The past decade at Brandon University has seen a number of changes. There have been research grants, new discoveries from our own faculty, numerous publications and plans for the future. Music is a constant source of success for the university, Mini-U increased its classes and camps for kids. New programs and degrees became available to new and continuing students. Despite tuition increases, the number of students enrolling and attending climbed each year. So many things have happened over the past ten years that have changed the school. Some past goals have succeeded, some have not but changes are constantly occurring.
2010
January 26- This year, BU students will have a “shot” at one free term tuition just for being a Bobcat fan. Each time a student attends a Bobcat home game, their name will be entered into a draw to be held at the final Bobcat home game this season.
February 3- In an effort to get feedback from students and assist in planning for the future, Brandon University is taking part in the National Survey of Student Engagement. Students in the first or last year of their degree may be contacted randomly through their brandonu email. Those students are asked to take the time to participate in the survey, which should take no longer than 15 minutes. The answers they give will help shape BU for future students.
February 10- At a concert and reception celebrating the finale of the three-year Standing Ovation Campaign held at Brandon University’s School of Music on Monday, February 8th, it was announced that $824,510 in gifts and pledges has been raised for the School of Music. Brandon University is internationally known for its exceptional School of Music as its graduate programs continue to enroll students from around the world. The School of Music enters its 104th year of operation in 2010.
February 22- Brandon University professor and former Olympian, Dr. Morris Mott took time out of his schedule to visit Mr. Beaubier’s Grade 9 Canadian Studies class at Elton Collegiate, in Forrest, MB. Dr. Mott spoke to the class about the Olympics and his time as an Olympian at the 1968 games in Grenoble, France.
February 24- For the first time in its 25-year history, Brandon University’s Mini University program will begin offering popular courses for ages 9-16 during the school year. Mini U will run its Gamers’ and Game Designer courses during the upcoming spring break from March 29 to April 1. In addition, courses in such topics as creative writing, kickboxing, guitar, movie making, English as an Additional Language, and European-style board games will be offered on consecutive Saturdays from April 10 to May 8.
March 8- Every year throughout the world women celebrate International Women’s Week culminating with International Women’s Day on March 8. Steeped in a history of women’s struggles for equality, it has come to symbolize women’s efforts to shape a better world.
March 16- A new initiative at Brandon University will help first-year students explore one of four academic themes designed to unite them with others that share in their interests. Arts One provides students with a peer group interested in similar issues and links them with engaging, talented faculty who are committed to their success.
March 18- Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Brandon University to announce the Government of Canada’s support for the Brandon University Healthy Living Centre. The project will expand and improve the current gymnasium built in 1965 at the Brandon University campus.
March 23- The Disaster & Emergency Students Society (DESS) in collaboration with the BU World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Club collected a total of $6,105 for Haiti Relief. This amount was presented to the Canadian Red Cross and in turn matched by the Federal Government. Students from DESS and WUSC hosted a collection table, bake sales, and visited classrooms throughout campus to notify the BU community of the facts and endeavors taking place to help Haiti. The final total donated from BU to the Canadian Red Cross for Haiti Relief was $6,230.
April 7- After four years of planning and construction, Brandon University officially opened its brand new, spacious $3.9-million Physical Plant. The physical plant serves as the hub for many campus operations and provides services from security and technical support to building maintenance, project management, grounds keeping, deliveries and housekeeping.
April 8- Following the success of last year’s first ever Senior Colloquium, Brandon University is set to host the second annual event, Tuesday, April 13. The event consists of third and fourth year students presenting their research projects in a range of departments and programs in Arts and Science.
April 21- Brandon University’s Bachelor of First Nations and Aboriginal Counseling (FNAC) will be revising its name. The program will now be known as Bachelor of Indigenous Health and Human Services (IHHS). The curriculum revisions include an increase in the number of courses offered in Western counselling theories and skills.
May 18- Students from Brandon University teamed up with St. John Ambulance and launched the first Advanced Medical First Responder (AMFR) First Aid Group in a Manitoban University. The group has now been awarded a Priory Vote of Thanks for their efforts.
May 27- On Saturday, May 29, Brandon University will hold its 2010 Spring Convocation with two ceremonies. Approximately 700 graduates are expected to receive their degrees. In addition, this year’s ceremony will feature the conferral of Honorary Degrees upon Phil Fontaine and Stephen Lewis.
June 23- As part of their on-going partnership, the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC) and Brandon University signed a Memorandum of Understanding today. The document is designed to foster the development of new First Nations language teaching skills and collaborate to support the retention and preservation of First Nations languages.
June 25- The Brandon University Board of Governors unanimously approved the BUILD 2010 strategic plan at their meeting June 24, 2010. The plan is set to direct BU for the next five years. The plan’s main tasks and goals for the future focus on students, quality teaching, research excellence, communication, community presence and campus infrastructure.
October 8- In preparation for the initiation of its new Master of Psychiatric Nursing (MPN) in January, the Brandon University Board of Governors has approved the graduate program’s tuition fees in the amount of $600 per three (3) credit hour course.
November 8- An historic moment will take place in Clark Hall on November 16 — the 125th anniversary of Louis Riel’s hanging — when a new centre designed specifically for Métis students officially opens. The furniture and computers were provided by the Manitoba Métis Federation’s Southwest Region office. The room is decorated by the Brandon Métis Women, with donations of cultural items from Dr. Mayer and the MMF’s Vice-President of the Southwest Region, Leah LaPlante.
November 16- The history of the Métis will be discussed during an upcoming conference entitled “From Pierre-Esprit Radisson to Louis Riel: voyageurs et Métis”. Several Brandon University faculty members will be collaborating to mark the 300th anniversary of Radisson’s passing as well as the 125th anniversary of Riel’s trial and hanging. Furthermore, 2010 has been named The Year of the Métis, giving the conference even more impetus.
November 18- Brandon University alumnus, Tim Friesen has been conducting research at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) while working toward his PhD. He was a member of the international team that was able to trap antimatter atoms.
November 26- Audrey Cook, a fourth-year Native Studies major at Brandon University recently received the Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Award for Personal Achievement. Originally from the Bloodvein River reserve, she is the first individual in her father’s family to attend university. This award served to underline her academic commitment.
November 26- On behalf of the Government of Canada, the Honourable Tony Clement announced on Wednesday that $275.6 million has been invested in the Canada Research Chairs Program. This comes as the program marks its tenth anniversary.
2011
January 4- Brandon University Athletics will provide free admission to Westman Special Olympics athletes on Saturday, January 8 when the Bobcats host the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. There are more than 200 Special Olympians in the Westman region who compete in numerous sports, including floor hockey, swimming, and track and field.
January 7- Thirteen psychiatric nurses, from various parts of Western Canada, assembled on campus yesterday and today. The group is the very first in the country to embark on a Master of Psychiatric Nursing program. Each has chosen one of three streams — education, administration or clinical practice.
January 26- WestCAST is the annual conference for the Western Canadian Association of Student Teachers. The next edition will be held from February 23 to 26, 2011. WestCAST is for education students, educators, administrators, and faculty members from all across western Canada and beyond.
January 27- In the Brandon University TelePresence room, there are also two large monitors on either side of the main screens to facilitate viewing. This new system will not only save time and money but will also enable Brandon-based professors/instructors and researchers to communicate with distant colleagues or students. Furthermore, Brandon University is considering making this service available, for a fee, to businesses in the future.
February 23- Recently, Dr. Deborah Poff, Brandon University’s President and Vice-Chancellor and Scott Lamont, BU’s Vice President, Administration and Finance, had the pleasure of accepting a donation from the T.J. Rice Family Foundation and Renaissance Station (TJRFF/RS).
March 15- This morning, the new Information Technology Server Room was officially unveiled. On hand for the occasion was Brandon University President, Dr. Deborah Poff, Vice President, Administration and Finance, Scott Lamont as well as Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris. This project had received a Government of Canada investment of $281,260 through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a job creation program launched in 2009 to help respond to the global economic recession, under Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
March 23- A generous gift of $100,000 was recently donated by the Manitoba Métis Federation and the Louis Riel Institute to Brandon University. This donation will be matched with an equal amount from the Manitoba Scholarship & Bursary Initiative and will be added to the Louis Riel Scholarships & Bursaries Endowment.
March 29- The students have spoken! Brandon University has been deemed the sixth best institution out of 39 Canadian universities, thanks to its programs to help students choose a program and select courses. The CUSC (Canadian University Survey Consortium) survey, which was commissioned by the universities, asked more than 100 questions about specific aspects of the undergraduate experience—inside the classroom and beyond—designed to provide universities with data to help them assess programs and services.
March 30- The Brandon University Physics Department along with the Canadian Association of Physicists present guest speaker Dr. Andreas Warburton, an Associate Professor from McGill University. He will be on hand to talk about “First Results from the Large Hadron Collider”.
April 19- Brandon University received a 5-year, $1million Community-University Research Alliance (CURA) research award from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). This award is aimed at a university-community partnership to improve success for children and youth in First Nations, Métis, Inuit (FNMI) and northern communities in Manitoba.
May 10- Due to the Assiniboine River flooding, Kirkcaldy School is being relocated to Brandon University on Wednesday, May 11th, as a precautionary measure. This will involve approximately 400 students and over 20 staff. The younger grades will be housed in the Faculty of Education building.
June 22- The Rural Development Institute (RDI) has once again received financial support from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI.) On hand to sign the agreement were Drew Caldwell, MLA for Brandon East, Dr. Deborah Poff, President and Vice-Chancellor of Brandon University and Dr. William Ashton, Director of RDI. This five-year financial support of $545,000 from the province will help sustain Brandon University-based, RDI-driven research efforts.
November 26- The bargaining teams for the Brandon University Board of Governors and the Brandon University Faculty Association announced this evening that a tentative agreement has been reached. The job action against the University will cease at 11:59 tonight and classes will resume on Monday at 6 p.m.
November 29- Today, Brandon University’s Senate met to establish the policies that will guide the return to classes for BU students. The Senate, comprised of students, faculty and administration, has approved a policy that will see both terms completed by the end of April. The overall intent of these policies is to respond to the recent strike in such a way that the impact on students and their learning is lessened. The Senate addressed a number of concerns including: new dates for voluntary withdrawal from courses, a modified examination schedule and the unique needs of students in professional programs.
December 20- Brandon University has received $90,000 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Funding for this three-year project entitled “Tourism Market Development and Impact Assessment” is from the SSHRC’s Aid to Small Universities (ASU) Program and will be headed by Dr. Derrek Eberts, Associate Professor in the Department of Geography.
2012
January 12- Earlier this afternoon, Premier Greg Selinger took a tour of the construction site at Brandon University’s Healthy Living Centre (HLC). The facility, which has received the funding commitment of up to $5.3 million from the province, is on budget and on time. The Premier, Brandon East MLA Drew Caldwell and Dr. Deborah Poff, Brandon University’s President and Vice-Chancellor toured the construction site with Bill Myers, the Brandon University Construction Manager, who pointed out many of the building’s most important features.
January 16- Today in Thompson, the President and Vice-Chancellor of Brandon University, Dr. Deborah C. Poff met Lovro Paulic, the General Manager of Vale’s Manitoba Operations to accept the company’s donation of $400,000 in support of the Vital Outcomes Indicators for Community Engagement for Children and Youth (VOICE) project. Brandon University is supported in this project through a $1 million-dollar peer-reviewed research grant from the Government of Canada, through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Community-University Research Alliances Program (SSHRC CURA).
February 7- The number of undocumented border crossings from Mexico into the United States has increased exponentially in recent years in response to the growing global economic disparity. In response, the U.S. has increased not only the number of border patrol agents along the lengthy border between the two countries but has militarized this process.
March 14- Brandon University Athletics is getting ready for another great year of Bobcat Summer Camps. Four weeks of basketball and volleyball camps are scheduled, with a new location and some slight modifications to this year’s program. Due to the construction of Brandon University’s Healthy Living Centre and renovations to the BU Gymnasium, all Bobcat Summer Camps will be held at Vincent Massey High School in Brandon (715 McDiarmid Drive).
March 16- The Rural Development Institute (RDI) has received renewed financial support from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI). On hand to accept the cheque were Dr. Scott Grills, Vice-President Academic and Provost of Brandon University, Dr. William Ashton, Director of RDI and representing the provincial government was Drew Caldwell, MLA for Brandon East. This five-year financial support from the province will help sustain Brandon University-based, RDI-driven research efforts.
April 25- Dr. Renee Robinson of the School of Health Studies and Dr. Karen Rempel of the Faculty of Education were each awarded funding from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy. The total value of the research funding for these two Brandon University projects is more than $103,000. Dr. Rempel’s research, valued at $72,108, will explore the factors that contribute to youth at-risk mobility in rural and northern Manitoba communities. Dr. Robinson will receive $31,056 for research entitled “Housing and Support in the Community of Choice: Addressing Factors that Contribute to Migration and Homelessness”
May 1- On May 5, 2012 beginning at 9 a.m., the SIFE Brandon team will prepare the new Green Futures North end location to be officially launched on May 12, 2012. This preparation will include transferring 85 garden beds built by the team during the past two years to the North End location, on 100 Stickney Avenue, and then filling them with soil to get them ready for planting during the May long weekend.
May 22- Two Brandon University (BU) faculty members, through their company Root Sky Productions, will present two original plays next month. Assistant Professor of Native Studies Darrell Racine and English and Creative Writing Assistant Professor Dale Lakevold will spearhead a production of the plays at the 2012 MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts in Winnipeg from May 30 to June 2. The following week, they will bring the works to Brandon audiences.
July 12- Dr. Deborah Poff, Brandon University’s President and Vice-Chancellor, and Mayor Shari Decter Hirst today signed a Community Access Agreement for the soon-to-be-opened fitness and recreation facility. The event took place in front of the new Healthy Living Centre (HLC) on Louise Avenue. Dr. Tom Breneman, BUILD Campaign Chair and Jared Jacobson BUILD Local Division Chair, were also present during this important historical event.
October 19- Dr. Alison Marshall of the Department of Religion was awarded funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)’s Insight Grants Program. The total value of the research funding is $287,395 and will be distributed over a 5-year term.
October 26- A new agreement between Brandon University (BU) and Assiniboine Community College (ACC) will open the door for students to transfer credits directly from their completed Licensed Practical Nursing program at ACC to BU’s Bachelor of Nursing program in the Faculty of Health Studies.
October 30- This past Friday, Dr. Deborah Poff, Brandon University’s President and Vice-Chancellor, was joined by Jamie Honda McNeil, Enbridge’s Manager of Aboriginal Affairs, at a celebration for the two student recipients of the newly-established Enbridge Dakota Language Scholarship. The event marks the beginning of a three-year partnership with Enbridge in support of the Dakota language. Committing a total of $60,000 to Brandon University, Enbridge is the direct funder of the Dakota Language Program in the Native Studies Department and supports two annual student scholarships valued at $2,500 each.
December 7- Brandon University (BU) is proud to announce the naming of the original campus gymnasium in honour of the late Henry Champ, Chancellor 2008-2012, with a commemorative ceremony planned for the new year.
2013
January 8- A Blue and Gold Celebration happens this weekend at Brandon University. On January 11th and 12th, put on your BU colours and join us for events and prizes in the new 25-million-dollar Healthy Living Centre (HLC). Giveaways include an iPad, University tuition and Bobcat rally towels.
February 25- New student applications to Brandon University (BU) have jumped 20%, to the highest level in four years. Figures released today by BU’s Admissions Department show that 636 persons have applied to attend the University as new students beginning this fall. That compares to 528 in February 2012, 619 in 2011 and 567 in 2010. BU’s overall annual enrollment exceeds 3,000.
April 8- A dozen Brandon University (BU) professors were pie’ed during the 3rd annual ‘Pie Your Profs’ fundraising event on April 5th. “It’s good for charity and a great stress reliever”
May 6- A national gathering of leading female academic administrators this past weekend hosted by Brandon University (BU) explored the theme of Leading with Integrity. The annual Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada (SWAAC) conference drew approximately six dozen participants from universities, colleges and technical institutes across Canada. BU President and Vice-Chancellor Deborah Poff says the gathering featured exceptional content.
June 26- Children raised in Manitoba’s child welfare system now have increased opportunities for post-secondary education through the recently announced Tuition Waiver Program partnership involving Brandon University (BU), Assiniboine Community College (ACC) and the four Child and Family Services Authorities of Manitoba.
July 5- Brandon University (BU) is establishing a new centre of excellence to support teaching and learning. The Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Technology (CTLT) will provide leadership in the development of student-centred, evidence-based approaches to teaching within the University.
August 1- This fall, students living in BU residences will see upgraded internet service and recreational facilities. More single occupancy rooms have been opened in each residence building – female, male and co-ed. An Academic Residence Assistant program is in-place that pairs seniors with first-year students to help them adjust to the requirements of university coursework. A new study hall is also planned for the men’s residence.
September 20- Dr. Ardelli has recruited Dr. Peter Pieroni, Clinical Microbiologist with Prairie Mountain Health, to speak on the history and benefits of vaccines, as part of a project by BU students to raise awareness.
October 15- A professor at Brandon University (BU) is working with researchers around the globe, exploring some of the most important stars in our sky with the Hubble Space Telescope.
November 8- A new Master of Science degree will be offered at Brandon University (BU) beginning in 2014, benefitting student success and the economy in southwestern Manitoba. Minister of Education and Advanced Learning, James Allum, made the announcement today in a science lab on the BU campus.
2014
February 4- A workshop on cultural awareness at Brandon University. The moccasin making is designed to expose students, many of them from other countries who now call Brandon home, to Aboriginal culture and history.
March 28- An internationally-recognized voice in Indigenous health and the law is joining Brandon University (BU) in a $500,000 project to advance Aboriginal Peoples’ rights to health in Canada.
April 22- One of Canada’s leading financial management companies is contributing $50,000 to the state-of-the-art Healthy Living Centre (HLC) at Brandon University (BU). Investors Group will receive corporate name recognition on the score clock in the main gym of the HLC, the home to BU’s Bobcats basketball and volleyball teams.
April 24- A handful of Brandon University (BU) students has been awarded federal funding for exciting research projects in biology, physics, and chemistry. The Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) are given annually to high achievers by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), to encourage graduate studies and research careers in the sciences. Seven BU students are sharing $31,500 in USRAs, plus almost $8,000 in awards from Brandon University.
June 23- A collection with more than 10,000 high definition maps is being moved into the John E. Robbins Library at Brandon University (BU), allowing for greater public access. The John Langton Tyman Map Library contains atlases and topographic maps of Manitoba and Canada, as well as maps from around the world. It’s one of only four official depositories in Manitoba for maps of the National Topographic System and National Atlas of Canada, and the only such library outside of Winnipeg. The collection is currently housed on the fourth floor of BU’s science faculty building.
August 20- Student success is at the heart of a new collaborative agreement signed today between Brandon University (BU) and Assiniboine Community College (ACC), a partnership to explore new courses, research opportunities and student mobility between the two institutions. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will enhance both programming and accessibility for more than 9,500 students enrolled each year in post-secondary education in Brandon and the surrounding area.
September 10- The untold stories of the men and women from Brandon College (now Brandon University) who took part in World War l are chronicled in a new public exhibition, Brandon College and the Great War, on display at Brandon University (BU).
October 22- In a banquet hall full of proud alumni, Brandon University (BU) officially introduced a new logo and look during this year’s Homecoming Weekend. The new logo, a derivation of BU’s ceremonial coat of arms, maintains the rich heritage of its predecessor, but has simplified graphical elements and text that make for a more modern representation. To further establish the brand, a comprehensive suite of templates and standards were also developed.
December 9- More than 50 Brandon University (BU) students and the Brandon Bobcat’s sports mascot rallied to give the gift of life, in support of a Brandon-area infant that requires weekly blood transfusions. Fifteen month old Bailey Phillips was born with the virus Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and her own body is consuming blood platelets as fast as her bone marrow can produce them. Bailey requires regular transfusions to survive and has received more than 120 since August 2013.
December 16- Anyone who turns to the internet for news will be interested in an innovative course starting in January at Brandon University (BU). Digital Journalism will examine the current structures, organization, and practices of internet reporting, exploring whether we are shaping the tools in this field or the tools are now shaping our consumption of information and ultimately our critical thinking.
2015
January 7- One of the founders of Brandon University is celebrated in the newest volume of the prestigious Dictionary of Canadian Biography, an award-winning database containing biographies of significant national figures. Samuel James McKee was an educator and early settler of the Canadian west, moving from Ontario to Rapid City, MB, in 1882, and to Brandon in 1890 where he opened Brandon Academy.
March 19- A Brandon University (BU) professor has been awarded a federal grant to support science programming for a summer camp that encourages healthy living, creative expression and scientific curiosity in children and youth. Dr. Nancy Stanley, Department of Physical Education, says the $18,700 PromoScience Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) will advance the science programming of Mini University.
April 2- Brandon University (BU) Geology students, faculty members and industry representatives celebrated the official opening of the University’s first Geology Core Lab yesterday afternoon on the BU campus. The Lab houses various examples of mining and petroleum drill cores, and provides students with the opportunity to practice their knowledge and prepare for their chosen geology profession by working on real drill cores from mines, exploration projects and petroleum deposits.
May 12- Brandon University’s Mini University (Mini U) summer camp program will receive a $10,000 grant from MTS Future First, a community investment initiative that sought online voting support for a number of community-based organizations working on behalf of youth in Manitoba. MTS Future First announced Mini U’s top ten placement this morning based on the number of online votes received in support of Mini U’s “Opportunities for Youth” program between April 21st and May 10th. Through this successful funding bid, “Opportunities for Youth” will now be able to provide 45 camp bursaries for marginalized children and youth to attend Mini U this summer. Mini U is one of ten organizations to receive a grant from MTS Future First, who will distribute a total of $100,000 to organizations across Manitoba in 2015.
July 6- Brandon University (BU) has won a Silver PRIX D’EXCELLENCE award, in the Best Institutional Branding category, at the Canadian Council for Advancement of Education (CCAE) Conference in Montreal, QC. The PRIX D’EXCELLENCE is the annual awards program of the CCAE, recognizing outstanding achievements in communications and marketing, alumni relations, fundraising, external relations and student recruitment. BU’s award was in recognition of their submission, “Brandon University: A New Visual Identity”, which highlighted its recent rebrand.
September 2- Brandon University is the latest Canadian campus to embrace gender-neutral washrooms for students and faculty. Just in time for the 2015-2016 school year, the university has established 14 single-stall, accessible washrooms, in addition to the one already available in the Healthy Living Centre. The gender-neutral washrooms are part of the university’s Positive Space initiative, which was spearheaded by Mason last year. The goal of Positive Space is to make everyone feel respected and supported, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.
September 20- Brandon University’s student population is climbing as the number of students applying to the post-secondary institution has reached record levels. Preliminary numbers show the university’s total student population has jumped by 159, to 3,123, compared to 2,964 students who attended in 2014 — an increase of 5.4 per cent.
November 19- Business education in Brandon could look a lot different over the next few years, as the city’s two post-secondary institutions have agreed to explore the concept of a hybrid business program and future joint school of business.
December 17- A Brandon University (BU) researcher says she was surprised and honoured to find herself cited in the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC).
2016
January 7- Brandon University (BU) is pleased by a provincial pledge to support Indigenous Education with additional funding earmarked for that purpose. The province announced today that Indigenous Education in Manitoba would be supported by specific new money, on top of a 2.5 per cent increase in general operating grants. The province also specifically announced $50,000 to support Indigenous culture on campus and $150,000 to support a Métis studies program at BU.
January 15- The Brandon University cafeteria has a new name, following a contest and a campus community vote. It will now be known as “Harvest Hall.” Congratulations to Leanne Barcellona, who submitted that suggestion the “Name the Caf” contest that began last fall. It was one of two finalists that were voted on over the past couple of week.s
January 15- Brandon University (BU) students with families will have an affordable place to call home thanks to a $12-million commitment from the Province of Manitoba. Municipal Government Minister Drew Caldwell visited the BU campus to deliver the good news on Friday, as the province partnered with the university on a $13.5-million project that will result in the construction of 42 student family housing units.
January 22- The North American touring art project Walking with Our Sisters (WWOS) is coming to Brandon from February 22 to March 6. The commemorative exhibition will be hosted at Brandon University’s Down Under space below the Harvest Hall dining room. The project features 1,808 pairs of moccasin vamps (also called “uppers” or “tops”) created and donated by hundreds of caring and concerned individuals to draw attention to 1,200 women and girls who have been murdered or gone missing across Canada since 1980. The adorned vamps are intentionally not sewn into moccasins to represent those whose lives were cut short.
March 29- Students will have new options to get a degree in medicine or veterinary medicine, thanks to a new agreement between Brandon University (BU) and Saint George’s University. The two institutions today signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow students to obtain medical or veterinary degrees at Saint George’s, in Grenada, after taking either a three- or four-year pre-professional science degree at BU.
April 5- Brandon University has been and remains significantly concerned by the reported sexual assault on campus in September 2015. Brandon University used a Student Behavioural Contract, which we now recognize to be inappropriate in this case. We are reviewing the use of Student Behavioural Contracts under any circumstance and will no longer be using them in the case of sexual assault, sexual violence or sexual harassment.
April 15- Brandon University (BU) is undertaking decisive actions and initiatives to accelerate the development, consultation and implementation of sexual violence, assault and harassment policies and protocols at BU.
May 4- Brandon University has hired a new full-time Sexual Violence, Education and Prevention Coordinator. Carla Navid, a social worker and therapist with experience supporting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, has filled the new position, and started Monday. Navid becomes a point of contact for members of the Brandon University (BU) community on issues of sexual violence.
August 19- Despite being mostly forgotten, a local landmark continues to play an important role in defining treaty relationships in Canada, says a Brandon University (BU) researcher who is working on a documentary about the Grand Rapids of the Assiniboine River.
September 2- Orientation will be bigger and better this year as Brandon University (BU) makes the final preparations for the arrival of more than 3,000 students next week. A total of 3,168 students have enrolled at BU for the 2016-17 academic year, an increase of five per cent from this time last year, with more registrations expected in the coming days. This marks the third consecutive year of growth at BU, with the number of students increasing by more than 13 per cent since 2013.
September 9- Brandon University (BU) researcher Penny Tryphonopoulos is working on a project that uses video feedback to help women with PPD see and understand how positive interactions benefit their babies. Tryphonopoulos and Nicole Letourneau of the University of Calgary (UCalgary) are leading the project, which is being funded by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant of nearly $570,000.
October 26- Brandon University (BU) is proud of the strong resources devoted to students, including unparalleled access to faculty, that are on display in the 2017 Maclean’s magazine university rankings, which were released today. Brandon University’s student/faculty ratio was ranked best in the nation overall, across all categories tracked by Maclean’s.
November 1- “Research Connection” is a new two-page format that’s designed to highlight and help researchers distill their findings into a quick-to-read and quick-to-understand digest. The summaries, which will help promote research results to readers in Brandon and throughout Manitoba, will be produced and printed approximately twice a month. For the convenience of readers everywhere, they’ll also be housed online at BrandonU.ca/Research-Connection.
November 4- Brandon University (BU) has scheduled three open town hall sessions this month to gather wide community feedback for its new, stand-alone sexualized violence policy, now in draft form. The draft policy, related information, resources, and details about the consultation process have been posted to a new website at BrandonU.ca/SexualViolence.
November 28- Students, staff and faculty members at Brandon University (BU) have provided significant and valuable feedback during the first round of wide community consultation on a new, stand-alone sexualized violence policy.
December 12- Brandon University (BU) has acquired a significant location downtown: the former Strand Theatre property. The new acquisition is on the 100-block of 10th Street in downtown Brandon and BU has taken possession of it from Landmark Cinemas for the price of $1. Adding a nearby downtown element to BU’s visible and central Brandon location on 18th Street will provide significant future opportunities for the university as well as the city.
2017
January 9- Despite veering away from her original plan to become a teacher, Carmen Miedema remains committed to helping others learn. A graduate of Brandon University (BU), Miedema is in her first year in the Archival Studies master’s program at the University of Manitoba (UM), where she received the Archival Studies Entrance Scholarship for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) last year. The scholarship will be worth up to $40,000 as Miedema works to transfer archives and information about Canada’s residential schools to the NCTR, located at UM.
January 26- Brandon University students over the age of 18 have an opportunity to improve health and wellness programs and services on campus through a first-of-its kind survey early next week. In their student email inboxes, students will soon receive the National College Health Assessment (NCHA), sponsored and distributed by the American College Health Association (ACHA). The ACHA-NCHA is a survey designed to assess student health behaviours in order to provide better services and support for Brandon University students.
January 30- Brandon University is offering support to all students, faculty and staff who are concerned or affected in any way by recent events, including the sad and reprehensible shooting at a Quebec City mosque. Additionally, we offer support to any student, faculty or staff concerned by the travel restrictions imposed by U.S. executive order.
February 6- Brandon University (BU) has reached agreements through the approval and support of the City of Brandon and Renaissance Brandon to expand its downtown footprint significantly. A motion passed by Brandon City Council on Monday night, Feb. 6, and an agreement in principle reached with Renaissance Brandon, will increase BU’s new downtown holdings to five parcels of land on the 100-block of downtown Brandon between Ninth Street and 10th Street adjacent to the former Strand Theatre.
February 24- Brandon University (BU) will begin wide campus and community consultation this month on its draft sexualized violence protocol. The protocol, developed by BU’s Sexual Assault Advisory Group (SAAG), grew out of BU’s draft stand-alone sexualized violence policy, which was introduced in November and refined after months of consultation. While the policy lays the foundation for BU’s efforts to respond to and prevent sexualized violence, the protocol identifies the steps and supports that are available to those who have experienced sexualized violence. It also outlines the actions that the University will take in response to disclosures and reports.
May 16- Quantum computing at Brandon University (BU) will get a major lift thanks to two major federal grants earned by a member of the Faculty of Science. Dr. Sarah Plosker has been selected as a Chairholder under the Canada Research Chair (CRC) Program. Plosker will be awarded $500,000 over the next five years as the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Quantum Information Theory. She has also received a one-year grant, worth $66,295, from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for the establishment of a Quantum Computing Lab at BU.
June 30- Brandon University (BU) is marking more than one milestone as the country prepares for Canada 150 celebrations this week. While the Canada Day festivities on July 1 will signify 150 years since Confederation, 2017 also represents 50 years since BU received its charter and officially became a university. Founded in 1899 as Brandon College (and building on an even earlier history as Prairie College), Brandon University grew rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s, obtaining university status in 1967, the year of Canada’s Centennial.
July 6- Early application and registration numbers for the 2017–18 academic year show strong continued growth in enrolment is expected at Brandon University (BU). Applications to the university have increased by 11 per cent, admission offers are up by 20 per cent, and registrations by first-time students are up by eight per cent. The increases in application and registration numbers among new students have BU administration optimistic that the University will continue to build on significant increases in enrolment shown over the past several years. Brandon University experienced seven per cent growth in student enrolment in 2016 and 3.5 per cent the year before.
July 14- Brandon University (BU) is moving forward with the next phase of its ambitious and transformative downtown initiative and will solicit public input into a detailed concept for the future development. The University has nearly completed the complex process of assembling seven separate properties into a single contiguous parcel and has engaged an experienced external expert team to assist in leading the consultation and planning required to develop the full concept plan. The combined area of the properties would be nearly 70,000 square feet, north of Princess Avenue, between Ninth Street and 10th Street, on which the University is committed to creating a mixed-use development that will add value to the existing neighbourhood, bringing new amenities and vitality to the downtown core.
August 23- New resources at Brandon University (BU) will help all faculty, staff and students address issues of discrimination and harassment in the work and learning environment and differentiate these from interpersonal conflict. A committee comprised of union, Brandon University Students’ Union, Student Services and Human Resources representatives worked together for well over a year on the new Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy and accompanying procedures. The result is a standalone policy and procedures which should make the process of addressing discrimination and harassment easier and more transparent.
September 8- Brandon University (BU) research projects in sub-atomic physics, vascular biology and fractional calculus have received significant federal funding through the Discovery Grant program. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has awarded Discovery and Discovery Development Grants, totaling $360,000 of support, to three projects led by BU faculty members.
September 12- Brandon University (BU) students, faculty and staff have a new safety tool, and they’re likely to carry it everywhere they go. The University has launched BSAFE, an app available on Apple and Android platforms that provides members of the BU community, on campus and elsewhere, with safety aids and information that’s just a tap away. Users will be able to contact security and emergency services through the app, as well as find links to information on safety procedures, counselling supports and updates from the University.
October 11- Brandon University is celebrating a golden anniversary all this year, marking 50 years since the transition from Brandon College to Brandon University.
October 12- Brandon University remains the best university in Canada for students who want to get to know their professors, according to Maclean’s magazine, with an outstanding 12 students per faculty member, and impressively low-class sizes, especially in third- and fourth-year classes.
October 26- Twenty years ago this week, Brandon University re-opened the doors to its original Brandon College building and the attached Clark Hall, with students, factually, staff and alumni streaming into a completely renewed structure, after a two-year, $12.5 million retrofit. Last fall, Clark Hall also marked 110 years since its original construction. It opened in 1906, five years after the Brandon College Original Building, in 1901. Each originally cost about $40,000 to build, on land that was originally purchased in 1899 for $300. They are provincially designated heritage structures that remain Brandon’s oldest public buildings still in continuous use.
November 6- Brandon University’s enrolment is officially 3,553 students for its 50th anniversary 2017–18 year, an impressive eight per cent increase over last year’s enrolment numbers. This year’s growth builds on a seven per cent increase in student head count last year, and is the fifth straight year of increased enrolment at BU. Over that time, the student population has increased by more than 22 per cent.
December 7- Brandon University offers its full-throated and unambiguous support for universal human rights, as the world prepares to mark Human Rights Day this weekend, and as challenges to human rights continue both around the globe and here at home.
December 22- Brandon University will host a series of community conversations to explore plans and options for the downtown site with faculty, staff and students. Brandon University’s downtown development will sit on a large parcel of land that totals nearly 70,000 square feet. This amount of space downtown opens up new opportunities to advance the University’s priorities as stated in the BU Academic Plan as well as the themes that have emerged from the new BU Campus Master Plan. It will be one of the most significant developments for the University and City in decades.
2018
January 18- Brandon University’s Healthy Living Centre is the new home to a Dynamic Physiotherapy clinic, which will deliver physiotherapy services five days a week in its convenient second location.
January 26- The City of Brandon, Brandon University, and Assiniboine Community College have formalized their existing spirit of collaboration and have charted a course for strong partnerships in research and innovation with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the three parties today at Brandon City Hall.
January 30- Westman youth will get a head start on learning the valuable skill of coding, thanks to $95,000 of federal funding received by Brandon University’s Mini University through Actua.
February 22- The Brandon University Research Committee (BURC) has awarded nearly $118,000 in grants to 23 faculty research projects. The awards include 13 New Faculty Research Grants. With a maximum value of $7,500 each, these grants help fund the work of faculty members who have begun their employment at Brandon University (BU) within the last three years.
February 28- Brandon University is taking steps to preserve the heritage of the former Strand Theatre in downtown Brandon, with the doomed building set to come down by the end of March. Along with the Strand sign and the marquee sign, BU will be removing and preserving many of the vintage wood joists from the structure.
March 15- Brandon University will be forced to make cuts and raise tuition fees in the wake of a 0.9% decrease in its provincial operating grant. A 15% cut to senior administration will make it possible to help preserve faculty positions as well as front-line staff, with a continuing priority on the student experience and student educational needs.
March 29- When Brandon University was presented with the opportunity to acquire the former Strand Theatre building in 2016, the BU Board of Governors approved this purchase and with it the investigation of a possible significant BU presence downtown, including the acquisition of neighbouring properties, or the rights to them. This property assembly has been accomplished at modest cost to Brandon University — less than $200,000 in total for the assembly of seven contiguous parcels totaling nearly 70,000 square feet.
May 15- Brandon University is exploring private developer options for an ambitious downtown development that could combine new student residences with seniors housing, a commercial component and academic spaces like a black box theatre. At a meeting on Saturday, May 12, the Brandon University Board of Governors unanimously approved a motion resolving that BU invite discussions with private developers and that feasible proposals be presented to the board by the end of the year.
August 21- A joint project bringing together instructors and students from Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College has received a grant of nearly $30,000 to begin building a virtual reality exploration of a First World War internment camp in Brandon. Research for the project was completed last year, with more than $4,300 in funding from the Canadian First World War Interment Recognition Fund.
September 6- The Brandon University Sexual Violence Education and Prevention Office is launching the “I Believe You” Campaign to kick off our 2018-2019 Academic Year. It comes with a simple yet powerful message: when survivors of sexual assault disclose… believe them. Once survivors hear this, they are more likely to come forward. Campaigns like this that aim to increase public support for survivors show a marked increase in sexual assault reporting, making our community safer for everyone.
October 4- A permanent tipi is going up in a prominent location on the Brandon University campus. The tipi will be installed just off of 18th Street, on a triangular piece of grass near McMaster Hall and the BU book store.
October 9- Funding announced today by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) will help a Brandon University (BU) researcher’s work to create a better understanding of cancer, heart disease and stroke. Dr. Vincent Chen, an Assistant Professor in BU’s Department of Chemistry, is a recipient of an NSERC Discovery Grant, with a value of $165,000 over five years.
November 28- Strong international enrolment has driven Brandon University’s student population to new heights with a sixth straight year of growth. Brandon University is home to 3,662 students this year, an increase of 3.0 per cent from 3,554 last year, and an overall rise of more than 25 per cent since 2012. Total credit hours, based on the number and length of courses that students are taking, stand at nearly 70,000 across the five faculties at BU, also up slightly from last year. International headcount rose by 82 students, but other enrolment figures and first-time registrations have remained relatively steady this year in a sign that BU’s strong string of recent growth may be tapering off.
2019-
March 22- Members of the Brandon University community have a new space on campus for private prayer, religious reflection and meditation with the opening today of a dedicated multi-faith in the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building. The new space is located in a naturally quiet area, and features accommodations for adherents of faiths that require the removal of shoes or the washing of hands and feet. It is carpeted, has a shoe rack, and has been fitted with an ablution station.
March 27- The Brandon University Board of Governors has established an advisory group that will help it consider three detailed proposals for a possible BU development in downtown Brandon. After receiving a pre-development report on the 70,000 square foot parcel last year, the Board of Governors began exploring options with private developers, and invited submissions this winter. Three proposals have now been received.
May 21- More than $800,000 in new federal research funding is flowing into Brandon University (BU) through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grants program.
June 12- Brandon University will come together as a community and continue to advance the causes of diversity, tolerance and reconciliation after an overnight fire that destroyed a ceremonial tipi on campus. This is a painful and distressing offense to a powerful Indigenous symbol. It does not shake our commitment nor our confidence. It will only strengthen our efforts towards reconciliation. The tipi had been erected in the courtyard yesterday to celebrate the start of a conference, and additional tipis as well as a pipe ceremony are planned for today. All are going ahead. Brandon University has proudly been home to many tipis in the past without incident and we will continue to be. This fire, while hurtful, only reinforces the ongoing need to celebrate and honour Indigenous culture.
July 16- Cybersecurity on Manitoba First Nations will be improved thanks to a Brandon University (BU) project funded by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA). Drs. Sarah Plosker and Gautam Srivastava, who are Associate Professors in BU’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, have received a grant of $20,659 through CIRA’s Community Investment Program. Their project will involve travelling to Indigenous communities in Manitoba to enhance cybersecurity education and knowledge by holding discussions about online privacy, in particular focusing on social media. The workshops will be open to everyone in the communities, with youth, Elders and other community members taking part in the exchange.
August 9- Brandon University’s (BU’s) successful Co-operative Education Program is getting a new leader. Cora Dupuis has joined BU as its new Co-operative Program Coordinator. Dupuis replaces Kelley Mitton, who will leave for New Brunswick later this month after spending the past two years at BU, developing the Co-op program and then guiding it through its first year of operation.
August 23- The academic year starts soon, and Brandon University is on track for its seventh straight year of solid enrolment growth. There will be more students on campus, taking more classes this fall. The latest numbers, from mid-August, show that registration numbers are up by 3 per cent this year, compared to the same point in 2018. The number of credit hours that students are enrolled in is also up, by 2.1 per cent compared to the same point a year ago. Indigenous and international students are leading the way, with an 8.6 per cent increase in the number of self-declared Indigenous students this year, and a 5.3 per cent rise in the number of international students when compared to figures from mid-August last year.
August 30- Brandon University has approved a new Centre for Critical Studies of Rural Mental Health to accelerate the already growing number of studies on rural and remote mental health and wellness at Brandon University, link research results to people who can use them, and support education and community engagement in relation to mental health. The centre, housed in the Faculty of Health Studies, will serve as a point of contact and network for academics, researchers, students, community members, professionals, educators and the broad range of people who live with and support people living with mental health problems.
September 6- Brandon University has embarked on an extensive consulting and planning process as it seeks to develop a new strategic plan to guide the institution for the coming decade. President David Docherty launched the planning process last week at a General Faculty Council. The process of developing a strategic plan will begin with extensive consultation, both on- and off-campus, and will involve all areas of the university as well as neighbours and partners in the wider community.
September 10- While Mini University has wrapped up for the season and the fall academic semester is in full swing, planning is already underway for next summer’s child- and youth-friendly Mini-U learning camps. Federal funding from Actua, through the CanCode program, will provide $80,000 in new student and teacher training over the next two years, with a focus on digital and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education.
October 3- Brandon University continues to score among the top in the nation for providing small class sizes, robust library funding, and excellent student services support. Brandon University faculty were also among the top 10 for receiving national Social Sciences and Humanities research grants. That’s according to the 2020 Maclean’s university rankings, which were released today. Overall, Brandon University ranked 18th in the Primarily Undergraduate category. In that category, BU was ranked 2nd in Canada for its student services and library budgets, as well as 3rd in Canada for its student/faculty ratio.
And hopefully more good news in 2020.