Top Ten
January 31, 2008
Toronto approves afro-centric school for 2009
Toronto District School Board trustees have narrowly voted in favour of a black-focused school, to open for September 2009. Opponents to the proposal say it is a return to segregation, while supporters argue that "seeing themselves in the curriculum" can help improve graduation rates among students of Caribbean descent.$18 million for Nipissing / Canadore Learning Library
Yesterday, the province of Ontario announced $18 million in funding for a new 56,000 sq ft building to be shared by Nipissing University and Canadore College (who share a campus in North Bay, Ontario). The new Learning Library will double the size of the campus library, and will meet Silver LEEDS environmental certification. Nipissing president Dennis Mock also indicated a public fundraising campaign would be forthcoming, to augment the funding announcement.
Postscript: May 12, 2009
On Saturday, the Ontario government announced a $1-million investment in a Learning Commons to be shared by Nipissing University and Canadore College. The funds are in addition to the $18 million the province committed in January 2008. The Commons, whose construction is slated to begin this spring, will feature networking equipment such as smart boards, e-classrooms, and video conferencing devices. Ontario News Release | North Bay Nugget
Carleton renames its School of Architecture
Carleton University will rename its School of Architecture in recognition of a generous $5.5 million donation from Dr. David J. Azrieli. Dr. Azrieli has contributed more than $8 million total to the university throughout his lifetime, and is an alumnus of the Carleton University School of Architecture. His generous donation is made to ensure that the School remains "the best in Canada."BC funds aboriginal gathering places on 6 campuses
BC's Ministry of Advanced Education has announced $2.4 million in funding to establish 6 campus gathering places for the province's growing population of Aboriginal students. A total of $15 million has been set aside to help all institutions either create or improve such gathering places. The first 6 schools who will share $2.4 million are Northern Lights College, Kwantlen University College, the College of the Rockies, Langara College, the College of New Caledonia, and Okanagan College.uLethbridge receives $2 million for sports facility
The Alberta government has announced $2 million in funding for a new stadium sports field at the University of Lethbridge. The new facility will be a joint project between the university and the City of Lethbridge, and will be available for community use.Alexander Keith's promotes Atlantic University Sport
Atlantic University Sport has teamed up with popular brew, Alexander Keith's Ale, to increase the visibility of student athletics. As of next month, 8-packs of Keith's will include special AUS collector cans that "celebrate and promote Atlantic University Sport and its championships." 2 million of these cans will be distributed in the Atlantic region in 2008.CMSF lobbies for another 10 years, and $4 billion
The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation is asking the federal government for "a second 10-year mandate to improve access to post-secondary education," as well as an endowment of $4 billion "to be used to provide research-based student financial assistance programs." When first established in 1998, CMSF was granted a $2.5 billion endowment.FNTI told to seek private funding to keep doors open
Federal Indian Affairs minister Chuck Strahl has advised Ontario's First Nations Technical Institute "to turn to the private sector and its own alumni for funding." FNTI has delivered PSE credentials to more than 2,000 aboriginal students since its founding in 1985. There are 300 students at FNTI this year, taking programs through partnerships with Queen's, Ryerson, and Trent Universities, and Loyalist, Humber, St. Lawrence and Canadore Colleges. With a cut in federal funding, layoff notices are expected next week.NBCC begins cancelling classes due to custodial strike
Classes at New Brunswick community colleges are officially being canceled. All classes at NBCC's Fredericton and Bathurst campuses were cancelled earlier this week, and will most likely remain cancelled until striking custodians return to the schools. St. Andrews students continue to have access to computer labs, student services, and the library for 2 hours a day. Miramichi, Moncton, Saint John, Woodstock, Dieppe and Acadian Peninsula campuses are operating on a half-day schedule.
Postscript (Feb 19 2008): "Life starts again" at NBCC today: New Brunswick Community College students are back to class today. A five-week-long college custodian strike has been settled. Despite the interruption to their studies and classes, students will be able to complete the term on schedule. Some students were given home assignments, and others were sent to their practicums early. Canada East
