October 3, 2023

Toronto Excellence College plans to turn a former high school building in Meaford into a trade school. TEC hopes to renovate the building by 2024 and potentially develop an 80-unit residential building on the school’s grounds. The college will offer trades courses in areas such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Meaford Mayor Ross Kentner has advised the college to “dovetail their courses with Georgian College’s offerings” in the area in addition to exploring local needs. The private college is currently fundraising for the project and is working on curriculum approvals with the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Genome British Columbia (Genome BC) announced funding for a pilot program that will integrate genomics education into Thompson Rivers University’s new Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner program. The project involves the University of Northern British Columbia and the University of British Columbia and will see precision health concepts and genomics education integrated into student and faculty training. “Existing nurse practitioner programs teach very little genetic or genomic content, yet it is now a crucial part of many primary care clinical interactions regarding prevention, diagnosis and treatment of common diseases,” said TRU project co-lead Dr Sarah Dewell. “We will introduce genomic literacy at TRU in a way that ensures it is immediately relevant and relatable.”

Pawaatamihk, an open-access journal focused on Métis thought inside the academy and in the community, released its first issue last week. According to a press release from the University of Winnipeg, this open-access journal is the first “nation-specific journal in Canada.” It is dedicated to uplifting Métis voices, stories, and research and features community stories, poetry, visual culture, book reviews, and scholarly papers. The name was gifted by Métis Elder Verna DeMontigny; translated from Michif and Ininimowin, it signifies “a group of people dreaming.” The journal’s Editorial Team is comprised of Métis women based at University of Calgary, University of Manitoba, University of Victoria, and UWinnipeg.

Universities Canada, Colleges and Institutes Canada, and the Canadian Bureau for International Education spoke to The Pie News about the proposed two-tier system that would expedite the visa process for international students. Under the system, which could reportedly be introduced as soon as 2024, IRCC would not need to verify parts of applications that have already been reviewed by an approved postsecondary institution. The three organizations praised the potential benefits of the framework; Universities Canada Assistant Director of International Relations Graham Barber said that the framework would “rais[e] the bar on international student services and “¦ really [set] a standard across the country.” The framework is currently undergoing a testing phase recommended by CICan.

Laurentian University’s senate has voted to establish an ad hoc committee on artificial intelligence (AI). The committee–which includes faculty, librarians, and the chief information officer–will work to develop policy recommendations on AI for December. Bay Today reports that an AI-generated rationale for the establishment of the ad hoc committee was included in the senate information package as a tongue-in-cheek gesture. Laurentian VP of Research Tammy Eger explained that it is important to develop policies on AI tools now to ensure that students, faculty, and staff are supported on AI use going forward.

Northern Lakes College recently celebrated the launch of its Virtual Indigenous Student Centre. The centre is named , which is Cree for “the act of coming together or an organized meeting.” The online centre will support Indigenous students and others who want to learn about Indigenous culture. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about Indigenous arts, discover the Elders in Residence program at the college, explore the Indigenous Library resources, and read Indigenous student success stories, among other activities.

Three universities recently opened new buildings and spaces for learning, research, and community. The University of Ottawa has unveiled a new $130M building, which houses the Faculty of Health Sciences. The complex was designed to promote cross-collaborative research and training, bringing together the schools of Nursing, Nutrition, Human Kinetics, Rehabilitation, and the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences. Memorial University recently opened its Social Changemaker Space, which will house the Centre for Social Enterprise. The space includes private meeting rooms, office spaces, and co-working areas. Mount Allison University’s Black Caucus recently opened the Black Resource and Information Centre, which will provide a dedicated safe space on campus to support the Black experience on campus.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University has launched its new Indigenous Studies Department, which is positioned within the Faculty of Arts. The new department strengthens KPU’s ability to support Indigenous people and provide learning opportunities in the areas of Indigenization and decolonization. Specialized course offerings within the department include an Introduction to Indigenous Studies, as well as topics in gender, sexuality, families and healing, and activism. “This launch has been many years in the making,” said KPU Provost Diane Purvey. “Formalizing this department reflects our journey toward achieving systemic transformation at KPU, and we are honoured to carry forward the vision of so many tireless runners.”

The Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and Thuongmai University of Hanoi, Vietnam recently signed an agreement to strengthen their existing relationship. Under this partnership agreement, the two institutions will work together with a focus on research on small- and medium-sizes enterprises and potentially collaborate on Thuongmai’s online course offerings. The two universities will host academic and cultural exchanges; UQTR is especially interested in hosting PhD students and post-doctoral research for short stays from Vietnam.

The University of Ottawa and the Association of Part-Time Professors of the University of Ottawa (APTPUO), representing Verushka Lieutenant-Duval, have reached a formal agreement in a case that saw Lieutenant-Duval temporarily removed from her duties after using a racial slur in a course. The details of the agreement are not public, but two parties have reportedly resolved their grievances. Further, Radio-Canada journalist Mélanye Boissonnault has apologized after asking UOttawa President Jacques Frémont for further details about the case during a recording of her morning show last week. Boissonnault clarified that she contravened journalist best practices asking questions of this nature without giving Frémont prior warning.