Government of Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has issued mandate letters to several members of his cabinet, including Advanced Education and Training Minister Renée Cable. In the mandate letter for advanced education, Kinew encourages Cable to “respect universities as self-governing institutions” and “honour the entrepreneurial nature of community colleges.” Cable was asked to deliver on the immediate priority of training more doctors and nurses through key initiatives and collaborations with the University of Manitoba, Brandon University, and Assiniboine Community College. Other priorities include increasing funding to Research Manitoba, repealing Bill 33, and restoring international student health coverage.

Top Ten News
November 1, 2023
CBC reports that Northern College has revoked January admissions letters for 200 students. The college told CBC that it “felt it was prudent and responsible to pare down the number of acceptances offered to ensure that students have access to safe housing and the ability to find employment.” International Sikh Student Association President Jaspreet Singh called for government intervention, given that the college also rescinded 500 admissions letters in July. Students have reportedly been offered a deferral to next fall and a bursary toward tuition or a full refund.
The University of Calgary’s Recovery Community and Student Residence Services are piloting substance-free housing options for the 2023-24 academic year. This pilot project houses a small number of students who are in recovery from substance use or who live a substance-free lifestyle for reasons including health or religion. A release from UCalgary states that the purpose of substance-free housing is to provide supportive and safe spaces where students can prioritize their campus experience without being exposed to triggers or temptation. Interest in this housing has increased exponentially and the recovery community has said that it hopes to increase the number of spaces available at these substance-free units for the 2024-25 academic year accordingly.
A research chair at the Université du Québec en Outaouais and UPA Développement International have launched a new project that aims to improve the climate change adaptation capabilities of women in Guinea. The project focuses on promoting the adoption of nature-based solutions in the Parc national du Moyen-Bafing and advancing the sustainable improvement of economic opportunities for women involved in the governance of forest biodiversity. This three-year project was developed and will be led by UQO’s Canada Research Chair in Ecological Economics Jérôme Dupras. It will receive $16M in funding from the Government of Canada as well as supports from other international partners.
Okanagan College and Westbank First Nation (WFN) have signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to guide their reconciliation partnership. Under this MOU, the partners aim to strengthen the recruitment, mentorship, and retention of Syilx learners at Okanagan. Additionally, Okanagan will engage WFN for guidance on how to advance Indigenous ways of knowing to enrich the college experience and WFN will consider proposals to bolster workforce development opportunities for WFN members. “This collaboration embodies the essence of reconciliation, fostering mutual respect and creating bridges of knowledge that span generations, cultures, and aspirations, ensuring a brighter tomorrow for all,” said WFN Chief Robert Louie.
Lethbridge College has launched the Indigenous Policing Micro-Credentials program, which will help public safety workers improve their services for Indigenous community members. The micro-credential is offered fully online and covers topics such as Drugs and Addiction in Indigenous Communities; History Culture and Reconciliation; Human Trafficking; and Trust, Respect and Communication. The development of the program stems from conversations between Lethbridge faculty members and the Blood Tribe that identified a need to learn “more about communication and culture,” in addition to the law. The program is geared toward police who work with First Nations, as well as those who work in policing, public safety, and justice in any part of Canada.
In a recent analysis of Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census data, Alexandria Melvin reports on the postsecondary educational attainment and labour market outcomes of Indigenous adults aged 25 to 64. Melvin writes that approximately half of Indigenous adults held a postsecondary qualification in 2021 and that the share of Indigenous individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher had increased since the previous census. The share of Indigenous adults with postsecondary qualifications correlated with the level of remoteness of their residence: Those living in areas with greater access to economic centres demonstrated higher rates of postsecondary completion.
The Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue recently held an official groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction on its new campus in Mont-Laurier. The construction is set to expand UQAT’s infrastructure and services in the region to meet increasing admission demands. In particular, this project will add seven new classrooms, five study rooms, a library, a multifunctional room, common areas, and administrative offices to the site. The Government of Québec has pledged $13.7M toward the project; these new spaces are expected to open in 2025.
Brock University has unveiled its Black Student Success Centre (BSSC), which celebrates the growth and achievements of Black, African, and Caribbean students at the university. The centre will support Black students at Brock throughout their academic, personal, and professional development. BSCC is a space where Black students can gather, connect, and access supports and services. “By empowering students through the Black Student Success Centre, we’re not just shaping their futures, we’re also reshaping the entire campus culture and creating a more inclusive and equitable environment for all,” said BSSC Co-ordinator and Community Counsellor of Anti-Oppression and Justice Tassia Gabbidon.
The laboratories at Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles’ Carleton-sur-Mer campus have received a Platinum certification from MON ÉCOLABO. The MON ÉCOLABO certification program was developed by Université de Montréal and recognizes the efforts of postsecondary laboratories to reduce their environmental footprint and promote sustainability. A release from the cégep credits teacher Nadia Bouchard and technician Élise O’Leary for their work towards the certification; citing their work to reduce the laboratories’ water and energy consumption, encourage the use of safer products that are less damaging to surrounding ecosystems, and promote overall environment awareness.