October 8, 2025

Brock University has cut the ribbon on its new Burlington Campus, which is a hub for Brock’s Teacher Education and Applied Disability Studies programs, and received a $5.2M investment into teacher education from the Government of Ontario. The new Burlington Campus features a library space and a satellite office for the Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre. It will also offer Professional and Continuing Studies programming. ON’s investment will support 360 new teacher education spaces at the Burlington and St Catharines campuses. “The education program being located here allows for students to have placements in the region,” said Brock President Lesley Rigg. “This region has a need for student teachers, and we are filling that gap.”

Adler University and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) have partnered to enhance mental health and wellness services in First Nations communities in British Columbia. The partners will include the co-development and delivery of customized training programs to support FNHA staff, First Nations, and their communities. The partners will develop clinical internship and practicum opportunities, continuing education and coaching programs, and programs that use a “train the trainer” model. “This partnership is focused on the intentional integration of First Nations’ knowledge traditions to further advance dynamic pedagogical environments and reduce disparities,” said Adler President Lisa Coleman.

Bishop’s University has announced that it has launched a full investigation into an unsanctioned street party during Homecoming celebrations. The party reportedly led to acts of vandalism, fire, and reckless behaviour. Mirana Iliza, VP of the Bishop’s University Student Representative Council, told FM 107.7 that the event drew a variety of people beyond current Bishop’s students, including students from other institutions, alumni, and guests. The university has stated that students who are found to have participated in the event will be subject to sanctions in accordance with the university’s code of conduct.

Selkirk College has established the Selkirk Ion-source Research Centre (SIRC) through a donation from industry partner D-Pace that is valued at nearly $1M. The contribution includes the latest technology, which will be used for student hands-on learning and advanced research and innovation in rural areas of British Columbia. This donation also supports the college’s partnership with TRIUMPF—Canada’s particle accelerator centre—and has enabled the college to apply for complementary grants that could support research and hiring.

Both Concordia University and Conestoga College closed their campuses on Tuesday in response to planned protests. Concordia announced that its downtown campus would be closed on Tuesday due to “potentially obstructive” protests relating to the conflict in Israel and Gaza. Concordia President Graham Carr said that several protests have taken place on campus in the past two years, but the threat of extreme disruption warranted a campus closure in this case. At Conestoga’s Doon Campus, classes and activities were temporarily suspended on Tuesday morning due to planned picketing by OPSEU members from across southwestern Ontario. Conestoga said that students would receive updates from their faculty about necessary changes and that employees should coordinate with managers to find alternate arrangements.

The University of Manitoba has introduced two new programs, one for lawyers and one for those interested in leadership. The UManitoba Faculty of Law’s Internationally Trained Lawyer Program will prepare participants to meet the requirements needed to practice law in Canada. The program includes a two-week intensive course to prepare students for their studies before the school year begins. Meanwhile, UManitoba’s Asper School of Business has introduced a Leadership in Action Micro-Diploma that will provide students with leadership tools. Students will complete a practicum alongside their core courses and can complete the program on a flexible timeline.

St Thomas University has launched a major and honours in Sustainability and Environmental Studies. The launch comes after the university renamed the program and updated it to with a broader scope and new courses. “Our objective has always been to prepare students to become active agents in shaping a socially just and ecologically sustainable world,” said STU Director of Sustainability and Environmental Studies Dr Janice Harvey. “Our expanded focus on sustainability with the option to complete a stand-alone major or honours in the field amplifies that.”

First Nations University’s Board of Governors Chair Sherry Saevil has released a statement in response to a recent CBC article. CBC discusses the findings of an investigation commissioned by the board into allegations against FNU President Jacqueline Ottmann. In her statement, Saevil explained that the investigation was commissioned as due diligence. “After assessing the reports’ findings, the Board, by resolution, voted to retain President Ottmann and we continue to work with her in monitoring the leadership and priorities of FNU,” Saevil wrote. “The Board has complete confidence in President Ottmann and we stand behind her.”

Ontario Tech University, the Ontario Science Centre, and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) have partnered to create WattNext, an energy literacy initiative accessible to Ontarians of all ages. The initiative features a variety of resources that are designed to reach a broad audience, including a website, hands-on exhibits, curriculum-aligned programming, and community events. Ontario Tech President Dr Steven Murphy said that the initiative will encourage curiosity among all age groups and that it seeks to inspire the next generation of clean energy workers.

Students enrolled in nursing programs at Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles’ Carleton-sur-Mer and Gaspé campuses are now able to take part in simulated scenarios using a virtual reality hospital developed at the Université du Québec à Rimouski. The Unité virtuelle de soins simulates complex situations in a variety of medical fields including obstetrics, gerontology, and oncology. Students can take part in an immersive option using a virtual reality headset, as well as a non-immersive option. Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles instructor Gabrielle Gendreau-Dugay, who is responsible for implementing the tool at the cégep, said that it will allow students to develop clinical reasoning and enhance their understanding of care for patients from First Nations and Inuit cultures.