June 10, 2022
The Government of Canada has made a $17M investment in the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM). The funding, which comes from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, will support a study of methamphetamine use in Canada and expand CRISM to a total of five regional Nodes. Quebec and Atlantic Canada will become two separate Nodes. The new Atlantic Node will be led by Dalhousie University clinical psychology and psychiatry researcher Sherry Stewart, and will receive $2.4M in funding to improve health outcomes for those who use substances. “This announcement represents a positive step forward in ensuring the Atlantic provinces are better prepared to meet the challenges of drug use and addiction,” said Dal VP Research and Innovation Alice Aiken.
Canada |
Dal (NS)
Western University has launched a new international corrosion training program that will help train corrosion scientists. The program will be led by Western Professor Yolanda Hedberg, and will include collaboration between eight universities in Canada, 20 international universities, industry partners, and corrosion associations. The project will teach children and young adults about corrosion as a global problem and consider how they can use their knowledge about corrosion to change the world. “We’re looking to enrich the education and teach students that this kind of science is accessible and has practical implications,” said Hedberg. The program is supported through a $1.65M grant from the NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience program.
Western (ON)
The Government of Manitoba has announced that it will be creating 30 new nursing seats at Red River College Polytechnic through an investment of $830K. The new seats will aim to address MB’s nursing shortage. The funding will go towards a variety of initiatives and resources, such as classroom renovations, laboratory equipment, and other supports for the additional students. RRC Polytech had previously had to cut 75 seats in 2019 due to a reduced operating grant from MB. “The seats being announced today are in high demand,” said RRC President Fred Meier. “After today, we’re able to say we’re accepting 180 students annually.”
CBC |
Winnipeg Free Press (Sub. Req.) |
MB (MB )
Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick has partnered with Lien d’avenir to give Dieppe Campus students additional learning experiences to support essential skills development. The initiative, which is overseen by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton, will allow second-year business department students to work with four different organizations to develop innovative solutions to their challenges. The partnership will give students the opportunity to develop their creativity and problem-solving skills as they forge ties with the region’s business community. Students will be able to begin accessing opportunities in Fall 2022.
CCNB (NB)
Professors need to adapt when mentoring graduate students online, writes Mai P Trinh. Trinh recommends that supervisors develop effective mentorship skills so that they can support students who they rarely see in person. The author recommends that supervisors build an online community and connect with students holistically rather than focusing only on research. Trinh encourages supervisors to facilitate team-building and collaborative activities so that students can learn from each other as well as from an academic. Finally, the author recommends that supervisors have fun with their students but be authentic and honest about the challenges that academics face to help facilitate student learning.
Inside Higher Ed (Sub. Req.) (Editorial)
The University of Toronto has announced that it has introduced the Eagle Feather into its graduation ceremonies to show its commitment to reconciliation. A new ceremonial role – the Eagle Feather Bearer – has been created in response to recommendations made by the U of T’s Convocation Review. Eagle Feather Bearers are members of the U of T community and an Indigenous community who have been nominated for the position. “It’s a tremendous honour,” said Lindsey Fechtig, a member of Curve Lake First Nation who served as Eagle Feather Bearer. “So, to be in this position of privilege and just having the faculty honour this, and the institution honour our ways of knowing and doing, and our culture – the significance of this is huge.”
U of T (ON)
Students at Mount Allison University are expressing disappointment after a “closed arbitration process” was carried out regarding blog posts by MtA professor Rima Azar. CBC reports that Azar had been on suspension after multiple complaints were received about posts on her personal blog. The arbitration process was carried out earlier in the year, and hearings were reportedly held privately. Mount Allison Students’ Union President Rohin Minocha-McKenney expressed concerns about the lack of communication regarding the arbitration process. “It’s hard to see if students and the community are being properly advocated for when there are closed-door sessions like this,” said Minocha-McKenney. CBC says that course timetables indicate that Azar will be teaching in the Fall and Winter semesters.
CBC |
The New Wark Times (NB)
Camosun College’s Eyēʔ Sqȃ’lewen – The Centre for Indigenous Education & Community Connections (IECC) and the Ara Institute’s Te Reo Māori and Pacific Studies department in New Zealand have launched a program to teach students about Indigenous leadership and learning. The Advanced Certificate in Ways of Indigenous Leadership & Learning will train Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in real-world leadership practices so that they can move toward reconciliation. The program is offered primarily online, with an opportunity for students to gather in Victoria for three weeks in their first year and gather in New Zealand for three weeks in their second year. The certificate will cover classroom and on-the-land applied learning, and will focus on Indigenous leadership’s relational, cultural, and strategic elements.
Nation Talk (BC)
In an article from
The Globe and Mail, Robert Fife and Steven Chase discuss the potential challenges related to Canadian partnerships with Huawei Technologies. Fife and Chase say that though Canada has banned Huawei from 5G wireless networks, around 20 postsecondary institutions across Canada are still completing research with Huawei as a sponsor. Some institutions, such as McGill University and the University of Toronto, reportedly do not have any plans to sever their relationships with Huawei unless the government requires them to. Fife and Chase discuss a variety of issues that could arise from completing work with Huawei, including the use of intellectual property to develop China’s military technologies and the development of patents on which Huawei is listed as owner.
The Globe and Mail (Sub. Req.) (Editorial)
Collège Boréal and Cambrian College are once again offering free accelerated training programs for personal support workers (PSWs). The programs take six months to complete and provide students with free tuition and books as well as a paid three-month placement. The programs aim to meet the continuing demand for PSWs in ON. “We want to make sure people get the care they need from PSWs, which is why we are again offering this accelerated program,” said Dean of Cambrian’s School of Health Sciences Dr June Raymond. Both colleges will offer intakes of the fully funded programs in the summer.
CTV News |
Bay Today (ON)
rtraction