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Today's Top Ten

March 28, 2024

The Government of Ontario has released its 2024 Budget, which includes the previously announced $1.3B in funding to stabilize ON colleges and universities. Other postsecondary-related announcements in the budget included an additional $100M into the Skills Development Fund Training Stream for 2024-25; $15M over three years to implement an Efficiency and Accountability Fund; $10M to support small, rural, and northern training institutions; and $9M for the establishment of a medical school at York University focused on training family doctors, which ON says is the first of its kind.
The Government of Canada has invested $9.6M into the Health System Impact Embedded Early Career Researcher Award, which supports researchers working in health organizations across Canada. The funding supports 12 researchers focused on addressing health system priorities and building research capacity at their host organizations. Researchers will receive $800K over four years to study health-related topics such as autism research and policy, chronic pain management, and perinatal and neonatal health care. The researchers who have received funding hail from Dalhousie University, McMaster University, St Francis Xavier University, Université Laval, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, the University of Ottawa, the University of Toronto, and Western University .
Government of Quebec Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry has questioned whether it is “time to ban initiations” at cégeps and universities after a group of biology students alleged that they were put through “degrading hazing” experiences at Université de Sherbrooke. Radio-Canada reported that biology students were doused in animal urine, encouraged to strip naked in public, and told to bathe in the lac des Nations. USherbrooke has opened an investigation into the reports. “This is completely unacceptable,” said USherbrooke vice rector and secretary general Jocelyne Faucher. “At no time does the university tolerate such actions, violence, intimidation.” Déry expressed her approval of the university’s response and expressed hope that the organizers of the hazing activities would be sanctioned.
The Globe and Mail reports that ON will be allotting 96% of its international study permit applications to publicly assisted colleges and universities. The remaining 4% will go to language schools, private universities, and “other institutions,” while career colleges will reportedly not receive any applications. ON stated that it will be prioritizing programs in high-demand areas such as the skilled trades, health, human resources, hospitality, childcare, and STEM. Applications will not be able to exceed an institution’s 2023 study permit levels and the ratio of permits cannot exceed 55% of the institution’s first-year domestic enrolment. “We are protecting the integrity of our province’s postsecondary education system by attracting the best and brightest international students to Ontario to study in areas that are critical to our economy,” ON Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop said in a statement.
The University of Alberta has launched the Climate Change and Health Hub. This interdisciplinary hub—which is based in the College of Health Sciences—brings together 30 interdisciplinary researchers to explore how climate change impacts human health. It focuses on promoting student learning and research opportunities; collaboration between researchers, universities, practitioners, and policy-makers; and evidence-informed advocacy to best reach the public. “It’s really important to think about climate change as a health issue,” said UAlberta Professor Sherilee Harper. Harper noted that previous research demonstrates that “if we frame climate change as a health issue it’s more likely to inspire people to take action compared to if we frame climate change as an environmental problem, or as an economic problem, or as a national security problem.”
Saint Mary’s University’s senate has approved an enhanced International Baccalaureate (IB) admissions and recognition policy. The policy will offer admission to graduates from over 180 IB curriculum schools in Canada and over 5,600 schools across the world. “Research shows that IB students tend to transition to university smoother and outperform their colleagues in their first year,” says Seneker. “Recognizing these students and the intellectual and personal growth that they experience both inside and outside the classroom is long overdue.”
St Clair College’s Office Administration-Health Services program has received accreditation from the Canadian College of Health Information Management (CCHIM). Graduates of the program will be able to write the national certification examination to become Health Information-Certified Associates. “This new stamp of approval assures employers that our graduates are bringing job-ready skills of the highest and most current industry standards to doctors' offices, clinics and hospitals,” said St Clair President Patti France.
Université Laval will create a computing cluster for AI research in order to ensure Canadian researchers and industry stakeholders have access to the computing power they need for their work. The initiative has received pledges of $9.6M through the Government of Canada’s Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy (PCAIS) and $6.4M from the Government of Quebec. The investment will enable ULaval to acquire the computing infrastructure it needs to host the Pan-Canadian AI Compute Environment platform. The platform will be developed in collaboration with Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, and Calcul Québec.
Sharing a research paper on X/Twitter may increase engagement, but it does not increase citations, according to a recent study shared on Nature. Over the course of ten months, researchers shared randomly selected primary research articles and reviews on their personal accounts. Three years later, they compared the statistics of each shared article with other articles from the same journal editions. They found that the shared articles had higher daily download values, but similar citation rates to the control articles. The findings reportedly echo a similar study that was conducted in 2013 by University of Ottawa scholar Stefanie Haustein. “We actually showed that a lot of the counts on Twitter you would get were bots, it wasn’t even humans,” said Haustein of the 2013 study.
A weapons complaint at Dalhousie University’s Killam Library prompted an on-campus police response on Tuesday. Students in the library were instructed to shelter in place, while those outside the library were told to avoid the library as officers responded to a report of “a man with a gun” in the area. Police searched each floor but did not find anyone matching that description in the area. Global News reports that police are investigating the source of the “suspicious telephone call.” Dal encouraged students to connect with Student Health and Wellness for support after the disruption.

Indigenous Top 10

March 20, 2024

Kenjgewin Teg and Mitacs have partnered to bring new funding and supports to Kenjgewin Teg’s staff, students, and partner organizations. Under the partnership, Kenjgewin Teg staff and students will have access to Mitacs funding opportunities, programs, and training. The institution’s partner organizations will also have the opportunity to secure funding to further advance Indigenous-driven research. “Kenjgewin Teg is excited to continue building a solid foundation as we begin moving forward in Anishinabek research in ways that are relevant and useful not only to Anishinabek education but to our Nation too,” said Kenjgewin Teg President Beverley Roy. “An important part of this work includes attracting and recruiting Indigenous and Anishinabek researchers, scholars, and graduate students to help us identify research priorities for the benefit of future generations.”
The Government of Canada has announced over $170M in funding for 24 projects that will bring new training opportunities to Indigenous workers. The projects will provide training for work in the green economy, the information and communications technology sector, the infrastructure sector, the blue economy, and the Indigenous public sector. The organizations leading the projects include the Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society (ACCESS) in British Columbia, which will provide technical training for the skilled trades; the Gabriel Dumont Institute Training and Employment Inc in Saskatchewan, which will train Métis citizens for work in the health sector; and the Labrador Aboriginal Training Partnership in Newfoundland & Labrador, which will offer career-counselling and training for work in underground mining. “These initiatives not only address skills shortages in Canada but also contribute to the empowerment of our Indigenous peoples through meaningful employment,” said ACCESS President Lynn White.
The First Nations University of Canada is launching new programming focused on the fields of journalism and education for Indigenous students. The Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Journalism and Communication Arts will blend multimedia training with training on Indigenous issues and languages. “The degree is unique and long overdue,” said FNU President Dr Jacqueline Ottmann. “We need Indigenous voices and perspectives to tell our stories accurately and respectfully.” Students who are currently in FNU’s Indigenous Communication Arts program will be able to transfer into the program. FNU has also received over $100K to deliver two new teacher education programs: the Dene Teacher Education Program in Hatchet Lake Denesuline Nation and the Cree Teacher Education Program in Waterhen Lake First Nation. The programs—which are delivered in partnership with the University of Regina—enable students to pursue their Bachelor of Indigenous Education while staying in their communities.
The Squamish Nation Language Nest Program has found a new home in a 112-year-old schoolhouse now called ta tsíptspi7lhḵn (“voices of the nest” in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim). The building was moved across the Burrard Inlet after being marked for demolition to make way for an elementary school. It will provide a permanent home for the immersive early education program, which teaches babies and toddlers the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim language. “As soon as we stepped foot in this building, it felt like home,” said head teacher Kaiya Williams, who described how the schoolhouse is designed so that parents and families can join the programming and spend time sitting or eating with their children. Squamish Hereditary Chief Xalek/Sekyu Siyam Ian Campbell said the original building did not reflect Indigenous epistemologies, but that the building’s transformation is an example of reconciliation. “It’s how do we draw forward more collaboration and a common sort of shared value on purpose, and that’s really about our children,” said Campbell.
Eabametoong First Nation is working hard to set up a temporary school in time for the Fall after its only school was destroyed by arson. The John C Yesno Education Centre was destroyed by a fire on January 25, displacing 300 K-9 students. “There’s a real positive feeling that we are going to open a school for our children to go this fall,” said Eabametoong First Nation Chief Solomon Atlookan. Government of Canada Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu announced that the federal government is investing over $13M to help the community bring in and furnish five modular buildings to support learning in the community. In the meantime, CBC reports that about a dozen grade 9 students have been sent to Thunder Bay—where youth typically go to complete their high school education—to complete their semester at the Matawa Education and Care Centre. After the temporary school has been established, Eabametoong will return to its planning for a new school for the community.
The University of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Fine Arts has received a Blackfoot name from Iikaisskini (Low Horn) Dr Leroy Little Bear. The new name—Piiksinaasin—means Manifesting Beauty. “In many Indigenous communities, art is very much a part of our ways. It’s on the rocks, it’s on our tipis, each one with their own meaning,” explained Little Bear. “Each one of those arts has a name, there’s a story behind it.” ULethbridge faculty dean Dr Heather Davis-Fisch noted that the name gifted to the faculty comes with the ongoing responsibility of serving Indigenous students and the Blackfoot community, as well as the opportunity to reflect on the faculty’s work to date on supporting Indigenization.
Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) is planning to replace its traditional Grade 11 English course with an Indigenous Education course. While the board has offered the course as an elective since 2015, the replacement was recently piloted in four of the board’s schools. After taking into account feedback from students and teachers, superintendent Jeff Crowell said that the course will be mandatory in all of the board’s secondary schools next year. “We have a plethora of Indigenous authors, writers, poets, and playwrights that haven’t had the venue to be able to teach our youth,” said HCDSB Indigenous Education Advisor Sherry Saevil. Saevil added that the course will prepare students for success in postsecondary where they may be required to complete an Indigenous Studies course.
Capilano University has launched a new website font—BC Sans—which accurately displays the special characters and syllabics found in British Columbia’s Indigenous languages. The font is aligned with CapilanoU’s Envisioning 2030 plan and its commitment to inclusive, accessible experiences. “The new font aligns with CapU’s values and respectful practices and ensures our font is highly readable and capable of displaying Indigenous languages properly,” said CapilanoU Manager of Creative Cari Bird. BC Sans is a free, open-source typeface that was developed with input by FirstVoices and investments by the Government of British Columbia.
Two educational organizations have launched new programs that will teach Indigenous students to fight fires. Camp Molly—a camp that empowers and prepares girls and young women to pursue a career in firefighting—is expanding to offer four all-Indigenous programs in Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. Campers will learn about topics such as auto extrication, fire prevention and suppression, and firefighter survival training while interacting with strong female role models. Yellowhead Tribal College is teaching students how to spot wildfires from the sky as part of its Environmental Monitoring and Drone Technician Certificate program. Aboriginal Training Services CEO Darcy Hunt explained that graduates of the program will be able to help keep their traditional lands safe from wildfires. The program is funded by the Indian Resource Council, which represents 130 First Nations, and is free to Indigenous applicants.
Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) students recently had the opportunity to participate in a Métis-math collaboration called First Nations and Métis Math Voices. During the session, three Métis knowledge keepers led a class of Grade 6 students through the creation of a bracelet using the First Nations art form of loom beading and mathematical concepts. Students designed their own bracelets using math concepts such as transformations, ratios, and rates and learned how to revise their calculations to create a bracelet with a different size of beads. Students learned cultural lessons and teachings from the knowledge keepers as they made their bracelets. “There are so many cultural teachings that are interwoven through the project,” said Lakehead University mathematics education researcher Ruth Beatty, who spearheaded the initiative. “It isn’t just about mathematical investigations, but it really is learning those important cultural lessons and teachings from knowledge keepers.”

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