Keep Moving Forward

Even though some services will be paused, you can still:

• Add or drop classes to finalize your schedule.
• Join a waitlist for courses that are full (note that waitlist notifications will be paused starting Thursday, December 18 at 12:00pm).
• View your position on a waitlisted course.
• Check your grades from the Fall Term to plan your next steps.
• Run an Audit with UM Achieve to check on your degree progress

However, services like transcript orders and enrolment verifications (EVs) will be unavailable starting 4:00 PM on Tuesday December 16, and will be reactivated on Monday January 5, at 9:00 AM.

Winter Term Is Almost Here!

Winter Term is just around the corner, and staying on top of your key dates and deadlines is the best way to ensure a smooth start.

Need Support?

We’re here to help, but don’t wait too long! If you have questions about registration, reach out to your academic advisors or explore the First Year Planning guide or our registration resources before the holiday shutdown.

Take this time to enjoy the holidays while preparing for an exciting new term ahead. We’ll see you in January!

1. INDIANS ON VACATION by Thomas King

Recommended by Shirley Delorme Russell, Indigenous Librarian Intern 

“Thomas King is Cherokee from the U.S. but has lived in Canada most of his adult life. Indians on Vacation is pure comedy. Along the way, you will learn some ridiculous Indigenous humour!” 

2. TIED UP IN TINSEL by Ngaio Marsh

Recommended by Aurora Tetrault, Library Assistant, Music Library 

“I highly recommend Tied Up in Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh. The author has created wonderful characters, and her plots are intricate and intriguing, to say the least. Her descriptions of people, places, and events give the reader a vivid and historical perspective of the times and her writing style is so pleasurable.”

3. NINE PRINCES IN AMBER by Roger Zelazney

Recommended by Allison Erhardt, Library Systems Specialist 

“If you are looking for a fantasy realm with unlimited possibilities to escape to, Amber is for you. The battle between Order and Chaos, following the Pattern, defeating evil — this fantasy series has it all.  Each book in this five-book series is on the shorter side, but together, with the second set of five books, makes for an epic read.  There is a set of three prequels too, if you get through the first ten! But start with your first step on the pattern and you won’t turn back.”

4. JANE EYRE by Charlotte Brontë

Recommended by Candice Lewis, Library Supervisor 

“I came very late to Jane Eyre, thinking it was stuffy and old-fashioned, so I had not given it a try.  If you have never read it, you will be so pleasantly surprised; and, even if you have, please give it a re-read.  I discover something different every time, plus the prose is sublime.”

5. LOST & FOUND by Kathryn Schulz

Recommended by Justin Fuhr, Science Librarian 

“Kathryn Schulz’s memoir recounts not only the loss of her father but how she found the love of her life. This is a story of loss and of finding yourself and the people who become close and significant to you. Schulz is a master of the written word, and you’ll find you can’t put this book down!” 

6. BLEACHERS by John Grisham

Recommended by Cody Fullerton, Acting Head, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Division 

“This book is short, easy to read, and very thought-provoking. It centers on high school football players who come back together 15 years after graduation to bury their former coach. As they discuss the glory days, they struggle to decide if they love or hate him. I’ve read this book many times and it had a notable impact on me as a teenager.”

7. EVERYBODY WINS: FOUR DECADES OF THE GREATEST BOARD GAMES EVER MADE by James Wallis

Recommended by Elliot Hanowski, General Librarian 

“This will be an enjoyable read for anyone who likes playing board games and wants to know more about their evolution. It’s insightful, humorous and well-illustrated!”

8. THE WEIRD SISTERS by Eleanor Brown

Recommended by Heather Bidzinski, Head, Archives & Special Collections   

“This book is about three sisters who ‘love each other [but] just don’t happen to like each other very much.’ The title reflects the family connection to all things Shakespeare; the father is a famous Shakespeare professor, and the sisters are named after famous Shakespearean women.  It’s a fun read about family coming together unexpectedly in a crisis.

9. LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott

Recommended by Samuel Plato, Learning and Instruction Support Librarian 

“This book is wholesome, heartbreaking, and riveting throughout. With a story beginning just before Christmas in the early 1860s, you can spend your holiday break falling in love with the March sisters and follow along as they balance their dreams for themselves with their responsibilities to each other. And you can see the stage adaptation running at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Company now until December 14!”   

10. SONG OF INCREASE by Jacqueline Freeman

Recommended by Claire Settee, Indigenous Librarian Intern 

“This is a feel-good book that opens your mind. The audiobook includes ambient bee humming sounds. Not just for bee people, an accessible read for those with any level of apicultural knowledge.” 

UM Libraries locations are open for study during exams, with group and individual study spaces available at various library locations across Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses. For quick online help, chat with library staff on Ask Us, open until 9:00 p.m. weekdays and 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on weekends. 

All UM Libraries locations will be closed December 21, 2024 – January 1, 2025.  

Featuring performances by Robert Burton and the University of Manitoba’s Desautels Faculty of Music Jazz Students, all proceeds from the event will go towards St John’s College Chaplaincy programs and Velma’s House (Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc.). Even if you can’t make it in person, the event performance will be available livestream.

Thursday, December 9, 2021
7 :00 – 9:00pm
St John’s College Chapel
Note: RSVP required

In-person attendance will include live music, intermission refreshments, post-show reception and a chance to win raffle prizes.

Please note, the event will be in accordance with provincial health guidelines regarding Covid-19.

Event Pricing

To receive a tax receipt and make a donation to provide support for Chaplaincy programs and Velma’s House, we are offering 3 donor levels, named after 3 iconic jazz performers:

Diana Krall            $50.00

Billie Holiday         $100.00

Ella Fitzgerald       $200.00

Please note, the cost per ticket is $25.00. The tax receipt will be issued to you, minus the base cost per ticket.

For those wanting to simply attend or livestream the performance, ticket prices are:

Students                $15.00

General                $25.00

Livestream            $10.00

Please note, in-person tickets are limited and it will be a ticket-less entry. Your ticket is only confirmed once payment is made and confirmation is received.

To purchase tickets or if you wish to solely donate towards the fundraiser, please contact our Events Coordinator, Amy Craddock, at 204-474-9612 or amy.craddock@umanitoba.ca

The IST Service Desk

• Closes Wednesday, December 23, 2020, at 6:00 p.m.
• Reopens Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at 8:00 a.m.

IST Open Area Computer Labs

• Closes Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.
• Reopens Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at 8:30 a.m.

Request support or report system outage

To request urgent support or to report a major system outage, call 204-474-8600 and press 2.

Unplanned interruptions of major systems such as UM Learn, Email, JUMP and the University of Manitoba website will be restored as soon as possible.

Most university buildings on the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses will be locked during this period, with some exceptions. Details follow.

Information Services and Technology

The IST Service Desk will close Friday, December 20, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. and will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2020, at 8:00 a.m.

IST Open Area Computer Labs will be closed for the holidays starting at 1:00 p.m., Friday, December 20, 2019, and will reopen Thursday, January 2, 2020, at 8:30 a.m.

To request urgent support or to report a major system outage, call 204-474-8600 and press 2.

Unplanned interruptions of major systems such as UM Learn, Email, JUMP and the University of Manitoba website will be restored as soon as possible.

Please shutdown and power off computers that will not be in use over the holidays. When you return, you may experience some slowness as your computer performs regular maintenance updates.

Libraries

All libraries on both the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses will be closed from Saturday, December 21 to Wednesday, January 1, 2020, inclusive.

Student Residences

The student residences will remain open during the holiday break, but with limited services. Residence security staff will have a presence 24 hours a day over the break, in various locations.

Dining Services – Fort Garry

All Dining Services locations for both campuses will be closed at 2:00 pm on December 20, 2019 with the exception of Pembina Hall which will be open until 8:00 pm. Dining Services will resume normal hours of operation on Monday, January 6, 2020.

UMSU University Centre

UMSU University Centre will be closed from the evening of December 20 to January 1, 2020, inclusive. UMFM will continue to operate with staff and DJs in the building.

Recreation Services hours

Including the Active Living Centre, Frank Kennedy Centre, Joyce Fromson Pool and Joe Doupe Recreation Centre (at Bannatyne campus)

These facilities are open during the holiday break as follows:

• December 20: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• December 21-23: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• December 24-25: Closed
• December 26-30: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• December 31: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• January 1: Closed
• January 2: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Normal schedule resumes)

For more information, please visit umanitoba.ca/sportandrec.

Edgar: For those unfamiliar with this Jewish holiday, could you give us a quick overview on Hanukkah?

Naomi: Hanukkah is the festival of light. The story of the holiday goes that 2,500 years ago there was a Syrian King named Antiochus and he tried to make the Jewish people worship idols. However, worshiping idols is against the Jewish religion. So a small group of Jewish people called the Maccabees rebelled, but at the end of the rebellion when the Jews became free, their temple was destroyed. As they cleaned up the rubble, they found their menorah and they wanted to light it, but they only had enough oil for one night. So they lit the menorah and a miracle happened! The menorah remained lit for 8 days! That is why Hanukkah is eight days long. 

An interesting fact is that as many people in North America give gifts for Hanukkah that is somewhat of a misinterpretation of the holiday. We are meant to simply receive small gold coins. However due to the influence of Christmas, Jews celebrating Hanukkah in North American began to exchange gifts during the holiday! 

Also a fun part of the holiday is since the menorah stayed lit for 8 days with oil we celebrate by eating sufganiyah (jelly donuts) and latkes (potato pancakes) since they are prepared in oil! 

Edgar: How have you and your family celebrated Hanukah, and what do you recall as your fondest memories?

Naomi: Hanukkah is not one of the most religious/holiest holidays for the Jewish people when compared to other biblical stories since it happened more recently. However my family makes the effort to meet together every evening to light the menorah. My mum will always make latkes for us and this is exciting since it is the only time of the year she will actually fry things in our kitchen. Now that I live far from home I try to Skype my family every night to light the menorah with them! As well we get together with all our friends, light the menorah together, share a lot of good food and spend time together.

I was born on the fifth night of Hanukkah and since the Jewish calendar follows the lunar cycle with 13 months in it, the fifth night falls on a different day on the regular calendar. From this I have somehow convinced my family to celebrate my birthday with cake on both my regular birthday and the fifth night of Hanukkah, which is a major win for me! 

Edgar: What about the holiday do you personally find meaningful and life-giving?

Naomi: What I find personally meaningful and life giving with this holiday is, like all other holidays, my family makes the holiday time special. We ensure that we all spend time together. Like any other holiday, in any other religion or belief, I enjoy being with my family and sharing an extra special meal with them. It makes me happy to be able to sit own and enjoy their company especially now that I live so far from home! 

Edgar: How could folks who are unacquainted with Jewish tradition and would like to learn more about Hanukah do so?

Naomi: People looking to learn more about Hanukkah are welcome to stop by the Hillel room at 149 UMSU University Centre whenever they would like to do so as anyone in there would be happy to share stories and information on the holiday with them! As well, on December 6th at 2pm there will be a menorah lighting in UMSU University Centre main floor that everyone is welcome to attend.

In the city of Winnipeg there are different Hanukkah parties offered at synoguages and the Rady Jewish Community Center that people are invited to attend. This year the first candle is lit at sunset on Sunday, December 2 and Hanukkah ends the evening of Monday, December 10th. 

If you have any questions about this celebration or any other spiritual matters, you can contact Edgar French at the U of M’s Spiritual Care office.  

We look forward to another productive and fulfilling year at the University of Manitoba.

The university’s upcoming 2018 holiday closures are as follows:

• Louis Riel Day: Monday, February 19, 2018
• Good Friday: Friday, March 30, 2018
• Victoria Day: Monday, May 21, 2018
• Canada Day: Monday, July 2, 2018
• Terry Fox Day: Monday, August 6, 2018
• Labour Day: Monday, September 3, 2018
• Thanksgiving Day: Monday, October 8, 2018
• Remembrance Day: Monday, November 12, 2018
• Christmas to New Year’s Break: Monday, December 24, 2018 to Wednesday, January 2, 2019 (last working day is Dec. 21; university re-opens Jan. 3)

More information can be found on the human resources website.

The University of Manitoba will close for the winter holiday at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21 and will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018.

Most university buildings on the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses will be locked during this period, with some exceptions. Details follow.

IST

The IST Service Desk will close at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21 and will reopen at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

IST Open Area Computer Labs will be closed for the holidays starting at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21 and will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Students: Ensure access to U of M computer resources

To ensure access to all University of Manitoba computer resources over the holiday break, students are strongly encouraged to validate their access prior to the University holiday closure, which begins at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21.

Validate accounts such as:

• Email: http://365.myumanitoba.ca
• UM Learn: https://universityofmanitoba.desire2learn.com/d2l/login
• Libraries: http://umanitoba.ca/libraries/

If you require assistance, contact the IST Service Desk at 204-474-8600 before it closes for the holiday break.

IST also reminds students to think before you click: beware of phishing and suspicious emails

Students should be cautious when clicking on links received via email.

Watch our YouTube video about phishing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NnBs37t8i4

More information on phishing and suspicious email can be found here: http://www.umanitoba.ca/computing/ist/security/phishing.html

LIBRARIES

All libraries on both the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses will be closed from Friday, Dec. 22 to Jan. 1, inclusive.

STUDENT RESIDENCES

The student residences will remain open during the holiday break, but with limited services. Residence security staff will have a presence 24 hours a day in each building.

DINING SERVICES – FORT GARRY

Dining Services at Campo – Fort Garry will be closed between Dec. 22 and Jan. 1.

Pembina Hall will be closed at 2 p.m. on Dec. 22 through to Jan. 1.

For details on additional Dining Services closures and hours from now until Jan. 2, visit: http://umanitoba.ca/campus/ancil_services/media/DS_Hours.pdf

DINING SERVICES – BANNATYNE CAMPUS

Brodie Centre Dining Services Hours of Operation

Dec. 21: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closed Dec. 22 to Jan. 1 inclusive

Starbucks Brodie Centre

Dec. 21: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closed Dec. 22 to Jan. 1 inclusive

UMSU UNIVERSITY CENTRE

UMSU University Centre will be closed from Dec. 22 to Jan. 1, inclusive.

UMFM will continue to operate with staff and DJs in the building.

ACTIVE LIVING CENTRE, FRANK KENNEDY CENTRE, JOYCE FROMSON POOL & JOE DOUPE RECREATION CENTRE (AT BANNATYNE CAMPUS)

These facilities are open during the holiday break as follows:

Dec. 22-23: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Dec. 24: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dec. 25-26: Closed

Dec. 27-30: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Dec. 31: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jan. 1: Closed

Jan. 2: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Normal schedule resumes)

For more information, please visit umanitoba.ca/sportandrec

We look forward to another productive and fulfilling year at the University of Manitoba.

The university’s upcoming 2017 holiday closures are as follows:

• Louis Riel Day: Monday, February 20
• Good Friday: Friday, April 14
• Victoria Day: Monday, May 22
• Canada Day: Monday, July 3
• Terry Fox Day: Monday, August 7
• Labour Day: Monday, September 4
• Thanksgiving Day: Monday, October 9
• Remembrance Day: Monday, November 13
• Christmas to New Year’s Break: Friday, December 22, 2017 to January 1, 2018 (last working day is Dec 21, university re-opens Jan 2)

More information can be found on the human resources website.

Wishing you and your loved ones peace, joy and warmth throughout this season and in the New Year.

David T. Barnard
President and Vice-Chancellor