Tomorrow is We Day and we are very excited that the University of Manitoba is a Platinum Sponsor of this inspiring event. It will bring 18,000 students and teachers to the MTS Centre to focus on how they can help build a better world.
The values of local and global social activism and outreach that are at the heart of the We Day experience are part of our daily life at the University of Manitoba. This event gives us the opportunity to showcase our mission, our values and our programs to an audience of outstanding young people that we would be proud to have as students.
We have a lot to offer them. University of Manitoba students have the opportunity to travel and learn through 138 exchange agreements with institutions in 35 countries. There are more than 100 campus groups where students can pursue their passion in community development, the arts, scientific discovery, leadership and entrepreneurship. The opportunities we can offer our students lead to fuller and richer lives for those of us who work here as well. We help build bigger futures for our students and contribute to the cultural, social and economic well-being of our community, province, country and world.
We are proud that members of our community are contributing to We Day in a variety of ways. Tito Daodou, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Medicine and recent winner of the Nahlah Ayad Prize for Global Citizenship, will join former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, alumnus Justice Murray Sinclair and Ladybug Foundation founder Hannah Taylor as speakers who will inspire young people to take action at home and abroad. Olympic bronze medallist and proud Bison Desiree Scott will also be at the University of Manitoba booth at We Day to sign autographs and share her story of triumph this summer on the soccer fields of London, England.
In addition, 20 of our staff are volunteering at We Day and their contributions will help ensure the success of the event. The response to our call for action was overwhelming and it is gratifying to know that the university community shares our enthusiasm.
Although we won’t all be there in person, we hope our entire community can participate in We Day. We are installing a Pledge Wall at University Centre that will allow students, faculty and staff the opportunity to post and share their commitment to social change.
I encourage you to show your We Day spirit by posting your pledges tomorrow and Wednesday.
Sincerely,
David
David T. Barnard, Ph.D., President and Vice-Chancellor
202 Administration Building, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2 Canada
Office: +1-204-474-9345 FAX: +1-204-261-1318
Email: president@umanitoba.ca
