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Message from Laurie Schnarr, Vice-Provost (Students)
Dear Students,
As we head into the Winter Term Break from February 16th-20th, I wanted to share a few reminders and highlight some events and activities that may be of interest to you. During the coming week I hope you take the time you need to relax, recharge, enjoy some winter fun and, of course, catch up on your reading and academic work.
Commuter Appreciation Weekhttps://umanitoba.ca/student-affairs/commuter-appreciation-week – still time to enter the contests! We’ve had so much fun connecting with you this week at the various events designed to celebrate commuter studentshttps://umanitoba.ca/student-affairs/commuter-appreciation-week#capture-your-commute at UM. Today is the last day to enter Capture your Commutehttps://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=C92AT4wzTE6KFJBEaWL3uIjbKk6rT1ZOr1xz1NDzRZdUN1NORlM3M0RIQzZGSEk5NVNUWjZDMVg0ViQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl. Submit your entry in one of seven categories and you could win a fantastic prize – two Festival du Voyageur tickets, one of two $1,500 tuition credits for Fall term, and much more! Commuters – we appreciate you!
Shape the future of student communications at UM
Tell us how we can make digital communications at UM better for students. Your feedback will help us build a digital strategy that makes it easier to find resources, stay in the loop, and feel part of the UM community! Take the surveyhttps://umtoday.ca/stories/shape-future-student-communications-um (open until end of day Sunday, February 15th), join a discovery session, win a $500 UM Bookstore gift card and other prizes.
Undergraduate Research Awards (URAs) Did you know that UM was the first Canadian university to offer an Undergraduate Research Award to undergraduate students in all fields and ranges of research, scholarly works or creative activities? Up to 205 URAs are available across all disciplines, and two awards are available for community-based projects (supported by SSHRC). Check out the Undergraduate Research Awards websitehttps://umanitoba.ca/research/opportunities-support/undergraduate-research-awards for further details and to apply – the deadline is February 16th.
Louis Riel Day On Monday we honour Louis Rielhttps://umtoday.ca/stories/celebrating-louis-riel, the Founding Father of Manitoba. If you are unable to join the Louis Riel Day Celebrationhttps://www.eventbrite.ca/e/louis-riel-day-celebration-tickets-1977735631513?aff=oddtdtcreator on campus today from 11am-2pm, I encourage you to check out the annual celebration of Métis culture at the Forkshttps://www.mmf.mb.ca/louis-riel-day-2026/louis-riel-day-at-the-forks on February 16th from 11am-5pm. Of course, you can continue to celebrate from February 13th to 22nd at the Festival du Voyageurhttps://heho.ca/en/ with more than 150 live performances, snow sculptures, outstanding food, and joie de vivre! Hé ho!
Black History Month February is Black History Monthhttps://www.bhmwinnipeg.com/upcoming-events and there is a range of important programming and eventshttps://www.bhmwinnipeg.com/upcoming-events occurring on campus and throughout the province. For example, on February 15th, the UM Black Alliancehttps://umanitoba.ca/um-black-alliance is hosting an online talkhttps://umanitoba.ca/um-black-alliance featuring Dr. Barrington Walker: We signed the Scarborough Charter – Now what? from 7-9pm. The Afro-Caribbean Mentorship Program (ACMP) is co-hosting its annual program, Black History month Celebration: Empowering Voices Amplifying Black Narratives in Leadership,https://weareacmp.com/black-history-month-feb-27-2026/ with UM, Red River College Polytechnic and the University of Winnipeg. This program will take place on Friday, February 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avehttps://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=515%20Portage%20Ave%2C%20Winnipeg%2C%20MB%20R3B%202E9%2C%20Canada&query_place_id=ChIJbWjDUuNz6lIRI7B2oBLRrvA. His Excellency, The Honorable Gline Clark, High Commissioner to Canada from Barbados is the keynote speaker this year.
We are here for you during the Break! The Winter Term Break is an excellent time to connect with student services on campus. We’re here, working hard to help you succeed at UM. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, or would like to connect with someone to talk about challenges you are facing academically or personally, there are many student supportshttps://umanitoba.ca/student-supports available for you. A range of academic supportshttps://umanitoba.ca/student-supports/academic-supports, including academic advising, are also available online and on campus during the break – check them out!
To help you stay active and relieve stress throughout the week, check out group fitness and casual rec use time through Recreation Serviceshttps://umanitoba.ca/community/sport-recreation/recreation-services.
Navigating Artificial Intelligence
The winter break is a good time to take a non-credit course to gain essential knowledge and practical skills on how to use artificial intelligence (AI)https://umtoday.ca/stories/navigating-ai-your-studies-and-career responsibly in your studies and career. This self-paced course should take 4 hours and, upon completion, you will receive a certificate and a shareable digital badge. Register on UM Learnhttps://universityofmanitoba.desire2learn.com/d2l/login. Stay informed: Check your UM student email for the Student Weekly and follow @umstudent on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/umstudent/ and TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@umstudent.
Enjoy your break and I’ll connect with you again when you return in one week.
Stay safe and be well,
…Laurie
Laurie M. Schnarr, MA (she/her)
Vice-Provost (Students)
Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
University of Manitoba
208 Administration Building
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Tel: 204.474.6919
Confidential assistant: Kimberlee Potter (Kimberlee.Potter@umanitoba.camailto:Kimberlee.Potter@umanitoba.ca) - 204-474-6917
Student Affairs – We empower learners to achieve their highest potential
Read our new Strategic Plan: Reimagining the Student Experience at UM (2025-2030)https://umanitoba.ca/student-supports/student-affairs/strategic-plan
I acknowledge, with humility and gratitude, that the University of Manitoba campuses and research spaces are located on original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininewak, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Dene and Inuit, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. As a white settler of English and German descent I am committed to walking alongside Indigenous students, colleagues, friends, and neighbours and doing the work that is necessary to honour the truth, and contribute through meaningful action to lasting positive change.
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