The open house showcases membership benefits, provides access to fitness facilities, and helps build community both on and off campus. The facilities will be open to the community for free from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with various activities will be scheduled throughout the day. 

“Our goal is to encourage the community to come together, move their bodies, and connect with others who share similar interests,’ says Tanya Angus, director of Recreation Services at UM.

“We believe in the power of physical activity and social interaction to enhance well-being. Our Get Active open house is not only about showcasing what we have to offer in terms of programs and facilities but also about creating a sense of belonging and community.”

The facilities will be open to the community for free from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a variety of activities will be scheduled throughout the day.  Get Active is open to all ages and fitness levels. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or new to recreational activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Schedule

Fort Garry Campus (430 University Cres)

The Active Living Centre, Frank Kennedy Centre, and Joyce Fromson Pool facilities are free for the public to use throughout the day. Please see the schedule of activities to plan your visit.

Active Living Centre fitness floor

All-day access from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those 15 and over. If you’d like to learn more about the spaces, we’re hosting two group tours of our facilities.

Tours start at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and last approximately 45 minutes. Meet at our customer service desk give minutes before the start time to take a tour of the facilities.

Group fitness

Try a fitness class led by one of our certified instructors. All fitness and experience levels are welcome. Participants must be 17 and older to attend.

9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

• Abs & Glutes:  Second floor, Dance Studio
• Cycle Xpress: Third floor, Cycling Studio

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

• Yoga Flow: Second floor, Multipurpose Studio 264
• Zumba: Second floor, Multipurpose Studio 274

Open gymnasium

Pick up a racket and try out some court sports. In the morning, the Brown Gym on the second floor will be open to play pickleball and badminton. In the afternoon, drop-in volleyball.

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

• Pickleball/Badminton
  • Bring your own or rent a racquet. Balls/birdies can be purchased and other equipment can be borrowed from the customer service desk.

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 pm

• Volleyball
  • Equipment can be borrowed from the customer service desk.

Mini U games

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Bring your children, grandchildren or other young ones aged 5-12 in your life for games led by our Mini U team. Games take place in the Brown Gym on the second floor.

Recreational swim

2:00 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Take advantage of lane swimming in our 25m pool with six lanes or enjoy the deep end. A guardian must accompany minors in the pool and bathing suits are required.

Climbing wall

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Try out our 35-foot climbing wall on the third floor of the Active Living Center. All climbers must pre-register, and equipment is available at the wall.

Joe Doupe Recreation Centre (030-Brodie Center – 727 McDermot Avenue)

Fitness floor and Gymnasium

 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Guests must be 15 and over to use the fitness floor facilities and guests below the age of 15 must be accompanied with a guardian when using the gymnasium.

Group fitness

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

• Zumba: Studio

Join us!

Please remember to bring indoor shoes, clothes to be active in, and photo ID. All guests will be required to complete our gym waiver to access our spaces.

While you’re at the gym, you can enter to win a 4-month membership from UM Recreation Services.

The mural is a visual re-telling of an Indigenous creation story passed down in Ininew (Cree), Anishinaabe and Oyate (Dakota) cultures through oral traditions. Flattery’s interpretation utilizes vibrant colours and references traditional sports such as lacrosse, re-imagining conflict as regenerative, and placing relationships at the core of creation.

This innovative piece centres Indigenous traditions and knowledge systems in the ALC building with the hope that more Indigenous students will see themselves reflected in the space and feel welcome. For all UM students, staff, and community members who use the facilities, the mural offers a holistic understanding of health, focusing on spirituality, relationships, and the environment, aspects of wellness that are often overlooked in Western cultures.

“We wanted to create something that inspired a movement in healthy living for everybody,” explains artist Kristin Flattery. “So, not only was I trying to promote healthy living and insert our traditional knowledge . . . I want (the community) to be motivated toward teamwork and helping each other.”

Inception of the project

The idea for the project developed in 2015, initiated by what Douglas Brown explains were two compounding events. First, the ALC had recently opened that year, and second, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) had put their final report out in the public domain.

Brown explains that people were becoming “particularly sensitive to the notion that we needed to do real things to begin the reconciliation process.”

“In that final report there were repetitive calls to action stating that we need to create spaces where Indigenous people can see themselves reflected,” he says.

Through Deborah Young, the former executive lead for Indigenous achievement, the dean met Flattery, who was a UM student pursuing a degree in fine arts with a focus in mural painting.

“I saw it as a way of recognizing a young Indigenous student and her talent and give her an opportunity to build a professional name for herself with a public commission,” says Brown.

Through a collaboration with the School of Art, funding from FKRM, and of course, led by Flattery’s commitment and creative vision, the mural you see today in the ALC across from the customer service desk came into being. It is the result of years of planning, collaboration, and creative effort, and represents the University of Manitoba’s commitment to the TRC’s calls to action.

What makes meaningful change?

Heather McRae, Director of Indigenous Engagement in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, chairs the Indigenous Engagement Circle and says that more representation of Indigenous cultures “is something that a lot of students have been asking for.”

“I don’t think you can underestimate the power of seeing yourself reflected in the spaces that you visit or inhabit,” McRae says.

She notes that “art in and of itself is not enough to signify that the faculty is making a meaningful change. But art in collaboration with several initiatives and work that’s ongoing, is showing that it is an effort to embed it in the fabric of the institution in our faculty.”

Following a curriculum review in 2016 and 2017, FKRM placed an increasing emphasis on developing and partnering on land-based educational programs and courses.

Notably, the faculty has established a certificate program, which the dean explains “aims to provide leaders in remote Indigenous communities with some training to help them program physical activity recreation/physical education in their communities.” The program emphasizes functional training in areas such as Applied Suicide Intervention, gun safety, first aid, and land-based education and has been delivered once to a cohort of 15 First Nations students from eight different communities. The program is set to run again this summer to another 15 students from rural and remote communities.

Additionally, the faculty has been supporting the Rec and Read mentorship program, a culturally affirming healthy living program. Rec and Read partners university and community mentors with high school mentors who work together to develop and implement afterschool activities for early years students in the areas of physical education and nutrition. The program started with a focus on engaging Indigenous youth in these activities but is applicable to all underserved youth in our communities.

FKRM also offers a Pow Wow club and a jigging club. “And we’re always looking for more to do,” adds Brown.

Welcoming spaces are crucial

Though more clubs and services sensitive to the needs of Indigenous communities are appearing across the faculty and the university there is still more to be done when it comes to making the ALC facilities welcoming to all.

Indigenous people and minorities have traditionally faced barriers when accessing health and fitness services, with racism and social ostracization persisting as significant deterrents for those considering getting gym memberships or joining organized sports.

Flattery says she knows many Indigenous people who won’t go to the gym because they’re scared. “They’re afraid of how they’re going to be treated in the changeroom,” she explains, “they’re afraid of how they’re going to be treated in the facilities.”

Now more than ever it is critical that gyms and athletics facilities make it clear that they are welcoming to Indigenous people, Flattery says. “The diabetic rise in the Indigenous population is astronomical,” she notes, “Although we are the youngest and fastest growing population in Canada, our people are dying at a phenomenal rate. We need to get those people being active again, that’s what’s really important to me.”

Expanding our understanding of health

For Flattery and the team that has worked on this project, making the ALC more inclusive also involves developing an understanding that health and wellness that goes beyond the often-limiting principles of Western fitness practices.

“I think we have a very narrow understanding of health and wellbeing,” explains McRae, “it seems like you have to have your physical body moving in an aerobic capacity, but what about other expressions of well-being that might not be tied to the physical movement of the body? It’s important to recognize that there are different cultural understandings of health and well-being.”

For example, in many Indigenous cultures, spirituality, relationships, and environmental health are considered critical components of holistic wellness. Flattery’s mural draws on all of these.

She explains that she paints with bright colours, such as yellows, blues and oranges because of their positive mental health benefits and their cultural significance. “When I look at these bright happy colours it elevates my mood, so I feel like it would elevate others’ as well.”

Being intentional with her use of colour has allowed her to get in touch with the spiritual aspect of her artistic process, she says. “I remember when I learned about colour theory, and the more I learned about my culture—both sides of the culture and what the colours meant, it’s spiritual,” she explains. “In our culture, certain colours mean things.”

Flattery recalls knowledge passed down to her by Grandfather Wanbdi , who told her that “part of your spirit goes into the artwork that you’re making and lives on in that artwork.”

“That’s why those paintings have to be so respected,” explains Flattery, “because there is spirit and intent in those paintings.”

Flattery’s mural draws on a creation myth that has been passed down through oral tradition in Ininew, Oyate, and Anishinaabe cultures. It is the tale of a great flood, like the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, she explains. But it differs greatly from the Christian story insofar as in Indigenous mythology, the world is constructed from a tiny piece of earth through the combined efforts of several different animals, foregrounding the importance of relationships in the process of creation.

The emphasis placed on the natural world and relationships in the mural suggests that community and environmental health are key components of personal wellness. In Indigenous cultures, “the land is not an object that is separate from you,” explains McRae, “the health of the planet is also the health of you and your community.”

Relationships and Reconciliation

Relationships also played a critical role in the creation of the mural itself—from early conversations between Flattery, Brown and Young, to Flattery’s creative approach, which involved both her children.

“I believe in creating things with other people,” Flattery says, recalling the process fondly. “My youngest son Jordan actually painted a lot of that mural. The borders on the bottom, the one with the canoe, and the sunset, my sun did that all. He’s nine. . . . Gavin always helped me build the stretchers.”

Flattery’s son Jordan helps paint the border

She mentions that the borders are parflêche, which is a type of traditional Oyate bag made from raw hide.

“I put it on the border . . . . to show that these cultures are interwoven together,” she explains.

“I wanted a Dakota-type border because the university is on Dakota land,” she adds, explaining that she hoped to highlight the uniqueness of each culture, as well as the ways they are interconnected.

Brown says that to him the project represents the importance of relationships. “It represents my relationship to Deborah Young, it represents my relationship with Carl Stone who smudged the building at the opening, and it certainly represents my relationship with Kristin.”

He adds that it was “a big project, and so is reconciliation.”

“The fact that we’ve actually got it finished makes me think of the relationship, creation, building and cultivation that was required to see it to completion.”

Like relationships, reconciliation is a process that requires dedication, honestly, dialogue, and time, and the installation of this mural represents the FKRM’s commitment to be a part of that process.

The dean says that the project is a step in the right direction. “It’s given us a sense of what’s possible,” he says. “There are sometimes things that are right in front of us that we can do to create spaces that are more inviting to the Indigenous community, and I’m eager to look at what’s next.”

Visit the new webpage to learn more about Flattery’s process, inspiration, and about the artist herself.

Jane’s Walk is an international movement to bring communities together through free, locally organized walking tours.  Inspired by activist, writer and urbanist Jane Jacobs whose views on how to build our communities continues to influence modern urban planning.

Jacobs advocated for concepts that transform neighbourhoods into communities; shorter blocks, mixed-use developments, local economies and urban walkability are just a few examples of the ideas she endorsed. These concepts allow for more interactions between neighbours, Jacobs suggested, striving away from the car-dominated norm.

To celebrate her legacy, the Jane’s Walk movement was born. Walks take place on the first weekend of May to coincide with Jacobs’ birthday; this year would be her 104th. Now in its fourteenth year, Jane’s Walks are held in over 100 cities across 6 continents, including at the University of Manitoba. Although Jane’s Walk usually brings our University community physically together to explore our campuses, the Office of Sustainability is hoping the digital version will inform you about our campuses and inspire you to get out and enjoy your neighbourhood this spring.

Watch the Fort Garry Campus Jane’s Walk here. 

Watch the Bannatyne Campus Jane’s Walk here.

UPDATE: An initial assessment has been completed of the men’s locker room sauna by Physical Plant. A full restoration of the walls and ceiling is required. The sauna will remain closed until January at the earliest. We apologize for the inconvenience. We will keep everyone updated through this thread.

Original message, Sept. 2019

Due to repairs, the Active Living Centre and Frank Kennedy Centre men’s locker room sauna is closed until further notice.

During a routine round of minor repair and maintenance, it was discovered a majority of the wall and insulation behind the sauna needed to be repaired due to deterioration.

We are working with Physical Plant to investigate our best repair and replacement options, but a lengthy closure will likely be needed to address this.

We apologize for the inconvenience, as we know how integral the sauna is to your overall experience in our facility. We will keep everyone updated as progress on this matter develops.

Over this span, Recreation Services has learned a lot about how members use the ALC.

Recreation Services’ director Tanya Angus and her team have combined their expertise along with  member feedback to forge a new space optimization plan to improve the overall experience and impact the U of M gym has for its community.

“This will allow us to begin addressing feedback and to continue to meet—if not exceed—our community’s active living needs,” says Angus. “We’re excited to share these details with our members.”

More strength equipment, particularly squat racks

The new space plan will potentially allow for an additional three squat racks (bringing the total to 12). With the addition of the new racks, the plan is to have a mirror affixed to each rack in order to reduce movement and improve user experience.

Fewer cardio machines

Based on feedback and reviewing usage counts from the past years, the number of cardio machines will be decreased to allow for more usable space.

“We have been very careful in our selections in order to maintain adequate numbers so you do not have to wait for cardio machines,” Angus says. “Even though the total number of pieces will decrease, we plan to add an additional StairMaster (based on popular demand) as well as a few fun new toys to replace well-used items.”

Additional floor space for functional fitness, individual exercises, & stretching

A multi-year plan is being developed to increase the space available for functional fitness, individual exercises, and stretching.

“In the short term, you’ll see some layout changes that allow for increase usage of floor space for functional fitness and individual exercises while maintaining areas for stretching,” Angus adds.

Work to re-configure the ALC begins June 17 through to the end of the month. Some equipment will be temporarily unavailable while these upgrades occur.

Connect with Recreation Services on Instagram for daily updates on this exciting process.

June 15 and 16, dads are invited to use the fitness and recreation facilities at the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus for FREE during Father’s Day Open House.

All dads who are currently members can bring any guest free of charge.

To register, simply bring a valid piece of photo I.D. and check-in at the customer service desk in the Active Living Centre.

Happy Father’s Day!

Please note parking will be restricted until 9 a.m. on June 16 due to the Manitoba Marathon.

January 7-11 marks Recreation Services’ Free Week. Get a head start on your health and fitness by sampling over 50 of their most popular instructional classes, and by using the fitness and recreation facilities the entire work/school week for free. This includes the Active Living Centre (which houses the Joyce Fromson Pool) and the Joe Doupe Recreation Centre at Bannatyne Campus.

• Fort Garry campus schedule
• Bannatyne campus schedule

You have questions. We have answers:

Q. How can I access the sport and recreation facilities like the pool or the Active Living Centre?
A. To access the fitness and recreation facilities for Free Week, simply visit us at one of our two customer service desks, bring your photo I.D. and pre-registration isn’t required.

Q. How can I take one of your instructional programs like Karate, Yoga or Ballroom Dance at your Fort Garry campus location?
A. We recommend that you arrive an hour prior to the start of the program you’re wanting to take and visit our Free Week table to obtain a program ticket. Once all tickets for a particular class have been given out, no additional space will be offered. Programs that require tickets to take are identified on our schedule above. Please note that program tickets will not be issued more than an hour to the start of the class.

Q. How can I take one of your group fitness classes?
A. We recommend that you arrive at least 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the group fitness class you are wanting to take to ensure a spot in that class. Tickets aren’t required to take a group fitness class, however it’s up to the instructor to determine when the class is full.

Q. I’m not a student or staff member at the University of Manitoba. Can I still attend Free Week?
A. Free Week is open to the general public and we strongly encourage all members of the community to visit us and to take advantage of the many different active living opportunities we have available. 

Brett Stovin, captain of the University of Manitoba Bison Men’s hockey squad, sports a few different “jerseys” at the University of Manitoba.

Aside from also being a Recreation Management and Community Development major in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, he’s a part of the Recreation Services team as the Ice Hockey Intramural Sports supervisor. This position provides him with valuable business administration experience and also a sense of satisfaction when hearing feedback from participants.

“I enjoy hearing how stress-relieved people feel once they’ve participated in our programs, or have used our facilities through Rec Services,” he says.

Interested in playing intramural sports? Check out the vast selection offered during the winter term, and sign your team up. Basketball, hockey, soccer, dodgeball are just some of the sports available. Registration starts Jan. 7-23.

If intramural sports isn’t your speed, we also have REC Clubs available during the winter term for those looking for a more casual sport experience.

Winter break hours of operation are as follows:

• Sat, Dec. 22: Regular hours
• Sun, Dec. 23: Regular hours
• Mon, Dec. 24: Closed
• Tue, Dec. 25: Closed
• Wed, Dec. 26: 11 am to 7 pm
• Thu, Dec. 27: 11 am to 7 pm
• Fri, Dec. 28: 11 am to 7 pm
• Sat, Dec. 29: 11 am to 7 pm
• Sun, Dec. 30: 11 am to 7 pm
• Mon, Dec. 31: 11 am to 4 pm
• Tue, Jan. 1: Closed
• Wed, Jan. 2: 11 am to 7 pm
• Thu, Jan. 3 (university re-opens): Regular hours

We’ll also have open times for our Active Living Centre climbing wall. This is a great option for families and kids looking for something different to do:

• Fri, Dec. 21: 7 to 10 pm
• Sun, Dec. 23: 1 to 8 pm                  
• Thu, Dec. 27: 2 to 7 pm             
• Fri, Dec. 28: 2 to 7 pm             
• Sun, Dec. 30:  1 to 7 pm           
• Thu, Jan. 3: 5 to 10 pm              

Parking is free in the ALC lot over the holiday break.

Cold or Flu?

Determining whether you have a cold or the flu is an important first step, not only for exercise prescription but also treatment. The Public Health Agency of Canada provides a fact sheet to help determine whether you have a common cold or have picked up the flu.

Andrea Dietrich, B.Kin, CSEP-CPT, Fitness & Training Coordinator, Recreation Services, University of Manitoba

The Above the Neck Rule

Once you’ve determined it’s not the flu, it’s time to do a neck check. A cold will typically last one-to-two weeks. If your symptoms are above the neck such as sneezing, stuffy sinuses, or a sore throat, the good news is you should be just fine to work out. Though, if you do decide to hit the gym, make sure you’re cleaning any and all equipment after use to prevent others from getting sick.

If you’re experiencing aching muscles and fatigue, you can work at a lighter intensity or skip the gym all together until you recover. If the cold is below the neck and you can’t quite cough it out, we recommend you stay home and hydrate.

What if I have the flu?

The flu generally lasts for two-to-three weeks, with the more severe symptoms lasting approximately three-to-seven days.

If you’re experiencing a fever, please stay away from public spaces, including the gym. Stay home until your fever breaks and has been down for 24-hours or longer. Again, the flu is usually accompanied by aches and chills. It’s recommended you stay out of the gym for health and safety reasons.

With certain gyms, you have access to a sauna and it’s tempting to try and sweat your cold or flu out, however, we strongly recommend against doing so as this could exacerbate your systems and make your symptoms worse.

When you’re ready to return to the gym, start with a lighter intensity workout and ease back into your regular routine if you’re feeling closer to 100 per cent.

In Summary

Start by determining if you have a cold and use the neck rule as a general guideline. If you’re able to get a workout in, be respectful of others and clean the equipment thoroughly. If you have the flu, stay home and get some rest.