November 18, 2025

The Government of British Columbia has announced that it will double its trades-training funding through a $241M investment in skilled trades over the next three years. Apprenticeship programs will receive increased per-seat funding, which will help to address the waitlists to critical industrial trades. The investment will also advance skilled-trades certification and ensure workers can move between industries as opportunities evolve. “This support will help us train more people and shorten the time they spend waiting to enter high-priority programs, said TRU Dean – Trades and Technology Baldev Pooni. “With clearer funding pathways, we can expand capacity where the need is greatest and help more people move into well-paid, long-term careers.”

The Government of Ontario has announced that it will be investing $12.75M through the Anti-Hate Security and Prevention (AHSP) grant program to help faith-based and cultural organizations implement safety measures. The grant can be used for initiatives such as building upgrades, installing cameras, hiring professional security, or introducing cybersecurity measures. The eligible organizations include cultural and faith-based private postsecondary institutions and career colleges, as well as private Indigenous postsecondary institutions. Public postsecondary institutions are excluded from the grant.

Two recent articles discuss the impact of Canada’s international student cap on the rental market, labour market, and postsecondary sector. Joe Friesen of the Globe and Mail reports that the cap has had a positive impact on the rental housing market, driving down rent and making it easier to find a place to rent. However, he reports that this has come with at the cost of the postsecondary sector, which has endured layoffs and program cuts. Speaking to the Toronto Sun, Canadian Bureau for International Education President Larissa Bezo asserted that the federal government’s efforts to “align Canada’s immigration system with those strategic labour market demands and [strengthen] pathways that help connect global talent to actual opportunities” is a positive sign.

Oshki Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute President Lorrie Deschamps recently spoke to APTN News to discuss the institute’s official accreditation and programming plans. The institute was awarded official accreditation from the Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council earlier this fall, enabling Oshki-Wenjack to become a fully accredited Indigenous-led postsecondary institution in Ontario. APTN News reports that the institute is now engaged in consultation as it develops its programming, which it hopes to launch in 2027. With the accreditation, Deschamps shared that she is “hoping that we will get capital, have a new campus, grow our student numbers, [and] be the institute of choice for Anishinaabe-Aski communities.”

Niagara College has officially opened its $12M Horticultural and Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre Greenhouse. The greenhouse is equipped for research, with advanced hydroponic setups, a growth chamber for tissue culture work, and five bays with individualized temperature and lighting controls. The greenhouse will also provide a space for work-integrated learning opportunities for students. “[A]cross all our Innovation Centres, our students are leading projects, managing real-world budgets, and interacting directly with our industry partners to drive innovation forward,” said Niagara VP of Research, Innovation and Strategic Enterprises Dr Marc Nantel. The construction of the facility was supported by the federal, provincial, and municipal governments.

Université Laval will be making changes to its on-campus food options. Starting in summer 2026, non-profit organization RADIS will begin running the Carrefour Solidaire, where it will combat food insecurity with low-cost meals. The restaurant chain Cosmos will be in charge of eight spaces where students can purchase food, including three cafeterias that were previously run by students. Radio-Canada reports that this change has been met with criticism from the student community, with student associations mobilizing to call on ULaval to reverse the changes.

The postsecondary sector’s ethical concerns with AI should encompass more than student cheating, argues Jeffrey C Dixon (College of the Holy Cross). Dixon highlights the inconsistency of institutions penalizing students for “stealing” from AI models while signing on vendors that have trained their AI on copyrighted content, as well as issues with data privacy and wellness. He encourages institutions to consider solutions like clearly displayed vendor agreements for users and making changes to academic integrity policies. While there are actions institutions can take to improve student practices with the use of AI, Dixon concludes by asserting that institutions “cannot skirt their own responsibilities” with ethical engagement with AI.

The libraries at Redeemer University and the University of Lethbridge have both opened new spaces to house recently donated collections. At Redeemer, the H Evan Runner Reading Room has been created to house the personal library of neo-Calvinist thinker Dr Cal Seerveld. Located in the Peter Turkstra Library, the 1,255 square foot space houses a wide variety of Seerveld’s documents including letters, lecture notes, and sermon manuscripts. At ULethbridge, the Ian Tyson Reading Area has been developed to house the personal library of country music star Dr Ian D Tyson. The collection contains more than 300 titles covering a range of topics relating to southern Alberta, with many containing personal notes to Tyson.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University recently hosted a land awakening ceremony to mark the start of construction on its childcare centre project. The 61-space centre—developed in partnership with Métis Nation British Columbia—will be located at the university’s Surrey campus. The awakening ceremony included a blessing of the land and comments from representatives of the local First Nations. “The support of the Kwantlen, Katzie and Semiahmoo First Nations is vital for ensuring the education provided here will be culturally relevant and respectful as we walk the path of reconciliation,” said KPU President Dr Bruce Choy.

The University of Niagara Falls Canada has partnered with Informatics Institute of Technology in Sri Lanka to expand student opportunities. Graduates of the institute’s Foundation Programs in business or computing will be able to transfer up to 12 academic credits into UNFC’s Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree. This agreement will help students progress academically while easing their transition across international borders. “This agreement reflects our dedication to making higher education more accessible for students around the world,” said UNFC President David Gray.