UM is at the centre of inspiring the best and brightest to improve the well-being of our province, country and world. But all of this cannot be done without the support of our community. From people giving for the first time to lifelong supporters, every act of generosity strengthens UM’s ability to fuel bold ideas and shape a better world.

Philanthropy is helping students pursue bold ideas

When students come to the University of Manitoba, they receive more than an education. They become a part of new ideas that better our world. A student’s potential is unleashed when they feel supported and can benefit from unique learning experiences and spaces.

At UM this year, $40 million in scholarships and $14 million in bursaries opened doors for students across every discipline. Behind every number is a story of ambition, resilience, and potential. From agriculture and food sciences students contributing to healthy communities to business students gaining international experience to graduate researchers tackling global challenges, philanthropy ensures that financial barriers never stand in the way of bold ideas.

Philanthropy is advancing research that changes lives

As Manitoba’s only research-intensive university, UM has built a strong foundation of innovative facilities, world-class experts and a reputation for research excellence. Philanthropy is attracting top-level graduate students and community partnerships.

Innovation at UM is fueled by philanthropy. Donors have helped fund UM’s 32 active research chairs driving made-in-Manitoba solutions that are changing lives here and around the world. They also create unique ways for our university to delve into the questions of today and help ensure a brighter tomorrow from the Winograd Initiative for the Study of Contemporary Hate Speech and Antisemitism to improving workplace ethics to advancing treatments for diseases like multiple sclerosis.

Philanthropy is supporting truth and reconciliation

​As the proud home of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) for 10 years, UM continues to walk alongside Survivors and Indigenous communities on the path toward healing and education. This year, the province and the business community gave over $22 million to help the NCTR get closer to building their new home. The new space will continue to honour Survivors, protect their truths, and welcome people from across Canada. Significant support also came from the Mastercard Foundation with a $25 million gift that will strengthen the Centre’s ability to reach young people across Canada with reconciliation-focused education.

The Mastercard Foundation also gave $5 million help UM expand access to post-secondary education and support our growing community of 3,248 Indigenous students. This continued support is helping Indigenous students strengthen their identities, find meaningful careers, and become leaders in Manitoba and beyond.​

Philanthropy is enriching communities

When campus borders no longer define the limits of post-secondary education, the opportunities are endless. UM has a long history of prioritizing experiential learning like the dental clinic at the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry that offers oral healthcare and advocacy to Manitobans in need or the community learning hubs that train specialists in and for Manitoba’s remote and northern areas.

With a transformative $5.4 million gift from Drs. Wayne [BSc(ME)/80, LLD/23] and Eleanor Chiu, UM will launch The Chiu Centre for Business Serving Community, a new hub for research and dialogue that will explore how business can be a force for positive societal impact. The Centre and initiatives like this at UM help create a skilled workforce, successful startups and solution-focused innovation, which injected $7.3 billion into Manitoba’s economy last year.

Philanthropy is Bisons supporting Bisons

For 150 years members of our herd – faculty, staff, retirees and alumni – have been at the centre of philanthropy at UM. Last year, faculty, staff and retirees gave $1.7 million to support UM students.

UM’s 25,896 alumni donors also provide tremendous support. UM alumni come together to fund bursaries in celebration of the milestone anniversary of their graduation, while others gather funds to remember classmates who have passed.

Philanthropy is paying it forward

Since Alexander Kennedy Isbister’s first planned gift over 140 years ago, many have followed in his footsteps. Today, over 700 members of the Isbister Legacy Society continue that legacy, ensuring UM’s mission endures for generations to come.

Philanthropy is the foundation of UM’s community

“What inspires me most about philanthropy at the University of Manitoba is that it truly comes from everywhere—alumni, faculty, staff, community partners, and friends from around the world,” says Michael Benarroch, UM President and Vice-Chancellor. “Together, we’ve created a remarkable culture where supporting bold ideas and the next generation is a part of who we are. Thank you to everyone who supports our herd and for making the University of Manitoba a place defined by possibility and hope.”

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What does a future fuelled by generosity look like? It’s in the faces of new graduates with big ideas, in bold research solutions for Manitoba and the world, and in community initiatives coming to life in collaborative ways. Here, a legacy of philanthropy is shaping the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. Learn how you can get involved.

Building a stronger future for agriculture and food sciences 

That connection between classroom learning and real-world experience lies at the heart of Manitoba Pork’s support. The organization has contributed over $2.2 million to UM since 1989, supporting both research and community engagement. 

Working closely with the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Manitoba Pork has helped advance innovative swine research and enhance outreach efforts through the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre (FFDC), a hands-on interpretive centre where visitors of all ages can learn about how food is grown, raised and made in Canada. 

“Over the years, our relationship with UM has deepened,” says Susan Riese [BHEcol/02], Director, Public Relations, Communications and Learnings at Manitoba Pork. “We guest lecture, host meet-and-greets for graduate students, support career fairs, communicate with researchers and have even developed curriculum-based swine-specific programming for K-12 students in collaboration with the staff at FFDC. It’s all about helping students build connections that will serve them well after graduation.” 

In 2024, UM’s food science and technology program broke the global top 100 on the prestigious ShankhaiRanking. The subject ranks second in Canada, up from sixth last year, and 45th worldwide making it UM’s highest-ranking subject nationally and globally. 

Supporting student success 

In addition to research and community engagement, funds are also allocated to Manitoba Pork’s suite of awards and bursaries, which recognize academic achievement and provide financial support to those pursuing degrees and diplomas in Agriculture, Food Sciences and Human Nutritional Sciences. To date, 93 students have received over $81,000. 

“I am so honoured to have received the Manitoba Pork Council Prize for my achievements in Human Nutritional Sciences,” says UM alum Megan Burnett [BSc(HNS)/23, MAHN/25]. “Receiving this award made an enormous difference in my life. It gave me that extra little encouragement to apply for my master’s and reassured me that I’m doing the right thing and that I’m good at it.” 

In 2026, the organization has committed to doubling the value of these awards, deepening its commitment to students who are passionate about shaping the future of sustainable food systems. 

Inspiring curiosity and career discovery 

“Our hope is that these awards not only help offset the cost of education but also spark curiosity about the many careers available in agriculture, especially within the swine sector,” says Riese. “Sometimes students enter a program with one idea of what their future might look like, but these opportunities can open their eyes to entirely new paths.” 

Riese knows firsthand the power of education to transform a career trajectory. After earning her degree in Human Nutritional Sciences from UM, she learned about a job opening at Manitoba Pork from a fellow student and decided to take a chance. 

“Landing that job over 22 years ago was really a case of preparation meeting opportunity and a healthy dose of determination,” says Riese. “The communications and teamwork skills I developed during my time at UM have served me every day since.” 

“When I first started university, I didn’t even know you could study human nutritional sciences. Through my major and graduate studies, I got to explore community nutrition and the impacts that food and access to food have on health and well-being,” says Burnett. “I believe in lifelong learning, and I think an award or scholarship like the ones provided by Manitoba Pork can really help motivate students to take a chance on a subject they don’t know much about and end up getting a masters degree like me.” 

Meeting the growing demand for skilled graduates 

As the agricultural sector continues to evolve – becoming more technology-driven, globally competitive, and focused on sustainability – the need for skilled professionals has never been greater. Manitoba Pork sees its partnership with UM as essential to cultivating that next generation of innovators. 

“The future of agriculture depends on passionate, curious, well-trained graduates ready to meet the challenges ahead,” says Riese. “There are more jobs out there than there are graduates to fill them, and that’s an opportunity. By investing in students, we’re investing in the future of food, farming, and our communities.” 

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What does a future fuelled by generosity look like? It’s in the faces of new graduates with big ideas, in bold research solutions for Manitoba and the world, and in community initiatives coming to life in collaborative ways. Here, a legacy of philanthropy is shaping the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. Learn how you can get involved. 

“Business is a powerful tool of change, and it must be about more than just profit. It must drive positive social and ecological change,” says Michael Benarroch, UM president and vice-chancellor. “Thanks to this selfless gift to our university, we will spark big ideas that will change how we think about and do business, and that will change the world.”

From engineering to entrepreneurship

An award-winning businessman, activist and philanthropist, Chiu grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Hong Kong before moving to Canada to pursue an engineering degree. He says UM provided him with the foundation and education to pursue his dream. As the founder of Calgary-based Trico Group, Chiu, alongside wife Eleanor, have exemplified what it means to build communities through business. Through their decades of work building homes, supporting women, families and new Canadians, and restoring communities in need, they’ve shown what’s possible when business puts people first.

In 2004, Trico was on a corporate retreat in Thailand when a catastrophic tsunami hit. As he clung to a tree watching misery below him, Chiu had an epiphany that led to him and his wife launching the Trico Charitable Foundation in 2008 that focuses on helping businesses solve problems in society.

“We are facing significant challenges in our society, from climate change to social inequality, and we need people who can come up with creative solutions,” says Chiu. “Throughout my career, I’ve always put community first. I firmly believe that doing well by doing good is not only the right thing to do but is also good for business. Through the Centre, students will learn to use entrepreneurial skills to create positive social change.”

Empowering students to lead with purpose

The Chiu Centre will be a university-wide initiative designed to advance our understanding and practice of fully harnessing the power of business models to enhance social impact and foster community, care and compassion. Students will benefit from:

• Research opportunities: Engagement in research focused on systems thinking, social innovation, and business models for social change.
• Thought Leadership: Stimulating thought and culture change in capitalism to the entire UM student body via promoting business models that address social and ecological crises facing humanity.
• Real-world experience: Co-op opportunities, internships, and hands-on projects in companies and organizations that promote progressive and innovative approaches to business, including not-for-profits, Indigenous nations and companies promoting or adopting business models for social and ecological impact.
• Career development: Exposure to purpose-driven careers through speaker series, mentorship, projects, and networking opportunities with national and international stakeholders.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Opportunities to work across faculties within UM through embedded programming and student advisory boards.

“The Centre will empower our students and future leaders to approach business with compassion, drive innovation with purpose, and create meaningful impact, all while advancing a culture that keeps community at its core,” says Bruno Silvestre, Dean, I.H. Asper School of Business.

A national leader in this space

This new Centre represents a bold, forward-thinking approach to business and research.

“In the next 10 years, we as a society, as a business school, and university, need to think about how we harness the power of business for greater social impact. We have an opportunity to be a national leader in this area with this Centre,” says Bruno Dyck [BComm(Hons)/84], inaugural Director and Norman Frohlich professor in Business Sustainability at the Asper School of Business.

While ideas like this are often led by fields such as sociology or economics, it’s groundbreaking to see this kind of leadership coming from a business school. By bringing together experts from across disciplines, it challenges the traditional profit-only model and calls on companies to “make the move” toward advancing social and environmental wellbeing alongside economic success.

“I’ve been a graduate student for a number of years, and I have always felt that there was a need for the university and the business school to do more in terms of setting a path for the local community and beyond,” says graduate student Arjun Odedra. “The Chiu Centre for Business Serving Community will be an important resource for both undergraduate and graduate students to help bridge the transition from ideas to actions, serving as a focal point for the community and allowing students to learn about and interact with businesses that are anchors of communities – that harness the intrinsic good that business was meant for.”

A centre built for impact

The Chiu Centre will not only support students, but it will also foster a culture shift in how business is taught and practiced. Rooted in Manitoba, the Centre is poised to inspire collaboration across the province’s business community and beyond. It has the opportunity, and the responsibility, to lead a new movement in which purpose and profit work together to drive sustainable growth and positive change.

Supported by an endowment fund, the Centre will provide sustained resources for leadership, programming, and research, ensuring long-term impact for UM and the broader community.

Learn more

You can hear more insights from Bruno Dyck on the latest episode of What’s the Big Idea podcast.

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What does a future fuelled by generosity look like? It’s in the faces of new graduates with big ideas, in bold research solutions for Manitoba and the world, and in community initiatives coming to life in collaborative ways. Here, a legacy of philanthropy is shaping the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. Learn how you can get involved.

The Class of Medicine 1969 – 55 years, 76 alumni 

Last year during Homecoming, Dr. Allan Becker and other members of the Class of Medicine 1969 gathered in Winnipeg to celebrate their 55th grad anniversary. Since 2011, these alumni have supported the Class of Medicine 1969 Medical Student Bursary Fund, which offers bursaries each year to undergraduate students in the Max Rady College of Medicine. 

So far, nearly $176,000 has been disbursed from the fund to support 58 students pursuing their studies in medicine. 

Dr. Allan Becker

Becker shares how the motivation to give back grew with the class itself. 

“At our 20th reunion, we set up a proposal to each donate $5,000 to the university over five years. We knew tuition fees were getting higher, and we recognized that we need primary care physicians,” he explains. 

For Becker and his class, these acts of collective giving, the efforts that would eventually lead to the establishment of the bursary fund in 2011, also arise from a deep sense of gratitude. 

“We had marvelous teachers,” he says. “And I don’t think many of us appreciated the quality of the education we received here while we were in it. Our class ended up being first across Canada in writing the licentiate exams, so we really received a great education.  

“[The fund] is a real recognition of the value we received, the 76 of us.” 

The fund is also another way that the close-knit class of 1969 connects and grows together. Over the years, the reunions have grown larger with spouses and family members joining in, even when class members no longer can.  

And the reunions aren’t limited to group events. Becker recalls reconnecting with a classmate during planning for their 50th anniversary, when a phone call, the first in 50 years, led to a visit across provinces.  

“That sense of community, it’s everything,” he says, also commending the work of classmates Dr. Diane Biehl, Dr. Cal Gutkin and Dr. Stan Moroz, who have led the charge on keeping the class connected over the years. 

Members of the Class of Medicine 1969 gathered last year in celebration of their 55th grad anniversary. Image provided by Dr. Allan Becker.

Class of Pharmacy 2014 – 10 years, 49 alumni 

While Becker reflects on a decades-long class legacy, recent UM alumni are also taking opportunities to celebrate, reminisce and give back. 

Alia Marcinkow recently celebrated her 10-year grad anniversary with a dinner and a family picnic to honour the class and the community that had grown around it. 

Alia Marcinkow

“Everyone showed up. To me, it felt like no one was missing, and it was really lovely,” she says. 

“It was really nice to see how everyone’s families have grown, how everyone’s careers have evolved, and how they’ve grown as people, but it was also like no time had passed at all.” 

Last year also marked the 10th anniversary of the class’s collective giving through the Pharmacy Class of 2014 Bursary Fund. Starting with a gift of $25,000 in 2014, the fund supports students entering their second year of pharmacy in the College of Pharmacy (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences).  

To date, the fund has supported nine pharmacy students and disbursed over $10,000. 

The fund got its start during the graduating class’s annual fundraiser for their grad dinner—as it turns out, the Class of 2014 had a knack for fundraising, bringing in more than enough to cover the cost of their celebratory dinner.  

Marcinkow and her classmates decided to use the extra contributions to start an endowment fund. “That way, if someone wanted to donate more in the future, it was already there,” she explains. 

“I think for us, because many of the students in the Class of 2014 relied on student loans and financial aid, the impact comes from the fact that we know what it’s like to struggle with money during university and how hard it is. Many of us came from outside of Winnipeg and had to pay for housing in the city. 

“Knowing that we might be providing that extra bit of relief for students today—it’s amazing,” she adds. 

Reuniting, then and now 

For the Class of Medicine 1969 and the Class of Pharmacy 2014, reunions are a chance to reconnect over shared experience, shared generosity and shared gratitude for the programs that brought them together.  

With their generosity over the years, these alumni also set the stage for more students to learn and succeed, finding a community and a way to gather as they were, and as they are today, over and over again. 

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What does a future fueled by generosity look like? It’s in the faces of new graduates with big ideas, in bold research solutions for Manitoba and the world, and in community initiatives coming to life in collaborative ways. Here, a legacy of philanthropy is shaping the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. Learn how you can get involved. 

Class reunions are a wonderful opportunity, not just to reconnect and reminisce with former classmates, but also to make a lasting impact through collective giving. Learn more about planning class reunions. 

“What makes SPECTRUM unique is having those three different perspectives involved in producing rigorous evidence to inform policy—evidence that can actually be acted upon and will make a difference,” says SPECTRUM co-lead Dr. Marni Brownell. Brownell, who was just elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, is also SPECTRUM’s founding director.

Dr. Marni Brownell speaks at a SPECTRUM workshop.

SPECTRUM researchers celebrated a milestone last fall when their first study was published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas.

In this study, SPECTRUM partners found that children taken into out-of-home care by First Nations Child and Family Service agencies suffered more adverse health and legal outcomes than children who stayed with their families.

“In child welfare research broadly, it is understood that outcomes for kids in care are poorer, but it has been difficult to separate the adverse effects of care from the adverse effects of the things that sent them into care,” Brownell explains.

As the authors write, to their knowledge, this study is the first in Canada to use a methodology that isolates the impact of out-of-home care and demonstrates that, above and beyond, placement in care leads to worse outcomes for children.

Donor generosity a bridge to transformative award

This first publication is the result of months of workshopping, relationship building, and data analysis—work that continued thanks to donor support.

After earning a SSHRC Partnership Development Grant in 2019, SPECTRUM launched, connecting with partners, devising mission and vision statements, identifying their four research themes, and generating their core research questions.

“The Winnipeg Foundation was instrumental in continuing to fund our students and develop knowledge mobilization that would get our work out to the community. There was also a significant gift from an anonymous donor that helped us fund students, run workshops, and complete the demonstration project,” says Brownell.

Bolstered by giving and the dedication of their partners, SPECTRUM successfully secured a $2.5 million grant from SSHRC in 2024.

Dr. Anita Durksen

Dr. Anita Durksen [PhD/24], a SPECTRUM fellow and post-doctoral researcher who completed her doctorate in Community Health Sciences, recalls how each milestone in funding felt like a win, not just for the researchers.

“When that news was circulated, we’d all see this stream of congratulatory emails from our partners taking the time to reply and express excitement, gratitude, and pride. That really struck me because I haven’t experienced that kind of celebration on other projects.

“It showed me how committed the partners were and how much they were invested in the work that we were doing together,” says Durksen.

And the relevance of this work felt immediate and immense.

Shifting policy for children in care

Published in September 2024, the study precedes announcements made by the Province of Manitoba to amend the Child and Family Services Act as well as a class-action lawsuit aimed at seeking justice for the harms enacted on children in care.

“[Our study] provides quantitative evidence for what First Nations advocates have been talking about for decades,” Brownell adds. “It truly emphasizes the significance of partnerships and collaboration with First Nations researchers and community organizers in completing this work.”

Building relationships, gaining momentum

SPECTRUM aims not just to produce research that makes a difference, but to conduct research differently, emphasizing the necessity of relationships, trust, and accountability to partners in their work across four themes: mental health and addictions, housing and homelessness, income, and child and family services.

“One of the biggest goals for SPECTRUM has been building relationships and trust among partners,” says Brownell.

“We all come at these problems from different perspectives, but through building relationships and spending time together—months of meetings and workshops—we started to see that we all really want the same thing.”

Delivering solutions with impact

Both Brownell and Durksen are excited to continue this work in child and family services, while starting conversations around SPECTRUM’s three other research themes.

With community collaboration and interdisciplinary expertise, SPECTRUM continues to tackle questions that matter to uncover answers and solutions for real, informed, and sustainable impact.

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For 150 years, our herd of researchers, faculty, staff, alumni and students have been at the centre of advancing our province’s economy, fueling social innovation and solving complex problems.

In our collaborative, multidisciplinary policy research, being boldly bison means we don’t just dream big ideas; we dare to push the boundaries of current knowledge, and we do the hard work here in Manitoba that moves our community and the world forward.

“I started taking piano lessons very young, then began studying the violin and the cello and then I became interested in chamber music,” says Greer. “By the time I finished high school me and a classmate had even written a musical version of Hamlet. It was just sort of obvious when I graduated that I would go into music.” 

When he arrived at the University of Manitoba, those sparks found structure. As a collaborative piano major, he found the technical and creative grounding that launched him into a life in music: vocal coaching, conducting, arranging, composing and performing.  

“All of those disciplines were sparked while I was a student at UM, and I treasure the friendships formed there that I’ve maintained to this day,” he says. “I credit my education at the University of Manitoba for preparing me so well not only for my graduate studies at the University of Southern California but also for my career in music, which turned out to be the perfect fit for me.” 

Now in his 70s, Greer is starting to think about giving back. He says it wasn’t until about a year ago that he realized he did not have an up to date will. As he began thinking about how to shape his legacy, he considered where his estate could make the most meaningful difference. He decided to channel his legacy toward the studies and disciplines that had given him purpose.  

“To encourage creative musicians is maybe the best thing that I could possibly do,” he says. “I hope that one day my gift might fund an education for a young, talented composer who has all the musical skills but who can’t afford it on their own. My gift may also serve to attract top students from across the the country or even the continent and perhaps raise the profile of the department as well.” 

Today Greer describes himself as semi-retired. He still teaches graduate singers at the Glen Gould Professional School, composes and arranges, and spends summers teaching abroad. His planned gift is an extension of a life-long belief in music’s power to transform: an education he once received, now a future he helps make possible for others. 

“Setting this framework was about more than finances,” he says. “It was about ensuring the priorities that matter to me endure, and that the next generation of creative musicians have a chance to begin where I began.” 

What does a future fueled by generosity look like? It’s in the faces of new graduates with big ideas, in bold research solutions for Manitoba and the world, and in community initiatives coming to life in collaborative ways. Here, a legacy of philanthropy is shaping the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. Learn how you can get involved.

“The NCTR is a place where we as Manitobans can gather to honour Survivors and keep moving forward on the path of Reconciliation,” said Premier Wab Kinew. “As Orange Shirt Day approaches, this new permanent home will be a lasting commitment – the stories of Survivors will always be respected, their truths will not be forgotten – so the true lesson that every child matters will be transmitted to the future.” 

The announcement was held on the grounds where the new facility will be built. The new Centre will serve as a home for sacred artifacts and historical records including oral testimonies from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada that documented the history and ongoing impact of the residential school system on Indigenous children, their families and communities. 

“We are grateful to the Manitoba government for this extraordinary commitment to our new home,” said Stephanie Scott, Executive Director of the NCTR. “With this support, we will be able to build a space that honours Survivors, protects their truths, and welcomes people from across Canada to learn and walk the path of Reconciliation. This is a gift that will strengthen both our community here in Manitoba and the national movement toward truth and justice.” 

The vision for the new Centre is that it will be an international learning lodge open to the public. It will feature exhibits, indoor and outdoor ceremonial spaces and other functional spaces. It will offer a place to deliver educational programming, conduct ongoing research and share dialogue on the implementation of the Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. 

The new Centre will be a place where family members can visit for healing and to reconnect with lost histories and loved ones. It will be a place where children, families, and people from all walks of life can embark on their own journey of Reconciliation based on understanding and appreciating the true history of residential schools.  

“We’re so thankful to have a partner like the NCTR guiding us forward, helping us to learn and understand our true history and continue forward in a path of Reconciliation,” said Michael Benarroch, UM president and vice-chancellor. “Our university is honoured to have the trust and responsibility to help build this home for the NCTR, to reflect the vision of Survivors and help it fulfill the mission and mandate.” 

Established in 2015, the NCTR has operated out of a temporary location at the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus. The premier noted this investment will help to bring the vision of a permanent home to life. The project has also received support through the Government of Canada, The Winnipeg Foundation, Canada Life and Power Corporation of Canada, and many others. The land for the future site was gifted by the University of Manitoba, which will continue to provide in-kind support. 

Donate to the new building or learn more more about supporting the NCTR.

“With this landmark funding, the University of Manitoba is committed to continued collaboration with Indigenous partners, acting boldly to support Indigenous learners to thrive and to amplify Indigenous leadership,” says University of Manitoba President and Vice-Chancellor Michael Benarroch. “This builds on our longstanding partnership with the EleV Program, which has been instrumental in our efforts to transform the experience and opportunities of Indigenous students at our university today and for all who follow.” 

Since 2021, UM has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation’s EleV Program, which has supported the creation and development of initiatives that are rooted in Indigenous values and knowledge systems, strengthening pathways to post-secondary education, connecting youth to culture, and redefining what leadership means across disciplines, communities and generations.  

This new $5 million gift will enable us to expand our reach, accelerate change in service of Indigenous youth and deepen partnerships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. This gift comes at a time when Indigenous student enrolment at UM has increased by 10.7 per cent, rising from 2,933 students in Fall Term 2024 to 3,248 in Fall Term 2025. 

“The University of Manitoba, with a growing Indigenous student body, holds reconciliation at the very heart of its work. Its comprehensive, deeply embedded approach reflects decades of work by Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Holders, students, faculty and staff. We made a commitment to young Indigenous people that we would walk alongside them to transform post-secondary education in ways that support them to live a good life. This exemplary organization is contributing to that change and to a stronger country for us all,” Jennifer Brennan, Senior Director, Canada Programs at the Mastercard Foundation. 

An investment in our collective future 

Lauren Hallett, a recent Bachelor of Health Studies graduate and now a master’s student in Community Health Sciences at UM, speaks to the benefits of investing in Indigenous youth. Hallett credits the Indigenous Circle of Empowerment (ICE) leadership program and Two-Spirits Talking (2ST) program with shaping her confidence, leadership skills and sense of belonging on campus. She says the biggest benefit of the programs was being able to learn from different Indigenous voices and find other people like her on campus, as it made her feel so much less isolated and alone as a student. 

“I would describe ICE as a big family,” says Hallett. “It gave me the confidence to be my authentic self and empowered me to step into leadership roles. It also helped show me how much my community has invested in me, and it really instilled that value of reciprocity.”  

2ST, is a space for Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer students to gather, share, celebrate each other and heal together in ways that respect and affirm their identities. “It’s important to me because Indigenous and queer joy is sacred and resistance. In this sometimes grim social, political, and environmental climate, we need places like 2ST that uplift us and nourish our spirits,” says Hallett. 

Mastercard Foundation and UM: A growing partnership 

Since partnering with the Foundation, UM has focused efforts on increasing access to post-secondary education in the places Indigenous students call home, made possible through the development of community learning hubs.  

Other pillars of the partnership include strengthening post-secondary collaboration, enhancing support for transition to university life, connecting to culture, and building pathways to employment and entrepreneurship. Examples of initiatives supported through the Mastercard Foundation include: 

• Where We First Stand Transition Camp for first-year Indigenous students relocating to Winnipeg. 

• Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program, a culturally based, community-focused physical activity program for youth, with Indigenous teachings and worldviews at the forefront. 

• Land and Water Program, an Indigenous land-based education program that brings together Indigenous students and youth, community members, knowledge carriers, and elders to participate in immersive urban land-based experiences.

• Bison Spirit Indigenous Leadership Program provides a supportive, culturally enriching, and identity affirming space where Indigenous students can explore and develop their leadership potential while excelling academically. 

• Post-Secondary Club supports Indigenous youth in Grades 9–12 across Winnipeg high schools and creates a supportive environment where students can strengthen their confidence, explore career and academic pathways, and prepare for post-secondary education. 

Transforming the future 

A decade after the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Final Report and Calls to Action, it is an important time to reflect on progress and renew our commitment to the work ahead. The Mastercard Foundation recognizes this moment as a vital opportunity to transform education so that Indigenous young people can achieve their full potential. In alignment with this, the Foundation has also made a $25 million gift to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) which will enhance the Centre’s ability to reach young people across Canada with reconciliation-focused education. 

“You can’t have reconciliation or decolonization without action, and programs like ICE are proof of the impact that happens when communities are supported,” says Hallett. “Indigenous leaders will change the world.” 

UM is deeply grateful to the Mastercard Foundation for its trust and partnership. Together, we are strengthening, stabilizing, and scaling this work so that the voices, talents, and leadership of Indigenous students like Hallett can continue to transform our communities and our country for generations to come. 

“On behalf of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Mastercard for this generous gift. This contribution is more than financial support, it is a powerful recognition of Survivors, their truths, and the children who never returned home from residential schools,” said Stephanie Scott, Executive Director of the NCTR. “With this partnership, we will be able to showcase the voices and strength of Survivors on an international scale, ensuring the world bears witness to their statements and oral histories. Reconciliation is not a single act, but a shared journey. With Mastercard walking alongside us, we move closer to a future rooted in truth, justice, and hope.” 

Supporting the Calls to Action 

Marking a decade of work under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Final Report and Calls to Action, this funding supports the exceptional contributions of organizations across Canada that are elevating Indigenous youth leadership and transforming post-secondary education with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. 

The gift to the NCTR will strengthen the Centre’s capacity to advance reconciliation for all Canadians through the education of children and youth. As the permanent home of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s records and sacred items, the Centre plays a vital role in honouring Survivors’ truths and ensuring they guide present and future generations to learn, reflect, and take action.  

The NCTR is inspiring young people to become builders of a more just and equitable future. Nearly one million students engage annually in Truth and Reconciliation Week through national education programs, resources, virtual events, and teaching materials. Creative leadership is sparked through Imagine a Canada, a program that empowers youth to envision a reconciled future. With this new support, those programs will reach even further, igniting young voices and leadership across the country. 

“The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is engaged, day in and day out, in the vital work of protecting and preserving the truth of the residential school experience for Survivors, their families, and to enable all those living in Canada to act with knowledge for a more just and equitable future. We made a commitment to young Indigenous people that we would walk alongside them to transform post-secondary education in ways that support them to live a good life. This exemplary organization is contributing to that change and to a stronger country for us all,” Jennifer Brennan, Senior Director, Canada Programs at the Mastercard Foundation. 

The tenth anniversary of the TRC is a vital time for all Canadians to reflect on progress made and recommit to the urgent work ahead. In alignment with this, the Mastercard Foundation has also gifted $5 million to the University of Manitoba. This funding will enable UM to expand their reach, accelerate change in service of Indigenous youth and deepen partnerships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.

Together for truth and reconciliation 

With the support of generous donors, including the Mastercard Foundation, the NCTR ensures the truths of Survivors are safeguarded, honoured, and carried forward by young people who will lead us into a future of equity and understanding. 

At its heart, this partnership reflects a shared vision: creating a better future by learning from the truths of the past. The Mastercard Foundation has long been dedicated to building stronger, more equitable communities, and this funding demonstrates a deep commitment to equip the next generation with the tools they need to imagine, and to build, a reconciled Canada. The NCTR is honoured to walk this journey with the Mastercard Foundation and deeply thankful for their trust, confidence, and vision for a brighter future.

“As someone of Azerbaijani heritage from Iran, I feel a deep kinship with Indigenous communities whose languages, lands, and traditions have shaped their identities for generations,” says Banihabib. “In Iran we also have different ethnicities, and when I was doing my projects in urban planning and design, I always focused on what minority or vulnerable groups would be affected by my design as an urban planner. That’s when I dived into political ecology which evolved into environmental justice.” 

Now at UM, her research is focused on helping Indigenous communities navigate the mining industry. To support her in her project, she applied for and received the Berkes Graduate Scholarship. She was nervous to apply at first, but in going through the process, she discovered what mattered most was not whether or not she received the scholarship, but what the impact of her work was going to be on the community. 

“Receiving the Berkes Graduate Scholarship has been both a profound affirmation of my work and a practical lifeline,” she says. “They saw value behind an idea that a Knowledge Keeper had but didn’t know how to put it into action, and that’s where scholars and the community can come together.” 

Her project began by speaking and building a relationship with Walter, the mining Knowledge Keeper in Kenora, on Treaty 3 territory, which is where her project is based. When a mining company wants to begin work in a certain area, they request an exploration permit from the government. Then the government has to share that permit, which includes the details about the location, the project and the mining activity, with the community.  

Before any mining action can happen, there is a 30-day window where the public can make comments on the proposal or claim the land as cultural or heritage land. As Banihabib started building trust with Walter, he mentioned that while First Nations communities are aware of these proposals, most of them don’t have the proper time or the platform to react to these activities. With so many proposals coming in, Walter said he was having a hard time managing them and making appropriate claims or comments, which is where Banihabib found an opportunity to help.  

“Their decision to trust me with co-creating tools that translate complex mining data into accessible maps and alerts fills me with gratitude and humility,” she says. “Knowing that my skills can ease community planning around resource impacts and support local decision-making makes every long day of this journey worthwhile, and it is an honour to return these results as a gift of respect and partnership.” 

Financially, she said the scholarship also relieves the burden of travel, housing, and field‐work expenses. She says that not having to worry about making ends meet allows her to spend more time listening to and addressing the diverse needs of community members affected by mining activities, and to co-design Geographical Information System tools that deliver maps and alerts tailored to those needs.  

“This scholarship has strengthened my confidence and resolve,” she says. “It confirms that the community‐based approach I’m championing—rooted in respectful partnerships with Grand Council Treaty 3 First Nation communities—is valued by leaders in the field. I feel empowered to delve deeper, share results in accessible formats, and uphold the principles of Indigenous-led conservation every step of the way.”  

What does a future fueled by generosity look like? It’s in the faces of new graduates with big ideas, in bold research solutions for Manitoba and the world, and in community initiatives coming to life in collaborative ways. Here, a legacy of philanthropy is shaping the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. Learn how you can get involved.