Top Ten
September 12, 2018
Laurentian opens Research and Engineering Centre
Laurentian University has opened the $30M Cliff Fielding Research, Innovation, and Engineering Building. The building houses a collaborative research hub, an innovation and commercialization space, a state-of-the-art facility for industry and scholars, engineering labs, and includes space for the addition of a civil engineering program. “This is a remarkable building and it’s a testament to our commitment to student success and the needs of our community,” said Laurentian Board of Governors Chair Jennifer Witty. “It’s more than a building. It represents Laurentian University’s commitment to leadership in research and innovation.” Laurentian
Lakeland welcomes students to new Animal Health Clinic
Lakeland College’s new Animal Health Clinic has officially opened its doors. A Lakeland release states that the facility features increased lab spaces, separate animal wards, a modern surgical suite and dental lab, a separate pharmacy, and other innovations. “With this equipment and technology at their fingertips, our students reach a level of competency to confidently work with live animals before they graduate, and eventually use their hands-on experience to excel in industry,” said Josie Van Lent, Dean of Lakeland’s School of Agricultural Sciences. Lakeland adds that the new clinic accommodates an additional 30 seats in the college’s Animal Health Technology program. Lakeland
NAIT opens first all-vegan campus food outlet in Alberta
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology has opened Square Root, which the institute says is the first all-vegan campus food outlet in the province. The new eatery’s menu was created by NAIT registered dietician Nick Creelman, and the recipes were inspired by Forward Food conferences across North America. “More students are choosing plant-based food for health reasons, but also because they’re less expensive and more sustainable,” explained Creelman. “I think we’ve done a great job on all of it – taste, look, appeal and price point.” NAIT explains that requests for vegan and vegetarian menu items, as well as foods that meet the needs of food sensitivities such as dairy allergies, have been on the rise across campus. NAIT
University campuses a hotbed for abortion debate
Anti-abortion groups that demonstrate on university campuses are facing criticism for what some student call misleading tactics, CBC reports. Canadian Association of Pregnancy Support Services Executive Director Laura Lewis told CBC that women need to have “alternatives to abortion” for a society to be truly pro-choice, but Joyce Arthur, Executive Director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, stated that crisis pregnancy centres tend to use untrained peer counsellors to dissuade pregnant women from aborting. “When they pose as legitimate health clinics, people are expecting to receive accurate, evidence-based information. The result is that it can delay people's access to health care services,” added Frederique Chabot, Director of Health Promotion with Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights. CBC
Royal Roads celebrates completed renovations
Royal Roads University has officially completed renovations to the Sherman Jens Building. According to a Royal Roads release, the facility features a new student commons area in addition to upgraded environmental science teaching labs, wet labs, and academic support. “Royal Roads students are our future leaders in areas such as agricultural food waste management and innovative recycling initiatives, and they’re helping build the best BC,” stated Minister of Advanced Education Melanie Mark. The philanthropist Sherman Jen contributed $7M to the facility. Royal Roads | Canada
SNP receives welding accreditation
Six Nations Polytechnic’s Brantford campus has received accreditation from the Canadian Welding Bureau as a welder qualification centre, reports the Hamilton Spectator. “Receiving the Canadian Welding Bureau accreditation means that we have met the high standards and requirements for welding companies to use our facility as a test centre for future employees,” said Mary Fuke, SNP Trades Development Officer. “Our workrooms, equipment, facility and staff are kept as up to date as possible and we are continuously looking for new ways to support the trades industry in Brantford and Six Nations.” Hamilton Spectator
UBCO officially opens new access route
The City of Kelowna has officially opened a new access route to UBC Okanagan. “This is a very welcome improvement for not only our campus but also the Airport Business Park, Kelowna International Airport, UBC’s planned Innovation Precinct and the rapidly growing residential neighbourhoods around us,” stated UBCO Associate VP of Finance & Operations Rob Einarson. Einarson added that the expansion also reflects UBCO’s continuing growth as the campus welcomes just under 10,000 students this year, nearly triple that of its inaugural cohort in 2005. A UBCO release states that the new infrastructure was funded by an $11M investment from the local, provincial, and federal governments. UBCO
NBCC, MTA sign MOU
New Brunswick Community College and Mount Allison University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate a new degree pathway between the two institutions. According to a release, NBCC students who complete the two-year diploma in Business Administration: Accounting will be eligible for admission to MTA with third-year standing. “Partnerships like this are important as we open our doors as widely as possible to ensure all New Brunswickers have opportunities to successfully pursue post-secondary education,” said NBCC VP of Academic Development Mary Butler. The release adds that the MOU is supported by the Council on Articulations and Transfer of New Brunswick. MTA | NBCC
La Cité celebrates the completion of incubators
La Cité collégiale has completed the construction of the Interdisciplinary Creativity Incubators, a co-creative space that will integrate business with post-secondary education. The incubators will enable students to learn collaborative approaches and virtual tools to meet the evolving needs of the labour market. “Investing in our post-secondary institutions like La Cité not only supports our local businesses, creates strong middle class jobs but also prepares students for the jobs of tomorrow,” says Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier. “This facility will help students and employers have the specialized interdisciplinary training they need to ensure Canada is an innovator on the world stage.” Canada
UFV purchases former Finnegan’s property
The University of the Fraser Valley will be expanding, thanks to the purchase of the 1.6 acre property that housed the former Finnegan’s Pub and Phoenix Ballroom facilities. The property was purchased for $9.85M, and will be used to expand UFV’s Abbotsford campus. “When the building became available, we recognized this was one of the very few properties immediately adjacent to our campus that is not in the Agricultural Land Reserve,” explained UFV VP External Craig Toews. “The property has a lot of potential and the building is relatively new, meaning it provides a cost-effective way to relieve some of the pressures we face in Abbotsford.” UFV
