The SWC strives to be an inclusive space for students to learn skills to actively engage in and maintain their wellbeing throughout their time in university. Our staff work to increase awareness of UM’s existing wellness services as well as enhance current Student Wellness and Healthy U supports. An inclusive space to connect, learn, grow, and enhance mental health and wellbeing, the SWC utilizes a best practice peer health education model and consider a stepped care and holistic health approach.

Aligning with both the Post-Secondary Standard for Student Mental Health and the UM’s commitment to improving its mental health services, the SWC is dedicated to fostering community-building, engagement in varied wellness practices (including harm reduction, peer education and support, referrals and service navigation), and a wellness resource library. 

Planned, resourced, and run by a diverse working group of students and UM staff, the SWC strives to reflect, celebrate, and honor the diversity of our UM community. The foundational values of the SWC are respect, inclusion, community, and holistic wellness.

What to Expect:

The Student Wellness Centre operates on a drop-in basis and provides an opportunity for students with an interest in health and wellness to connect with each other. Health and wellness professionals and trained peer educators will be available for consultation and support and the space will be used for health promotion events and other activities. We know students often juggle multiple demands, and that can be overwhelming. The SWC staff meet you where you are at. Come as you are. Be you. Learn, grow, recharge… we are here to support your current wellness needs.

Services offered:

• Lounge/drop in area
• Mindful campus space – breastfeeding and pumping friendly
• Harm reduction supplies (safer sex supplies, HIV self-test kits, take home naloxone kits)
• Peer and professional consultation
• Wellness library

Location: 162 Extended Education Fort Garry Campus (monthly pop ups at the Bannatyne campus)

Stay up to date here! @healthyuofm, Student Wellness

Questions: email healthandwellness[at]umanitoba[dot]ca

Acknowledgments: The SWC was made possible through funding from Bell Let’s Talk Implementation Grants.

We look forward to meeting you in our space and helping you prioritize your mental health and wellness during your academic journey at UM!

Curious about vaccines? Now more than ever, it is easier to get information about vaccinations on the University of Manitoba Student Wellness website. Here you can find information on vaccine recommendations and immunization schedules, coverage, and access specific to Manitoba, as well as education related to Meningitis B symptoms and treatment.

Vaccines can protect against illnesses that, if infected, could affect you throughout the semester!

Luckily illnesses like the flu, COVID-19, and Meningitis B, all have vaccinations that can help prevent the contraction and severity of illness. While many of us are aware of the flu and COVID-19, Meningitis B is a rare but severe infection that can present as flu-like symptoms. Whenever you get sick, it is important to be aware and monitor the common symptoms of meningitis and see a healthcare provider if symptoms become concerning.

University students are encouraged to be aware of symptoms and measures that are available to prevent illness such as vaccine recommendations. University students commonly share living arrangements and exhibit behaviors like living in close proximity with others, sharing drinks, or kissing. These behaviors can increase one’s vulnerability of contracting specific illnesses (like Meningitis B).

Awareness and education are a key to health empowerment. Neither the University of Manitoba nor the Government of Manitoba require individuals to have many of the vaccinations that are available today, however students should feel empowered and encouraged to take vaccine information to their primary healthcare provider and make the decision that is best for them. To stay informed about vaccines and Meningitis B, be sure to visit the UM Student Wellness Page.

Medical trauma is a highly subjective experience and can occur in response to an acute illness, difficult diagnosis, sudden life-threatening event or surgical complications. While many people struggle psychologically in the wake of these kinds of events, most recover within a month, El-Gabalawy says. A minority of patients, however, experience persistent post-traumatic stress symptoms.

“There are certain things that can occur that will increase the risk of being in that minority,” she says. “If someone perceives they have no control in the situation, that’s a risk factor; if they have perceived or actual mistreatment from a health-care provider or if there’s a significant amount of intolerable discomfort or pain.”

To read the full story, please visit the Winnipeg Free Press.

“Health equity embodies the basic principle that everyone, regardless of wealth, background, identity, sexual orientation, or circumstances, deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life in a healthy environment,” says Borce. “It requires collective effort and dedication to challenge past and present harms to create a future where equitable care is a reality.”

He began his career journey as a frontline nurse, working in critical care and seeing patients at their most vulnerable. Driven by compassion, commitment and competence in patient care, Borce never took for granted the gravity and “the privilege of caring for patients and their family members in their most vulnerable moments.”

With each shift and new assignment, he recognized how both patient and staff well-being existed in the larger system of public healthcare, and when he was offered his first leadership opportunity, he reflected on what it meant to bring his drive and compassion to a larger scale.

“I found myself drawn to the challenges and complexities of leading a publicly funded health system. As I grew in my career, my desire to affect positive change in a broader sense attracted me to more leadership positions and growth. Pursuing an Asper MBA was really a result of my desire to tackle these complexities and ultimately to get out of my comfort zone, grow and broaden my skillset.”

The Asper MBA offered Borce the tools he sought. He emphasizes how the focus on strategic thinking and leadership development enriched his education, and that the degree certainly delivered on his desire to get out of his comfort zone.

“On day one, I looked around at everyone in their crisp business attire, and I felt like a misfit. I was a healthcare professional surrounded by people with backgrounds in accounting, finance, engineering—disciplines that I knew very little about.

“But what I soon learned was that we were all in the same boat with that feeling. We were all here to embark on the next stage of our professional journey with a lot of excitement but a lot of unknowns.”

As he reflects on how the MBA informs his work today, Borce notes that his network stands out. The diversity that prompted MBA first-day imposter syndrome has become an asset, with professional contacts and friends—leaders across disciplines—whom he can call for support, ideas and fresh perspectives.

“Ultimately, completing my MBA, that was a personal and professional investment, and it was really worthwhile.”

Given Borce’s humility and compassion as a leader, the program may well be a public investment as he brings his experience, insight and commitment to continuous improvement to CancerCare Manitoba. Two in five Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and each diagnosis affects family, friends and a community surrounding them.

“Cancer is more than just a physical disease,” Borce explains. “It transcends the physical. So, I’m fueled by a deep sense of responsibility to help shape the future of cancer services in Manitoba. To innovate, to optimize and to ensure that every decision we make is driven by the pursuit to provide the best possible care to Manitobans with cancer and their family members.”

In professional bios, Borce usually includes a promise that he will “do ordinary things extraordinary well.” Though he remains humble in his sense of duty, purpose and his career journey so far, with enough prompting, he can admit that as an internationally educated nurse, arriving in Canada from the Philippines with his family, pursuing leadership roles that he had never imagined for himself and continuing to move out of his comfort zone, it is not entirely unreasonable to suggest that he is also doing something extraordinary.

The next Asper MBA application deadline for Canadian and US students is May 1, 2024. Explore the program here.

Learn more about Ken Borce’s MBA journey in the video below.

“I have learnt so much about the importance of health and wellness in our university’s community and I have enjoyed learning more about diverse populations here at UofM while fostering community and making friendships. I look forward to volunteering next year and continuing to advocate for wellness” – Jodh Ghuman, current Healthy U volunteer.

We know the importance of caring for our wellness and the impact our health and wellness have on our academic success. Accessing support on campus is essential in maintaining a positive experience throughout university. Everyone deserves access to support for their health, whether this be addressing challenges or taking proactive measures to maintain their overall wellness.

The Student Wellness Centre is looking for motivated and compassionate students to become peer health educators with UM’s Healthy U program starting September 2024. Applications open March 11 until March 22, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. CST.

Founded in 2015, Healthy U (HU) is an opportunity for students to gain valuable training in the health and wellness field while promoting education on numerous topics including mental health, physical health, sexual health and substance use. Healthy U engages in online health promotion through social media and develops and facilitates numerous outreach events and initiatives such as sex pub trivia, stress management, and self compassion. In addition to health promotion, Healthy U volunteers are trained to provide one-to-one peer support using an empathetic, non-judgemental lens, meeting students where they’re at and helping them feel empowered in taking control of their own health.

“Being a HealthyU member has enabled me to become a more culturally competent individual. The community that the HealthyU team builds not only offers a safe and welcoming space for others but also for yourself. Overall, being a member can be a very rewarding and self-fulfilling experience!” – Bowen C., current Healthy U volunteer.

For those with an interest in health and wellness, looking to connect with their peers, or strive to creating a healthy campus, Healthy U may be the rewarding experience you are looking for.

To learn more and apply to be a Healthy U volunteer, visit the Healthy U website.

For any additional questions or application information please contact healthyu[at]umanitoba[dot]ca

Apply through UMConnect and log in through Single Sign On.
Then search for the following position title or Job Posting ID:

Position Title: Healthy U Peer Health Educator
Job Posting ID: 70468

Curious about vaccines? Now more than ever, it is easier to get information about vaccinations on the University of Manitoba Health and Wellness website. Here you can find information on vaccine recommendations and immunization schedules, coverage, and access specific to Manitoba, as well as education related to Meningitis B symptoms and treatment.

Vaccines can protect against illnesses that, if infected, could affect you throughout the semester!

Luckily illnesses like the flu, COVID-19, and Meningitis B, all have vaccinations that can help prevent the contraction and severity of illness. While many of us are aware of the flu and COVID-19, Meningitis B is a rare but severe infection that can present as flu-like symptoms. Whenever you get sick, it is important to be aware and monitor the common symptoms of meningitis and see a healthcare provider if needed.

University students are encouraged to be aware of symptoms and measures to prevent illness such as vaccine recommendations. University students commonly share living arrangements and exhibit behaviors like living in close proximity with others, sharing drinks, or kissing. These behaviours can increase one’s vulnerability of contracting specific illnesses (like Meningitis B).

Awareness and education are a key to health empowerment. The University of Manitoba nor the Government of Manitoba requires individuals to have every vaccination available, however students should feel empowered and encouraged to take vaccine information to their primary healthcare provider and make the best decision that is best for them.

To stay informed about vaccines and Meningitis B, be sure to visit the UM Health and Wellness Page

Dr. Rusty Souleymanov

Over the past two years, Dr. Souleymanov was awarded more than $1.2 million through multiple grants from the Federal Government of Canada, the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to lead his program of study. His research seeks to inform culturally sensitive models of health care and community-based services.

Dr. Souleymanov aims to not only prevent health and social disparities but also to promote well-being among key populations.

“As a minority in Canada, research with marginalized communities is very personal to me,” says Dr. Souleymanov. “Drawing on my own lived experience, and the 12 years I spent as a community-based HIV and harm reduction researcher in Ontario and Manitoba, my program of research focuses on the health and wellbeing of socially and economically marginalized communities with a particular focus on the social sciences of harm reduction and infectious disease.”

“Through my program of research, I am privileged to work with a variety of key and priority populations, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, Black, African, and Caribbean people, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, immigrants and refugees, people who use injection drugs, and people who live with HIV and Hepatitis C.”

One of his main focuses of research study is the crucial social science of harm reduction and infectious diseases that affect marginalized communities.

“In Canada, we know these communities are already disproportionately affected by a variety of health inequities, including negative sexual and physical health outcomes, mental health outcomes, and substance use,” Dr. Souleymanov says. “For example, infectious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis C, and COVID-19 disproportionately affect these communities in Canada.”

“To turn the tide on these health disparities, my program of study through the Village Lab (www.villagelab.ca) became focused on how to make sure that health care and community-based services are available and accessible to the most marginalized people in Manitoba.”

In 2021, Dr. Souleymanov developed a research lab at UM called Village Lab, which is an interdisciplinary, community-based research lab at the Faculty of Social Work. The Village Lab aims to conduct rigorous and applied social science and community-based health research that can be used to prevent a variety of health and social disparities and promote wellbeing among vulnerable and marginalized populations in Canada. Research projects involve community guiding circles that are representative of diverse communities and key/priority populations we work with. Along with Dr. Souleymanov, the Village Lab team includes an Indigenous Elder, a Knowledge Keeper, people with lived experience, graduate and undergraduate students and research assistants, and research and community program coordinators.

On May 6^th, The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, MP, minister of mental health and addictions, visited Dr. Souleymanov to discuss the important work done through the Village Lab, including the CIHR-funded work that explores knowledge gaps related to the mental health and substance use impacts of the pandemic on Indigenous, Black, 2SLGBTQIA+, and other marginalized communities in Manitoba.

“The research we do at the Village Lab helps us develop and advance research on the health and wellbeing of marginalized communities and gather the evidence needed to impact public health policy or create transformations in healthcare systems in Manitoba,” says Dr. Souleymanov. “Village Lab directly informs models of health promotion, service delivery, and health interventions for a variety of communities that we serve”.

His work through the Village Lab is further strengthening community-based research and improving health for key populations across Canada. A Village Lab housed training program called Investigaytors was recently funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

His program of research also facilitates the development of cross-jurisdictional collaborations and partnerships between important health system stakeholders, including community members, service provider agencies in Manitoba, regional health authorities, and policymakers to better use research data in the development of health services and initiatives for marginalized communities in Manitoba.

“Some of the ways our research has been most impactful is on provincial public health policies, including our research that advocated for policy changes to provincial coverage of an HIV prevention drug (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis/PrEP) being added to the provincial formulary.”
(https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-covers-prep-pre-exposure-prophylaxis-1.6222502)

Dr. Souleymanov continues to make significant contributions to social work policies and services that impact key populations in Manitoba and across Canada. More information on Dr. Souleymanov can be found here.

Joining Healthy U is an opportunity to gain valuable training and contribute to health education and health promotion on campus. Founded in 2015, Healthy U has helped create many peer-led workshops on a variety of health issues like healthy sexuality, substance use and mental health.

“The Healthy U program is a great way to get involved with the university community and contribute in a fun way,” says Healthy U volunteer Jayden. “The support from both the leaders of the program and fellow volunteers provides a great sense of belonging, while the nature of the projects and tasks allows for lots of creativity. I’ve had an incredibly rewarding experience!”

“The Healthy U leadership team does not just talk the talk, but they walk the walk,” volunteer Sydney says. “They incorporate mental health check-ins and meditation, and they truly value and support students’ health. It is evident that Healthy U strives to create the most inclusive and supportive environment possible to make all students feel safe contributing their ideas and sharing their experiences. Being a part of the Healthy U team has been a blessing.”

The Healthy U program is run by the Health and Wellness Office and the SCC. Students who are accepted into Healthy U receive training from SCC counsellor Kayla Tessier and Bryanna Barker, health and wellness educator and registered psychiatric nurse.

“Working with our Healthy U peer educators is one of the best parts of my job; I learn so much from them,” Barker says. “To be able to educate, support, and collaborate with the volunteers and our UM students is hugely rewarding. I’m so excited to meet this new group of volunteers!”

“Being part of the Healthy U community has been an incredibly fulfilling journey,” Tessier says. “Working alongside dedicated volunteers to bring programming and content to UM students has been an opportunity for continued learning for all of us. I’m so thankful for the experience!”

If you’re looking to connect with your peers on topics vital to student health, apply to be a Healthy U volunteer on the Healthy U website.

For any additional questions or application information, please contact:

Bryanna Barker, Health and Wellness Educator, healthandwellness@umanitoba.ca.

With governments working to roll out COVID-19 vaccines more broadly, some Canadian jurisdictions are considering “vaccine passports,” which would be proof that the holder has been vaccinated. These documents would be intended to facilitate international travel. But we must be vigilant against any efforts to deploy them domestically that would discriminate against people who have not been inoculated.

Provinces’ musings on the issue have been all over the map. Manitoba Health Minister Heather Stefanson quite rightly made clear that “employers and other parties should not be requesting proof of immunization for any purpose.” On the other hand, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott has said that vaccine passports are “going to be really important for people to have for travel purposes, perhaps for work purposes, for going to theatres or cinemas, or any other places where people will be in closer physical contact.”

In essence, some governments appear willing to shame or coerce people into being vaccinated through a domestic vaccine passport regime – one that would result in the exclusion of unvaccinated individuals from some everyday activities, effectively making vaccines the required cost of living in society.

Brandon Trask is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba. Photo Credit, Dr. Amar Khoday.

From a public health perspective, it is fair to say that governments everywhere would prefer to make COVID-19 vaccines compulsory. The United States has a long history of such regimes; mandatory vaccination has been deemed constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court as early as the early 20th century. However, in Canada – where we don’t have such a history, and where governments tend to place more of an emphasis on citizens volunteering to act in the common good – directly mandating vaccinations is likely impermissible due to the Charter, which guarantees the right to life, liberty, and security of the person. If governments were to proceed with directly mandating vaccinations, they could cite section 1 of the Charter, which declares that rights and freedoms are subject to “reasonable limits” that can be “demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.” But it is unlikely that such an argument would be successful, at least at this stage, as it is not yet definitively proven that vaccines prevent individuals from being carriers of COVID-19. And many exemptions would need to be permitted.

However, under a domestic vaccine passport regime – intended to be an indirect way for governments to force vaccines upon the population – the responsibility for checking such documents (which would constitute the gathering of private health information) and enforcing societal exclusion for unvaccinated individuals would fall to the private sector, which includes employers, stores, restaurants and service providers. Private-sector actors are not bound by the Charter. While they must follow applicable provincial human rights codes, it is unclear whether these protections – which vary by province – would be sufficient in all cases to guard against health-related discrimination, based upon whether an individual is willing or able to produce a vaccine passport.

Proceeding in this manner would also send a terrible message. By developing a vaccine passport and endorsing or tolerating its use for domestic purposes by the private sector, a government would effectively be trying to do through the back door what is not permitted through the front.

As Canadians, are we okay with provinces creating a system that actively discriminates against individuals based upon health-related circumstances and characteristics? Our existing legal principles and rights would indicate that we are not. Unfortunately, there have been many examples throughout Canadian history where we have abandoned our principles in difficult times – and our courts have not always stepped in to offer protection for those who have been oppressed as a result. For instance, Indigenous communities seeking to protect their lands and community members have repeatedly been failed by a legal system that neglects to consider foundational Indigenous legal principles. Additionally, the horrific use of internment camps within Canada during the Second World War was upheld by Canadian courts, along with the deportation of Japanese Canadians.

Rather than attempt to impose vaccine requirements on the population – whether overtly or covertly – governments need to focus on developing strong education campaigns so that individuals can make an informed decision to, one hopes, act for the common good.

I, for one, will certainly opt to receive any COVID-19 vaccine when it is offered, but I have no intention of providing a vaccine passport to anyone other than for international travel purposes. A healthy Canadian society is – and must stay – a free and democratic one.

Celebrating their 25^th anniversary, the annual awards recognize outstanding Indigenous youth between the ages of 16 and 24 in a variety of areas, including academic accomplishment, community involvement, culture, business and athletics. Award recipients are chosen by a committee of Indigenous youth from the community.

This year’s recipients included several University of Manitoba students:

Cassandra Phaneuf
Academic Senior

After excelling in high school, Métis student Cassandra Phaneuf enrolled in the Asper School of Business at the UM. Currently in her second year of actuarial mathematics, she recently finished an actuarial internship at Great-West Life. Phaneuf also serves as the vice-president of operations for the Indigenous Commerce Students’ Association.

Ashley Daniels
Community/Volunteer – Senior

A member of both Swan Lake First Nation and Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, science student Ashley Daniels has volunteered since age 13. Currently the female Youth Chief with the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, she has also been involved in many events and programs on campus, including the Indigenous Circle of Empowerment and Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow. In 2017, she also participated in a Community Service-Learning program in Ecuador.

Shay-Ann Scott-Jolicoeur
Community/Volunteer – Junior

Shay-Ann Scott-Jolicoeur, a Métis student from St. Laurent, is currently in her first year in the Asper School of Business. An advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, she raises awareness by organizing events like community-based forums. She has also been influential in leading discussions around the review of Manitoba’s education system.

Kiana Tait
Health (North)

Currently a second-year science student, Kiana Tait aspires to go into medicine and become a physician. She has helped organize events in her community of Norway House Cree Nation, and has also volunteered with the Health Career Quest Summer Camp, which aims to assist northern high school students in achieving careers in health care.

Taylor Catcheway
Health (South)

Taylor Catcheway, from Pine Creek First Nation, graduated from the Medical Careers Exploration Program and is now attending the UM, with the goal of becoming a family physician and language carrier. The University 1 student also works as a facilitator with the Community Education Development Association’s Pathways to Education program.

For more information about the awards, visit the MAYAA website.