When considering where to go for your post-secondary education, you are automatically bombarded with options. What degree should I take? What will my minor and major be? Where will I go to school? Obviously, it can be a hard (or very easy) decision; before you've reached that decision, schools across the country are battling it out to ensure that they have your attention, or interest, in mind.

The Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) has found that 85 per cent of 15-year-olds plan to pursue education after high school, which is a good sign as the CCL also noted that between 1990 and 2007 the amount of jobs that required a post-secondary education doubled. Further, the CCL estimated that by 2015, as the baby boomer generation retires, there will be 5.5 million job openings.

In an interview conducted by the CCL, Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Chancellor of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology notes that one of the cruel ironies of the current economic situation is that while the number of people without jobs is growing, many positions still go unfilled due to a lack of people with the right skills.  It is estimated by the CCL that, by 2015, 1.42 million university grads and an additional 2.02 million college grads will be required to fill the position gap.

This is where the post-secondary institution comes in. Although tuition fees are another topic for discussion, universities and colleges across Canada are recognizing the need for higher-quality educational environments to hopefully fill the future demand for qualified applicants, meaning campus developments and expansions have become widespread.

Back in the spring of 2012, BC's University of Fraser Valley (UFV) was proud to announce their grand opening of their new campus in Chilliwack, BC. The new campus is just the first step in a 30-year plan to build an entire campus within Chilliwack's Canada Education Park. Historically, UFV began as a small community college but has now become a degree-granting university with BC campuses in Abbotsford, Hope, Mission, and Chilliwack.

Laurentian University, located in Sudbury, Ontario, plans to expand their facility into Barrie. Currently, Laurentian offers undergraduate degree programs through Georgian College in Barrie, but has been unsuccessful to seamlessly integrate within the college. This new campus is planned to be completed in 2017 as a satellite campus.

Alternatively, colleges across Canada have also undergone campus expansions. Consider Sheridan College with its new campus in Mississauga, The Hazel McCallion Campus. Phase 2 planning for the campus with an additional building began in 2011, with the project being completed in 2015.

Whether it's through college and university transfer agreements, campus expansions/additional locations, Canadian post-secondary institutions are doing their best to fill the need in offering quality education to the population.

Angelina Attisano is the assistant web editor with jobpostings.ca. She graduated with a degree in communication studies from Laurentian University, as well as an advertising diploma from Georgian College. She enjoys reading and writing, and also spending time with her friends and family. In the future, she sees herself working in public relations or event planning.