September 12, 2025

More than 10,000 support staff from Ontario’s college system are now officially on strike after the College Employer Council (CEC) and Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) failed to reach an agreement. Classes are expected to go ahead as scheduled, but the job action may affect labs and essential services. The Canadian Press reports that OPSEU is seeking improved wages, benefits, and job security; the Toronto Star reports that CEC’s final offer included $145M boost to wages and benefits, some job security guarantees, paid leave for members dealing with domestic and sexual violence, and improved severance payments for laid off workers.

Several organizations have announced investments toward the creation of research chairs in eastern Canada this week. In Québec, NSERC and the Fonds de recherche du Québec are providing $1.9M to support the creation of a new research chair dedicated to the participation and retention of people from underrepresented groups in science and engineering. The chair will be co-hosted by INRS, McGill University, and Université Laval and will focus on three objectives: Understanding barriers and promoting diversity in career paths, supporting professionals with training and mentoring, and developing and disseminating career path and recognition frameworks. Meanwhile, the University of New Brunswick McKenna Institute has received $500K from Farm Credit Canada toward the creation of its Chair in Digital Agriculture.

MaKami College has received approval to join the Alberta Transfer System, which allows students to transfer credits between AB postsecondary institutions. MaKami says that the approval will also allow them to collaborate with high schools to allow students to start working towards their postsecondary credits early. “This advancement supports broader recognition of prior learning, helping students advance their education by valuing skills and experience gained outside traditional classrooms,” explained MaKami President Marija Pavkovic-Tovissi.

The University of Regina and the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) have signed a Citizenship Agreement to verify citizenship for individuals accessing Métis-specific opportunities at the university. The agreement affirms MN–S as the recognized Métis government in Saskatchewan and establishes secure, consent-based verification processes to ensure fairness and accountability. “I look forward to the mutual benefits and opportunities that this agreement will create in our province, at our university, and for the Métis people who are such an important part of Saskatchewan’s historical, cultural, economic, and educational fabric,” said URegina President Jeff Keshen.

The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM Toronto Campus) and Trent University have launched a double degree program allowing students to gain a Bachelor of Arts and Science and a Doctor of Naturopathy degree in seven years. Trent explains that students from high school “will begin their studies at Trent, receiving tailored academic advising to meet prerequisites and prepare for competitive entry into the professional program at CCNM’s Toronto campus.” Trent Dean of Science Sarah West explained that the program “integrates the humanities and social sciences, sciences, and health fields, equipping future healthcare leaders with the interdisciplinary and well-rounded perspective that is essential to meeting the complex needs of today’s communities.” CCNM and Trent say that the collaboration is the first of its kind.

The University of Calgary has announced new developments as part of its age-friendly university promise. The university’s medical faculty is integrating foundational aging-related content into its Undergraduate Medical Education, Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation, and Bachelor of Health sciences program. The institution has also created a new project grants program to support research on age and the university environment, courses and micro-credentials on aging, enhanced services for age-diverse students and employees, and the development of lifelong learning and intergenerational programming.

Mount Saint Vincent University has announced that it is revising its Master of Public Relations degree to include an internship opportunity, starting Summer 2026. MSVU stated that it added the opportunity after recognizing that graduate students would benefit from a structured, credit-earning work experience that reflects the needs of industry. Students will engage in work that includes producing newsletters for diverse audiences, creating persuasive marketing content, and crafting executive-level communication materials. “Public relations is a field that thrives on practical experience,” said MSVU Department of Communication Studies Chair Dr Alla Kushniryk. “Our students are eager to build on their academic foundation with hands-on opportunities that make them more confident and career-ready.”

Two institutions have recently broken ground on significant construction projects. Cégep de Granby held a groundbreaking ceremony on the site of the future Institut technologique Desjardins. The $34.1M construction project will create a hub that will bring together the engineering, computer science, and continuing education departments. Meanwhile, Western University has begun construction on a research lab dedicated to infectious disease research. The lab, expected to be completed in early 2027, will include a microbial transmission facility that will enable scientists to track and simulate virus transmission at room scale. The facility will also include a space for producing antiviral treatments, vaccines, and other biotherapeutics for clinical trials.

Okanagan College’s BC Beverage Technology Access Centre has unveiled a new beverage canning line. The addition will enable the college to support the beverage industry as they experiment with small batch beverage innovation. “By connecting the expertise and resources of our postsecondary institutions, we support research that helps businesses grow and strengthens BC’s economy,” said BC Minister of Postsecondary Education and Future Skills Jessie Sunner. The $1.2M renovation was supported by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the BC Knowledge Development Fund.

The University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) has extended its partnership with the International Vaccine Institute in South Korea. USask VIDO has collaborated for more than 20 years with the international nonprofit, which develops and delivers vaccines around the world. “Infectious diseases know no borders,” said USask VIDO Director and CEO Dr Volker Gerdts. “By continuing this partnership, we strengthen our ability to respond quickly and collaboratively to emerging threats that impact us all.”