March 19, 2025

The Government of Canada is investing more than $308M into science and research across the country. The funds will be administered through the New Frontiers in Research Fund ($143M), the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program ($153M), and NSERC ($9M). The Canada Foundation for Innovation also provided $4.4M to the CRC program to help 17 research chairs build and outfit their labs. “We know that the science of today is the economy of tomorrow,” said Canada Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry François-Philippe Champagne. “With these investments, we are empowering our brightest minds to push the boundaries of discovery, tackle complex global challenges, and create real solutions that will improve lives and the world we live in.”

The Ontario Court of Justice has sentenced former University of Waterloo student Geovanny Villalba-Aleman to 11 years in prison for the hate-motivated stabbings committed on campus in 2023. Villalba-Aleman was not charged with terrorism, but Brennan judged his actions to constitute a “particularly grave hate crime” that was “deliberate and calculated.” After receiving credit for time served, Villalba-Aleman will spend another seven and a half years in prison. In a statement released after the sentencing, UWaterloo Instructor Katy Fulfer expressed gratitude both to those academics and community members who reached out to her after the attack and to the students who continue to take gender and social justice courses.

Polytechnique Montréal has received the largest gift in its history: a $50M donation from the Pierre Lassonde Family Foundation to establish a new institute dedicated to disruptive innovation. The institute will focus on nurturing scientific discovery, applying innovation to practical challenges, and bringing new technologies from the laboratory to the market. It will also aim to create jobs, opportunities, and vibrant economies in Québec and Canada. “[It’s] all about intellectual capital and about creating intellectual properties that will really be meaningful, that will create jobs, that will create economic activity, growth in Canada hopefully, and impact the world,” said Pierre Lassonde.

In an article for The Conversation, Anthony Sanfilippo (Queen’s University) and Neil Seeman (University of Toronto) argue that Canadian-trained doctors should be allowed to practise anywhere in the country without obtaining additional licensing. The authors emphasize that Canada’s medical schools collaborate closely with one another as they share educational practices and prepare graduates to meet national qualifying standards. Sanfilippo and Seeman assert that despite this coordination, licensing remains fragmented across provincial and territorial bodies. This fragmentation, in turn, restricts physicians’ mobility and ability to respond to labour shortages in underserved areas. “Canadian-trained doctors should be allowed to practice where they are qualified and needed, and that’s in Canada—all of it,” they conclude.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE), making it the first polytechnic to partner with the network. Under this MOU, Sask Polytech and UNENE will advance education, research, and industry collaboration within the nuclear sector. Specifically, they will explore opportunities for the developmental of training and education curriculum related to nuclear engineering technology and the implementation of applied research projects. “Our hope is that this MOU will foster long-term collaboration and achieve impactful outcomes for students, industry and the broader nuclear community,” said Sask Polytech Dr Larry Rosia.

Lambton College is expecting to operate a deficit in 2025-26—its first deficit in 20 years—due to an approximate loss of between $30M and $35M from declining international enrolment. The Sarnia Observer reports that the college suspended 18 programs earlier this year; CK News Today added that the college is currently working on “employment stability processes” with its unions. “Certainly job loss is unfortunately the most difficult part of this but it’s something we need to go through in order to right size the college […] based on the new reality that we’re facing,” said Lambton President Rob Kardas. Looking to the future, the college projects a rise in domestic enrolment and plans to move forward with the development of a new residence and industry-aligned programs.

The University of Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) has unveiled its new Foreign Animal Disease Testing Laboratory. The $1.9M lab—the first of its kind on Prince Edward Island—will strengthen biosecurity measures and improve diagnostic capabilities for diseases such as classical swine fever and highly pathological avian influenza. “This new facility enhances our ability to safeguard animal health and protect the region’s livestock and poultry industries,” explained UPEI AVC Dean Dr Dominique Griffon. The lab will become operational after inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and accreditation from the Canadian Animal Surveillance Network laboratory.

The Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories have signed a bilateral agreement on minority‑language education and second official‑language instruction. Under the renewed agreement, Canada and NWT will invest a combined $35.8M over four years to support French as a second language and French as a minority language education from the preschool to postsecondary levels. “The Franco-Ténois community is a driving force in the Northwest Territories’ cultural and economic landscape,” said Canada Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment Caitlin Cleveland. “By strengthening bilingualism and multilingualism, we are enhancing the vitality of the Franco-Ténois community.”

Nipissing University has received $1M from The Peacock Family Foundation. This donation will be used to support undergraduate research fellowships, bolster Nipissing’s Rare Dementia Support Canada program, and further Indigenous initiatives and Reconciliation efforts. The latter will include the creation of a wampum belt as part of Nipissing’s strategic planning process, as well as coordinating reconciliation events on campus. “We are honoured to contribute to these important initiatives that will provide students and faculty with valuable opportunities to make a meaningful impact in communities across Canada,” said donors Adrienne and John Peacock.

University of British Columbia alumnus Robert Murray recently returned a library book he had checked out 64 years ago, along with a letter of explanation and a $100 cheque. UBC University Librarian Susan Parker believes this marks a new record for overdue books at UBC. Murray’s note described Camping and Woodcraft as a “treasure,” which he reread many times and credits with saving his and his son’s lives when lost in the woods. “He could have just mailed the book back without saying anything, but the fact that he shared his story was really special,” said Parker. Since UBC eliminated most overdue fines in 2020, Murray’s cheque will go toward other backlogged fees.