Author Archive

National Indigenous Peoples Day message from Jonathan Henderson

June 21st, 2023

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day on behalf of the UWSA! On this day, we celebrate the Indigenous peoples of this land and honour the history of their beautiful culture and heritage. We also recognize and celebrate the resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis across Canada.

This day, for generations, has been celebrated by Indigenous groups and communities on June 21 because of the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.

We ask students to participate in events around the city; our social media outlets will post events throughout the day. Concerts and events will be at the Forks from 1:00-9:00 PM.

Here are some events happening. You can find more on the UWSA Instagram story:

Wednesday, June 21
- 9:00 AM Start – Smudge The North End Walk: Indigenous Vision for the North End (221 Austin St N)
- 9:00 AM till 2:00 PM – Beading (9 AM), Feast (1 PM), Cookie Decorating (2 PM): North Point Douglas Women’s Centre
- 10:00 AM Start – Pipe Ceremony: Mount Carmel Clinic
- 11:00 AM Start – Circles for Reconciliation National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration: SGT Tommy Prince Place
- 1:00 PM till 2:30 PM – Sacred Fire & Feasting of Drums: North End Women’s Centre
- 1:00 PM till 9:00 PM – WA-SAY Healing Centre presents the 2nd Annual Indigenous Day at The Forks
  - 1 PM – 5 PM: Pow Wow, Drum Group (Spirit Sands Singers)
  - 5 PM – 9 PM: Live Concert
Friday, June 23
- 7:30 PM till 11:30 PM – Grippin’ Sage Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration: WAG – Quamajuq

Enjoy the day and reflect in your hearts on what you can do for reconciliation in honouring our Indigenous brothers and sisters of Turtle Island.

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day,

Jonathan Henderson

UWSA Vice-President External Affairs

Next Board of Directors Meeting on June 1

May 26th, 2023

UPDATE: Please view the updated documents for the Board of Director Meeting.

The UWSA Board of Directors Meeting will happen on Thursday, June 1, at 5:30 PM over Zoom.

All UWinnipeg students are welcome to attend Open Session. Please email t.hanan@theuwsa.ca by 4:30 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:

230601 AGENDA

UWSA Service and Service Centre Logo Proposal

SIAC 230529

All participants are expected to abide by the University’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.

Welcome the 2023-24 UWSA Executives

May 26th, 2023

We want to officially introduce your 2023-24 UWSA executives. They started their term at the beginning of May and have been working hard on their goals for the year!

🎉Welcome to the UWSA team 🎉

Left to right: Christine Quiah (Vice-President Student Affairs), Jonathan Henderson (Vice-President External Affairs), Tomiris Kaliyeva (President)

UWSA Drag Storytime

May 25th, 2023

Come and join us for Drag Storytime at the UofW Library on Tuesday, May 30, from 1 to 2 pm. All are welcome to attend!

Supporting University of Winnipeg trans students and faculty

May 24th, 2023

The UWSA is extending our support to all University of Winnipeg trans, non-binary, two-spirit, and gender-diverse students and staff. Right now, transphobia and the safety of trans people are being threatened around the world and in Canada.

On March 3rd, the University of Winnipeg hosted a presentation that perpetuated harmful anti-trans rhetoric from a faculty member. We are condemning the University of Winnipeg for their lack of transparency on their screening process of presentations and for allowing a presentation which actively harmed the trans community.

In response, the UWSA and the community voiced their concerns about trans safety on campus. As a result, we hosted a rally on March 3rd led by our UWSA 2SLGBTQ* Students’ Director, Brie Villeneuve, to advocate for two-spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse safety on campus.

The UWSA remains committed to urging The University of Winnipeg to engage in continuous dialogue with the 2SLGBTQ* Community to guarantee the security of transgender students and faculty. This includes eliminating the use of their deadnames in emails and registration.

In solidarity,

The UWSA

Suit Up Winnipeg Shopping Day

May 18th, 2023

The University of Winnipeg’s Faculty of Business and Economics and the UWSA have joined forces with Suit Up Winnipeg to present the annual suit shopping day!

On May 24, the Bulman Centre will be opening its doors to all students. You’ll have the opportunity to peruse a variety of gently used formal wear, including suits, blazers, shirts, slacks, shoes, and more. Students from the Faculty of Business and Economics, can attend between 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., while all other students are invited to come from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

If you’re interested in attending, please ensure that you register your attendance by filling out the form at this website.

Thank you UWSA President, Kirt Hayer, for your work at The UWSA

April 28th, 2023

Thank you, Kirt Hayer, for your astounding work as the UWSA President from 2021-2023. We wish you luck in your future endeavours.

Here are some of Kirt’s accomplishments from his 2022-2023 term:

Worked with all UWSA departments in leading a successful return to in person service delivery for students this Fall after the pandemic hiatus.
Worked with other Exec and University Admin to establish and promote Open Source Educational Resources on campus (OER) as free textbooks options for students for the Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters.
Successfully advocated for the implementation the flex parking pass.
Created Directors lounge to promote participation in the UWSA and engagement with student body.
Arranged for UWSA lockers to be provided in the Bulman Student Centre concourse for use by UWSA directors and student groups.
Working with alumni association on creating apparel for fundraising, the proceeds of which will go towards a scholarship.
Hosted student soccer tournament.
Met with Honourable Jon Reyes, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration to discuss the status of the Post-Secondary Accountability Framework, International Students Health Coverage, and Indigenous Student Success, among other topics.
Co-organized and hosted successful demo event to introduce student cricket programming at RecPlex where 16 students participated in the match and over 40 signed up to play and/or observed.
Met bi-weekly with Uwinnipeg senior administration to bring forward student concerns and then follow up with students directly on on-going basis.
Met each term with the UWinnipeg President Dr. Todd Mondor to discuss emerging student priorities, strategic directions for the organization and to provide direct student
representation on wide range of student issues
Attended a presentation by the Downtown Community Safety Partnership (DCSP) and promoted their services for students on campus. Worked with administration in order to
improve campus safety.
Advocated for the introduction of bylaws which require at least three quotes for goods and services being bought by the UWSA.
Sourced sustainable promotional materials from more affordable suppliers than were previously used by the UWSA. • Hired a new Chief Operating Officer who has over 30 years of board governance experience.
Made UWSA a member to new external advocacy organizations like CASA and MAPSS which has resulted in stronger relationships with our counterparts at the U of M and RRC than in previous administrations.
Led the changing of UWSA Elections bylaws to create a process that gives candidates more agency in their campaign. Shortened training from 5 days to 1 day. Removed unnecessary Elections Campaign Facilitator positions, saving funds and making the elections bureaucracy more responsive and accessible to navigate for candidates.

End of Year message from UWSA VPEA, Jonathan Henderson

April 28th, 2023

Aniin, boozhoo, tansi, hello.

Again, it has been an honour and privilege to work on behalf of our University of Winnipeg (U of W) student family for a third term. I have been so humbled to have done so much for our community and students of the University of Winnipeg throughout my tenure. I have led through my Anishinaabe worldview and 7 sacred teachings, and this has allowed me to have success in building healthy relationships throughout my tenure as Vice President External Affairs (VPEA). Treating others with those teachings from the heart with love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility, and truth. I am so grateful to have been afforded this honour to serve as VPEA of three terms and look forward to my fourth and final term, and working with a new Executive team. This past year I wanted to highlight some of the initiatives the UWSA accomplished and hope to grow.

This year started with our second annual Truth and Reconciliation Week. This included events to raise awareness and education of the Residential School System, its impact and legacy. We also provided over 300 orange shirts directly to our students. This year we also had an evening with Geraldine Shingoose, (Residential School Survivor/Community Elder). Students were also encouraged to march from the Forks to St. John’s Park where a pow-wow was organized for the community.

Advocating against Bill 33 has always been a big part of my portfolio. It has been a privilege to build good respectful relationships with all parties, including the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills, and Immigration Honourable Jon Reyes, NDP member Jamie Moses, and Liberal party leader Dougald Lamont. Agenda items included: Post-Secondary Education Accountability Framework policy consultations and advocacy, International Student Health Care, and Indigenous student success. Part of the advocacy process, I had the honour of being invited to attend the Throne Speech at the Legislative Building. First time attending this event, I was so humbled for the invite and the networking was incredible.

It was a humbling experience to bring the 2^nd Annual Unsheltered Relatives Initiative. Raising over $2,500 towards hot meals and beverages to our unsheltered relatives on the streets of Winnipeg was such a humbling experience for our student volunteers. To provide a small kind gesture really means the world to some that really struggling in life. To see that joy from something simple as hot meals, helps you realize how blessed we are in our academic journeys. Remember people go to bed and pray to be where we are as current students. We partnered with the Feast Bistro once again this year for the food (chilli, bannock, and a cookie).

I was also proud to be part of the planning committee to bring the Freedom Road 40 film screening, that was 4 years in the making, due to the pandemic.

This upcoming year I want to finish strong and continue the strong work of past executives, and do the work needed to ensure a bright strong future in place for the UWSA and future executives by accomplishing this hard work and dedication from your current and new executive team. The UWSA family has many wonderful events planned and upcoming that will continue to build on the momentum of student engagement among UWSA events and activities. I encourage all student to keep in touch with UWSA events and activities through the UWSA website and social media platforms such as Instagram.

Miigwetch, ekosi, thank you.

Jonathan Henderson, VPEA

Next Board of Directors Meeting on Wednesday, April 26

April 21st, 2023

The next UWSA Board of Directors Meeting is on Wednesday, April 26, at 3:00 PM over Zoom.

All UWinnipeg students are welcome to attend Open Session. Please email t.hanan@theuwsa.ca by 2.00 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:

230426 OPEN PACKAGE

230426 AGENDA

Election Report GE 2023

AGM 230320 Minutes

Annual General Meeting 2023 Package:

All participants are expected to abide by the University’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.