May 12, 2009
Approximately 100 students and professors from the University of New Brunswick have signed a letter protesting the institution's decision to award NB Premier Shawn Graham an honorary degree at this year's convocation. Sent to the chairman of UNB's board of governors, the letter states it would be "impossible" and "irresponsible" to forget the controversial changes Graham proposed to the province's PSE system 2 years ago from which the government later backed away. "It's absolutely a disgrace," one student says about the award. The chairman is planning to respond to the letter. Saint John Telegraph-Journal | CBC
Postscript: June 9, 2009
A day after his article about faculty and students at the University of New Brunswick protesting the university's decision to award NB Premier Shawn Graham an honorary degree appeared on the front page of the Telegraph-Journal, Matt McCann, a summer intern at the paper, was fired for what editors called "reckless" reporting. Both McCann and one of his journalism professors at St. Thomas University doubt he was fired for the reasons given, with the latter believing that "somebody got mad and made a scapegoat." The newspaper denies allegations that Graham's party complained to the paper's owners about the story, and asserts the intern was fired due to factual errors in his article. CBC | Saint John Telegraph-Journal
"Outraged" over news that Lakehead University is
shutting down the institution for 4 days in December because of fiscal challenges, delegates at last month's Canadian Association of University Teachers Council meeting voted to condemn the decision, which CAUT says threatens the integrity of collective bargaining. Delegates also voted on resolutions calling on Lakehead administration to reverse its actions, and authorizing CAUT to put all its resources behind the university's faculty association in stopping the plan should administration not reverse its decision.
CAUT BulletinDuring question period on Monday, Newfoundland and Labrador's Opposition raised the issue of significant sections of a 3-page briefing regarding the
autonomy of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College being blacked out. The Liberals suggest the government's reluctance to release the information highlights the secretive nature of the province's agenda relating to Grenfell. The Opposition's education critic says hiding information will only continue to hinder PSE in the province.
Western StarAs part of his election campaign, Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil is promising that if elected, his government would provide tuition for 20 medical students every year for the next 5 years, as long as they agree to work as family doctors in under-serviced areas of the province for up to 5 years. The proposal, which would cost over $6 million to implement, is the party's attempt to address the province's physician shortage.
Canadian PressOn Monday, 3 McGill University scholars were each presented with a Killam Prize, a $100,000 tax-free award, described by one recipient as a "mini-Nobel," that celebrates outstanding scholarship in the areas of health sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences and humanities. The award winners from McGill are engineering professor Wagdi Habashi, literature professor François Ricard, and biochemistry professor Phillipe Gros. The other recipients are Queen's University biologist John Smol and University of Toronto legal theorist Ernest Weinrib. The awards are distributed every year by the Canada Council for the Arts.
McGill News Release |
Queen's News Release |
uToronto News |
Globe and Mail |
Montreal GazetteThe University of Waterloo and the Town of Huntsville Ontario announced Monday the creation of a world-class research and learning facility for environmental and ecological sustainability to be located in the town. The facility will be used to support G8 activities in June 2010, and later be fitted up for occupancy by uWaterloo in the fall of next year. The uWaterloo Summit Centre for the Environment's research program will focus on ecology, climate change, tourism, land-use planning, and local economic development. The university expects that up to 3,000 students and researchers will use the facility annually.
Industry Canada News Release |
uWaterloo News ReleaseBC-based Northwest Community College recently opened a new facility for log building and timber frame training at its Terrace campus. The open-air structure is big enough to allow for manoeuvring the massive timbers used in log building and timber frame construction, and will act as a shelter to protect materials from the elements. The structure was realized through a donation from Alberta-based Cover-All North Inc.
NWCC News ReleaseLast Friday, business deans from 22 colleges and universities across BC gathered at the University of British Columbia to sign the Ch'nook Business Education Accord, which will work with a number of advocates and supporters to raise Aboriginal awareness and interest in post-secondary business education. The accord will see business program deans working with the Ch'nook Aboriginal Advisory Council to pursue this mandate province-wide.
UBC News ReleaseOn Monday, the City of Ottawa declared itself Canada's knowledge destination for the month of May. This week, the University of Ottawa is hosting the Association francophone pour le savior conference, which is expected to be attended by over 5,000 researchers from around the world. Later this month, Carleton University will host more than 8,000 scholars for the 78th Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. The 2 events are expected to generate more than $10 million in economic activity.
City of Ottawa News Release |
Carleton News Release |
uOttawa News ReleaseBroadcasting students at Mount Royal College have developed some recruitment videos for the institution following a challenge put out by the college's recruitment marketing committee. One video, spoofing dating site e-Harmony's commercial campaign, details one student's infatuation with the institution. The videos are available on Mount Royal's YouTube channel.
Mount Royal News |
MountRoyal4U
