BU Breast Cancer Awareness Walk
2025-05-08 12:00 - 12:30 (America/Winnipeg) | Kavanagh Courtyard, 270 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 6A9, Canada
Wear pink! All are welcome to join a short walk to raise awareness of breast cancer on Thursday at the lunch hour.
Brief speeches will accompany the walk, which is to be less than a kilometre, around campus, starting and finishing in the Kavanagh Courtyard.
The walk is being organized by the BU Breast Cancer Cell & Molecular Research Laboratory (BCCMRL) and the BU research office. The BCCMRL, led by Dr. Mousumi Majumder, aims to develop a highly sensitive blood test capable of spotting breast cancer early in its development.

Sweet Songs, Sweet Pies!
2025-04-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Lorne Watson Recital Hall, QEII Music Building, Room 1-60, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
Sweet Songs, Sweet Pies! E-Gré Gala Concert and Fundraising Pie Auction
Friday April 25, Lorne Watson Recital Hall, 7:00 pm
The E-Gré National Music Competition raises profiles of contemporary Canadian composers, and provides a venue for Canada’s most talented New Music artists on the threshold of their careers. Welcome this year’s finalists, support the competition through our pie auction, and enjoy the Gala concert performed by competition jurors, Louise Bessette and Eve Egoyan.
Louise Bessette is a Montreal-based musician, renowned over her career for the excellence of her performances and for her commitment to promoting contemporary music. Eve Egoyan is an internationally celebrated Armenian-Canadian artist whose medium is the piano. She continually re-invents her relationship with her instrument through the creation and commissioning of new works, which she has performed around the world.

GALA CONCERT TICKETS – $25 ADULTS / $12.50 SENIORS
WEEKEND PASS – $50 ADULTS / $25 SENIORS
FINALISTS, BU STUDENTS AND CONSERVATORY STUDENTS FREE

Watch the recording: Brandon–Souris election debate 2025
2025-04-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Evans Theatre, McKenzie Building, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
Brandon University has partnered with the Brandon Sun and Westman Communications Group to host a Brandon–Souris candidates debate on April 23 during the 2025 federal election campaign.
Watch the recorded debate thanks to WCGtv here:

This particular federal election comes at a difficult time for Canadians as our country faces pressure from the United States over issues both economic and existential.
The Brandon Sun provided news coverage and a summary at: https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2025/04/24/jackson-robinson-face-off-in-debate (subscription required).
The panel of questioners consisted of Brandon Sun columnist Deveryn Ross and BU Department of Political Science Prof. Kelly Saunders, along with Political Science instructor Chris Hunt. The event was officiated by longtime emcee Kerry Auriat.
The debate, hosted on campus at the Evans Theatre, was open to the public.

Western Manitoba Science Fair
2025-04-08 | Healthy Living Centre, 2010 Louise Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7B 0L4, Canada
Brandon University is thrilled to welcome the Western Manitoba Science Fair to the BU Healthy Living Centre.
Public viewing of the projects is open from 2–4 p.m.
Learn more at wmsf.com
About the WMSF
The Western Manitoba Science Fair is the Regional Science Fair for Southwestern Manitoba and has been in operation since 1969. It provides an opportunity for students to showcase their scientific talent for their parents, teachers, and the community. Applicants come from grades 1 through 12. The WMSF is a full day event, held in spring every year, and we usually host around 500 hundred students. The participants set up their projects first thing in the morning, and then judging begins! After presenting their projects to the judges, the participants are provided with some entertainment and educational activities (the ‘Science Olympics’) while the judges are tabulating their results. In the early afternoon there is a public viewing of the projects where community members and media can view the projects and talk to the participants. The award/medal ceremonies are held at the end of the day. We award bronze, silver, and gold medals, in addition to various Special Awards. The final awards of the evening are Best of Fair and the Runner(s) Up; these top projects of the fair in grades 7 – 12 receive an all expenses paid trip to compete in the Canada Wide Science Fair.
In addition to the students, the WMSF also welcomes around 150 community members each year to judge at the fair. This group of amazing volunteers is made up of university and college professors and students, local business owners and employees, and community members of all ages. We are always looking for more judges, so click on the ‘Volunteer’ tab at the top of the page for more info if you are interested!
WMSF is organized and run by a very small group of dedicated volunteers. We are funded by a combination of donations and sponsorships from local businesses and organizations.
Brandon University proud to be a Strategic Partner!

Bobcats parade and rally
2025-04-04 12:00 - 14:30 | Healthy Living Centre, 2010 Louise Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7B 0L4, Canada
Join us Friday to celebrate the BU Bobcats’ historic national championship! Parade at 12 noon, rally at the HLC at 12:30.

BU Queer: Lunch & Learn Sharing Circle
2025-03-04 12:30 - 13:30 | Gathering Space, John E. Robbins Library, Canada
BU Queer invites you to our upcoming Lunch & Learn Sharing Circle, hosted by Nora Wilson!
Join us for an open and welcoming discussion on Tuesday, March 4, at 12:40 PM (Free Slot) in the Gathering Space, John E. Robbins Library.
This event is an opportunity to share experiences, learn from one another, and connect in a supportive environment. Whether you’re looking to listen, contribute, or just be in community, we’d love to have you there.
Bring your lunch, bring a friend, and join the conversation!

Polar Plunge 2025
2025-03-01 12:00 - 15:00 | Healthy Living Centre, 2010 Louise Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7B 0L4, Canada
Brandon University is thrilled to host the coolest fundraiser of the year.
The 2025 Polar Plunge is coming to the Healthy Living Centre on Saturday afternoon, March 1. Organized by the Brandon Police Service, the even raises funds for local Special Olympic athletes, aiming to cover the costs of local Special Olympians competing in the Provincial Games and beyond.
The Polar Plunge is looking for BU students, faculty and and staff to register, fundraise, and plunge into the icy depths of their XXXL dunk tank.
For more information or to sign up to take the plunge, visit PlungeManitoba.com

Flag Raising: Solidarity Rally for Ukraine
2025-02-22 15:00 | Brandon University Front Lawn, 270 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 6A9, Canada
The Ukrainian flag will be raised on front of Brandon University, and the Ukrainian anthem will be sung prior to to a peaceful march to Brandon City Hall in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and their three years of resistance.
Please feel free to bring Ukrainian flags, symbols and candles.

Teach-in: EDI in education
2025-02-11 16:30 - 18:00 | Mingling Area, Knowles-Douglas Building, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
A teach-in today at Brandon University brings faculty and community members together to emphasize the value of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to higher education.
Drawing on roots in student activism in the 1960s, a teach-in is a type of participatory educational forum, typically oriented towards action. Today’s teach-in will include a panel of speakers with knowledge, expertise, experience, and insights about the importance of EDI in higher education now and – especially – in the future.
The panel will consist of brief opening remarks from each panelist that include views on the undermining of EDI to date and the significance of EDI going forward. Speakers will discuss how the threats to EDI have impacted them and others in the community. Following the opening remarks, the teach-in will move into a dialogue with the audience.
The event will take place in the mingling area from 4:45–6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, and there will be refreshments provided by Bailey’s.
Today’s teach-in was organized by the equity committee of the BU Faculty Association, which points at executive orders dismantling EDI in the United States, and the recent pullback from EDI language in Canada as requiring a response.

Nuit Blanche 2025: "Curious Dialogues"
2025-01-11 17:00 - 23:00 | Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba (AGSM), Unit 2 — 710 Rosser Avenue, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 0K9, Canada
Wheat City Nuit Blanche is taking over the AGSM again in 2025 with Curious Dialogues: Conversations with Space, Time, and Beings.
Visit the AGSM between 5:00 – 10:00pm on Saturday, January 11, 2025 to explore installations, artworks, music and performances featuring artists and musicians from around the prairie region. This is a free all-ages event.
Nuit Blanche (French for “White Night”) is a one-night festival of art that happens in over 120 cities around the world. Imagine an old department store where a new artistic experience lurked behind every door and down every hallway. That’s Nuit Blanche! It is different from other art festivals because it’s about art and audience engaging, interacting, and responding to each other.

Ethics Café
2024-11-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Chez Angela Bakery and Cafe, 29c 10th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 4E4, Canada
Join us at Chez Angela to engage in critical discussions on technology and education. Explore how digital tools enhance or challenge learning. Co-hosted by the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties, and the BU Department of Philosophy, this event is free and open to the public.
Whether you’re an educator, student, parent, or community member, this Ethics Café is for anyone interested in discussing how technology shapes our educational experiences and responsibilities. No preparation required – just bring your curiosity and perspectives! Participation is encouraged in any form.
Everyone is welcome—no prep needed! Light refreshments provided.
Topics: Phones in Schools, Social Media, and the Impact of Al
Register now to secure your spot: https://marl.mb.ca/events/brandon-ethics-cafe/

First-year student showcase
2024-11-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Sutherland Gallery of Art, 2021 Victoria Avenue, Brandon, MB, Canada
First-year Brandon University fine arts students will showcase their work with a show at the Glen P. Sutherland Gallery of Art. The show will run from Nov. 21 through to Dec. 5 during gallery opening hours, with an opening reception on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.
The students are from Drawing 1, Introduction to Clay 1, Painting 1, and Visual Design classes in BU’s IsKaabatens Waasa Gaa Inaabateg Department of Visual Art.
Parking is available in front of the gallery entrance, on the north side of the building, facing the Healthy Living Centre. The gallery is open Thursdays 2–8 p.m., and Friday/Saturday from 2–6 p.m.

Pottery Sale 2024
2024-11-20 09:00 - 23:00 | McKenzie Building, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
The annual Ceramics Studio Pottery Sale will be held Wednesday, November 20th at 9:00 am. Please note the location, which will be near the library entrance in the McKenzie Building.
This annual fundraising event supports students and the ceramics program.
Functional potteries were created by BFA ceramics majors and those enrolled in the Intermediate Wheel Throwing class.

Take Back The Night
2024-11-14 17:00 - 19:00 | Princess Park, 800 Princess Avenue, Brandon, MB, Canada
November is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, supporting survivors, and fostering safe, respectful communities.
Domestic violence affects individuals across all ages, genders, and backgrounds, leaving lasting impacts on survivors, families, and society. During this month, we join together to acknowledge these impacts and take action toward creating change.
As part of our commitment to ending violence, we invite you to join us for the Take Back the Night March on Thursday, November 14th. This annual march is a powerful statement against all forms of violence, reclaiming the night for safety and empowerment. This event brings our community together to stand in solidarity with survivors, honouring their voices and experiences.
We will meet at 5 p.m. in Princess Park where we will hear from special guest speakers before embarking on a march to Brandon University to raise awareness on gender-based violence.

We hope you can join us in raising awareness and building a supportive community for all.

Assiniboine Open MTTA Table Tennis Tournament
2024-10-19 09:00 - 19:00 | Healthy Living Centre, 2010 Louise Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7B 0L4, Canada
Open to all ages and levels of play.
Register before October 11, 2024:
https://mtta.ca/index.php/assiniboine-open-page/

Mayor’s Book Club
2024-10-17 16:30 - 18:30 | Western Manitoba Regional Library, 710 Rosser Avenue, Brandon, MB, Canada
Join Mayor Jeff Fawcett and Brandon University professors at the Downtown Branch of the Western Manitoba Regional Library for a community discussion around “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt.
The topic of social media and the effects it has on developing minds is more important than ever right now. Be a part of the conversation and sign up by emailing programs@wmrl.ca.
This book is available as a physical copy, ebook, and audiobook through the WMRL, and physical copies are also on reserve at the Brandon University Library.

'Owl Calling' staged reading
2024-10-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Evans Theatre, McKenzie Building, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
The call of an owl becomes an omen for Eddie, a former residential school student in Brandon University professors Darrell Racine and Dale Lakevold’s new play Owl Calling. But what kind of an omen will it be for a man who has just opened up about his residential school experience?

The play premieres in Winnipeg September 25 — with a staged reading in Brandon at BU’s Evans Theatre on Oct. 3 as part of the university’s Truth and Reconciliation Week.

Owl Calling depicts the journey that two Indigenous men undertake with their families as they go through the federal government’s compensation process for former residential school students.

Their families believe this process will help Eddie and his brother-in-law Jim heal from their school experience and find justice. But the compensation model, as the family members in the play discover, has little to do with healing.

The staged reading is free to all, and takes place at BU’s Evans Theatre beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Read more about Owl Calling.

Green Futures work bee
2024-09-24 17:00 - 19:00 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
FINAL WORK BEE OF THE SEASON!
PLEASE COME AND JOIN US, *** TUESDAY, SEPT 24, 5-7 PM ***, FOR THE LAST WORK BEE OF THE SEASON! WE WILL HARVEST ALL THE VEGGIES AND PREPARE THE BEDS FOR THE WINTER!
Did you know that there are two community gardens at Brandon University that grow vegetables to fight food insecurity in our community? Our produce is donated to Samaritan House Ministries and other organizations that help fight food insecurity.
It’s been a beautiful summer and the last of our veggies are ready to pick, and delivered to BUSU and the food bank of Samaritan House Ministries! We will harvest the potatoes, the last of the tomatoes and peppers, and the last of the kale. We will also pull out all the weeds and prepare the garden beds for the winter, by turning the soil.
We won’t ask for much of your time, and this will be a kid friendly event, so please bring all of your family! Please come to BU at 5 PM, and we will work together until 7 PM.
Please meet us just behind the bus shelter on 18th street, next to the Brodie Building; if you have them, bring a shovel and some gardening gloves. Please RVSP to Petrellas@brandonu.ca, so that I have a sense of how many volunteers we will have, and I can bring snacks and refreshments for everyone.
Thank you, lovely people!

BU125 Community Birthday Celebration
2024-09-13 16:00 - 18:00 | Bailey’s Cafe, Knowles-Douglas Building, 270 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 6A9
Join us in Bailey’s Café for a community celebration of Brandon University’s 125th birthday.
This casual come-and-go event offers free cake and refreshments, plus a selection of Bailey’s treats.
Brief remarks will occur at 5 p.m. to honour this significant anniversary and look ahead to BU’s next 125 years.

Group bike ride
2024-09-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Kavanagh Courtyard, 270 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 6A9, Canada
Nice to see so many bikes locked up around campus this week! Remember that you can win all this week just by riding your bike to campus. We have prize packs with lots of goodies thanks to Brandon University, the Brandon University Students’ Union, Bailey’s Café have Bike Brandon, the Brandon Police Service, A&L Cycle, and Stream N Wood. Watch your bike for a tag that says You Win, and bring it plus your bike to the BUSU offices to claim your prize.
Meet Thursday in the Kavanagh Courtyard at 11 a.m. for our second group bike ride! We’ll start with a brief demonstration from the Brandon Police Service of how to register your bike with 529 Garage, which helps prevent theft and track your bike if it ever is stolen. Then we’ll head out as a group for a short 5 km group ride. It’s an easy pace, and fun. Bring a full water bottle if you can. We’ll loop to 34th Street and back to campus, where we’ll convene in Bailey’s for refreshments. It’s a chance to meet fellow campus cyclists, stretch your legs in the middle of the morning, and have a great time.

Group bike ride
2024-09-09 14:30 - 15:30 | Kavanagh Courtyard, 270 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 6A9, Canada
Nice to see so many bikes locked up around campus this week! Remember that you can win all this week just by riding your bike to campus. We have prize packs with lots of goodies thanks to Brandon University, the Brandon University Students’ Union, Bailey’s Café have Bike Brandon, the Brandon Police Service, A&L Cycle, and Stream N Wood. Watch your bike for a tag that says You Win, and bring it plus your bike to the BUSU offices to claim your prize.
Meet Monday in the Kavanagh Courtyard at 2:30 p.m. for a group bike ride! We’ll start with a brief demonstration from the Brandon Police Service of how to register your bike with 529 Garage, which helps prevent theft and track your bike if it ever is stolen. Then we’ll head out as a group for a short 5 km group ride. It’s an easy pace, and fun. Today is hot, so bring a full water bottle if you can. We’ll loop to 34th Street and back to campus, where we’ll convene in Bailey’s for refreshments. It’s a chance to meet fellow campus cyclists, stretch your legs in the middle of the afternoon, and have a great time.
Can’t make it Monday? We’ll do a second group ride this Thursday, Sept. 12, leaving at 11 a.m.

Bike to Campus Week
2024-09-09 - 2024-09-13 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Choose two wheels to get to BU – and you could win! We’re thrilled to host Bike To Campus Week from Sept. 9–13 and all you need to do is ride.
Brandon University, the Brandon University Students’ Union, and Bailey’s Café have partnered with local bike shops, with Bike Brandon, and with the Brandon Police Service to provide great prize packs. Each day next week, we’ll select a few bikes on campus and leave a little note saying thanks for choosing to bike— you win! Simply bring that note to the BUSU offices in the Knowles-Douglas building to claim your prize. (Make sure to have your bike with you, as we’ll be taking pictures of the winners to prevent anyone from claiming a tag from someone else’s bike.)
Prize packs include gift certificates, bike accessories, and energy bars from A&L Cycle and from Stream N Wood. Thanks to both shops for their generous support!
We’re also planning a couple of group rides! Meet in the Kavanagh Courtyard on Monday at 2:30 p.m. for a brief demonstration from the Brandon Police Service of how to register your bike with 529 Garage, which helps prevent theft and track your bike if it ever is stolen. Then we’ll head out as a group for a short 5 km group ride, doing a loop to 34th Street and back to campus, where we’ll convene in Bailey’s for refreshments. It’s a chance to meet fellow campus cyclists, stretch your legs in the middle of the afternoon, and have a great time. We’ll do a second group ride on Thursday, Sept. 12, leaving at 11 a.m.
Cycling is fun and healthy for you, good for the environment, and depending on your route, can even be faster than driving. It also helps ease traffic congestion and parking worries for those who do need to use a motor vehicle. As construction on 18th Street picks up steam next week, biking could be even more convenient. Please always watch for the latest detours as work begins, and stay alert to changing traffic patterns or construction workers who are directing you to take alternate routes. Remember to stay safe by wearing a CSA-approved helmet, locking up your bike with a high-quality lock, and removing all valuables.
We encourage everyone to bike to campus, and we support those who choose a cycling commute. Happy Bike to Campus Week!

Bee U at Bailey's Café
2024-06-25 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-06-24 12:00 - 14:00 | Bailey’s Cafe, Knowles-Douglas Building, 270 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 6A9
Celebrate the Brandon University honeybee hives, learn about our pollinator friends — and sample some delicious honey treats from our friends at Bailey’s.
Monday, June 24 from 12–2 p.m.
Join us in Bailey’s for lunch and a brief presentation, then view come the hives!
Tuesday, June 25 from 4–6 p.m.
Sweet treats at Bailey’s and a short presentation, then come see the bees!
Bee U volunteers will crack open the honeybee hives, showing you frames of honey swarming with bees. Meet us first at Bailey’s Café, which is located in the lower level of the Knowles-Douglas Students’ Union Centre at Brandon University. After the presentation, we’ll guide you to the best viewing for the hives, which is from the windows by the Ancillary Services desk on the first floor of McMaster Hall.

Pride Week: Pride in Politics with MLAs Logan Oxenham and Lisa Naylor
2024-06-14 18:00 - 19:00 | Gathering Space, John E. Robbins Library, Canada
Thank you to the Brandon and District Labour Council for organizing Pride in Politics for Brandon Pride Week 2024! This panel will take place in the Gathering Area in the John E. Robbins Library located on the Brandon University campus.
The goal of this event is to reach out to the 2SLGBTQI+ community and affirm that there is a place in politics. During the last year, right here in Brandon and Manitoba, the 2SLGBTQI+ community has been at the center of attacks, including attempts to ban certain books in the Brandon School Division. This ongoing situation has heightened awareness of the political power held as voters, the importance of the democratic process, and why getting involved is so important.
This event aims to further engage the community, empowering individuals to assert their political agency and possibly pursue a political future. Two politicians, Lisa Naylor and Logan Oxenham, will share their journeys as activists and their paths in politics, providing insights and inspiration.
Join in the sharing of experiences and explore ways to collectively shape a more inclusive and representative political landscape.
This event is free with no registration required.
More details on Brandon Pride events: https://www.bdnpride.ca/

Bike to Work Day ride
2024-06-11 09:00 - 10:00 | MB
We’re celebrating Bike to Work Day on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. The BU campus is well located for bicycle commuting, as it’s right on the city’s Share the Road route, and the new active transportation bridge on 18th Street makes for an easy connection over the railway tracks.
Whether you’re an everyday rider, an occasional pedallist, or just looking to try a ride to to BU for the first time, you’re invited to join a short small group ride to from downtown to Brandon University.
Share the word — it’s more fun to ride in a group!
Meet us at 9 a.m. (ride to start at 9:15 a.m.) at the Westman Immigrant Services building at 10th and Pacific, and we’ll ride up 10th Street and over to Brandon City Hall, then down Louise Avenue to the BU Healthy Living Centre. Some riders will then return to WIS.
The ride should take well under an hour, even with socializing.

Pride Week: Guitar Art exhibition, with Wendy Friesen
2024-06-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Tommy McLeod Curve Gallery, John E. Robbins Library, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
Join artist Wendy Friesen for a talk and tour of her ‘Guitars’ exhibition on display in the Curve Gallery, upstairs in the John E. Robbins Library at Brandon University.
Friesen’s Guitars is a pop art exhibit representing themes of rock and roll, healing, community, inclusivity, and Pride. This series brings together miniature guitars, both replicas and original conceptions, constructed in detail, evoking a sense of celebration and joy. Hand constructed in mixed media, Guitars draws in the viewer in with playful delight, then focuses attention on finer details in thought-provoking ways. The exhibition is interspersed with Friesen’s poetry – written on many subject matters, but primarily about her personal queer experiences and queer advocacy. Information on the Westman Empowerment Fund is also shared as part of the exhibition.
This event is free with no registration required.
More details on Brandon Pride events: https://www.bdnpride.ca/

Convocation 2024 — Arts
2024-05-31 14:00 - 16:00 | Healthy Living Centre, 2010 Louise Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7B 0L4, Canada
Congratulations! Convocation is the ceremony during which your degree will be bestowed and is the culmination of your undergraduate and graduate education at Brandon University. It is a special and dignified occasion that marks the formal recognition of your hard work and accomplishment. Be proud!
Ceremonies will be held at the BU Healthy Living Centre according to the ceremony schedule below.
2024 Convocation schedule:

Thursday, May 30, 10 a.m. — Faculty of Science and School of Music (includes Music/Education concurrent)
Thursday, May 30, 2 p.m. — Faculty of Education (includes Physical Education and Arts/Education integrated)
Friday, May 31, 10 a.m. — Faculty of Health Studies
Friday, May 31, 2 p.m. — Faculty of Arts

You should arrive at the HLC one hour before your ceremony time.

Convocation 2024 — Health Studies
2024-05-31 10:00 - 12:00 | Healthy Living Centre, 2010 Louise Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7B 0L4, Canada

Convocation 2024 — Education
2024-05-30 14:00 - 16:00 | Healthy Living Centre, 2010 Louise Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7B 0L4, Canada
