March 9, 2026

Columbia College and Quest University Canada have announced that they intend to merge and launch a new university. In a joint release, the institutions explained that the new institution’s inaugural programs will include a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree, various associate degrees, and specialized allied health programs. Quest President Arthur Coren and Columbia College Principal Matt Wadsworth both described the partnership as an exciting opportunity to bring the two institutions’ strengths together to bring new learning opportunities and engaging programs to students in British Columbia. The merger is pending approval from the BC Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills.

Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health have launched the Division of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, which will provide public health physicians with an academic and clinical home at Dal. The division will strengthen training, research, and clinical practice and support work in public health and preventative medicine. The new division will also have a dedicated residency program, which will begin intake by 2028. “Having this division brings a focus on prevention to leadership tables and creates opportunities to rebalance investments in care and prevention,” said NS Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr Robert Strang.

The Government of Canada and the Government of Japan have signed a far-reaching strategic partnership agreement that will see the two countries collaborating across a wide variety of fronts. The two countries will explore opportunities to strengthen academic collaboration and exchange opportunities for youth. The partnership also includes joint research collaborations on the Arctic, fisheries and oceans, new and emerging technology, and critical resources. CBC described the agreement as “a pledge to work together more in the future,” given that no dollar figures or details are attached to the proposed initiatives.

McGill University, the University of Ottawa and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute have launched ARCHIMEDES, a national platform that aims to support Canada’s secure health data access and analysis. ARCHIMEDES—Advanced Research Collaboration for Health Integration, Medical Exploration, and Data Synthesis—offers a centralized, ethically guided computational environment for Canadian health research. It will break down silos in Canadian health research, streamline data sharing and analysis, and offer a robust data governance framework. “This will be a nationwide resource,” said ARCHIMEDES Co-chair and UOttawa Professor Jodi Edwards. “Many institutions are awaiting our launch so they can contribute to the database. We anticipate widespread use at the national and even international level.”

Three institutions in Québec and two in British Columbia have signed new pathway agreements to expand learning opportunities for students. In QC, the Université du Québec à Montréal has signed DEC-BAC pathways: Students in select programs at Cégep Édouard-Montpetit will be able to transfer up to nine credits into UQAM’s bachelor’s degree in linguistics, while students in Cégep de Rosemont’s research and data management techniques program will be able to transfer up to 15 credits into UQAM’s bachelor’s in sociology. College of the Rockies and the University of British Columbia Okanagan have signed a transfer agreement that will enable graduates of COTR’s Associate of Arts to continue their studies by entering the third year of a Bachelor of Arts at UBCO.

The University of Toronto and semiconductor company AMD have partnered to launch the AMD-U of T Research Lab. AMD will invest in 100 research projects at the lab over the next three years, spanning a variety of topics in the field including AI energy efficiency, decentralized AI model training, and enterprise-scale data intelligence. AMD is also donating two AI servers to the lab to expand access to computing for researchers. U of T President Melanie Woodin explained that “[a]pplied-research collaborations like this give our students the opportunity to tackle real-world technological challenges while gaining valuable work experience.”

The University of Alberta and Tohoku University in Japan have signed an agreement that will expand international research and learning opportunities in critical fields. The agreement includes new opportunities for graduate students and early-career researchers, such as joint grant funding, shared doctoral supervision, and international experiences. Researchers will also collaborate in areas of mutual expertise, such as AI, hydrogen and renewable resources, and mechatronics and robotics. “By aligning our shared values and visions, this strategic collaboration will accelerate breakthroughs and foster the global talent needed to drive international development,” said UAlberta VP (Innovation and Enterprise) David Bressler.

Teaching assistants, research assistants, and independent course appointees at NSCAD University are on strike after negotiations over their first collective bargaining agreement fell through. CUPE Local 3912 VP Lachlan Sheldrick, speaking on behalf of the workers, said that they are looking for the same protections offered at other universities in the Halifax area. In a statement provided to CBC, a NSCADU spokesperson said that the small and specialized nature of the institution means that they cannot afford the wage increases demanded by striking workers. No further meetings between the parties are scheduled, and the university said that it is making efforts to ensure the integrity of the semester.

Okanagan College and the Université du Québec à Montréal have both shared updates on modernized programs this week. Okanagan’s Hall School of Business and Entrepreneurship has launched a revised version of its Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting. The college says that it removes several unnecessary components to allow learners to complete the program in less time, while remaining aligned with CPA requirements. Meanwhile, UQAM has updated its bachelor’s program in human resources to place a greater emphasis on EDI and AI. UQAM professeure Jessica Riel explained that these new offerings will help reduce unconscious bias among those hiring on behalf of an organization and teach learners how to use AI critically in staffing and performance evaluations.

The University of Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Veterinary College has launched a Veterinary Parasitology Residency Program with support from Mitacs and Boehringer Ingelheim Canada. This program focuses on addressing heartworm in Atlantic Canada by improving awareness, early detection, and prevention strategies. “With the first recognized Parasitology Residency Program in Canada, we are taking a major step toward strengthening our national capacity to study and manage parasitic infections,” said UPEI AVC Assistant Professor of Veterinary Parasitology Dr Nina Germitsch. “This program will not only help us better address emerging concerns such as dog heartworm in Atlantic Canada but also build long-term expertise that benefits animal and public health across the country.”