November 4, 2026

The University of Saskatchewan has officially opened two centres funded by Nutrien’s $15M gift. The Nutrien Digital Agriculture Centre is tasked with “accelerating farming into the digital age” through three research platforms: the Geospatial Agroecosystem Inference Generator; the UAV Crop Phenomics Platform; and the Smart Farm platform. The kihci-okâwîmâw askiy Knowledge Centre will host land-related teaching and learning activities, including askiy workshops and the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy Certificate Program. These centres “will foster new knowledge, new relationships, and new ways of understanding some of the most important questions facing agriculture and our society,” said USask College of Agriculture and Bioresources Dean Dr Angela Bedard-Haughn.

The Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council (IAESC) and the College of Midwives of Ontario have signed an MOU focused on Indigenous midwifery degree programs. IAESC and CMO will collaborate to create mutually beneficial practices and quality assurance processes for Indigenous Midwifery programs that encompass Indigenous cultures, epistemologies, languages, and spiritual beliefs. “Indigenous midwifery programs play a vital role in preserving traditional midwifery practices, increasing access to culturally grounded midwifery care, and supporting the revitalization of midwifery in community,” said IAESC Board Chair Lora Tisi. “We hope that this partnership positively impacts Indigenous learners and communities for generations to come.”

Concordia University’s Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science and the University of California, Los Angeles’ Samueli School of Engineering have signed an MOU to strengthen their collaboration. Concordia Gina Cody School Dean Mourad Debbabi said that the collaboration could include “joint research, student exchanges and shared initiatives in engineering, computer science and software engineering, that push the boundaries of engineering and computer science.” Concordia states that the agreement comes at a time when both universities are advancing initiatives in AI and related technologies.

In a recent article for University Affairs, Sandra P Hirst (University of Calgary) reflects on how her academic background has prepared her to research her genealogy. In retirement, Hirst began her research on her family tree by writing down the information she knew, similar to how she would tell students to start a project like this. She turned to physical records and photos, websites focused on ancestry, and other resources as she learned more information and continued her search. The author reflects on how her work at UCalgary prepared her for the research process, including checking her sources, looking for original records or reliable secondary sources, and ensuring the research process is not rushed.

An independent arbitrator has upheld Bishop’s University’s decision to terminate a former faculty member in 2021. The arbitrator found that the misconduct alleged by Bishop’s was proven and found that the former faculty member’s conduct constituted “psychological harassment, including cyberharassment, along with serious incivility.” Bishop’s Principal Sébastien Lebel-Grenier asserted that the university’s obligation to provide a safe environment for its community “guided every step we took: investigating the allegations, addressing the conduct, and defending the termination before the arbitrator.”

A working group at Memorial University has completed a review of its faculty and school structure. This review focused on identifying areas for consolidation and expense reduction while continuing to prioritize students, academics, and research. The working group engaged with the university community through methods that included surveys, town halls, and online feedback forms. Memorial’s next steps will include financial, implementation, and risk analysis focused on determining the feasibility of the scenarios presented in the report.

The University of Toronto Mississauga cancelled classes on Tuesday, following a campus lockdown and shelter-in-place alert on Monday night. Peel Regional Police officers were on campus to look for a 19-year-old man, who was found deceased at a campus residence. Residents of the building were evacuated so police could contain the incident; the shelter-in-place alert was later lifted and the building reopened. UTM shared information about supports in an alert. “UTM recognizes that over the coming days there will be many questions from members of our community,” stated UTM. “Please know that we are here to support you and our community.”

Canadian Mennonite University and the University of Winnipeg have concluded a 38-year joint initiative focused on delivering programs grounded in societal good. Through this initiative, the two partners delivered courses and majors in International Development Studies and Conflict Resolution Studies and gave thousands of students the opportunity to engage with questions of justice, peacebuilding, and global citizenship. The institutions have concluded the joint initiative in response to changing enrolment patterns and evolving academic offerings at the two institutions.

The Montréal Gazette states that the individual convicted of murder in the 1980s is no longer enrolled in McGill University’s Faculty of Law. It was not specified whether the student withdrew voluntarily or if their enrolment had been terminated. McGill has initiated an independent review of its admissions processes and protocols that will assess whether its procedures are sufficiently rigorous and clearly defined, according to McGill Provost Angela Campbell. Campbell stated that the university’s immediate priority is restoring “a sense of stability” within the law faculty.

The University of Guelph will be paying $100K to the City of Guelph and Guelph Police to cover some of the costs associated with a large unsanctioned gathering in September. A city report released last week estimated the financial toll of the event at $135K, with $91K spent on policing and $44K spent on costs to the city. CTV News reports that while UoGuelph had initially offered to pay for 22 paid-duty police officers, the clean-up of Chancellor’s Way, and an alcohol recovery room, the university “committed an in-year financial contribution of $100,000” because of the situation’s “extraordinary circumstances.”