March 25, 2025

The Government of New Brunswick has released its 2025-2026 Budget, a deficit budget that focuses primarily on matters related to health care and the aging population, the tariff response, and housing. In the budget speech, NB Finance Minister René Legacy shared that the province will establish an interdepartmental committee on accessibility under the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour. The budget includes an additional health-care investment of $150K to reduce barriers to midwifery training and certification, as well as and investments in youth and education to expand child-care services and recruit teachers. The Federation of New Brunswick Faculty Associations (FNBFA) released a statement expressing its disappointment with the budget. “When it comes to funding public universities, [NB] is content to do the same thing as usual, despite the desire it expressed during the budget preparation period to ‘do things differently,’” said FNBFA President Jean Sauvageau.

Brain Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) have announced the recipients of $17.9M in funding through the CCS Breakthrough Team Grants program. Each of the projects brings together researchers, health-care providers, and those affected by cancer to address gaps in cancer research. The first project—co-led by Dr Linda Carlson (University of Calgary) and Dr Ronald Shore (Queen’s University)—will study the positive role that psychedelic-assisted therapy can have for people with advanced cancer. The second project—led by a team that includes Philippe Roux (Université de Montréal), David Cook (University of Ottawa), and Jeanette Boudreau (Dalhousie University)—will focus on preventing dormancy and recurrence in ovarian cancer. The third project—co-led by Kieran Quinn (University of Toronto)—will focus on palliative care for individuals with advanced cancer.

The University of Guelph has announced a new brand identity for the institution and its Department of Athletics. The brand identity’s imagery draws on the university’s gryphon mascot and the gryphon statue on campus, while the typography has been adjusted for accessibility compliance and to place a greater emphasis on “Guelph.” The university’s new logo features a gryphon on top of a shield, while the Guelph Gryphons’ new logo now includes a red gryphon. “Having a unified visual identity is essential in today’s competitive postsecondary landscape as UoGuelph aims to elevate its brand and reputation on a global scale,” said UoGuelph Associate VP Communications and Marketing Deirdre Healey.

Langara College and McGill University have each recently announced layoffs as they seek to address their financial deficits. CTV News reports that Langara laid off 21 permanent faculty members earlier this year following a significant decline in international student enrolment. The college has not provided official numbers, but Langara Faculty Association President Pauline Greaves Aylward told City News that there will be 200 fewer instructors at the start of next semester compared to 2023. McGill will lay off 99 employees as part of its efforts to address a $45M operating budget. The affected workers will be notified by the end of April. In a memo to staff, the university attributed the deficit, in part, to the Government of Québec’s tuition policy.

Université Laval has raised $87M towards a new pavilion dedicated to international studies, surpassing its $80M fundraising goal. This pavilion will be named the Carrefour international Brian-Mulroney in honour of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who was the chair of the fundraising campaign until his passing in February 2024. The pavilion will enrich the educational experience with a simulation room for international agreements. The fundraising contributions will go toward the construction of the building, as well as research chairs and scholarships.

Postsecondary institutions must learn how to scale online education in a way that reaches more learners while preserving the human experience that is at the heart of education, writes Annie Taylor (The Pennsylvania State University). The author discusses the essential “ingredients” for scaling online education effectively: faculty training, scalable engagement, standardized courses that leave room for creativity, technology that reduces faculty administrative burden, and on-demand professional development. Taylor notes that faculty and instructional designers must also collaborate to solve challenges that arise. “As institutions face enrolment cliffs, shifting learner demographics and ever-evolving student expectations, one thing remains clear: scale and quality are not mutually exclusive,” writes Taylor. “With the right systems, partnerships, and mindset, higher education can grow without losing its soul.”

Initiatives at Cégep de Lanaudière’s Joliette campus and the University of Lethbridge are helping to reduce food insecurity on campus. Cégep de Lanaudière’s student association has launched a universal food distribution service: Faim du mois. The service is using a surpluse from student dues to fund food distribution events, with one being held today. La Presse reports that some students share the food they receive with student parents who are in need of additional food for their families. At ULethbridge, student Ankit Mukherjee has created the SnackRadar app to help address food insecurity. Students can sign up for notifications about leftover food from events, which both provides learners with free food and reduces food waste.

Bishop’s University has opened Kwigw8mna, a new facility that houses the Indigenous Student Support Centre, Indigenous student gathering and study spaces, and an Indigenous research lab. Kwigw8mna—meaning “our house and yours” in Abenaki—aims to foster a sense of belonging by offering students a location where they can share with one another and find support. “This building carries a complicated history, and today, it stands as a place of healing, strength, and Indigenous leadership,” said Bishop’s Associate Director of Indigenous Initiatives Vicky Boldo. “It is a tangible commitment to making Bishop’s a place where Indigenous students feel seen, supported, and valued.”

The College of the North Atlantic, Simon Fraser University, the University of Toronto, and York University have each signed agreements with industry organizations that will bolster research and training efforts. CNA and U of T signed agreements with technology organizations: CNA and cybersecurity company Sophos renewed a partnership focused on providing students with hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and career placements; while U of T and Japanese digital print, imaging, and IT company Konica Minolta, Inc renewed a research partnership focused on AI and the Internet of Things. SFU partnered with the low-carbon energy infrastructure business Corix on a four-year research project focused on wood waste and emission reductions. YorkU and the innovation hub ventureLAB renewed an MOU to expand their collaboration in research, innovation, and talent development.

Cégep de Rivière-du-Loup’s continuing education department can now administer French language assessment tests, thanks to a partnership with Cégep de Valleyfield. Through this affiliation, Cégep de Rivière-du-Loup will offer tests such as the TEF, TEFAQ, and TEF-Canada in Eastern Québec in the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie regions. The partnership will benefit those in the international student community as well as people immigrating to Québec or preparing to become Canadian citizens. Cégep de Rivière-du-Loup director of continuing education Judith Latendresse explained that the initiative makes testing more accessible to those who previously would have had to travel for the assessment.