September 23, 2025

North Island College has officially opened its first on-campus student housing complex, called tul’al’txw: “a house (place) of learning” in pentl’ach. The complex includes a total of 217 beds, with two connected buildings featuring studio apartments and shared units, and a third building offering two-bedroom suites meant for students with families. Amenities include a play area, multi-faith room, and gardens. “[T]his place will become central for the people who live here to develop as students and as people, and it helps NIC meet our goal of building healthy and thriving communities, one student at a time,” said NIC President Lisa Domae.

Acadia University and the Government of Nova Scotia have partnered to build a new daycare on Acadia’s campus. This 104-space early learning and child-care centre will provide care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. It is currently in the planning stages. “Adding this facility to our campus, being able to respond to the needs of our families and students and community, is a significant milestone for Acadia and Wolfville,” said Acadia President Jeff Hennessy. “[T]he biggest beneficiaries of the new child-care centre are going to be the children who get to attend. We’re most excited for them!”

The Université de Montréal is collaborating with the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) on a project that will train medicine and pharmacy students in the Laurentides region. This new campus in Saint-Jérôme will support the recruitment and retention of health professionals in the Laurentides, a region that is expected to see above average growth compared to other parts of Quebec. Students will be able to work alongside the region’s health personnel through local internships. UMontréal’s faculty of medicine will welcome its first cohort at this campus in Fall 2026, while its faculty of pharmacy will welcome students in 2027.

Two institutions in Ontario have announced new cuts due to reduced international enrolment. Algoma University plans to cut 50 to 75 roles following a reduction in international student intake by 60%, according to President Sheila Embleton. While the university paused five programs in May, they have not yet announced which, if any, of these programs will be affected by the new cuts. In Windsor, St Clair College is planning to reduce its presence downtown following a 63% drop in international students, according to an article by the Windsor Star. The college owns and leases several buildings in the area. St Clair also stated that despite the international enrolment decline, several programs had “significant” increases from domestic enrolment.

Royal Roads University has joined Dimensions Canada, an NSERC initiative that aids institutions in identifying and eliminating research inequities and barriers faced by equity-deserving groups. “This initiative empowers us to critically examine and challenge inequities in our research systems, while benefiting from the knowledge of our cohort institutions across Canada,” said Royal Roads Manager of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research Gwen Thompson Hill. Royal Roads says it is one of 17 institutions from across Canada to join the Dimensions program.

Despite Alberta having the highest proportion of engineering graduates in the country, demand is still increasing for spots in the province’s postsecondary institutions. At the University of Calgary, President Ed McCauley told CBC that the school was nearing “full capacity.” Engineering Deans Canada Vice Chair Christopher Yip explained that there has been no change in application requirements, and so the increased competition can be traced to the growing demand. Lisa Davis, the founder of STEM Innovation Academy, expressed concern that the level of competition may push AB students to go elsewhere in Canada for their education.

Simon Fraser University has unveiled its first purpose-built art museum: the Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum (the Gibson). The museum includes four galleries, as well as programming and engagement space. It will house the SFU Art Collection and present exhibitions of contemporary work. The building is made from mass timber and is LEED Gold certified. “Our mission at the Gibson is to encourage open learning about our past, current, and future worlds by supporting the work of critically-engaged and research-driven artists,” said Kimberly Phillips, director of the Gibson at SFU. “Our aim is to create a new kind of art museum that lowers barriers, embraces intergenerational, decolonial learning, and encourages cross-disciplinary inquiry through meaningful encounters with art.”

Manitoba’s College of Physicians and Surgeons recently released a report about the “record increase” in the number of doctors registered to practice in the province. Of the 302 new doctors registered as of April 30, 2025, 167 obtained their degree outside of Canada, while 70 earned their degrees in MB. Doctors Manitoba President Dr Nichelle Desilets said that the expansion of a training program preparing international medical graduates to study in MB may have made a difference. While Desilets questioned the number of graduates that left MB after graduation, University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine Dean Dr Peter Nickerson said that that 75% of family medicine residents stay in the province.

Saint Mary’s University has launched an AI Playground in its Sobeys Inspiration Hub. The space includes 11 different AI-powered applications that students, faculty, staff, and local community members can try out for free, including Loona the robot dog that is continually learning new tricks. “Students won’t just learn about AI, they’ll use it as a tool to shape the future,” said SMU Arthur L Irving Entrepreneurship Centre Director Michael Sanderson. “This space is a launchpad for the next generation of problem‑solvers.” First time users will be expected to complete an AI ethics course before gaining access.

International students at Pacific Link College, a private college in Vancouver, told CBC that they were required to participate in the federal byelection campaigning for Conservative Party of Canada candidate Tamara Jansen. The students shared emails that allegedly state that they were required to submit photo proof that they attended the campaign office on several dates in December 2024, and that refusal would impact their attendance. Pacific Link Campus Director Aaron Dpenha denied that the activity was mandatory and claimed that the school is politically neutral. One student has filed a formal complaint, which is currently under review, against the school through British Columbia’s Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit.