Education: 1) Georgian College named Technology Access Centre, awarded $1.75M grant for innovation hub; 2) School Board Takeover: What’s the Real Price for Students?

1) Georgian College named Technology Access Centre, awarded $1.75M grant for innovation hub

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Julius Hern, July 16, 2025

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada officially designated Georgian College a Technology Access Centre (TAC). Coming with it: a $1.75 million grant.

That grant will come over a period of five years. It will support the College’s Centre of Industrial Simulation and Prototyping.

Georgian College is now the first institution in Ontario to operate an Industry 5.0 sandbox. Manufacturers will be able to work through the processes of new technologies at the College’s facilities.

INDUSTRY 5.0 SANDBOX

“This funding reflects Georgian’s national leadership in applied research and our commitment to helping industry drive innovation and economic growth,” said Georgian College Executive Director, Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Dr. Mira Ray in a news release.

Industry 5.0 is described as reflecting a shift from a focus on economic value to a focus on societal value. Additionally, a shift in focus from welfare to wellbeing.

Expert consultation and applied research partnerships are among the services provided under this new designation as an Industry 5.0 sandbox.

BOOSTING INNOVATION

As a result, Georgian’s new status as a TAC positions it as a key supporter of such innovation.

“The TAC designation validates our community’s shared vision and gives us the tools to deliver made-in-Ontario solutions, future-proof our students, and support regional economic development,” said Georgian College’s Director of Research and Innovation Laleh Khodaparast in a news release.

The college’s centre will help manufacturers integrate advanced technologies with human-focused design in their production.

NATIONAL NETWORK

As a result of the TAC designation, Georgian joins a national network of institutions. The network provides access to specialized research, expertise, and training.

Additionally, the recognition enhances Georgian’s ties to local industry, strengthens its role in the regional innovation ecosystem. It will create more opportunities for students through applied research and real-world projects.

“Georgian College is at the forefront of transformative and career-focused education,” said Georgian College president and CEO Kevin Weaver in news release. “Among the college’s many contributions is the development of a highly skilled regional talent pipeline.”

“This grant also speaks directly to how Georgian College is unlocking opportunities regionally, nationally and, indeed, globally – strengthening the economy and providing substantial social benefits. This is a significant milestone for the college – its students, employers and the community.”  

OTHER EXPANSION

Earlier this year, funding came from the City of Barrie providing Georgian College funds to expand in downtown Barrie.

Georgian College also announced earlier this year plans to expand the Centre for Skilled Trades at the Barrie campus.

2) School Board Takeover: What’s the Real Price for Students?

Voters in Toronto may have cast their ballots three years ago, but with a stroke of provincial authority this summer, the voices behind nearly 400,000 votes fell silent. As Queen’s Park installed financial supervisors to oversee the Toronto District School Board, one question echoes: when governance shifts, who hears the students?

The move, announced on June 27 by Education Minister Paul Calandra, stripped elected trustees of pay, power, and participation. Their absence leaves a vacuum precisely where student needs intersect with policy, a gap felt keenly by those meant to benefit from a responsive, local school board. Trustees, once conduits for family concerns and student advocacy, are now locked out of decisions shaping transportation, special education, and curriculum. Parents have lost their direct channel, and student trustees, like Victor Jiang, are left unsure whether their roles mean anything beyond ceremony.

For many, the province’s rationale is clear yet contested: persistent deficits, despite steady funding, prompted the appointment of overseers. Calandra positions these changes as necessary for accountability. Critics argue the solution is more political than financial, pointing to the consistent thread linking supervisor appointees to the Progressive Conservative government. Frank Benedetto, now overseeing the Catholic board, brings a legal background and a record of PC Party donations—credentials questioned by those who see political proximity outweighing practical experience.

While the province lauds the supervisors’ expertise in finance and governance, parents and trustees warn of a system where the bottom line eclipses student wellbeing. The opportunity to bring student concerns to the table—once a core part of trustee work—has vanished. Community meetings, often arenas for parents to push back against service cuts, are on hold. Advocacy has been replaced by silence, and with it, a risk of more students falling through the cracks, as trustee Alexis Dawson warned.

Ultimately, the cost of financial oversight may be counted not in dollars, but in the lost voices of students and communities. For those watching from Barrie and beyond, the lesson is unmistakable: when democratic structures are sidelined, the greatest impact is felt by those least likely to be heard.

References:
EXPLAINER: The province has ‘taken over’ the TDSB. What does that mean and why should you care? Courtesy Barrie Today