Latest news with #UPEI
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
University of P.E.I. and Holland College receive $100,000 towards cleantech scholarships
Pictured is the sign at University of Prince Edward Island. (Jack Morse/CTV Atlantic) Students attending the new cleantech programs at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) and Holland College will be eligible to receive a portion of $100,000 in scholarships from the provincial government. The funding will support students entering the Sustainable Business Leadership Post-Graduate certificate at Holland College and the Master of Cleantech Leadership and Transformation at UPEI, a news release said. The new programs were developed in partnership with the PEI Energy Corporation and the Cleantech Academy in Georgetown, P.E.I. 'These programs are about more than education. They're about transformation,' said Gilles Arsenault, minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action. 'We're investing in people who will help P.E.I. reach and maintain its net-zero goals, drive sustainable growth and position our province as a leader in cleantech innovation.' Both programs are designed to help students prepare for working in the cleantech sector. 'We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from our provincial partners as we work to build a more sustainable future for Prince Edward Island,' said Sandy MacDonald, Holland College president and CEO. 'This funding will empower students to pursue education that not only meets their personal goals but also supports critical Island industries to transition to a net-zero economy.' Students interested in the programs and information on the scholarships can visit: For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBC
4 days ago
- General
- CBC
Medical school acceptance brings woman from Souris back home to Prince Edward Island
Alyson MacCormack is one of the first cohort of students accepted at UPEI's new Faculty of Medicine. The UPEI site is a regional campus of Memorial University until a future joint degree is established. MacCormack tells Louise Martin of CBC News: Compass that it's a dream come true, as well as a homecoming. She grew up near Souris before going to Mount Allison University in New Brunswick and then the University of Ottawa.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
UPEI approves budget and tuition increases for 2025-26 academic year
The Board of Governors at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) approved an operating budget that increased by more than $20 million over the previous fiscal year, said a news release from the university. The board announced a 2025-26 operating budget just under $202.9 million – an increase of 11.2 per cent – on Tuesday, despite financial challenges caused by changes to federal immigration policy, said the release. 'We are at a particular time in the history of the University where, in addition to the typical budget pressures like inflation, we are being challenged by federal immigration policies, which have negatively affected universities across the country,' said Dr. Wendy Rodgers, UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor. UPEI said it has been significantly impacted by caps on international students implemented by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2024. International enrolment of first-year students has declined by approximately 50 per cent and is projected to decline further in 2025-26, said the release. The university said it focused on short and long-term strategies including a 3.5 per cent increase to the province's core operating grant and tuition increases to address the loss of revenue without restrictions or reductions. Tuition for domestic students will increase by 6.5 per cent for the 2025-26 academic year but the university still has the lowest fees in the region, said the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission. Domestic students will pay $46 dollars more per 3-semester-hour credit course or $460 for a full-time student with a full courseload under the new budget. Tuition for international students will increase by 7.5 per cent, or $630 for full-time, undergraduate students. A portion of fees will fund and emergency bursary for international students. 'Through budget strategies developed collaboratively and transparently with University leaders, and with support from the Government of Prince Edward Island, we have achieved a balanced budget for 2025–2026,' said Vice-President Tim Walker. For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
UPEI hikes tuition by 6.5% for Canadians, 7.5% for international students this fall
Social Sharing The University of Prince Edward Island is increasing tuition fees in the face of falling international enrolments, with the hike being more significant than last year's for both domestic and international students. UPEI's board of governors approved a $202.9-million operating budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year on Tuesday, with spending up about 11 per cent compared to the last budget. To make the numbers work, the university is raising tuition fees by 6.5 per cent for Canadian students and 7.5 per cent for international students, starting in the fall semester. Last year, the increase was five per cent across the board for all students. The Charlottetown-based university is pointing to a reduction in international students as one of its major financial challenges. First-year international enrolments fell by roughly 50 per cent in 2024–25, costing the institution about $3 million. That trend is expected to continue in 2025–26, with an additional drop of $3 million projected. Tim Walker, UPEI's vice-president of administration and finance, said declining international enrolments and rising costs due to inflation contributed to the decision to raise tuition. "We went to our government partners, who've been very generous, but they are also subject to financial constraint. We looked at all kinds of cost-containment measures. We were successful in containing a lot of costs and bringing down that normal inflation, but there was still a gap," Walker told CBC News. "So, we had to look at the student tuitions with a fresh eye." Walker said that for an average undergraduate student taking 10 courses, the tuition increase will amount to about $460. Financial pressures seen across the country Gabriel Miller, president and CEO of Universities Canada, said UPEI is not alone in facing a money crunch. Many universities across the country are under growing financial pressure due to two key factors, one of which is declining government investment over the past 10 years. "For more than a decade, governments in Canada, both federally and provincially, simply haven't been holding up their end of the bargain when it comes to helping students get a university education," Miller said. To fill that funding gap, universities have been relying on recruiting international students, who bring in more revenue per person. But recent federal reductions to the number of international student permits have created significant budgetary challenges for institutions across Canada. "Both of these factors now have caused a growing financial crisis on campus," Miller said. And so institutions are being forced to make difficult decisions, including raising tuition fees, to reduce deficits while trying to protect the quality of education. Looking ahead, Miller said he hopes Ottawa will fix the immigration system and attract top international talent again — something he said would boost the economy, create jobs and support institutions financially. He also called for stronger provincial investment in post-secondary education. "We need serious, sustained commitments for provinces to make sure that their universities have sustained funding to complement what students and their families are investing themselves." No layoffs or program cuts at UPEI Despite the financial strain, Walker said the university has no plans to lay off staff or shut down academic programs, as Prince Edward Island's other major post-secondary did recently. Holland College said it had no choice given an 83 per cent decrease in its foreign enrolment. But Walker did say the Charlottetown-based university can conduct a "curriculum cohesion review," which involves strategically examining courses, including low-enrolment ones, and possibly redeploying academic resources. Walker said students from Prince Edward Island can also get support through the George Coles Bursary, which increased from $3,200 to $3,500 this year, an amount he said outpaces the amount of the tuition hike. "So essentially, two-thirds of that impact that we are actually putting into our fee is going to be recouped by the increase in the George Coles Bursary," Walker said. For international students, Walker said about one per cent of revenue UPEI earns from the fee increase, which is estimated at between $175,000 and $200,000, is being earmarked for financial-need bursaries for students facing a financial pinch during the school year. "We are not really concerned on the competitiveness front. What we are concerned about is how the students perceive it and how they feel about it, and that's why we put these measures in place," Walker said. 'We're losing talent, we are losing skills' Wasiimah Joomun, executive director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, which includes UPEI's student union, said rising tuition costs will limit access to education and reduce the country's ability to build a diverse and skilled workforce. "We're losing talent, we are losing skills, and we are losing that return of investment from this population of Canadians," Joomun said. Mary Feltham, national chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students, said the news from UPEI is concerning and reflects a broader trend across Canada. "Education is a right, and it is very important that these public post-secondary educational institutes act as a service rather than a business," Feltham said.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Time of India
Victoria Day 2025: What's open and what's closed across Canada
Victoria Day, which signals the arrival of summer season, is on May 19, 2025, will see many businesses operating with regular or reduced hours, while government offices, schools, and some services will be closed, prompting a reminder to call ahead. Most grocery stores and pharmacies will be open, but with potential adjustments to their usual schedules, as the holiday impacts various sectors including mail delivery, library access, and mall hours, though transit and garbage collection will remain on schedule. People can witness the mesmerizing , which will last for 14 minutes, annual fireworks display at Toronto's Ashbridges Bay Park on Monday at 10 pm. The fireworks will be visible from Emdaabiimok Avenue (called Lower Coxwell Avenue earlier) to Victoria Park Avenue. According to the RCMP, alcohol is prohibited at Ashbridges Bay. Toronto Police stated that people can set off fireworks on their own private property without a permit before 11 pm on Victoria Day, but the same is not permissible in parks, beaches, balconies, streets, or parking lots. Bonfires are banned in city parks and beaches. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop In Jawa Timur - Watch What Happens Happy in Shape Undo Also Read: Ontario faces massive wildfires, over 800 forced to flee homes Many road have been closed across the city which could result in major delays. There are restricted parking in force in some areas and police have encouraged people to use public transit when possible. Live Events TTC routes will start early at 6 am and follow their Sunday schedule on Victoria Day with additional buses on 22A Coxwell and 92A Woodbine. GO Transit will follow its Saturday schedule. While most grocery store chains will remain shut on Monday, but people are advised to check store websites as some of them may operate for a few hours. Rabba Fine Foods have confirmed that they are are open on Victoria Day. St. Lawrence Market, Toronto History Museums and the city's public library branches are closed Monday. As Victoria Day approaches, many businesses in P.E.I. will either stay open or operate on reduced hours on May 19. Islanders are advised to call ahead to confirm hours of operation. All provincial and municipal government offices will be closed for the holiday. Schools across the Island, including Holland College and UPEI, will also be closed. UPEI's Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Canada Post will not be delivering or picking up mail on Victoria Day. Public libraries will be closed. T3 Transit will operate on its regular schedule. Garbage collections through Island Waste Management Corporations will proceed as normal. All P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission stores will be open during their regular hours. P.E.I. Cannabis will be open until 6 p.m. Royalty Crossing mall will close at 5 p.m. The Confederation Court Mall will be closed for the holiday. The County Fair Mall in Summerside will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Walmart stores will maintain their regular hours. Foodland locations will be open until 5 p.m. Atlantic Superstore locations will also be open during their regular hours. Also Read: How to get a driver's License in Ontario: A simple step-by-step guide Cooper's Food Market in Belfast will operate on its regular hours. Global Grocery in Charlottetown will have reduced hours, operating from noon to 5 p.m. O'Leary Co-Op will observe holiday hours, open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wellington Co-Op will maintain regular hours, as will the stores in Tignish and Souris. The Morell Co-Op will be closed on Monday. All Sobeys locations will be open regular hours except for the University Avenue and Allen Street location, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. All Shoppers Drug Mart locations will be open regular hours, except for the Confederation Court Mall location, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The following Murphy's Pharmacies locations will be open: "Cornwall Pharmacy from noon to 5 p.m." "Kensington Pharmacy from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m." "Kinlock Pharmacy from noon to 5 p.m." "Parkdale Pharmacy from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m." "Queen Street Pharmacy from noon to 5 p.m." "West Royalty Pharmacy from noon to 5 p.m." Lawtons Drugs in the County Fair Mall will be open from noon to 5 p.m. "It's a good idea to call ahead if you're planning on heading out on a Monday that's a holiday for some Islanders."
