March 5, 2025

The Government of Canada is investing $5M in the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation Inc to support the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network, a mining initiative backed by the College of the North Atlantic and Saskatchewan Polytechnic, among other research partners. The investment will help the MICA Network strengthen Canada’s mining sector as a global leader in net-zero technologies. “Through this investment in the MICA Network, we are supporting Canadian innovators in developing cutting-edge clean technologies that will increase production, reduce emissions and strengthen our critical minerals supply chains,” said Canada Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson.

Aurora College and the City of Yellowknife are considering terminating a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that reserved Tin Can Hill for the institution’s future campus. The cancellation of the MOU would enable the city to consider other uses for the property. Aurora President Dr Angela James said that the college is concerned about the proposed cost of the site, a lack of funding, and the uncertainty around the environmental remediation that the site might require. James added that it does not intend to make decisions about any other sites for a campus “until such time as funding is identified.”

Dalhousie University’s Student Leadership Academy has received $3.5M from the McCall MacBain Foundation to equip students with the skills, confidence, and networks needed to lead in their communities. This funding will be used to expand Dal’s academy program by introducing 10 entrance scholarships for incoming students with leadership potential and the Dalhousie-McCall MacBain Leadership Academy Scholarship for high-performance student leaders. “At Dalhousie, we believe leadership is learned through experience, mentorship, and a deep understanding of the world around us,” said Dal President Kim Brooks. “This generous gift allows us to expand opportunities for students—helping them develop their leadership potential and empowering them to create positive change in their fields and communities.”

The University of British Columbia Okanagan has received $1.35M from the Government of Canada’s PacifiCan initiative to create Western Canada’s first airborne sensing lab. This space will help small- and medium-sized businesses in British Columbia develop remote sensing technologies for environmental monitoring, security, and hazard detection. The new lab will also prioritize the development of training opportunities and high-quality jobs for women and youth. “We are delighted to bring the world real innovation from the Okanagan, solving problems here at home while creating export opportunities contributing to the region’s economic growth and resilience,” said UBC Director of the Survive and Thrive Applied Research Lab Dr Keith Culver.

Canada’s Top 100 has published the 2025 winners of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers competition. This competition assesses the leading workplaces in the Ottawa-Gatineau metropolitan area according to criteria such as work atmosphere, benefits, and community involvement. This year’s list recognized four postsecondary institutions: Algonquin College, Carleton University, La Cité collégiale, and the University of Ottawa. Other organizations of note include the National Research Council of Canada, which was lauded for offering a leave for researchers interested in working temporarily at a Canadian university, and Universities Canada, which offers scholarships and work-integrated learning opportunities for employees’ children.

The Government of Canada has announced the next phase of the National Skilled Trades advertising campaign, which promotes careers in the skilled trades. The federal campaign will consist of ads on social media, podcasts, and other digital sources, as well as in-person interactive displays at high schools and shopping malls across Canada. With skilled trades workers in high demand across the country, Canada’s Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Steven MacKinnon emphasized the importance of highlighting career opportunities in these areas to Canadians. “Young people are interested in the skilled trades, but they also need the tools, resources and information necessary to pursue their career goals,” said MacKinnon.

In an article for University World News, Morten Brekke (University of Agder) underlines how flexible study programs can contribute to the sustainability of postsecondary institutions. The author argues that offering flexible programs that focus on lifelong learning is a viable way to attract more students and respond to industry needs, especially at a time when postsecondary institutions are facing “unthinkable” challenges. Brekke asserts that there are several ongoing challenges to implementing flexible study programs, including the hierarchical way that institutions are currently organized; costs associated with flexibility; and a lack of holistic, cross-campus collaboration. The author emphasizes the importance of overcoming these challenges, concluding that “higher education institutions need to rethink how we do things.”

The University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies has received $1.88M from TD to support a new pilot program focused on empowering Black Canadians. The program aims to help Black Canadians overcome barriers to employment and secure jobs in key industries. The pilot will welcome four cohorts of students. Program participants will be provided with access to career supports such as one-on-one coaching and be able to enroll at no cost in continuing education courses that align with their individual career goals and strengths. At the conclusion of the program, each cohort will take part in a job fair where they can meet employers and professionals from the Black community.

Concordia University has earned a gold rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS). Concordia reports that it is the first Canadian university to achieve gold under the STARS 3.0 level, which evaluates institutions using a more rigorous and inclusive sustainability framework. The 3.0 level includes indicators related to racial equity, social justice, curriculum, research engagement, and operations, among others. Concordia received especially high scores in categories related to curriculum, campus engagement, and sustainability research. “It took months of collaboration and dedication to get to this result,” said Concordia STARS Coordinator Manon Raby. “From operational improvements in every sector to the arduous process of data collection, it was truly a university-wide effort.”

The Canadian Federation of Students NL has requested a meeting with Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey, who recently announced that he will be stepping down. Mary Feltham, who is chair of the student group, said that Furey has not met with them to discuss the ongoing cuts to postsecondary funding during the nearly five years he has been in office and asserted that a meeting is long overdue. “Students wanted to meet and address these concerns to the premier to let him know how drastically this is impacting current students in this province and the future of the province,” said Feltham.