Toronto’s Harris Institute, a private music industry college founded in 1989, will permanently close its doors in December 2026 after 37 years of operation, the school announced on October 13.
The institution, founded by John Harris, built a reputation for specialized programs in music production, arts management and entertainment business education. Its graduates have gone on to win GRAMMY and JUNO Awards and build careers across music, film and television.
In its announcement, Harris Institute pointed to changes in Ontario’s postsecondary education landscape as a driving factor behind the closure. The school cited restrictions on international student visas for private colleges, changes to Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) funding, and the elimination of grants for private college students as contributing to the decision.
Policy Changes Reshaping Private Colleges
The closure highlights the financial pressures facing Ontario’s private postsecondary institutions, which have relied in part on international student enrollment and provincial financial aid programs to sustain operations. Harris Institute said the combination of tighter visa rules for international students and reduced OSAP support for students at private colleges, along with the removal of grants previously available to private college students, factored into its decision to wind down.
John Harris, addressing the closure in the institution’s announcement, framed the school’s final chapter as an opportunity to mark its history. “We’ve had a good run, and now it’s time to celebrate,” Harris said. “We have made a difference in people’s lives and helped to build a bigger and better music industry in Canada. I got to work with extraordinary people until I was almost 80, and it doesn’t get better than that.”
Marking the Institution’s Legacy
Harris Institute will officially cease operations in December 2026, though the school has scheduled a Going Away Party for February 20, 2027, bringing together graduates, faculty and staff to mark its history. Alumni and members of the Harris Institute community have been invited to submit memories and reflections for a commemorative Book of Memories, to be published as part of the celebration.
The school’s closure comes after nearly four decades in which it positioned itself as a training ground connecting aspiring musicians, producers and entertainment executives with industry professionals and practical career preparation.
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