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)
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
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:
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 2nd 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
March 27th, 2023
Writer/Director/Actor Shelley Thompson is delighted to announce the creation of a new fund, to support trans youth, at Phoenix Youth Programs.
The DAWN Fund will be launched on March 31, 2023, the International Trans Day of Visibility, with a series of screenings of Thompson’s feature film DAWN, HER DAD & THE TRACTOR, winner of the 2022 Nova Scotia Masterworks Prize.
DAWN, HER DAD & THE TRACTOR tells the story of a young trans woman returning home after the death of her mother to make peace with her estranged father.  As Dawn and her dad begin to restore the old family tractor, they cautiously rebuild their relationship and come to understand the mechanics of the heart.
The story evolved from Thompson’s experience of living in a rural Nova Scotia setting and being a parent to a young trans man – singer-songwriter T. Thomason.
On March 31, 2023, funds raised at a number of screenings in schools, universities, churches and public libraries will bolster the fund, including at The University of Winnipeg in The Hive (Lockhart Hall). Thompson’s hope is to see every March 31st helping to build and continue the fund with educational screenings.
This fund could not have been imagined without the help of the team at Phoenix Youth Programs, and the support of DAWN’s producer, Terry Greenlaw.
This Friday, March 31, at 6:00PM you can join us to watch DAWN, and make a donation to the DAWN fund at The UWSA Hive at the University of Winnipeg (515 Portage Ave). Pay what you can entrance – No one will be turned away for lack of funds.Â
TW:Â Language, Assumed Violence for Trans Individual , Death of Family Member, Deadnaming/Misgendering
Please RSVP through the Eventbrite page: Eventbrite Page
Check the DAWN Website, www.dawnandherdad.com
March 27th, 2023
The UWSA Board of Directors Meeting is rescheduled and will happen on Wednesday, March 29, 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:
All participants are expected to abide by the University’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.
March 13th, 2023
The voting for the UWSA General Elections 23 is open from Monday, March 13 at 9:00 am and ends on March 15 at 6:00 pm!
To cast your vote online, check your UofW email on Monday morning. You will receive an email with your unique ID, password, and voting link. You can also vote in person at the UofW campus at the following locations:
You can learn more about your candidates and their agendas in the Voter’s Guide. For all information about the General Elections, visit theuwsa.ca/elections.
March 6th, 2023
Voter’s Guide
Read all the bios of each candidate and learn about how voting works! Download the voter’s guide here: General Election Voters Guide 2023
President
Vice-President Student Affairs
Arts Director
Business and Economics Director
Education Director
Graduate Students’ Director
Professional, Applied, Continuing Education (PACE) Director
Science Director
Accessibility Director
Community Liaison Director
Environmental Ethics DirectorÂ
—
International Students’ Director
2SLGBTQ* Students’ Director
Part-Time/Mature Students’ Director
Racialized Students’ Director
Recreation and Athletics Director
Student Living Director
Women, Trans & Non-Binary Students’ DirectorÂ
—
Emerging Leader Director (2-year term)
UWSA Regent
UWSA Senator
For all information about General Elections, visit theuwsa.ca/elections.
February 6th, 2023
The UWSA General Election 2023 Nomination Period begins today!
The nomination Period opens at: 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb 6.
The nomination Period closes at: 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb 16.
Do you want to create positive change for your fellow students at the University of Winnipeg?
The General Election is where students can run for an Executive Team position (President, Vice-President Student Affairs), a Board of Director position, a Board of Regents seat, or a Senator position. Â
Becoming an Executive Director or a member of the UWSA Board of Directors gives you experience serving on a non-profit board, awards you the opportunity to connect with student communities and represent their needs, gives you a voice to help make decisions that impact students and the university, and helps you learn more about the student union, university governance, and lobbying government.
To nominate yourself, download a nomination form here:
For more information, please visit theuwsa.ca/elections or email the Acting General Manager, Thomas Hanan at t.hanan@theuwsa.ca.
January 31st, 2023
In May of 2022, at the direction of the Board, the UWSA Chief Operating Officer engaged legal counsel to independently investigate allegations that current UWSA President Kirt Hayer had violated UWSA elections bylaws and policies while running for office.
The allegations were submitted in three complaints received in March of 2022.
After a thorough and exhaustive process, the investigators have determined that one of the complaints was dealt with appropriately by the Elections Accountability Board. Regarding the other two, one was based on an unsubstantiated claim where investigators found no proof of the UWSA President trying to coerce a candidate to drop out of the election as alleged.
The second allegation of racist comments was unfounded, which was confirmed by the subject of the alleged comments.
UWSA President Kirt Hayer is fully exonerated of these allegations. This concludes the investigation.
You may view the full Investigation report here: Investigation Report 20230131
2022 UWSA General Election Accountability Board Reports:
