May 8, 2026

To mark National Child and Youth Mental Health Day, the Government of Canada announced the distribution of $30.3M to 21 projects through the Youth Mental Health Fund. Project teams will use the funds to help more young Canadians access inclusive, community-based mental health supports. Several teams from postsecondary institutions are among the recipients, including those from Lakehead University ($2M), Université de Moncton ($1.9M), Dalhousie University ($1.7M), and the University of Calgary ($500K). “By funding accessible, culturally safe supports, and community care, we give young people the tools to thrive, contribute, and lead Canada forward with resilience and hope,” said Canada’s Minister of Health Marjorie Michel.

Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick has announced the launch of its virtual campus, which will serve as a digital showcase of the college’s distance learning programs. This September, the college will offer domestic students distance learning programs across a range of subjects including early childhood education, cybersecurity, and human resources through the virtual campus. CCNB VP Formation et réussite étudiante Diane Sénécal explained that the college is launching this virtual campus to increase access to education in the province and better meet the needs of New Brunswick’s population.

Canada’s national research system has not prioritized the science that makes the National Research Council’s goal of “advancing mission-driven science and innovation” possible, write Shay M Freger (McMaster University) and Mathew Leonardi (McMaster). Freger and Leonardi describe the importance of funding exploratory, investigator-led work on “neglected” problems, explaining that scientific advances are built on these types of studies. They assert that public investment in long-term, general research can support breakthroughs by strengthening the broader discovery pipeline and ensure that Canada is less reliant on research from other countries. “Today’s difficult question may become tomorrow’s platform technology,” write Freger and Leonardi. “But only if someone is allowed to ask it.”

Durham College has received long-term funding from the Barret Family Foundation in support of the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture. This multi-million dollar support will enhance the centre’s offerings with new programs, expanded scholarships and bursaries, and open educational resources. It will also fund the purchase of equipment and technologies that will enhance the student experience. “This support reflects the power of our partnership — creating future-focused learning environments for students while strengthening connections between education and the evolving needs of communities and industries,” said Durham President Dr Elaine Popp. “Together, we are making a meaningful impact on the future of sustainable urban agriculture in Durham Region and beyond.”

Memorial University, Portage College, Redeemer University, and Selkirk College have recently shared programming announcements. Memorial has redeveloped its Bachelor of Special Education into a Master’s of Education (Inclusive and Special Education) in response to the evolving needs of the province’s educators. Portage’s Aircraft Structures Technician program has received certification approval from Transport Canada, confirming that the program meets the national standards for preparing students for careers in aircraft maintenance and structural repair. RedeemerU will be launching a one-year Bachelor of Education program in 2027, in keeping with the recent Government of Ontario announcement. Selkirk has launched a Tourism and Destination Management diploma that covers topics such as destination development, tourism marketing, and event coordination.

The University of King’s College has received a $1.1M donation from Chancellor Debra Deane Little and her husband Robert Little to support the university’s Southeast Corner Project. The funding will support the schematic design phase of the project, which will assess physical constraints and potential construction materials for the design team. “This next phase of the SEC Project will bring the university one huge step closer to realizing its vision for a revitalized campus,” explained Debra Little. This schematic design phase is expected to be completed in July 2026.

Two colleges have announced workforce reductions this week in efforts to stabilize their financial situations. At Fanshawe College, approximately 60 more positions will be cut over the summer months, which will bring the college to its target of eliminating 500 full-time equivalent positions through various measures. Fanshawe President Peter Devlin said that the college has narrowed its deficit from $50M to $10.9M and that it expects to return to a surplus in 2028–29. Nova Scotia Community College will be laying off 45 employees, which will cut 91 positions in response to a $15M shortfall. In a letter to the community, NSCC Acting President Anna Burke explained that the college’s high proportion of wage expenses necessitated the staffing cuts to reduce its shortfall.

The Government of Saskatchewan has announced that it is increasing funding to the Trades and Skills Centres in Regina and Saskatoon by $534K for a total investment of $3.5M. The centres offer short-term trades and skills programs with hands-on training experiences that lead to entry-level, in-demand jobs. With this increased funding, the centres will be able to launch additional programs. “This funding not only strengthens our capacity to move forward with confidence but also reinforces the importance of collaboration in building a stronger and more connected community,” said Regina Trades and Skills Centre Executive Director Brian Shankowsky.

International Business University recently celebrated the grand opening of its campus in Ottawa. The IBU Ottawa campus will offer two Master of Business Administration Programs: the MBA in Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the MBA in Global Business Management. At the celebration, IBU also signed an academic pathway Memorandum of Understanding with Collège La Cité and partnerships with Tech Access Canada and Kanata North Business Association.

As Generation Alpha currently makes their way through preschool to high school, EdTech reporter Tara E Buck investigates how they might interact with technology upon entering postsecondary education. Buck interviewed Kevin Dowlin (Rutgers University–Newark) who emphasized the importance of helping Generation Alpha to strengthen their digital fluency. “They use technology, and they move through technology all the time, but they don’t understand it at all,” said Dowlin. Ultimately, Dowlin concludes that pedagogical shifts must happen to keep Gen Alpha engaged with their learning, and institutions should strive to find the best blend of tools to give a learners a quality experience.