What starting over means for these professors in the wake of Laurentian University's insolvency

Aven McMaster never expected she would need to restart her career at the age of 46.

But the events at Laurentian University in April 2021 forced the former ancient studies professor to consider new options and start over.

In February 2021 the Sudbury, Ont., university revealed it was insolvent. Two months later it cut 69 programs and nearly 200 staff and faculty positions.

Laurentian also severed its ties with its three federated universities: Thorneloe, Huntington and the University of Sudbury.

Without the connection to Laurentian the federated universities could not support their own programs, or grant degrees. They ceased their operations with just a small number of staff members left over to tie up loose ends.

McMaster taught at Thorneloe for 14 years. She moved to Greater Sudbury in 2007 and made her life in the northern Ontario city.

And she loved her job.

"Being in the classroom is certainly the thing I miss the most," McMaster said.

After her contract ended in June 2021, McMaster taught some online courses as a sessional instructor at Saint Mary's University in Halifax.

But she said that turned out to be a mistake.

"I realized after I did so that I made less doing so than if I would have taken EI (employment insurance)," McMaster said.

And the search for another job in her field turned out to be a challenge.

"So first of all, I'm in ancient studies, classics," she said. "My specialty is teaching Latin and ancient history. There's no industry track for that."

Academic opportunities were also limited. Last year, she said there was one job in all of Canada that she could have applied for in her specific area of expertise.