Labour Updates
For updates on the status of contract negotiations you can visit the following sites:
In the event of a labour disruption, Cambrian College will post on this site updates as necessary regarding the day-to-day operations of its main campus in Sudbury and satellite sites in Valley East, Espanola and Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (Little Current).
For specific questions please email communications@cambriancollege.ca
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
I am very pleased to share with you that earlier this evening, the College Employer Council (CEC) and OPSEU, the union representing Ontario’s college faculty, agreed to avoid a strike and move to binding interest arbitration. This means that classes will continue uninterpreted at Cambrian and on college campuses across Ontario.
Thank you to everyone for your patience, understanding, and respect during this challenging time.
As most of you have heard, a province-wide strike by full-time and partial-load faculty, counsellors, and librarians at Ontario’s 24 public colleges could begin this Friday, March 18, 2022, if a tentative agreement is not reached between the union (OPSEU) and the College Employer Council (CEC).
We remain hopeful that a settlement can be achieved.
If however, a strike does occur, our campus and residence will remain open. Below are some ways our campus will be affected:
If students have questions about their specific program, they can use the inquiry email that has been set up for their School:
School of Justice, Community Services, and General Studies: jacs.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
School of Business, IT, Creative Arts, Music and Design: bitmad.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
School of Health Sciences, Nursing and Emergency Services: hses.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
School of Trades, Engineering Technology, Enviro. Services, stt.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
Staff and students, for all other inquiries about the status of campus and services:
For updates on provincial bargaining, visit:
We will continue to provide you with updates about our campus as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Alison De Luisa
Vice-President, Human Resources and Student Services
Dear Cambrian students,
Please see the following message update from the College Employer Council, which represents all 24 of Ontario’s public colleges in collective bargaining with college full-time and partial-load faculty, librarians and counsellors.
Hi everyone:
I would like to provide you with an update on the current labour situation between Ontario’s 24 public colleges and OPSEU, the union representing full-time and partial-load faculty, counsellors and librarians.
The collective agreement representing this employee group expired September 30, 2021, and negotiations to this point have failed to produce an agreement. A strike vote amongst membership this past weekend resulted in a 59.4% vote in favour of a strike, and OPSEU has shared that some form of labour action may commence on Saturday, December 18.
At this time, we do not have any details regarding what this labour action could include or what impact this will have moving forward. However, for the remainder of this week, there should be no impact to class schedules, exams or assignments which will proceed as usual. Our campus and Student Residence will remain open for staff, students, and visitors (contractors) who must be on site. Students are encouraged to continue to focus on completing their semester and preparing for Winter Term in January.
Because the collective bargaining process is system-wide, I encourage you to visit the websites of the College Employer Council and OPSEU for more information.
Information regarding labour action impact at Cambrian will be shared via email, myCambrian and our special webpage, www.cambriancollege.ca/labour-updates.
We are hopeful that the current labour process will be resolved, and we will keep our Cambrian community up-to-date as more information becomes available.
Sincerely,
Alison De Luisa
Vice-President, Human Resources and Student Services
Campus Updates
Click on the tabs to see how campus and student services will be delivered during a work stoppage. For more information about our on-campus COVID-19 protocols, visit our COVID-19 landing page.
You can access these services through our Glenn Crombie Centre for Accessibility and Wellness. Click here. Services may be provided on-campus and virtually.
Students also have access to online counselling services through their health insurance plans.
Our team of Academic Advisors are available and are conducting advising sessions. Please contact the appropriate Advisor for your program to determine the format of these sessions (online, in-person on campus).
| School | Student Success Advisor | Generic Email Address |
|---|---|---|
| Business, IT; Creative Arts, Design & Music; & Hospitality | Rose Nixon | Bus.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca |
| Health Sciences, Nursing & Emergency Services | Angele Arseneau | Hses.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca |
| Justice, Community Services, & General Studies | Angie Hunda | Jacs.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca |
| Skills Training & Engineering Technology & Environmental Studies | Katrina Kasunich | STT.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca |
The Athletics Centre will be open to all staff and students, by appointment only.
You can book your appointment at the following link, https://cambriancollege-ca.libcal.com/reserve/gym/athletics or by using this QR code
Hours of operation are:
Monday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Tues/Wed: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Thursday: 12:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat/Sun: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
You must produce proof of ID (student or employee card or number), and proof of vaccination.
The bookstore provides students with all their school year needs including textbooks, supplies and great Cambrian clothing.
Visit www.cambrianshop.ca or email cambrian@bkstr.com for more information.
Our campus remains open for students, other employees not on strike, and visitors (i.e. contractors). If you intend to access campus, please follow all picket line etiquette listed on this page.
Career Centre services are available. To request career advising, book through the myCambrian portal or contact careercentre@cambriancollege.ca. You will be advised if services are being offered online or in-person.
Employers can contact the Career Centre at careercentre@cambriancollege.ca. Students and employers can also contact their Placement/Co-Op Coordinator via phone or email, or contact the Director of Student Success and Recruitment, Renee Scott, at renee.scott@cambriancollege.ca.
Computer labs will be open on campus.
To find out how continuing education courses are being affected, please send your inquiries to communications@cambriancollege.ca.
Dual Credit classes are cancelled until further notice.
Who to contact if you have questions:
Students within the Rainbow District School Board can continue communication with Dana Kinsella at kinseld@rainbowschools.ca.
Students within the Sudbury Catholic District School Board can continue communication with Kevin Villeneuve at kevin.villeneuve@sudburycatholicschools.ca.
For all other inquiries, students can contact Madeleine Simard, the Student Success Coordinator at madeleine.simard@cambriancollege.ca
Staff will be available for both online and limited in-person support – Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To better assist us in meeting your needs, please take a moment to review and update key information in the “Personal Checklist” section of myCambrian, including:
Forms, academic schedules, and other key resources are available online on the webpage at: https://cambriancollege.ca/apply/how-to-apply/enrolment-centre/. If you have any questions, you can also contact us at enrolmentcentre@cambriancollege.ca or by phone at 705-566-8101, ext 3003.
Students in financial crisis can apply for emergency hardship funds.
Fill in the attached application form and email to hardship@cambriancollege.ca (applies for both Canadian and international students).
Please allow up to seven business days from the time you submit your application to the time your application is reviewed, plus mail delivery time, if approved.
Hardship Application FormFor questions about student loan repayments, please visit nslsc.ca for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information.
For OSAP questions, please contact enrolmentcentre@cambriancollege.ca.
Click here for more information about federal government support for post-secondary students.
For more information about the First Step Centre, please contact Mary-Liz Warwick, First Step Centre Coordinator at maryliz.warwick@cambriancollege.ca.
The cafeteria (on-campus food services) will be closed until further notice.
Special eating spaces have been set up for those who must be on campus for hands-on labs.
The Glenn Crombie Centre for Accessibility, Counselling and Wellness is a multi-service complex that promotes accessibility, counselling, and wellness for students at Cambrian College. Our team can work with you to identify appropriate learning supports and academic accommodations, access review assessment services and assistive technologies, provide counselling, and support your overall wellness.
To make an appointment for services, please contact acessibilityservices@cambriancollege.ca.
Services may be available both online and in-person.
The International Student Services team is here to assist international students with their transition to Canada, to the Cambrian community, and throughout their time at the college.
Services may be offered both in-person and online.
Email internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca with:
Staff will be available for support Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST. We will get back to you with either an email or a phone call.
For IT services, you can fill out a HelpDesk request form in your myCambrian dashboard. Log into myCambrian, go to your dashboard and look for this icon:
You can also email HelpDesk@cambriancollege.ca.
The Learning Centre provides tutoring services to students and employees.
Services include peer academic tutoring, and workshops on the use of platforms such as Moodle, myCambrian, Zoom and email.
Contact the Learning Centre to make an appointment and to find out how services will be delivered, learning.centre@cambriancollege.ca.
The Library is open. To find hours and resources, or to talk to library staff on live chat, go to https://cambriancollege.libguides.com/libraryhomepage or email library staff at library@cambriancollege.ca
The Print Shop will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays as necessary and by appointment only.
Email printshop@cambriancollege.ca to make an appointment, submit job specifics, or for more information.
Alternatively students looking for printing can use their printing credits in one of the open Computer Labs https://cambriancollege.ca/student-services/computer-labs-wifi/.
The Student Life Centre is currently closed for renovations.
Student Residence is open. Click here for more information about Student Residence.
For questions about TSSA testing, please send your inquiries to communications@cambriancollege.ca.
For information about academic upgrading, contact madison.brown@cambriancollege.ca.
For more information, please contact Tim Yu, Manager of Athletics at tim.yu@cambriancollege.ca.
Wabnode will be open to provide on-campus services and support to Indigenous learners. Outside ceremonies in the Sacred Fire Arbour will be held with all required COVID-19 prevention protocols in place.
In the event of a labour disruption, you may have to cross a picket line to enter and exit Cambrian College’s main BarryDowne campus or its satellite sites in Val Caron, Espanola and Little Current.
This may be your first time encountering a picket line. Picket lines in Canada tend to be well organized, managed, and peaceful. Picket line safety is our top priority for our faculty, other employees, students, and visitors. PATIENCE, RESPECT, COURTESY AND SAFETY are key.
Cambrian employees on strike have a right to set up picket lines. They also have the right to briefly delay your entry and exit onto Cambrian property for sharing information with you.
With that in mind, here are some general principles to follow:
Have questions? Read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below.
Current Students
The union representing Full-time and partial-load faculty, counsellors, and librarians at Ontario’s 24 public colleges, including Cambrian, have said that they will be on strike as of Friday, March 18, if there is no contract settlement.
In the event of a strike, all duties performed by these employees will cease until the strike is over.
All classes are cancelled. Faculty will not be available for one-on-one sessions with students, or to mark assignments and submit grades.
No. All classroom instruction will stop. This includes courses taught by part-time and sessional faculty and includes academic courses taught through Continuing Education (Ontario Learn).
We will provide you with updates as they become available.
Continue to review your course materials, but do not submit any assignments or tests until after a strike has concluded. At that time you will be given further instructions about assignments and tests.
We will provide you with updates and any necessary instructions as the situation develops.
Depending on your program, your placement could be either delayed, paused, or continue as usual. Your program leadership will reach out to you with details.
Our Library remains open and other staff are available to students.
Yes. Our campus will remain open even if there is a strike.
Yes, they will remain open for non-academic services. Any academic programming taught at those sites by Cambrian faculty will cease until a strike is over.
Expect that most student services will be provided to you, using a combination of virtual and in-person delivery.
We’ve compiled a list of student services at our special labour updates landing page, see above for more details.
If you need to come to campus, you may encounter a picket line. Employees on the picket line have the right to approach you, share information with you, and delay your entry into campus, whether you are in a vehicle or on foot. They cannot prevent you from entering our campus. Be courteous and do not get into arguments. Wait for them to wave you through to campus. Give yourself some extra time to arrive on campus.
No student has ever lost a semester as a result of a labour disruption.
We will continue to provide updates as they become available and will work with students to help them complete their semester.
We are encouraging both new and returning students to register for classes and to meet all the required deadlines. Click here to see the academic schedule and deadlines that apply to you.
A strike would involve all full-time and partial-load faculty, counsellors, and librarians at all of Ontario’s 24 public colleges, not just Cambrian College.
The regular rules and deadlines for withdrawing from a program or course with a refund still apply. We will monitor the situation as it progresses and provide updates as they become available.
Emergency financial aid for unforeseen circumstances may be available through our Student Hardship Fund. Click here to access the form. Fill it out and email it to hardship@cambriancollege.ca.
We will post all updates on this landing page.
Students, if you have questions about your specific program, contact your Dean:
School of Justice, Community Services, and General Studies: jacs.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
School of Business, IT, Creative Arts, Music and Design: bitmad.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
School of Health Sciences, Nursing and Emergency Services: hses.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
School of Trades, Engineering Technology, Enviro. Services, stt.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
You can also send your questions to communications@cambriancollege.ca.
Yes, register for classes. We do not know at this point if a strike will have an impact on the start of the next semester.
You will want to be prepared to start your classes, so proceed with registering for classes.
We encourage you to accept your offer and begin the process of registering for classes. You will want to be prepared for when classes start.
It would be wise to continue with your relocation plans, whether you were planning on living in Student Residence or private housing in the community. You will want to be ready for the start of classes.
This work stoppage involves all full-time and partial-load faculty, counsellors, and librarians at all of Ontario’s 24 public colleges. This is not just occurring at Cambrian College.
The regular rules and deadlines for withdrawing from a program or course with a refund still apply. We will monitor the situation as it progresses and provide updates as they become available.
If you need to come to campus, you may encounter a picket line. Employees on the picket line have the right to approach you, share information with you, and delay your entry into campus, whether you are in a vehicle or on foot. They cannot prevent you from entering our campus. Be courteous and do not get into arguments. Wait for them to wave you through to campus. Give yourself some extra time to arrive on campus.
Emergency financial aid for unforeseen circumstances may be available through our Student Hardship Fund. Click here to access the form. Once you have completed the form, please email it to hardship@cambriancollege.ca.
We will post all updates on this landing page.
You can also send your questions to communications@cambriancollege.ca.
Applicants who are impacted by a strike affecting a DLI in Canada are considered to be studying continually full-time during the strike period. The period of time in which students are not attending class due to a school strike does not impact their eligibility under the PGWPP. Applicants impacted by a school strike must meet all other eligibility requirements under the PGWPP. For more information, click here.
We would recommend that you continue with the plans that you have made, as you want to be prepared for the resumption of classes.
International students who are unable to fulfil their conditions as temporary residents due to circumstances entirely beyond their control (for instance, a school strike) during a regular academic session can, if they are eligible, still only work part-time (up to 20 hours a week) off-campus. In the event that a college goes on strike during a regularly scheduled break, international students who are eligible to work off-campus may work full time only during the period that constitutes the regularly scheduled break. For more information, click here.
Generally speaking, labour disruptions in Canada are peaceful. If you have to cross the picket line, employees on strike can delay your entry into the College, but they cannot prevent you from coming onto campus. They will be friendly with you. Please be courteous and kind in return. You may notice campus security and/or police on site. They are there to ensure picket line safety for everyone. They are not there to harass or arrest employees on strike or people crossing the picket line.
We will post all updates on this landing page.
Students, if you have questions about your specific program, contact your Dean:
School of Justice, Community Services, and General Studies: jacs.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
School of Business, IT, Creative Arts, Music and Design: bitmad.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
School of Health Sciences, Nursing and Emergency Services: hses.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
School of Trades, Engineering Technology, Enviro. Services, stt.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
You can also send your questions to communications@cambriancollege.ca.
Your immediate supervisor will provide you with guidance as to your work arrangements during the labour disruption. A number of employees will still be required on campus to ensure the day-to-day operation and security of campus and Student Residence. Those of you who must be on campus will be informed by your supervisor.
If you are required to be on campus, and there is a picket line set up, you will be expected to cross it. Employees on the picket line have the right to approach you and talk to you. They also have a right to delay your entrance into campus.
They do not have the right to prevent you from coming on campus. At all times, be patient and courteous. You will be allowed through.
We will post all updates on this landing page.
You can also send your questions to communications@cambriancollege.ca
Yes, if you are a contractor hired to do work on College property, you can still access the campus.
If you need to come to campus, you may encounter a picket line. Employees on the picket line have the right to approach you, share information with you, and delay your entry into campus, whether you are in a vehicle or on foot. They cannot prevent you from entering our campus. Be courteous and do not get into arguments. Wait for them to wave you through to campus. Give yourself some extra time to arrive on campus.
Please inform your contact at the College of your decision not to cross the picket line, so that alternative arrangements can be made.
We are recommending members of the general public avoid the campus during a strike, unless absolutely necessary. This includes not using College property as a shortcut for vehicular traffic.
Public transit will still serve the College, but in the event of a strike, be prepared that the pick-up and drop-off points will be off of campus property.
We will post all updates on this landing page. You can also send your questions to communications@cambriancollege.ca.