October 23, 2026

OCAD University is marking its 150th anniversary with a variety of celebrations and initiatives, including 150 fully-funded scholarships. Beginning in September 2027, recipients of the 150 FUTURES scholarships will receive $10K annually for four years, funded through donations to the university’s $6M fundraising campaign. “Canadians deeply value art, design and culture, and support those who create it,” said OCAD U President Ana Serrano. “150 FUTURES is a way to make that belief tangible — by investing in the students who will create the next 150 years.” Other celebrations marking the university’s 150th anniversary in 2026 and 2027 include collaborative exhibitions with SickKids, Indigenous alumni, and a mystery art sale.

Northern Lakes College opened both its new Peavine Campus location and its new High Prairie residence. The campus, located at Peavine Métis Settlement, provides learners with the opportunity to pursue their education close to home. At the student housing celebration in High Prairie, the college also introduced its new mascot NeLCee to the public. “Whether we’re opening the doors to a new learning space in Peavine or providing a place for students to call home in High Prairie, our goal remains the same: to make education more accessible for the people and communities we serve,” said Northern Lakes President Dr Glenn Mitchell.

In Québec, students are taking part in the French “lycée” protests to show their support for students in France and to call attention to their own challenges. Several student leaders, such as Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec president Abdelmajid El-Mouhib, Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu student union head Noah Seguin, and Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus Université de Montréal spokesperson Frédéric Beaudet explained that students in QC are unhappy with their current financial circumstances. They highlighted issues such as the rising cost of living, unpaid internships, low government funding for public schools, and high tuition fees at universities. “It’s bigger than just the student population, but it does affect students and their capacity to stay in higher education,” explained Beaudet.

SAIT has unveiled its National Centre for Culinary Arts. The project marks the completion of 10 years of renovations to the John Ware building on campus, supported by a $41M investment by the Government of Alberta in 2022. In addition to the centre’s improved teaching kitchens and living classrooms, the centre contains a state-of-the-art competition kitchen and a student-run restaurant. “We needed a space that reflects our reputation and gives students a learning experience that meets the standard we’ve established in our programs,” explained SAIT School of Hospitality and Tourism Dean James Overall. “Thanks to the transformational government investment, we now have a brand and centre that lives up to our hospitality and culinary prestige.”

The Université du Québec à Montréal has launched a chair in Adaptation Climat-Tourisme. The Chaire Adaptation Climat-Tourisme, launched in partnership with the provincial ministry of tourism, will focus on identifying risks, vulnerabilities, needs, and priorities for adaptation for Quebec’s tourism industry. Its main project —a partnership between UQAM and the ministry of tourism—will create communities of practice, support research development, and establish an adaptation observatory.

Mount Allison University has announced that it is relaunching its Bachelor of Education program after nearly 30 years. The 16-month program will offer both elementary and secondary education streams and will contain three practicum experiences. Areas of study include inclusive education, literacy, and Indigenous education. MtA Special Advisor to the Provost Dr Ryan Gamm, who helped design the program, explained that changes to teacher education requirements since 1997 and strong student demand prompted the university to relaunch an education program. “We’re a small university,” Gamm said. “And we have the ability to respond to the needs and context of New Brunswick and to prepare teachers for New Brunswick schools and students today.”

École de technologie supérieure and Ericsson Canada recently announced a partnership to advance quantum computing research in Québec. Specifically, the initiative will bring ÉTS Professor Jacob Biamonte and his team together with researchers from the Ericsson Quantum Program and support from Mitacs to investigate ways to mitigate errors and improve optimization in quantum algorithms. “This partnership with Ericsson gives our researchers the means to pursue ambitious work at the frontier of quantum computing while contributing to Canada’s long-term scientific and technological leadership,” explained ÉTS Director General Kathy Baig.

The University of Alberta has released a new graduate certificate program: the Online Graduate Certificate in Policy Leadership. This program will train participants from a variety of organizations and sectors to shape policy. Graduates will be prepared to challenge conventions and lead in new ways. “The ability to navigate these challenges and work across divides are skills that not only set you apart, but help build a stronger democracy. And that is something we need more of,” said UAlberta Peter Lougheed School of Politics and Democracy Executive Director Gitane De Silva.

Trent University and Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand have signed a bilateral exchange agreement to support Indigenous education. The Barry and Laurie Green Bilateral Exchange Scholarship Program allows students who are interested in Indigenous-led education to spend a semester at the opposite institution connecting with Indigenous perspectives and community-based learning. “This international exchange program expands what Trent University has been doing for decades, creating new opportunities for students to connect with Indigenous perspectives and community-based learning across the globe,” explained Trent President Dr Cathy Bruce.

Cégep Saint-Laurent union members are gathering today in front of the cégep’s main building to protest the cégep’s condition and to support the institution’s staff and students. Journal Métro reports that the protest comes after the closure of a third campus building due to structural issues. This building housed science laboratories. Union representatives reportedly hope to emphasize the state of the facilities and demand action from the new Parti Québécois government.