Community Learning Thrives at UWinnipeg
UWinnipeg is integrating community learning into all aspects of campus life. We work with thousands of children, youth, and families in the inner-city, mentoring grade school and high school students in our labs and running programs at the Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre on Ellice Avenue – which this year started free Ojibwe classes for parents and children, taught by UWinnipeg Elder Tobasonakwut Kinew and his son, Wab Kinew. We also organize sports programs for youth, run the largest inner-city summer camp — Eco-U Summer Camp — for children, and offer free legal assistance, public lectures, conferences, and bike repair workshops, among other things.
In April, UWinnipeg’s Innovative Learning Centre won a national award from Ashoka Canada, The Counselling Foundation of Canada, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative and partners, for its program “A Tap on the Shoulder”, aimed at closing the graduation gap for Indigenous children.
UWinnipeg’s Model school
Chelsea Bannatyne penned a science fiction story and Marik Beraki focused on one of his passions, basketball. Both Grade 9 students at UWinnipeg’s Model School won out over thousands of other students and were selected as finalists in the national Polar Expressions Publishing Annual Student Writing Contest. Marik, originally from Eritrea, has been in Winnipeg just six years. “I love sports so I wrote about basketball. I never expected to even come close to being published. It is pretty exciting.”
Chelsea and Marik are two of the Model School’s CN Scholars. In June 2011, CN committed funds allowing for creation of the CN Model School Bursaries, helping students like Chelsea and Marik to achieve their dreams. UWinnipeg’s Model School is dedicated to students from Grade 9-12 who are identified as being bright and capable but have various barriers that prevent them from reaching their potential. The students come to us from a variety of local inner-city high schools as well as being nominated by non-profit organizations.
ECO Kids Add Life to Campus
UWinnipeg is now working with 30 inner-city and north-end schools to help close the graduation gap.
Eco-U Summer Camp – This summer more than a thousand children once again attend UWinnipeg’s popular Eco-U Summer Camp, the largest free day camp for children in Winnipeg’s inner-city.
Eco-Kids on Campus – Students in Grade 6 visit the UWinnipeg once a week over the course of 10 weeks to engage in fun, science-focused activities with University faculty and students. Hundreds of students have participated in this program since 2007.
New Indigenous Advisory Circle Now Contributes To UWinnipeg Governance
(L to R) Dr. Tobasonakwut Kinew, Dr. Julie Pelletier, Dr. Phil Fontaine,
Ms. Jennifer Rattray, Ms. Diane Roussin, Dr. Leslie Spillett, Dr. Lloyd
Axworthy, Ms. Kim Murray and Commissioner James Wilson. (absent) Chief
Ron Evans, Chief David Crate, Mr. Wayne Dunn, Chief Glenn Hudson, Ms.
Leah LaPlante and Dr. Octaviana Trujillo
The University of Winnipeg’s Board of Regents in November approved the creation of an Indigenous Advisory Circle to ensure the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives in the governance of The University. The Circle is chaired by Dr. Phil Fontaine, former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
“Including Indigenous knowledge and systems within western education systems is an essential element in shaping the next generation of scholars and world citizens and repairing those relationships that have been significantly damaged by its long absence,” said Dr. Leslie Spillett, Executive Director of Ka Ni Kanichihk and Advisory Circle member.
The Indigenous Advisory Circle meets four times annually and the Circle advises the President and Vice-Chancellor; the Associate Vice-President Indigenous, Government and Community Affairs; Senior Administrators; and the University community. The Advisory Circle’s membership represents urban, rural and northern Indigenous peoples in Canada as well as other international Indigenous communities. Members have expertise and experience in a range of areas, but particularly in education and development.
Global Welcome Centre assists newcomers
UWinnipeg’s Global Welcome LaPlante and Dr. Octaviana Trujillo Centre, located on Ellice Avenue, provides a welcoming place for immigrant and refugee students to help them succeed personally and academically. The drop-in centre offers mentoring, study skills workshops, free computer classes, and recreational events, assisting at least 25 people each day.
To learn more about UWinnipeg’s Community Learning initiatives, visit communitylearning.uwinnipeg.ca
To learn more about Indigenous initiatives at The University of Winnipeg, visit indigenous.uwinnipeg.ca