Top Ten
March 27, 2019
MB cuts ACCESS funding for post-secondary institutions by $1M, slashes bursary program
The Government of Manitoba has cut ACCESS funding for post-secondary institutions by $1M for the 2018-2019 fiscal year and cut $1.6M that was earmarked for bursaries. An MB spokesperson for the stated that cutting the bursaries was part of an effort to streamline the student financial aid system, adding that the bursary program was previously under-subscribed and unavailable to students at Assiniboine Community College, Brandon University, and Université de Saint-Boniface. “A lot of the mission was to encourage Indigenous students and, in particular, students who have faced barriers to be able to get into a post-secondary program where they’ve been under-represented in the past,” said NDP Leader Wab Kinew. “Without resources to pay for tuition and other supports like tutoring, it’s going to mean more barriers.” Winnipeg Free Press (MB)
U of T receives largest donation in institution's history for AI Research and Complex
The University of Toronto has received a $100M donation from Heather Reisman and Gerald Schwartz, which is reportedly the largest in the university’s history. The gift will be used to build an innovation complex called the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre, which will hold a new institute to explore artificial intelligence, as well as Ai-related societal and ethical implications. U of T President Meric Gertler said the donation “will enable a deeper examination of how technology shapes our daily lives.” The university will begin construction on the first phase of the centre this fall. U of T | Globe and Mail | CBC | Hamilton Spectator (CP) (ON)
Canada should look inward when reflecting on US admissions scandal
“Privileged parents in Canada don’t have to offer universities a new library like their US counterparts to give their children a leg up,” writes the Editorial Board of the Queen’s Journal. The authors note that while the admissions scandalin the US might make some Canadians feel good about their own admissions system, the truth is that there are dozens of ways in which the admissions playing field is uneven in Canada. Factors of inequality of opportunity include “non-insured health care like therapy, extra hours for homework, and resume-padding without working a part-time job.” Meanwhile, the Financial Post notes that more explicit forms of cheating and fraud are indeed a problem in Canada as well, highlighting several examples. Financial Post | Queen’s Journal | Betakit (National)
Holland partners with large grower to develop cannabis-infused chocolate
Prince Edward Island’s Holland College has partnered with New Brunswick’s largest licensed grower of marijuana to develop a line of cannabis-infused chocolate for the edible market, reports CBC. “Most of the market doesn't like the thought of smoking,” said Ray Gracewood, CCO of Organigram. The grower will partner specifically with Canada’s Smartest Kitchen, the research and development arm of The Culinary Institute of Canada at Holland College. To begin developing new products, the kitchen’s staff will first help out with market research, said Culinary Institute Director Tim McRoberts, adding that, “Right now, a lot of it has to do with market analysis, trend analysis, [and] flavour analysis.” CBC (PEI, NB)
Montreal, McGill certified for recognizing water, sanitation as human rights
McGill University and the Ville de Montréal have received Blue Community certification. To obtain the certification, the university and the city have undertaken to recognize water and sanitation as human rights, to promote publicly managed water services, and to ban or phase out the sale of bottled water in their buildings and at their events. McGill is now the fourth university in the world to receive this certification. “On behalf of McGill University, I want to first congratulate Eau Secours and the founding organizations of the Blue Communities campaign for encouraging communities in Quebec and around the world to champion the protection of water,” said McGill Vice-Principal (Administration and Finance) Yves Beauchamp. “We are pleased to have had our own efforts recognized and we thank Eau Secours for granting us the Blue Community certification.” McGill (QC)
Future pilots look to soar with new MHC partnership
Future pilots will have a new opportunity to build a career in aviation, thanks to a partnership between Medicine Hat College and Super T Aviation Academy. An MHC release states that students in the collaborative program will take ground school and flight training through Super T, while having the opportunity to earn Aviation Management Certificate through MHC. “We work with industry partners all the time, so it makes good sense for us to expand into aviation with Super T,” said MHC Dean of Trades and Technology Dennis Beaudoin. While on campus, students will enroll in 10 courses such as Communications in the Workplace, Technical Math, Management Theory, and Advanced Meteorology. MHC (AB)
UOttawa students demand explanation for allegedly delay in notice of on-campus van threat
Some University of Ottawa students are asking their university why they were not warned sooner about a man in a stolen van careening through the streets of their campus. CBC reports that no one was injured in the incident, and that a 36 year-old man has been charged with multiple offences. The university has issued a statement noting that the school instituted its “emergency response protocol” during the incident, and that it verified information with local police and informed the campus as soon as the situation became safe. But students are demanding to know why UOttawa’s first alleged communication about the event came 40 minutes after police had already been called to campus. Student Federation of the University of Ottawa President Paige Booth said that the federation will raise the issue with university administrators. CBC | Ottawa Citizen | The Fulcrum (ON)
UWindsor investigates player allegations of verbal, mental abuse by women’s hockey coach
The University of Windsor has told theWindsor Star that it is investigating player allegations of verbal and mental abuse by first-year women’s hockey coach Deanna Iwanicka. The university reportedly launched its investigation after five players approached retired kinesiology professor Marge Holman recently with a number of complaints.Iwanicka was hired as the university’s first full-time coach in July 2018 after coaching the previous 10 years at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Those involved in the investigation say that they will not comment on the matter until the investigation has run its course. Windsor Star (1) |Windsor Star (2) (ON)
UQTR, Drummondville company partner on cannabis research
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and Feuille Verte de Drummondville have announced that they would like to join forces on cannabis research. Feuille Verte President Dany Lefebvre stated that the company plans to work with UQTR to study and understand the potential of cannabis phytomolecules such as terpenes and terpenoids. UQTR Rector Daniel McMahon stated that the new partnership will both contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge and benefit UQTR students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry or biotechnology. UQTR (QC)
URegina, faculty association reach tentative agreement
The University of Regina and the school’s faculty association struck a tentative agreement this Monday evening. A URegina release notes that the University of Regina Faculty Association will now present the agreement to its members and recommend ratification through a vote. The release adds that the details of the agreement will not be made public until it is accepted. CBC reports that without such a deal, a strike action would have been possible on March 28. CBC | URegina (SK)
