals develop their skills with AI tools. The AI-Driven Marketing micro-credential will introduce students to the ways that AI is transforming marketing, including the changing role of AI in social media and market research. Students will also learn strategies related to human creativity and critical thinking to make an impact in their organizations. “Professionals want learning that is immediately applicable and can keep pace with rapid technological change,” said Brock Associate Director of Programming for Professional and Continuing Studies Barb Mercer. “Micro-credentials like AI-Driven Marketing allow learners to build targeted expertise that can have an immediate impact in their organizations.”