October 18, 2023

The Government of Alberta has announced that it is investing $11M into creating additional seats for nurse bridging programs for internationally educated nurses. The investment will create 1,221 additional seats, which will help nurses complete the programs they need to gain certification in Alberta. Funding will support nurse bridging programs at the University of Lethbridge/Lethbridge College (100 seats), Lethbridge College in partnership with Bow Valley College (108 seats), BVC (96 seats), Northwestern Polytechnic (96 seats), Portage College (96 seats), Keyano College (96 seats), MacEwan University (364 seats), Keyano College in partnership with NorQuest College (40 seats), Red Deer Polytechnic in partnership with NorQuest (135 seats), and NorQuest (90 seats). ULethbridge will also receive $3M from AB for planning and design work at University Hall.

A news release from the First Nations Technical Institute has expressed concern regarding the lack of resources and facilities available for Indigenous postsecondary students. FNTI highlighted that many Indigenous-led institutions do not have adequate resources, which thereby perpetuates existing cycles of inequity among Indigenous students and their communities. FNTI President Suzanne Brant stated that while the institution had 862 applications this year, due to a lack of appropriate resources, it was only able to seat 299 students. The release contended that a similar situation is occurring across many of Canada’s Indigenous-led institutions. FNTI concluded by calling on the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario to provide additional resources to Indigenous students and institutions.

Articles from The Canadian Press and the discuss the challenges that postsecondary institutions are facing when responding to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Joe Friesen for writes that some universities are facing criticism for “publishing vague statements on the crisis.” Others, Friesen highlights, are struggling to reconcile the varied perspectives of their leadership, staff and faculty unions, and student groups. Morgan Lowrie, for the Canadian Press, states that the violence has sparked “grief, anger and heated debate on campuses.” University of Manitoba Director of Peace and Conflict Studies Adam Muller advocated for universities to prioritize the “perspectives of ordinary people affected by violence” and create a safe space for people to share their perspectives.

Seneca Polytechnic recently celebrated the opening of the Seneca Centre for Innovation in Life Sciences (SCILS). SCILS offers a place for industry-focused applied research in biotechnology, cosmetics formulations, and life sciences diagnostics. It is a hub which will increase Seneca’s capacity and provide a space for industry partners to test new products. The lab includes a BSL-2 containment room, a controlled substances storages room, and a GMP-certifiable clean room. The facility has received funding from a variety of sources, including $2M from NSERC, $1M from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and College Industry Innovation fund, $1M from the Ontario Research Fund, and $5.4 million from industry research partners and institutional investments.

Concordia University has enlisted the help of Newton, a six-month-old Portuguese water dog, to help students cope with anxiety and stress around exam times. Newton is a new member of Concordia’s campus security team, which is making efforts to connect with students more. He works morning and afternoon shifts visiting with students. “Part of our new mandate included making changes for campus safety, and making us more approachable to students,” said Concordia Director of Campus Safety and Prevention Services Darren Dumoulin. “And Newton also addresses the wellness portion of that mandate. We’ve noticed a rise in stress and anxiety on campus, especially since the pandemic.”

A University of Toronto Mississauga student has been arrested and charged by the Peel Regional Police in relation to a “threatening and hateful message” that was posted to social media last weekend. A statement from UTM VP and Principal Alexandra Gillespie relayed that the university was made aware of the message and notified the police immediately; the accused has since been released on the condition that they are prohibited from attending any U of T property. “We remain committed to ensuring that our campus remains a safe place to learn, live, and work,” read Gillespie’s statement. “The university has comprehensive safety plans in place, and you will notice an increased security presence on campus to ensure the safety of our community.”

Nunavut Arctic College is offering a new culinary arts program at its Cambridge Bay campus. This two-year culinary program will teach students about kitchen safety and how to prepare different hot and cold meals, pastries, and sauces. The program will also explore opportunities to integrate elements of Inuit culture by incorporating traditional foods into the curriculum. “I would love to see this program take it to the next level where culinary becomes a staple up here in Nunavut, as well as learning to incorporate the foods from the land within the culinary style of cooking,” said Andy Poisson, lead instructor of the culinary program. “That would be very unique.”

In a recent article for the , Kevin Dettmar (Pomona College) discusses how departmental chairs can advocate for a top candidate with their dean during the hiring process. Dettmar recommends meeting with the dean before the top candidate is offered the job to discuss the candidate’s suitability and show excitement about adding the candidate to the department. The author encourages chairs to trust the dean after this initial meeting, and to aim to become the candidate’s coach once the department has made a choice. This includes treating the candidate like a colleague, being available to answer any questions, and being an ally.

Dalhousie University recently unveiled the new Senator Don Oliver Scholarship, which will provide financial support and mentorship to African Nova Scotian students. Oliver–Canada’s first Black male senator–has been recognized with the Orders of Canada and Nova Scotia for his social justice work. The scholarship was created in his name with a $1M gift from Oliver’s friend and investor Wade Dawe. “We are grateful to Wade Dawe for creating this scholarship, which will make it possible for African Nova Scotian students to blaze their own trails in the academic and career paths they choose, and to tackle the pressing issues we face, just as Senator Oliver has done,” said Dal Assistant VP Equity and Inclusion Dr Barbara Hamilton-Hinch.

Université de Moncton has renamed its centre for research on language. The Centre de recherche en linguistique appliquée has now become the Centre de recherche sur la langue en Acadie, a name which reflects the adoption of a new mandate focused on studying how French is situated in Acadia. The name shares the same acronym as the previous name, which supports the continuity of the centre while emphasizing its renewal. UMoncton Professor Isabelle Violette said that the language centre’s new name affirms Acadia’s importance and links the centre with Acadian studies.