Centennial College will close its Story Arts Centre campus in East York by 2026, relocating all programs and staff to its Progress campus in Scarborough. The decision follows a sharp drop in international student enrolment and years of stagnant provincial funding. President Craig Stephenson said the move is part of a broader strategy to safeguard the college’s long-term sustainability.

The closure will impact programs in communications, media, arts, and design, and comes just weeks after the college announced the suspension of 49 programs—about 28% of its offerings—due to federal caps on international student permits. Enrolment at the Story Arts Centre is expected to drop by 53% this year.

This consolidation reflects mounting pressures across Ontario’s college sector, where institutions have become heavily reliant on international tuition revenue. Advocates like Colleges Ontario warn that without increased provincial support, more closures and program cuts are likely.

For Canada’s job market, these developments raise concerns about the future of skilled talent pipelines in creative and tech industries. As colleges contract, students face fewer program options and less access to hands-on, career-focused training.

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Muriel Draaisma’s original article, “Centennial College to merge 2 campuses due to funding cuts, international student cap” was published in CBC News on March 5, 2025. Read the Full CBC News story.