September 5, 2023

The Council of Alberta University Students is calling on the Government of Alberta Ministry of Advanced Education to take action on the findings of a recent report on sexual violence at AB’s postsecondary institutions. A recent report found that nearly half of the 12,948 surveyed AB postsecondary students had experienced sexual harassment at some point in their postsecondary careers; few of these students accessed campus services afterwards. Institutions will reportedly use the data to improve their resources, processes, and supports. The AB Ministry of Advanced Education issued a statement pointing to its previously announced $2.5M investment in gender-based violence prevention on AB campuses, which included funds to support the development of the survey by a working group at MacEwan University.

McGill University Desautels Faculty of Management has released its new brand, which focuses on the faculty’s work in leadership transformation and education with the tagline “The leaders of tomorrow, today.” The new advertisement for the school, shared on YouTube, positions Desautels as a place where responsible leaders are prepared to address complex, global challenges and implement change with lasting impact in areas such as environmental sustainability. The video describes Desautels as offering a personalized approach in an environment that nurtures diverse perspectives, while also having academic rigour, high-tech expertise, and research excellence.

Durham College has celebrated the grand opening of two new learning spaces: PROTO and the Electrical Vehicle (EV) Lab. PROTO will bring together clients, industry partners, student engineers, and skilled trades faculty members and students to develop prototype solutions to industry challenges, while the EV Lab will offer a learning environment where students can develop specialized EV skills. “Through collaboration with companies to solve real-world problems, students will be prepared for the workforce when they graduate, while at the same time strengthening our province’s position as a global leader in the manufacturing of electric vehicles and their batteries,” said ON Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop.

In a recent editorial, Caroline Giuglaris discusses how researchers can lower a lab’s carbon footprint. Giuglaris discusses her own experience implementing an internal sustainability initiative within a lab, which effectively lowered its carbon footprint and put it on the trajectory to meet sustainability targets. The author recommends starting with an assessment of the lab’s carbon footprint in order to identify and address the elements that are having the greatest impact on the lab’s carbon footprint. After this assessment is complete, Giuglaris recommends tackling first steps using preexisting resources, setting a future sustainability target for the lab, and clearly communicating goals and progress with department members. “Don’t be too hard on yourself if the world is not ready for your green ambitions,” writes Giuglaris.

Université Laval has announced that the new synthetic surface for its pavillon de l’éducation physique et des sports (PEPS) is complete after a four-month, $1.2M project. The new stadium turf is both softer and safer, as its design is intended to reduce concussions and provide a better grip. The surface is comprised of two alternating shades of green and permanent white lines, which will eliminate the need for repainting. The drainage for the surface has also been redone to eliminate water accumulation.

Langara College’s Registered Massage Therapy (RMT) diploma program has received a five-year accreditation from the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation (CMTCA). The accreditation was given for the maximum period possible. “Achieving a five-year accreditation from the CMTCA is a validation of the commitment the team puts in to ensure that our students are receiving the highest standard of massage therapy education possible,” said Langara RMT Program Manager Jennifer O’Sullivan. “The CMTCA acknowledged the excellence in curriculum and diversity of the clinical experience that students participate in.”

Brock University’s Digital Humanities Department and Computer Science Department has indicated that they are interested in launching Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence programs. The departments issued a Statement of Intent last week indicating that they wish to gain approval under the Institutional Quality Assurance Processes (IQAP) for these programs. At this stage, the university is seeking comment from its community before it moves on to the next IQAP step.

Former University of British Columbia Okanagan nursing student Mona Wang states that she is disappointed by the “slap on the wrist” sentence given to the RCMP Constable who assaulted her during a wellness check on campus. CTV News reports that Wang was dragged from her residence apartment in January 2020 by the officer during a wellness check. RCMP Constable Lacy Browning received a conditional discharge and has been placed on probation for two years. Browning is also reportedly expected to complete 160 hours of community service and pay a $200 victim fine surcharge.

Lethbridge University and Lethbridge College will be offering students access to an online gender-based and sexual violence reporting platform starting this Fall. REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors) Campus provides a secure, 24-7 centralized online way to report gender-based sexual violence and find information about resources and supports that are available. “Lethbridge College is happy to partner with REES Campus because the platform was clearly designed with the survivor’s needs in mind,” said Lethbridge Dean of Student Affairs Nancy Russell. “The service is mindful of the trauma a survivor has experienced and provides the survivor with the security, privacy, resources and options they need when they need them.”

The University of Guelph has been fined $50K for a 2021 incident where a worker sustained serious injuries while unloading a university-owned truck. The worker was reportedly using a mechanical liftgate and a manually operated “pump truck” to unload pallets from the truck when the pump truck rolled forward. The worker sustained injuries when they jumped from the liftgate to avoid being struck. ON states that the worker indicated they “had not been given sufficient instruction on how to safely get the pump truck and pallet onto the liftgate.” The university pled guilty to violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act after failing “as an employer, to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the health and safety of the worker.” The court also imposed a 25% victim fine surcharge.