Many geese stay in and around Winnipeg because of their protected status in urban environments and the availability of water, food, nesting sites and safety from predators.

Please be cautious! These unique campus community members are interesting and fun to watch — but be sure to do so from afar. Geese can be aggressive when they feel threatened. However, with some consideration, geese and humans can share our campus without incident.

Operations and Maintenance will be covering planters to deter nesting in areas with high human traffic; geese that nest on rooftops will be provided access ramps for their goslings upon hatching. As the geese begin to nest, signs will be posted in nesting areas to warn people of their presence. Geese don’t like to be surprised and can be protective of their area.

This story is part of the U of M’s “Respect the Goose” education and awareness campaign regarding the goose population on the Fort Garry campus with input from internal and external experts and other stakeholders.

For concerns with wildlife on our campuses, please contact the Customer Service Desk at ppwod@umanitoba.ca.

You can learn more by reading the Respect the Goose series.

You can also learn more about Operations and Maintenance’s wildlife management plan on the goose education web page.

Map of sidewalk closure for Oct. 19 A.M. outside the Stanley Pauley building. (Click to enlarge.)

Map of sidewalk closure for Oct. 19 A.M.

The pilot program is intended to create efficiencies and address customer barriers by reducing unnecessary paperwork and administrative tasks, benefitting units and faculties and O&M. Impacts will be monitored and analyzed throughout the pilot duration in order to determine whether the process can be implemented for a longer term. 

How it works

Units can place work requests by the usual process through the O&M website, and still need to provide a FOAP with each work request. If the eligible accumulated charges on the requested work-order adds up to an amount less than $500, the FOAP will not be charged back.

Please note that the following exceptions are not included:

• equipment rent or sales;
• key card/physical key recovery;
• services rendered by 3rd party contractors;
• services rendered to/for remote sites;
• new or existing requisitions (projects that have a requisition ID);
• fuel; and
• painting.

The pilot will end when the allocated budget is exhausted. Unit representatives and building points-of-contact will receive monthly communication with information on available funds and will be informed when the pilot program ends.

The pilot excludes the college residences, remote research sites and SmartPark tenants. All other UoM faculties and units are eligible to participate.

For more information, please reach out to bhaumik.gandhi@umanitoba

UM teams are working to switch to alternative cooling methods for equipment with this capability. We are also actively working with Hydro on this issue and updates will be provided as they become available.

Please contact the Customer Service desk with any urgent questions or concerns.

Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Email: PPWOD@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-6281

Activities go from 9:00 a.m. until noon both days. The entire university community is invited to join in the planting while connecting with co-workers and getting some fresh air. Participants are encouraged to bring their own small gardening tools.

Campus Beautification Day is a popular annual tradition at UM, thanks to the hard work and contributions of the volunteers who take the time out of their busy schedules to help spruce up the campuses.

Join in — we’re looking forward to seeing you! Read on to find out about all the fun and activities.

See the Campus Beautification webpage for more details.

For questions please contact: Leah Naumik at 204-474-8912 or leah [dot] naumik [at] umanitoba [dot] ca

Everyone’s invited for music and a free lunch

A free barbecue lunch follows at noon at both campuses — in the Quad at the Fort Garry campus and at the Bannatyne campus, in the green space between Medical Services and Medical Rehab (see maps). Both events will have music, and the Mark O’Riley band will also play live at the Fort Garry campus!

Fort Garry campus BBQ location in the Quad — marked with a pink star.

Bannatyne BBQ location is in the green space between Medical Services and Medical Rehab — marked with a pink star.

Everyone is encouraged to attend lunch and enjoy the band even if they didn’t participate in the gardening activities. Stick around for a chance to win some great prizes.

Campus Beautification prize draws

Each year, participants have an opportunity to enter a draw for some fabulous prizes, including this  year’s grand prize of one complimentary airfare courtesy of Air Canada.

The prize qualifies for airfare to and from any destination in Canada or the continental USA on scheduled flights operated by Air Canada and Air Canada Express in economy class (Hawaii and Puerto Rico are excluded). Space is subject to availability at time of booking and travel must be booked by Sept. 30, 2023, with travel completed by Mar. 31, 2024.

Donate to help others

Remember to bring items for the UM Food Bank — donation bins will be located at both Bannatyne and Fort Garry Campus Beautification events. Donations of non-perishable food and hygiene items are accepted. Please see the list of most-needed items.

Green Event Certification

Campus Beautification Day has been certified as a green event through UM’s new Green Events Certification program. In-person and virtual events that consider sustainability throughout their planning process can save energy, reduce waste and support social and environmental sustainability on campus. This event has been recognized with a Gold Green Events Certificate and Seal. To learn more, visit umanitoba.ca/sustainability

Each year, staff are encouraged to come out for some gardening fun with co-workers and dig in to flower planting and tidying at both campuses, as well as the Smartpark area.

Save the date, join in for fresh air and fun

This year’s Campus Beautification event takes place on May 25 at the Bannatyne campus (rain date May 26) and May 31 on the Fort Garry Campus (rain date June 1).

Activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. and go until noon both days. The entire university community is invited to join in the planting while connecting with co-workers and getting some fresh air.

A free barbecue lunch will follow at both campuses, and everyone is encouraged to attend even if they did not partake in the gardening activities. Participants can also enter to win some great prizes.

We look forward to seeing you!

 See the Campus Beautification webpage for details.

For questions please contact: Leah Naumik at 204-474-8912 or leah [dot] naumik [at] umanitoba [dot] ca  

Well-functioning HVAC systems support overall COVID-19 safety protocols (measures such as vaccinations, masking, cleaning) by removing and diluting aerosols that may contain viruses from indoor spaces.

It is important to note that adjusting ventilation will not affect transmission between individuals who are in close proximity. Practicing safety fundamentals—wearing a mask, physical distancing, hand hygiene—is of utmost importance.

To support the anticipated increase of in-person activity on campus in September 2021, UM has enhanced ventilation protocols—many of which have been in place since early 2020—by reviewing ventilation systems and working to optimize the capabilities of these systems.

Some additional measures that have been taken are:

• Filters inspected to ensure they are functioning properly.
• All demand ventilation systems disabled to keep the air handling operating at full capacity even during low-occupancy periods.
• As seasonal conditions allow, mixed air systems are set to 100% fresh air.

With these enhancements in place, operations of the university’s ventilation systems align with COVID-19 public health requirements and recommendations, as outlined by COVID safety recommendations.

Read on for details.

Measures for improved ventilation

These measures are being implemented across campus:

1. Increasing outdoor air intake: Ventilation systems on campus optimized within system capabilities to maximize the amount of outdoor air being supplied to classrooms and other building areas. Increased outdoor air supply to building spaces has been identified by COVID safety recommendations as a key measure which may help in reducing the spread of COVID-19 within buildings.
2. Increasing air exchanges by extending fan run-times: Operating schedules for ventilation systems on campus extended to include times before and after building occupied hours, and in some cases to run 24/7. This will increase the number of daily air exchanges and ensure that spaces are well-ventilated. COVID safety recommendations recommends this practice to increase the amount of air exchanges within building spaces to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
3. Checking filters: To ensure ventilation system filtration is working optimally within system designs, filters are checked frequently as part of the regularly scheduled preventative maintenance routines. Routine inspections and maintenance can be helpful in reducing the spread of viruses. Most Fort Garry campus buildings have MERV 8 filters, with some renovated buildings having up to MERV 14. All Bannatyne campus buildings have been upgraded to MERV 11 filters with many buildings having MERV 14 additional filters. In many cases pre-filters are used to extend the life of the main filter. The ASHRAE recommendations are reviewed and followed as closely as possible https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/filtration-disinfection.
4. Preventative maintenance: All campus ventilation systems are catalogued within our Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and receive regular preventative maintenance service routines including filter changes, inspections and repairs as needed. Filters are checked monthly and can last from 1-2 months to 6-12 months depending on the area and the outside conditions.
5. Air purifiers: Local air purification systems may be considered in areas without sufficient ventilation systems. Some users may use a local HEPA filtration unit in their work area as an additional measure, but these are not deemed as necessary for many of the campus areas. For the few buildings identified as unsuitable for use by more than 2 or 3 persons at a time, faculty have been notified.

 What you can do

1. Get vaccinated. Public Health recommends this as a key COVID-19 control measure.
2. Follow recommended Public Health practices. This may include the use of masks, distancing, hand sanitation and staying home when you are ill.
3. Open windows. The use of operable windows during favourable weather conditions is encouraged as an additional way to bring more outside air into classroom and other building spaces.
4. Avoid fans and window AC units. The use of personal desk fans, low ceiling fans, window air conditioners, and other devices which could create high velocity air flows in open office spaces or other shared spaces is being discouraged. If window AC units must be used, the recommendation is to direct air flow away from occupants in the space. 
5. Report ventilation issues. Let the Operations and Maintenance team know if there is a ventilation issue affecting your workspace.

Please direct inquires regarding ventilation the Operations & Maintenance customer service desk at ppwod@umanitoba.ca or banwod@umanitoba.ca 

For any concerns regarding environment, health and safety at the UM, contact the Environment, Health and Safety Office at EHSO@umanitoba.ca

When classroom activities were reduced and more emphasis was given to online learning, caretaking staff was able to provide enhanced cleaning services to our teaching labs, offices, lunchrooms and public places.

Now as we welcome students back for the winter 2021 semester, safety and sanitization protocols have been designed to prioritize a healthy, secure environment, while being responsive to the changing provincial regulations and public health protocols.

Here’s a general overview of safety and sanitization protocols on our campuses as students, faculty and staff return, and we gradually increase our on-site operations to meet the University’s ongoing mission of teaching and learning.

For more, see the COVID-19 (coronavirus) website and the COVID updates and safety resources page. 

Disinfecting classrooms and theatres, physical distancing for seating

The University is following provincial health guidelines, and some classrooms are in limited use as approved by COVID-19 Recovery Steering Committee. All classrooms and study areas being used are being disinfected after each class. Caretakers are using handheld and backpack unit cold foggers to disinfect the areas.

To maintain the proper social distances guidelines, seating arrangements have been made accordingly. “Sit here” and “Don’t sit here” placards are posted on seats, and limited seating drawings and seating capacity notices are posted by the entrance doors of the classrooms.

Safety Signage

Safety signs are posted on the entry/exit doors of each building at both campuses.

Hand Sanitizers

Hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed in each of the buildings, near the main entrances/exits doors, by main floor elevators, and in tunnel entrances/exits and stairwells.

Sanitization of touch points

Our caretakers are working hard to ensure our University community is protected. All the main entrances, elevator touch points, railing and washrooms are being disinfected numerous times every day.

Cleanliness testing

To ensure the safety of our University community, caretaking staff are conducting periodic ATP (adenosine triphosphate) swab tests on touch points, washrooms and classrooms.

In industries where hygiene control or cleanliness is crucial, ATP testing is used as an excellent tool for detecting and measuring biological matter that should not be present.

Disinfecting contaminated areas

Caretaking staff members are fully trained to disinfect contaminated areas, and cleaning has been enhanced in many areas, including the Active Living Centre, 200 Level UMSU University Centre Building, 100 Level Robson Hall (Faculty of Law), 300 Level Parker Building and 200 Level Human Ecology Building.

PPE Supply

To help support a safe return to campus, the University has purchased additional personal protective equipment and cleaning and sanitization items through the Procurement Office. A new General Services Store was created to help manage inventory. Supplies can be requested through EPIC , and will be delivered by General Services staff. Examples of supplies include: disinfecting wipes; hand sanitizer in liquid and gel forms; disposable non-medical masks; cloth reusable masks.

See more on the UM Coronavirus website https://umanitoba.ca/coronavirus

Fifty-seven percent of UM’s greenhouse gas emissions are related to heating buildings. Optimizing building and energy performance directly reduces emissions, improves occupant comfort and demonstrates UM’s commitment to sustainability.

At UM, energy use continues to decrease thanks to ongoing monitoring, maintenance and upgrades to facilities, as well as proactive energy initiatives. Despite continued infrastructure expansions and a population increase, UM’s natural gas and electrical consumptions have decreased significantly in the past three decades.

In celebration of Energy Efficiency Day, the Office of Sustainability has highlighted a few initiatives that have made our campuses more efficient:

• The Efficient Campus Model was developed to provide insight into the energy use of UM buildings, which include a variety of different spaces like laboratories, offices, classrooms, recreational facilities and food services, each with a different energy consumption profile. For example, research and undergraduate laboratories account for one third of all energy consumed by UM. Projects like converting fume hoods from Constant Air Volume (CAV) to Variable Air Volume (VAV) have drastically reduced energy use while maintaining and often improving lab safety by providing more controlled airflow when needed.
• UM has a district heat recovery loop, in which heat recovery piping encircles the entire Fort Garry campus. Waste heat is collected from areas with too much heat, like the Agriculture growth chambers and the High-Performance Computing Centre, and is transferred into the loop, cooling the buildings and warming the loop. Warmed water flows around the campus to facilities requiring heat, like labs that must constantly warm outside air to replace the air exhausted from fume hoods. The district heat loop continually uses excess heat from buildings, making the system more efficient than having to generate heat in the first place.
• Building performance and sustainability of the entire Fort Garry campus is improved by making its Central Energy Plant (CEP) more efficient. A waste heat recuperator was recently installed to convert the CEP low-efficiency boilers into high-efficiency condensing boilers. During the winter, the recuperator recovers enough energy to heat the equivalent of over 200 homes from the chimney exhaust gases! The CEP and district heating system consumes 37 per cent less natural gas per unit area compared to 30 years ago, which continues to improve. A phased upgrade approach continually examines new technologies that could significantly improve UM’s overall sustainability.

• Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) – which matches building ventilation to occupancy – is the most significant upgrade to date. It maintains excellent ventilation and air quality in occupied rooms, including the monitoring of carbon dioxide, temperature and motion detection. Whenever a room is unoccupied, its ventilation system is shut off. Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the DCV feature has been disabled to ensure occupied rooms are well-ventilated to reduce any spreading of the virus.

Upgrades to our energy grid at Fort Garry campus are also underway. While these projects are large-scale across UM campuses, everyone has a part to play in taking action toward innovative energy solutions. Learn how you can save energy while working or studying from home.

Due to necessary repairs to our campus electrical system there will be electrical disruptions on Saturday July 25, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Notices have gone out to all affected areas.

Buildings now affected are listed below; please check if your building will be affected, and ensure all unnecessary computers are shut off and all work is saved. 

For any work that cannot be shut down for the day, please check with either Rob Ramsay (204-474-6309) or Dave Myska (204-474-7115) for contingency plans.

Affected buildings are:

• Art Barn
• Powerhouse chiller 5&6
• Soil Sciences Equipment Shed
• Animal Science
• Ellis
• Ag Building
• Plant Science
• Sculptures
• Arthur Mauro
• Ag Annex
• Dairy Science
• Grain Research Lab
• McQuade
• Physical Plant
• Stores
• Mary Speechly
• Pembina Hall
• Drake
• Tier
• Isbister
• Fletcher
• Pembina Hall Student Residence
• Lots D, M & R
• University College Academic
• University College Residence
• Robson Hall
• Human Ecology
• Elizabeth Dafoe
• Plant Science Field Station (the Point) all buildings
• Duff temporary lot B buildings
• East Generator Building
• Art Lab
• Crop Technology

The Electrical Department will work as diligently as possible to complete the work and have service restored to their customers.

Please ensure all unnecessary computers are shut off and all work is saved.

Personnel in charge of any work that cannot be shut down for the day should check with either Rob Ramsay (204-474-6309) or Dave Myska (204-474-7115) for contingency plans.