March 11, 2026

The Government of Canada and the Government of Québec have announced a combined $24.7M in funding over five years to support the province’s skilled trades labour force. The funding is aimed at strengthening green industries while simultaneously helping to solve the housing crisis and reduce barriers for skilled trades learners. “As we transition to a low-carbon economy, more skilled workers are needed in priority sectors such as housing and construction, energy and electricity, and automotive trades,” explained QC Minister of Employment Pascale Déry. Déry further added that the investment will improve productivity and workforce resiliency.

The Government of British Columbia has approved two new police training sites in Vancouver and Victoria, which will be overseen by the Justice Institute of British Columbia. These new satellite sites have been initially approved to operate for two years to help address BC’s increased demand for training. This will offer space for the Victoria Police Department and recruits from other police departments in south Vancouver Island, while the Vancouver site will offer space for the Vancouver Police Department. In addition to overseeing these sites, JIBC will be expanding its training capacity at its Police Academy in New Westminster, from 96 to 144 seats in each of its three cohorts starting in May.

In a recent interview with The evoLLLution, Erin Careless (Dalhousie University) discusses how postsecondary institutions can build robust partnerships with employers and refine their continuing education programming. She emphasizes that employers are critical to lifelong learning and that programming must align with workplace needs. To ensure scalability and quality, she proposes using governance models with features such as clear agreements, defined roles, and customizable content. Careless explains that Dal follows a “learner-to-earner” lifecycle with credentials that are stackable, flexible, and skills-based, with recognition of prior learning. Finally, she highlights ways that institutions can differentiate their workforce credentials to ensure that learners can “dip in and out as their careers evolve.”

Canada’s Top 100 Employers has released its 2026 lists for Manitoba, Ottawa-Gatineau, and Saskatchewan. Organizations were evaluated on eight criteria, including workplace, benefits, and community involvement. In Manitoba, Université de Saint-Boniface, University College of the North, and the University of Manitoba were recognized for their employee benefits and supports. Four postsecondary organizations from the Ottawa-Gatineau region were recognized: Carleton University, La Cité collégiale, Universities Canada, and the University of Ottawa. In Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Saskatchewan were recognized.

Several institutions across Canada are celebrating Co-op & Work-Integrated Learning Month this March. CEWIL Canada is providing institutions with marketing assets to celebrate the month and encouraging communities to use #WILbuilds on social media. Camosun College’s library and Career Lab have curated a themed book display and invited students to visit the Career Lab to get help with finding a career that fits their needs. Niagara College is celebrating the month with career-focused workshops and events relating to interview preparation, networking, and LinkedIn profile reviews. Institutions including Sheridan College and Vancouver Island University shared information about WIL and highlighted their and their students’ accomplishments in this area.

Three colleges have announced further operational changes to address deficits and improve their financial sustainability. Camosun College reportedly needs to cut up to $9M from its budget after seeing its international enrolment drop by 60% over two years. Camosun President Lane Trotter said that the college is working with unions to explore options such as early retirements and is treating layoffs as “a last resort.” Canadore College has issued voluntary retirement packages to staff as part of its effort to find $20M in savings. The College of New Caledonia is shuttering its Fort St James campus, with operations ceasing at the end of March. CBC reports that the college is facing an $8M revenue shortfall and has already cut several programs.

Loyalist College and Trent University are building on their longstanding partnership to launch a diploma-to-degree pathway for select accounting graduates. This new pathway will accelerate students’ education by awarding transfer credits upon entry into the Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) degree program at Trent, saving time and money. To be eligible for the program students must have completed the two-year Business – Accounting Diploma at Loyalist in Fall 2024 or later with an average of 75%. “Our graduates leave Loyalist career-ready,” said Loyalist Senior VP Academic Amanda Baskwill. “For those who wish to continue their studies, this pathway opens the door to advanced credentials and expanded leadership opportunities.”

Few postsecondary graduates in Prince Edward Island are taking advantage of the province’s Programme de bourse pour réduction de dette, a bursary program that reduces debt for graduates, reports Radio-Canada. In the 2024–25 fiscal year, the Government of Prince Edward Island reportedly only disbursed $552K of the budgeted $980K. According to Radio-Canada, this means that the number of scholarships awarded by the program has decreased by 50% over the last 10 years. UPEI Students Association VP of External Relations Erica Kyalo explained that many students are unaware of the program, stating that she hopes that the province will work with UPEI and Holland College to promote the program.

Trinity Western University has officially received ownership of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) and will be offering new programs through TEDS starting in September 2026. With this transition, TWU and TEDS will build from a shared vision by expanding the field of theological studies through church history, scripture, pastoral theology, and intercultural and educational studies. They will offer flexible, multilingual programs, appealing to a wide variety of students with diverse needs. “We are embarking on a new way of doing theological education, one that is both local and global in reach, pastoral and academic in focus,” said TWU Dean David W Pao.

In a recent article for Nature, Jiun Youn (Victoria University of Wellington) reflects on how personal storytelling in science can create moments of “wonder” that inspire students. Youn describes how a former psychology student’s viral video conveyed “the moment when the gap between perception and reality truly hits home,” explaining how the marvel in the student’s voice connected with viewers. This video, explains Youn, demonstrates that educators must share not only information, but excitement and meaning. “[T]eaching has never been solely about delivering information — rather it is about the moments of connection that inspire students to see the world differently,” writes Youn.