Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful break and are ready for another big year.

We’re starting 2026 with a significant  moment in our university’s history. Join me on January 20 as we launch Building Bold: UM’s Capital Plan for People, Place and Possibility, the University of Manitoba’s new 30-year capital plan and prioritization framework.

For over a century, the University of Manitoba has adapted and grown to meet the needs of students, researchers, and our community. Today, however, we face a different challenge. How do we build for the next 150 years while honouring our commitments to Reconciliation, sustainability, and academic excellence?

Building Bold is our roadmap that will guide how we renew, enhance, and expand our campuses to match the ambitions of our teaching, learning, and research mission. You can learn more about it at digital displays located in the Brodie Atrium on the Bannatyne campus and in the Fireside Lounge on the Fort Garry campus. 

During this launch event, I will be joined by Raman Dhaliwal, Associate Vice-President (Administration), who led the plan’s development and will speak about our community’s bold vision for the short and long term, and how we get there. We’ll also share digital renderings and take your questions.

Register now and please join us in person or online on January 20. The event runs from 9:45 – 11:15 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of UMSU University Centre.

If you have questions about the event, please email rsvp@umanitoba.ca or visit our intranet page. 

I look forward to seeing you there. And here’s to a big year full of bold ideas!

Thank you,
Michael Benarroch, PhD
President and Vice-Chancellor

“Sometimes the materials are not available, sometimes the crews are not available, sometimes the equipment is not available,” explained Dr. Ahmed Shalaby, a University of Manitoba civil engineering professor specializing in pavement design. “We have a limited capacity.”

To read the entire article, please visit the link here with the Winnipeg Free Press.

“We truly appreciate MCGA’s investment in the PCSRF, a facility that will greatly enhance our research and education programs in sustainable crop production,” said Dr. Martin Scanlon, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, UM. “We look forward to working with Manitoba’s canola growers in advancing agronomic practices, cultivar development and digital agriculture, while preparing our students to become future leaders for the sector.”

The Prairie Crops & Soils Research Facility is a 20,000-square-foot facility that will accelerate research to benefits crop farmers in Western Canada and drive innovations to keep Canada’s Agri- food sector internationally competitive.

“MCGA has long recognized UM as a key resource for quality education and agricultural research. As the birthplace of canola, it holds special significance to the canola industry” said Delaney Ross Burtnack, Executive Director, Manitoba Canola Growers Association “MCGA is proud to collaborate with other agricultural organizations in supporting UM as they advance to the next level of agricultural research with the innovative new Prairie Crops & Soils Research Facility.”

Collaboration is key, and the PCSRF will make it easier for teams of agronomists, crop and soil scientists, entomologists, livestock specialists, and plant breeders to work jointly on field research programs that address farmers’ key needs.

“Manitoba farmers benefit from Manitoba focused research and this facility will ensure Manitoba is on the leading edge of discovering and bringing these advancements to our farms.” says Clayton Harder, Chair of MCGA. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with UM on behalf of Manitoba’s canola farmers.”

MCGA values the partnership with UM and are currently funding 12 projects through the Canola Agronomic Research Partnership, Canola AgriScience Cluster and Manitoba Extreme Moisture Program.  This funding also supports the training of graduate and undergraduates working on these projects. 

The concert hall is the grand finale of the multi-year Taché Arts project. With its striking architecture, superior acoustics, optimal sightlines and a configurable stage for a variety of performances, the hall is set to transform UM’s facilities for the performing arts and will be the Desautels Faculty of Music’s showpiece venue.

Artistic rendering of the new Desautels Concert Hall // Image: Cibinel Architecture

“I am excited about this new space, which will be unlike any other in Winnipeg,” says Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor at UM. “It will enable opportunities for new performances to move and inspire us, fostering connections between communities in ways only performance pieces allow. And such a transformative space would not be possible without the generosity and vision of Marcel Desautels, Gail Asper and Michael Nesbitt. Their support made this possible, and on behalf of Manitobans, I thank them.”

The 407-seat hall will be unique among Winnipeg venues and is designed for a broad range of university and community events. It can be configured three ways to create an optimal acoustic and viewing experience. These variations are possible through a system of moveable towers, panels, sound-absorbing curtains and ceiling reflectors.

“With state-of-the-art acoustics, adjustable proscenium, and orchestral pit, the concert hall will provide an outstanding performance experience for our students, faculty, and community musicians. It is flexible enough to accommodate a range of musical activities, from the solo performer, to our various small ensembles, to large ensembles such as our opera productions and University of Manitoba Jazz Orchestra. The concert hall will be not just an important feature of the Desautels Faculty of Music and the University of Manitoba, but also a vital contribution to Winnipeg’s musical life,” says Edward Jurkowski, Dean of the Desautels Faculty of Music.

A well-planned benefit of the hall is its connection to bright, new rehearsal spaces where performers can warm up and rehearse before and during events.

The concert hall’s inspired design is the work of Winnipeg’s Cibinel Architecture and Toronto’s Teeple Architects. Both Cibinel partners, George Cibinel (BES/77) and Michael Robertson (BA/98, MArch/04), are UM graduates, as is Tomer Diamant (BEnvD/04) of Teeple.

Dr. Marcel Desautels, benefactor and name-sake for the faculty, played a leading role in making this project a reality when he made a generous $20 million gift to the faculty, designating $10 million specifically for a new concert hall. Other generous donors followed his lead. In December 2019, the university gratefully acknowledged a gift of $2.5 million from Dr. Michael F. B. Nesbitt. More recently, a gift of $2.5 million was also generously given by Gail Asper.

“I am delighted to be part of this exciting project and I can’t wait to see our talented musicians shine on this first-class stage, says Gail Asper. “I hope that donors will consider joining me in contributing to this new venue that will help to nurture the fine talent our province is so famous for.”

A ‘Your Seat Awaits’ giving campaign also launches today offering the chance for the community to be part of this legacy project. Donors who make a gift of $1,000 or more will have the opportunity to name a seat in the hall.

Today, the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister and Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Reg Helwer, Minister of Central Services and the Honourable Sarah Guillemard, Minister of Conservation and Climate announced funding for nine projects across Manitoba to support green infrastructure and upgrade community, culture, and recreation facilities. The projects will improve access to water infrastructure in several municipalities, create an urban tree canopy in Selkirk, and build or renovate key facilities in different locations to respond to community needs and make the buildings more energy efficient.   

“Whether we invest in cultural and recreational facilities or improving urban spaces through added trees, our end goal is the same: build healthy, vibrant, and resilient communities where Canadians can grow and thrive. The $21 million in federal funding announced today is just one step our government is taking to help support Manitobans as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Minister Carr said.

The Government of Canada is investing more than $21 million in these projects through the Community, Culture, and Recreation Infrastructure Stream and the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. For projects requiring consultations with Indigenous groups, federal funding is conditional on consultation requirements being met. The Government of Manitoba is investing over $4.8 million and other funding partners are contributing over $26.9 million combined.

“Energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are a major plank of our government’s Made in Manitoba Climate and Green Plan, and these projects will go a long way toward achieving environmental sustainability for our province. Enhanced outdoor spaces have also become a focus for the province as more Manitobans turn to parks and outdoor recreation during the pandemic, so I am proud that we can join in these exciting initiatives to improve spaces and facilities for community and cultural gatherings,” says the Honourable Sarah Guillemard, Minister of Conservation and Climate.

Energy Upgrades on University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry Campus

This project will upgrade University of Manitoba’s Central Energy Plant and the Max Bell Centre building on its Fort Garry Campus in Winnipeg. The improvements will benefit all 41 major buildings on UM’s campus by improving their energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“We thank the governments of Canada and Manitoba for their support of UM’s sustainability goals. This investment in upgrades to our Central Energy Plant and Max Bell Centre support the efficiency and resiliency of our infrastructure, and deliver social and environmental benefits to our community,” says Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor at UM.

Community Centre in Oakville

A new community centre in Oakville will replace the existing community hall that is nearing the end of its lifespan. The new 10,500 square-foot community centre will serve as a hub in the community and centralize community, cultural, and sporting venues in one location.

Multi-use Arbour and Powwow Grounds on Brokenhead Reserve

A new multi-use arbour and powwow grounds on Brokenhead Reserve will provide space for a multitude of activities, including cultural teachings and workshops, traditional ceremonies as well as community celebrations and events for the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation and other First Nations in proximity.

Quick facts

• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
• Overall, $945 million of this funding has helped support over 229 infrastructure projects across Manitoba.
  

“I thank our research collaborators at MCA for their leadership and vision in the support of the new PCSRF, one of the Faculty’s most significant renewal strategies for research in crop production. This gift represents investment in agricultural research by Manitoba’s farmers that will foster the development of integrated and resilient agronomic systems to the benefit of Western Canadian producers,” says Dr. Martin Scanlon, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, UM.

The PCSRF will increase the capacity for crop research and allow scientists to better integrate soils, crop, entomology and livestock research to make crop production in Manitoba more sustainable. Farmers in Manitoba will benefit from research topics including agronomic and cropping systems for optimized performance and longer-term sustainability, weed management, advanced crop protection, new cultivars and crops, profitability of nutrient strategies, and carbon benefits of crop production practices.

“MCA wishes to express our gratitude for the UM’s continued commitment to the improvement of facilities and equipment that are so essential for advanced modern research and the training of highly qualified personnel,” says Fred Greig, Chair of MCA. “We anticipate this expansion and modernization of research capacity at the UM will accelerate the growth and health of our industry by putting innovative solutions in the hands of our farmer members.”

MCA values the partnership with the UM and are currently supporting 30 projects totaling approximately $500,000 per annum. MCA will continue to work together with the UM to address research priorities and communicate research results to our members.

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.

The zone model with designated customer service representatives will improve response times to general inquiries, prompter billings, and enhance client rapport.

There are three zones, based on zones previously established by caretaking services. Zones are outlined in the table below, with buildings listed in alphabetical order.

Clients are encouraged to continue to use the online O&M maintenance request system for requesting maintenance work.

All questions pertaining to requests for work, status of work, billings etc. will handled by your designated customer service representative.

Your zone representative can be reached by phone at 204-474-6281, and selecting the appropriate zone from our menu system, or by email at ppwod@umanitoba.ca.

For more on the O&M Customer Service Centre, please visit our webpage.

The University runs on boilers located at the Fort Garry Central Energy Plant (CEP) and the Health Sciences Centre CEP, which supplies the Bannatyne campus. These boilers generate steam to be distributed to buildings as well as individual areas for heating, hot water, experiments and other activities.

Steam traps are found throughout steam systems, with approximately 1,200 traps at Fort Garry and 300 at Bannatyne. These steam traps remove condensate and other non-condensable gases; if this removal process is not occurring properly, the trap can get stuck in the open or closed position, resulting either in energy waste or a non-functioning steam system.

Working with Manitoba Hydro Power Smart program, O&M undertook the campus-wide audit, repairing or replacing all traps that didn’t pass inspection and improving our energy distribution on campus.

What does this mean for our campuses? Aside from these operational efficiencies gained, repairing deficiencies will save approximately $90,000 per year, associated with over 5,350 tons of annual steam loss. The University’s overall CO₂ emissions will be decreased by approximately 960 tons per year.

The steam trap audit also provides valuable systems documentation to O&M. These documents will allow continuous improvements to be made to the steam trap system for better ongoing energy management, while saving energy, money and the environment in the long term. Now that’s something we can all celebrate.

Winnipeg’s roads already take a pounding but a ground-shaking technology is now being applied to the city’s pavement in hopes it will help plan more efficient road repairs in the future.

“This technology can really detect whether this concrete is performing accordingly or if there’s cracks and damage under the surface of the concrete,” said Ahmed Shalaby, a civil engineering professor at the University of Manitoba and the university’s municipal infrastructure chair. 

Ahmed Shalaby. // Photo from Leif Norman

The falling weight deflectometer, a pickup truck outfitted with a hydraulic weight platform, drops about 180 kilograms (400 pounds) onto the road while sensors gather data to reveal the quality of the pavement below.

“That information translates into if there are voids under the surface, if there are cracks, if the road is damaged,” said Shalaby.

The load simulates that of a passing loaded truck and does not cause any damage to the road.

“So without coring or digging in the pavement, we are able to tell what is the condition underneath the surface,” said Shalaby, who became the city’s first chair in municipal infrastructure — a U of M position funded by the city, province and private sector — in 2016. The research program, focused on improving municipal infrastructure, has a budget of just over $1 million dollars over five years.

Read the full CBC story here.