CNC prepares for the foreign student reduction fallout
And a lawsuit in the arts community. Read to the end for a pretty aerial view of the city
The College of New Caledonia is preparing for layoffs due to a decline in international student enrolment. The full statement, emphasis mine:
CNC is communicating with staff about its financial and enrolment situation after a decline in international student enrolment.
This decline follows federal changes to regulations for international students to study in Canada.
CNC is predicting very few international students to arrive in subsequent terms. If no changes are made, the college anticipates an operating deficit in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. CNC will revise its enrolment targets and adjust program capacities to achieve a balanced budget based on predictive enrolment data.
The college has begun communicating these changes to bargaining associations as well as faculty. CNC is planning budget reductions through a combination of eliminating vacant positions, reviewing and revising admission capacities, and layoffs across all employee groups.
The details of the changes will require several months of planning. CNC will sustain programs for international students who are currently enrolled so they may complete their studies.
CNC has been engaged in strategic enrolment planning and management for five years. Through that work, CNC has sought more balanced domestic and international enrolment.
CNC will focus on domestic enrolment, which has grown in recent years through careful enrolment planning. CNC is also working to offer programs to new international students that align with Government of Canada’s recently announced study areas eligible for post- graduate work permits.
As previously reported nearly a quarter of the students at CNC last year were international students — about 1,500 of approximately 6,610. That’s a huge loss, regardless, and foreign students are worth more to schools. CNC is not alone in this — schools all over the province and the country have been making similar announcements.
A lawsuit in the arts community
In an email sent out to Community Arts Council members yesterday, Eli Klasner announced that after seven years he is leaving the organization:
Lastly, I also announced today that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the CAC, to take effect during Q1-2 of 2025. It has been the experience of a lifetime helping where I could over the past seven years. It is my hope to help guide the succession planning, recruitment and onboarding of the new Executive Director. I also intend to continue to champion the new Studio 2880 Redevelopment Project, and continue my advocacy for a new arts and entertainment complex in our downtown civic core.
In his time in the role, there has been a strong push toward the CAC taking an active role in planning the next phase of arts infrastructure in the city, which inclue the aforementioned projects, as well as the organization taking over the Prince George Playhouse and the opening of the new Knox Performance Centre.
There is another note to this, however — from the letter:
Next to that, sadly, I will also be dedicating a lot of my time and resources, like many Jews in Canada, to combatting the rampant Antisemitism that is currently tearing through our country, including in the arts and culture sector. But that won't stop me from also continuing to support the many causes and organizations, especially in arts and culture, that are dear to my heart.
Yesterday, I linked to the update on Amy Blanding’s lawsuit against Northern Health. From that report:
The controversy dates back to an April 6 performance of a song Blanding — who is also a singer-songwriter — gave in a public venue with a community choir.
At the time, she was in a temporary role in the newly minted inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility role — a promotion from a regional manager position slated to end in August 2025.
Blanding claimed her lyrics "advocate for peace and freedom" and "do not mention any specific place, people or group." At a dress rehearsal, she wore a T-shirt with a picture of a watermelon — an image considered symbolic because the red, green and black colours mirror the Palestinian flag.
"After the performance, Ms. Blanding posted a video of her song on Instagram, with a caption referencing the number of civilians, including children, killed by Israel and the use of starvation as a weapon of war," Blanding's claim said.
"On April 24, 2024, four individuals sent a letter to Northern Health demanding that Northern Heath take action about Ms. Blanding on the basis of her song, her Instagram post and her T-shirt."
At this point, I think, it’s fair to mention that — according to a second lawsuit launched by Blanding — one of those individuals was Klanser. According to the statement of claim made in court by Blanding — to which Klasner and the other individuals have yet to respond:
Again, that is the side filed by Blanding in court, Klasner or the other individual’s response has yet to be filed. Northern Health, as reported above, has responded:
In its response, Northern Health says the organization was concerned "these comments by its interim IDEA director would lead to certain members of the community, as well as others within NHA, feeling ostracized or unwelcome and potentially hesitant to access health care."
Blanding claimed Northern Health wanted her to post a pre-drafted statement to her personal social media, saying her "actions impacted community members and caused them to feel less safe, and [that she] apologized for her comments, specifically to the Jewish community."
When she asked for "time to consider," Blanding claimed "Northern Health denied her request."
In its response, Northern Health says Blanding "refused to publish a statement apologizing to certain members of the Prince George community; namely, the Jewish community."
"Given the potential harms for certain religious and ethnic minorities within the health region as a result of the social media posts, the plaintiff's conduct, and her unwillingness in refusing to take reasonable and proportionate corrective action to address the impacts of her conduct, put her in conflict with the requirements of her temporary IDEA role," the health authority says.
News roundup
Don’t be alarmed — that’s the public alerting system being tested today.
Council news: It took an hour of discussion to decide to set up a citizen recognition program with some concern about if it will overlap with existing awards and also just take up too much staff time. Council also got a report on how the revamped community grants will work, voted to move forward on cracking down on suspected drug properties, and more.
Coldsnap 2025 sees changes and additions for better community experience.
First ever Lheidli Classic “an amazing experience” organizer says.
Police looking for two men after shots fired in Prince George.
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Send feedback by emailing northerncapitalnews@gmail.com. Find me online at akurjata.ca.
That is an arial photo of the Hansard-McGregor area. About an hour east of PG. Lovely area out there.