Two Bisons are displayed on the banners: one a vibrant red and blue design from our original group of Bison illustrations; the second displays the “Nîpîy Iskôtêw – Water Fire,” illustration by Ininew (Swampy Cree) and Anishinabe (Ojibwe) artist Peatr Thomas, the first of four new Bison designs by Indigenous artists that will be introduced throughout the year. A third banner states “We are all Bisons” highlighting that—no matter our unique path—we are each a part of the UM community.

The lightweight mesh banners are installed with tension to not impact the masonry and printed purposely on one side to allow additional light to shine through. The banners are now part of numerous focal points being installed on our campuses, part of a multi-phased effort to create a vibrant and inclusive campus experience for all students, staff, alum and visitors. The installations also share our ever-evolving story of who we are as a community.

The tunnel from the BookStore to the engineering complex now has illustrated Bisons adorning one wall, together with facts and figures.

New pedestrian banners along Curry Place, William Norrie Walkway and Princess Royal Walk, as well as new streetlight banners on both main campuses have also been installed. A new mural highlights “We are bold and brilliant” on the tunnel connecting the BookStore and Engineering complex, and vibrant Bisons designs adorn the Brodie Centre downtown.

Illustrated Bisons are shown applied above the elevator doors in the Brodie Centre on the Bannatyne campus.

We hope you enjoy the new campus installations and share your Bison pride in being part of the UM community – there is even more to come!

The Brand Together initiative began in June 2024 with a message from the president, included chances to cheer on our UM Bisons with contest draws, and has culminated in a cross-campus effort to update digital and physical brand applications. Your effort and support will provide our communities—UM students, prospective students, faculty, alumni, visitors and partners—with a consistent, cohesive and reliable brand experience.

You can continue to access resources, tips and guidance on the Brand Together UM Intranet support page and the third-party digital brand guidelines page.

It’s important we continue this work together to remove old branding when we come across it and collectively reflect our university community as who we want to be.

Brand and Marketing

To say “Thank you” for your effort and support since the Brand Together initiative launched in June with a message from the President, Brand and Marketing created a new contest with a prize of ten UM Bisons regular season game tickets per draw.

Beginning in September, Brand and Marketing has held monthly draws for staff and faculty who submit examples of their area updates of the old logo since 2019.

For contest details and draw dates, and to continue to access old logo update resources, tips, templates and target deadlines, please visit the Brand Together UM Intranet support page, as well as the third-party digital brand guidelines for online brand guidance and resources.

We have reached the third Brand Together target deadline of December 1 for the updating of third-party digital platforms accessed by staff, as well as the fourth and final Brand Together draw. Enter the contest by December 11 and come together as a team to share in the success of reaching this milestone.

Thank you again to all staff and faculty for working to only reflect the current UM logo and brand.

Let’s go Bisons! Let’s go UM!

You can read more in Millennium Magazine

It’s already been five years since our current UM brand launched. Informed by the insight of more than 7,000 students, faculty, alumni, donors and community members, our brand represents UM’s continual evolution and path to progress and change. It shines a light on our strengths, values and priorities, including our commitment to Reconciliation and dedication to inclusion.

The UM brand is the foundation of how the world sees us, and we want to ensure that each time our audiences interact with us our brand reflects the values of our university.

There have been so many updates of the logo and brand across our campuses over the past five years – thank you all for this! It’s now time to finish this great work. To complete our UM brand update, we ask you and your teams to locate and either remove or update all outstanding (non-wayfinding) physical and digital applications of the old logo and brand in your areas this year.

It’s been 147 years since the founding of UM so there are sure to be many locations where the old logo is still hiding in obvious, and some not-so-obvious, locations.

Let’s work together – and “Brand Together” – to share the UM brand with pride across our campuses, province and beyond.

To help guide your team updates, please visit our new UM Intranet support page that provides tips, templates and target deadlines.

I can’t wait to see our campuses fully showcase our “new” UM brand. We will all benefit from providing our community with a consistent and cohesive brand experience.

Please contact the Brand and Marketing team with any brand and logo update guidance you may need or if you have any questions.

Michael Benarroch, PhD
President and Vice-Chancellor