June 2nd, 2025
Your UWSA executives want to meet you and listen to your ideas! We have prepared a special gathering at the University of Winnipeg Quad on June 20 at 4:00 p.m. so you can meet them, pitch your ideas, and share. We’ll see you there!
May 30th, 2025
If you are a self-declared First Nations student, you are automatically opted out of the UWSA Health Plan.
If your tuition and fees are paid by a First Nations band, Indigenous community, or other third-party sponsor, please visit this page: Sponsored Students Health Plan Page
This arrangement is based on a 2018 agreement between the UWSA and the Indigenous Student Services Centre (ISSC) to streamline the process, as many First Nations students already have coverage through federal or First Nations band programs.
Want to be covered anyway?
Yes—you are still eligible to opt in to the Health Plan if you do not have other coverage or want the benefits provided.
We strongly recommend confirming with your sponsor before submitting the opt-in form. Once your application is approved, you cannot opt out or reverse the charge.
If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to the Corporate Accounts Manager, Emmanuel Iwuoha at e.iwuoha@theuwsa.ca for support.
Sponsored Student Health Plan Opt-In Form
Studentcare Opt-In Self-Enrollment Page
May 30th, 2025
If your tuition and fees are paid by a First Nations band, Indigenous community, or other third-party sponsor, please read this section carefully.
If you are a self-declared First Nations student, you are automatically opted out of the UWSA Health Plan. Please visit here for more info: First Nations Students Automatic Opt-Out Process Info Post
Opt-in/opt-out dates for the 2025-2026 Academic Year:
All sponsored students must:
Who pays for the plan?
Adding a Family Member (spouse and/or dependent children) to Your Plan
If you’re already enrolled and wish to extend coverage to a spouse and/or child:
Dependants cannot be added retroactively, so it’s important to submit your application during the change-of-coverage period.
Important Notes for Sponsored Students
Missed the opt-in deadline?
If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to the Corporate Accounts Manager, Emmanuel Iwuoha at e.iwuoha@theuwsa.ca for support.
Sponsored Student Health Plan Opt-In Form
Studentcare Opt-In Self-Enrollment Page
May 10th, 2025
Meet your UWSA executives for the 2025/26 period!
From left to right:
Omega Budhathoki | Vice President External Affairs (VPEA)
Alan Saji Koshy | President
Harleen Deol | Vice President Student Affairs (VPSA)
May 9th, 2025
📖 Drag Storytime 📖
Come with family and friends for an enchanted break, and enjoy joyful, captivating stories read by three fabulous Drag Queens: Ruby Chopstix (@rubychopstix), Minokawa Song (@minokaw.a), and Artemyst (@the.artemyst).
📅 June 3
🕛 12:30 p.m.
🎟️ Free + open to all
Presented in partnership with @uwpglibrary and @rainbowloungeuwsa
⚠️ Registration is required to attend the drag storytime Click here to sign up!
April 30th, 2025
“The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake – you can’t learn anything form being perfect.” – Adam Osborne
Dear Members,
As my Presidential term comes to a close, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you. Serving as your President has truly been one of the greatest honours of my university life. Throughout the years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the strength, passion, and resilience that make our student body so special. Whether it was through advocacy, events, campaigns, or just everyday conversations in the hallways—I’ve been constantly inspired by your commitment to making our campus a more inclusive, supportive, and empowering place for everyone.
Thank you for trusting me to represent you. Thank you for your ideas, your feedback, your energy, and your care. Everything I’ve done in this role has been shaped by you, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Although my time as President is coming to an end, my belief in the power of student leadership and community is stronger than ever. I’ll carry the lessons I’ve learned with me for the rest of my life.
I would like to thank everyone who kept me accountable, saw the best in me, and believed in me. I would like to also say thank you to my team, Abrar Abdelmahmoud (VPSA) and Chhavi Dhir (VPEA), as well as my previous team Jonathan Henderson (VPEA) and Christine Quiah (VPSA). Nothing would be possible without my team, who provided me with support and guidance in hard times and was there for me in good times. To everyone reading this, I strongly recommend getting involved with the UWSA. There are definitely ups and downs, but the experience you get from this cannot be replicated anywhere else. Thank you for voting for me and allowing me the privilege of serving you. I wish the best to my successor and the UWSA!
Wishing you all a restful summer and continued success in whatever comes next.
With gratitude and love,
Tomiris Kaliyeva
President & CEO (2023-2025)
University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA)
April 30th, 2025
“The focus is what is right before you – to give it your best. It sows the seed of tomorrow.” – Kiran Bedi
As I reflect on this incredible year as your Vice President External Affairs, my heart is filled with gratitude. Each conversation in the hallway, every candid suggestion at a committee table, and every shared moment of celebration or challenge has shaped my journey.
Your trust in me to be your voice both within our campus walls and beyond— has been the greatest honour of my student life. Thank you for inviting me into your concerns, your dreams, and your everyday experiences. It’s been a privilege to learn from you all, to advocate for you, and to witness the compassion and courage that define our UWinnipeg community.
Though this chapter closes, the connections we’ve made, the policies we’ve shaped, and the progress we’ve sparked will endure. I am profoundly thankful to every student, staff member, and my wonderful executives who stood beside me, your passion has been my inspiration. I am equally grateful to our wonderful Board of Directors.
Each of you brought unique initiatives, unwavering dedication, and boundless energy that enriched our work and inspired me daily. Your active engagement and creativity have been at the heart of every success this year. I also want to extend my deepest thanks to the incredible staff of the UWSA both full-time and part-time whose unwavering support, expertise, and dedication turned our ideas into reality. Without your guidance, teamwork, and tireless work behind the scenes, none of these initiatives could have come to life.
With gratitude and hope for what’s next,
Chhavi Dhir (she/her)
Vice-President External Affairs 2024-2025
University of Winnipeg Students’ Association
April 30th, 2025
For the past year, I’ve had the immense privilege of serving the student body at the University of Winnipeg as your Vice President of Student Affairs. This role has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It came with its fair share of challenges, but what made it meaningful and transformative was the incredible people I had the honor of working with.
Working alongside strong-minded, intelligent, and deeply supportive women like Tomiris and Chhavi truly made my term unforgettable. From day one, they uplifted my ideas and stood beside me during both the high points and difficult moments. Their unwavering encouragement made every challenge feel conquerable.
I’m also incredibly grateful to the UWSA staff for their support, warmth, and collaboration. Ted Turner, our Special Projects Manager, has been a constant pillar for me, a sounding board, a problem solver, and someone who always made time to listen. Binara’s tireless advocacy for students inspired me deeply and reminded me why this work matters. Alex brought life to every idea I proposed, transforming concepts into vibrant campus experiences. And of course, Diksha and Cynthia brought joy and laughter to the workplace, making the office a space of vibrance and connection.
In my role as VPSA, I had the opportunity to represent students on several important university committees, including the Senate Appeals Committee, the Senate Academic Misconduct and Standards Committee, the Senate Student Services Committee, the Senate Graduate Appeals Committee, and the Academic Integrity Working Group. I was proud to speak up in these spaces and ensure student voices were centered, especially when it came to accessible processes, equitable treatment, and stronger support systems for international students. I advocated for increased collaboration between academic advisors and the student union to foster more connected and transparent services.
As a member of both Senate and the Board of Regents, I navigated environments that were sometimes intimidating but I never let that deter me or my team from raising student concerns. We spoke out on issues like campus safety, tuition affordability, and inclusive grading practices. Throughout these engagements, I consistently pushed for more transparency from senior administration and emphasized the need for student representation in decision-making spaces.
One of the most critical aspects of my role was supporting students through academic misconduct cases. Over the year, I worked with more than 50 students, whether by meeting with them individually, attending hearings for moral support, or guiding them through appeal processes for deferred exams, retroactive withdrawals, and incomplete coursework. I’m deeply thankful for the academic advisors, especially Binara, who helped me navigate these situations and always ensured students were treated with care and fairness.
A highlight of my term was representing the University of Winnipeg at the Canadian Federation of Students’ National General Meeting in Ottawa. Winnipeg’s student population is small within the CFS national network, which makes it even more important to speak up about the unique needs of our students. At this conference, I advocated for free healthcare for international students, reduced tuition fees, and a clearer, more transparent defederation process. Alongside my colleague Chhavi, we pushed for greater CFS visibility on our campus, so students understand both the value and impact of their membership.
One of my proudest accomplishments was launching the Academic Mentorship Program, a project I had envisioned from the very beginning of my term. As a first-generation immigrant navigating the Canadian post-secondary system without the guidance of family members who had been through it, I often felt alone in figuring things out. I wanted to create a program where students could find guidance, build confidence, and connect with alumni who once walked the same path. The program officially launched on March 26th, and I truly hope it continues to grow and benefit future students.
To every student who entrusted me with their voice, their concerns, and their hopes—thank you. Being elected as your Vice President of Student Affairs was more than just a title; it was a responsibility I held close to my heart every single day. Thank you for believing in me, for challenging me, and for allowing me to grow through this experience. I am leaving this role with immense gratitude, deeper purpose, and a lasting love for student advocacy. Though this chapter is ending, my commitment to standing up for students will always continue.
With all my heart,
Abrar Abdelmahmoud
Vice President of Student Affairs (2024-2025)
University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA)
April 25th, 2025
All UWinnipeg students are welcome to attend the Open Session over Zoom. Please email admin@theuwsa.ca by 12:00 PM on the day of the meeting for the Zoom link using your UWinnipeg webmail address and your Student ID Number.
Please review the following documents before the meeting:
Open-Session-Package-BOD-250430
All participants are expected to abide by the University’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.
March 27th, 2025
On March 31, we recognize International Trans Day of Visibility. This is a day to celebrate our trans and gender diverse students, faculty, staff, and community members. It is also a day to recognize the continued effort needed to stand up for the protection and promotion of human rights for transgender communities.
The University of Winnipeg is committed to being an inclusive and welcoming space for all 2SLGBT+ students, staff, and faculty. We are committed to gender inclusivity, countering homophobia and transphobia, and building community by, with, and for UWinnipeg community members with minoritized gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities.
At 10 a.m. on March 31, everyone is invited to gather in front of Wesley Hall for a rally and flag raising event presented by the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA), the University of Winnipeg Queer Students’ Association (UWQSA), and the Rainbow Lounge.
It’s nice to just be able to exist in queer and trans joy for a second. Just time for people to kind of hang out, reflect and share in the joy of it.
James Webster
Following the flag raising, the celebration will continue with a community lunch in the Hive from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“This is an important time to recognize the significant steps our community members are taking to ensure UWinnipeg is an inclusive and welcoming space for all 2SLGBT+ students, staff, and faculty—as well as to acknowledge that there is more work to be done,” said Dr. Todd Mondor, President and Vice-Chancellor. “We’re proud of the many in our community—including inspiring and dedicated student leaders—who have worked so hard make this a place where everyone can belong and thrive.”
The UWSA Rainbow Lounge is one of the lead organizers of this year’s event.
“It’s a time to reflect, be grateful for the people that came before us and all the work they did,” said Rainbow Lounge coordinator, James Webster. “It’s nice to just be able to exist in queer and trans joy for a second. Just time for people to kind of hang out, reflect and share in the joy of it. Because the advocacy is important, but it’s tiring. We need to find time for that joy too.”
The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA) Rainbow Lounge is a safe, social space on campus for trans and gender diverse students all year long.
“People hang out, people eat their lunch,” said Webster. “People come in sometimes because they want to talk to me. People come in sometimes because they want to talk to other members. People come in sometimes because they want to put their headphones on and ignore the rest of the world.”
The Rainbow Lounge has a sensory-friendly time twice a week, they host fun events for students on campus, and they provide education, information and resources to students. This year, the Rainbow Lounge community also collected 75 articles of warm winter clothing to donate to the Main Street Project.
“It’s great to just have an open, welcoming, forgiving space for people,” Webster said. “A lot of people are coming from rural communities, or even other countries, and it can be hard to form a community, especially if the place you came from isn’t super supportive.”
“It can be hard to adjust to actually being allowed to be out, or actually having places like this,” he continued. “I think that that’s a lot of what these events do. They just kind of have a calm and fun atmosphere that’s open and welcoming and that allows students to kind of get acclimated to it.”
Webster said it’s important for people to stick together. He said being an ally to the trans and gender diverse community outside of days like Trans Day of Visibility doesn’t have to be complicated.
“Supporting doesn’t have to be this whole advocacy and like mental load that you take on,” he said. “I think cis people and non-queer people get really hung up on thinking that advocacy is a hard thing. And it can be, and it is sometimes. It’s important that we have people there, too, to stand up against hate. But in the interim, just be there for people on a personal level, and that’s when the change really begins.”
“That’s what I see in the lounge every day,” he added. “That’s where community is formed. Community is not formed at, you know, big political-scale events or bills in the legislature. It’s formed in the small little interactions.”
The Rainbow Lounge is open to all students with an open and inclusive view of sexuality and gender diversity. You can visit the Rainbow Lounge in the Bulman Student Centre, Concourse Level, Room 0R13 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Additional resources for UWinnipeg students and community members are available on the UW website or through the USWA.
