Laurentian University and Collège Boréal sign memorandum of understanding to strengthen francophone education and collaboration

(July 15, 2025) — Laurentian University and Collège Boréal are proud to announce the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MoU), formalizing their shared commitment to enhancing French-language postsecondary education and research in Northern Ontario and beyond.

This agreement reflects the enduring dedication of both institutions towards their Francophone mission and a willingness to collaborate with partners who share a vision for serving students and communities.

The MoU provides for the establishment of new educational pathways between the institutions and more formal partnerships aiming to:

• improve access to French-language studies, and increase the number of pathways available in French in the Sudbury region and Ontario;
• maximize and encourage synergy of French-language programming;
• alleviate the French-language labour shortage in northern Ontario;
• facilitate credit transfers between Collège Boréal and Laurentian University;
• offer pathways and program combinations that include both theoretical and practical approaches to better prepare students for the workforce;
• improve services to Indigenous communities in the region;
• enhance access for college students to French-language graduate studies (master’s and PhD programs);
• promote collaboration on research projects in areas of mutual interest.

“Our province’s francophone community plays a vital role in building a self-reliant and more competitive Northern Ontario,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This agreement between Laurentian University and Collège Boréal will not only strengthen access to world-class French postsecondary education but will also equip students with the education and skills they need to protect and grow Ontario’s economy.”

“The signing of this new agreement between Laurentian University and Collège Boréal formalizes a long-standing collaboration in service of Ontario’s Francophone population,” said Collège Boréal President, Daniel Giroux. “Through this renewed commitment, our institutions continue working together to improve access to high-quality postsecondary education and enrich the student experience via more exchanges and collaborations. Our goal is to train a truly bilingual workforce equipped to meet the job market challenges of today and tomorrow.”

“For more than 60 years, Laurentian has been an essential part of the Francophone fabric of northern Ontario,” said Dr. Lynn Wells, President and Vice-Chancellor of Laurentian University. “With our 2,500 francophone students and over 85% of our staff being bilingual, our commitment to French-language education remains strong and unwavering. This MoU represents a step forward in building productive partnerships that strengthen our identity, and open new avenues for Francophone students.”

The agreement paves the way for ongoing discussions and exploring new collaboration opportunities. It demonstrates both institutions’ commitment to innovation in higher education and to strengthening connections with the Francophone, Indigenous, and Northern communities they serve.

-30-

About Collège Boréal
Founded in Sudbury in 1995, Collège Boréal is a French-language postsecondary institution committed to the development and growth of the various Ontario communities it serves. With 34 sites including eight campuses in 27 communities, Boréal offers high-level expertise in postsecondary education (with the highest graduate and employer satisfaction rates among Ontario’s 24 community colleges). Its services also include basic training, apprenticeship, immigration and integration services, employment services, continuing education, customized training and applied research.

About Laurentian University (Akinomaagegamik)
Laurentian University serves more than 8,000 students on its Sudbury, Ontario campus, and is one of two bilingual universities in the province. Committed to its bilingual and tricultural mandate, Laurentian offers an outstanding university experience in English and French with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education.