Events

No Limits: Student Art Exhibition
2025-03-08 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-12 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-13 13:00 - 19:00 (America/Winnipeg) | Sutherland Gallery of Art, 2021 Victoria Avenue, Brandon, MB, Canada
The Glen P. Sutherland Gallery of Art will host “No Limits”, an exhibition by students in the IshKaabatens Waasa Gaa Inaabateg Department of Visual Art, from February 27 to March 13.
The exhibition will be open from 1 to 4 p.m., on: Friday, Feb. 28 and March 7; Saturday, March 1 and March 8; and Wednesday, March 5 and 12. The exhibition will be open from 1 to 7 p.m., on Thursday, March 6 and March 13.

Faculty of Arts Speaker Series: Dr. Stacey Koosel
2025-03-14 15:40 - 17:00 | Clark Hall, Room 104, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
Don’t miss the third event of our winter 2025 Faculty of Arts Speaker Series.
Join us to hear Dr. Stacey Koosel, from IshKaabatens Waasa Gaa Inaabateg Department of Visual Art, present “Indigenous Contemporary Art: Decolonizing Curatorial Practices.”

GUEST TALK: Oral Technology — Body-Based Cultural Identity
2025-03-27 18:30 | Gathering Space, John E. Robbins Library, Canada
Join Two-Spirit, Métis artist Amanda Smart for a guest talk, sponsored by the Department of Native Studies and the Gender & Women’s Studies program.
Amanda Smart (Mino-wasi-qi-mook) is Red River Métis Anishinaabe ancestry, from the Sturgeon Clan. Amanda studied Fine Arts in Art History at the University
of Manitoba and Film Studies at The National Screen Institute.
Refreshments compliments of IshKaabatens Waasa Gaa Inaabateg Department of Visual Art and Associate Vice-President of Indigenous Initiatives Chris Lagimodiere.

Senior Colloquium 2025
2025-04-07 09:00 - 17:00 | Louis Riel Room, McMaster Hall, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada

?‍? Convocation 2025
2025-05-29 - 2025-05-30 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada

Orientation Day
2025-09-02 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada

2025 Fall Term begins
2025-09-03 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Classes begin for most Fall Term courses as well as for most full-year (both term) courses.
Some classes in the Faculty of Education instead begin next week. Specifically, classes in Bachelor of Education (after degree), Bachelor of Education (integrated program) fifth year, Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education (combined) fifth year, and Master of Education courses will begin Monday, Sept. 8.
Tuition deadline: Fall fees are payable in full.

Add/Drop Deadline (Fall and full-year courses)
2025-09-17 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Add/drop deadline for Fall and full-year (both-term) courses (except Education: BEd (AD); BEd (IP) Yr 5; BMus/BEd Yr 5).

Designing Inclusive Peace
2025-09-17 17:00 - 18:30 | Gathering Space, John E. Robbins Library, Canada
Since 1989, more than 100 peace agreements have compelled some kind of post-conflict constitutional change, such as the writing of a new constitution or amendments to the existing constitution.
Join members of the Inclusive Peace research team in this Faculty of Arts Speaker Series event to consider how places such as the Philippines, New Caledonia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Lebanon have confronted the challenges of building peace, sharing power, and including citizen preferences in the post-conflict period.
Thank you to the Dean of Arts for supporting this event.
All are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be provided.

Dr. Anthony Tutugoro, University of New Caledonia

Dr. Megumi Kagawa, Waseda University

Dr. Allison McCulloch, Brandon University

Dr. Valentino Grbavac, Brandon University

Artist Talk by Cheryl L’Hirondelle
2025-09-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Sutherland Gallery of Art, 2021 Victoria Avenue, Brandon, MB, Canada
Artist Talk by award-winning singer/songwriter, music producer and interdisciplinary artist Cheryl L’Hirondelle (Cree/Halfbreed; German/Polish), whose Indigenous family roots are from Papaschase First Nation and Kikino Metis Settlement, on the land now known as Canada.

Exploring Brazilian and Canadian Research Partnerships for the Betterment of Indigenous Peoples
2025-09-29 15:30 - 17:00 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Brandon University is honoured to welcome back Dr. Eloy Terena, Vice-Minister of Brazil’s Ministry of Indigenous Peoples and a 2019 Brandon University ELAP Doctoral Visiting Student, for a special talk titled Exploring Brazilian and Canadian Research Partnerships for the Betterment of Indigenous Peoples.
Dr. Terena is a respected leader, scholar, and advocate from the Terena Indigenous community in Mato Grosso do Sul. He currently serves as Vice-Minister in Brazil’s newly established Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, a role he was appointed to by President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva in recognition of his academic expertise, leadership, and long-standing engagement with Indigenous movements.
With doctoral degrees in both Anthropology and Law, and post-doctoral studies at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in France, Dr. Terena brings a wealth of knowledge to his work at the intersection of research, law, and policy. His leadership has been recognized with Brazil’s highest honour, The Order of Rio Branco, for his pivotal role in creating the country’s first Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, as well as with an honorary doctorate from the Don Bosco Catholic University.
This event will explore how international collaboration and research partnerships between Brazil and Canada can support Indigenous rights, strengthen communities, and advance Indigenous-led scholarship.
Join us on Monday, September 29, 2025, from 3:30–5 p.m. in the Gathering Space of the John E. Robbins Library at Brandon University.
Sponsored by the Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies, the Rural Development Institute, and the Faculty of Arts, this event is free and open to all members of the campus and wider community.

Niigaan Sinclair: Why Indigenous Art and the Art Gallery Aren't Friends
2025-11-03 11:30 - 12:30 | Clark Hall, Room 206, 270 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 6A9, Canada
IshKaabatens Waasa Gaa Inaabateg Department of Visual Art Speaker Series presents Niigan Sinclair: Why Indiginous Art and the Art Gallery Aren’t Friends.
Niigaan Sinclair is Anishinaabe from Peguis First Nation. He is an award-winning writer, editor and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba who was named by Maclean’s magazine in 2022 as one of the most influential people in Canada. Niigaan is a multiple nominee of Canadian columnist of the year (winning in 2018) and his commentary appears weekly on multiple platforms across Canada — from the pages of The Winnipeg Free Press to TV shows on CBC and APTN as well as on his co-hosted podcast Niigaan and the Lone Ranger.
His first book Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an IndigenousCentre (McClelland & Stewart, 2024) was a national bestseller that won the 2024 Governor General Award for Non-fiction. He is a former secondary school teacher who won the 2019 Peace Educator of the Year from the Peace and Justice Studies Association based at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

The Ins and Outs of Bail Reform: Public panel discussion
2025-11-26 18:00 - 19:30 | Gathering Space, John E. Robbins Library, Canada
With bail reform dominating headlines and political debates across the country, you’ll be the judge as Brandon University hosts a public panel discussion to unpack the facts, myths and implications behind Canada’s evolving bail system.
Under the heading “The Ins and Outs of Bail Reform,” the panel will take a “Fact v. Fiction” approach to examine how the case of bail reform is faring in the court of public opinion.
Featuring testimony from local lawyers, political scientists, and a sociologist, the panel discussion will provide a deeper understanding of Canada’s bail system, including newly proposed federal legislation and its potential effects on communities, courts, and corrections.
The event will take place Wednesday, November 26 from 6:00–7:30 p.m. in the Gathering Space on the main floor of the John E. Robbins Library at Brandon University. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. Light refreshments will be served.
The panel will bring together Dr. Christopher Schneider, Professor of Sociology at BU with local defence lawyer Jennifer Janssens, from Wach Law, and Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup. It will be moderated by Dr. Kelly Saunders, Chair of Political Science at BU, and Dr. Rick Baker, Assistant Professor of Political Science.
Their dialogue will explain the basics of bail, consider what the federal government’s proposed Bail and Sentencing Reform Act could mean in practice, and explore how issues like repeat offences, public safety, and fairness intersect in the justice system, while cutting through the political spin and misinformation that can interfere with understanding.
“Bail reform has become a lightning rod issue, but much of the public conversation mixes legal facts with political emotion,” said co-moderator Dr. Saunders. “I can’t wait to hear from our local panellists who can bring clarity to this issue — to separate fact from fiction and provide space for thoughtful, informed discussion.”
The event is being organized in partnership with BU’s Political Science Club and Legal Studies Association.

Visual Art Student Showcase
2025-11-27 19:00 - 2025-12-06 16:30 | Sutherland Gallery of Art, 2021 Victoria Avenue, Brandon, MB, Canada
The IshkaaBatens Waasa Gaa Inaabateg Department of Visual Art presents the Concurrent 200 & 300 Level Class Showcase, from November 27 until December 6.
The exhibition will include works from the Figure Drawing, Indigenous Art Techniques, Painting 3 and Experiments in Figure & Form Courses.
Glen P. Sutherland Gallery of Art Hours are from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., on November 28 and 29, and from December 3 to December 6.

Artist Talk: Kevin McKenzie
2025-12-01 11:30 - 12:30 | Clark Hall, Room 206, 270 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 6A9, Canada
IshKaabatens Waasa Gaa Inaabateg Department of Visual Art Speaker Series presents Kevin McKenzie.
Kevin McKenzie is a Cree/Métis artist based in Brandon. He is a member of the Cowessess First Nation of Saskatchewan, Treaty 4.
He holds a B.F.A. and an M.F.A. from the University of Regina.
Kevin McKenzie (Photo by Jordan Bennett)
During his 30-year art practice, McKenzie has exhibited nationally and internationally. Notable exhibitions include Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation II, Museum of Arts and Design, New York. He also participated in Don’t Stop Me Now, National Gallery of Canada. If We Never Met, Pataka Art Gallery Museum, New Zealand. His work was represented in Transformer: Native Art in Light and Sound, at the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institute, New York.
McKenzie’s artwork is represented in the collections of; the National Gallery of Canada, the MacKenzie Art Gallery, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, Manitoba Hydro Corporation, the President’s Art Collection, University of Regina, First Nations University of Canada, the Dunlop Art Gallery, the Saskatchewan Arts Board and the University of Manitoba. In 2024, he produced a public sculpture for the city of Portage la Prairie titled “Eagle Arc.” McKenzie holds a tenured teaching position in the IWGI Department of Visual Art at Brandon University.

Brandon University Theatre: Mother Courage and her Children
2025-12-03 19:00 - 2025-12-07 14:00 | Evans Theatre, McKenzie Building, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada

Creative Writing Literary Exchange: Miles Crossman
2025-12-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Clark Hall, Room 104, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
Miles Crossman, a local producer, screenwriter, and director in film and TV, will be delivering a public talk entitled “Choose Your Own Adventure: Paths for Professional Artists.” He is a former BU drama grad and has produced 200 episodes of broadcast television. He will be speaking on how to break in to the film and TV industry from outside a major centre.

When: Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025
Time: 12:00pm to 1:00 pm
Where: Room 104, Clark Hall, Brandon University

The talk is free and open to all. Refreshments will be served.
The event is sponsored by the Creative Writing Literary Exchange at Brandon University with the support of the Rowe Foundation and the Department of English, Drama, and Creative Writing.

First Day of Classes, most programs
2026-01-06 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Classes begin for most Winter courses (except Education: BEd (AD); BEd (IP) Yr 5; BMus/BEd Yr 5). Classes resume for full-year (both-term) courses.
Tuition deadline: Winter fees payable in full.

Add/drop deadline (Winter courses)
2026-01-20 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Add/drop deadline: Winter courses (except Education: BEd (AD); BEd (IP) Yr 5; BMus/BEd Yr 5).

Refund deadline (100%) - Winter courses
2026-01-20 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Refund deadline (100%): Winter courses (except Education: BEd (AD); BEd (IP) Yr 5; BMus/BEd Yr 5).

BU Queer Lunch and Learn: Unsettling Trans Rights with Dr. Leon Laidlaw
2026-02-03 12:40 - 13:30 | Gathering Space, John E. Robbins Library, Canada
BU Queer is hosting our next Lunch and Learn on February 3, 2026 at 12:40pm at the Gathering Space in the John E. Robbins Library.
The event will feature guest speaker Dr. Leon Laidlaw with his talk, Unsettling Trans Rights: Gender as a Basis of Indigenous Solidarity. This talk explores how settler-Indigenous solidarity can be pursued on the basis of gender. This talk begins by contextualizing the roots of gender oppression and gendered colonialism in the Western gender binary and reflects on the different pathways that Two-Spirit and trans resistance movements may take. This talk concludes with a conversation about decolonizing trans rights to better align with Indigenous struggles for sovereignty and self-determination.
Dr. Leon Laidlaw (he/they) is an assistant professor in Sociology and Gender and Women’s Studies at Brandon University. They are a white settler trans scholar who does intersectional and decolonizing work on the topics of gender, rights, and justice.

Winter study break
2026-02-17 - 2026-02-20 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Winter study break runs from Tuesday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 20 The university is open, and office support is available regular business hours. However, no classes are scheduled except for Education: BEd (AD); BEd (IP) Yr 5; Bmus/BEd Yr 5. Regular classes will resume on Monday, Feb. 23.

Voluntary Withdrawal (VW) Deadline - Full-year (both-term) Courses
2026-02-23 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Voluntary Withdrawal (VW) deadline: full-year (both-term) courses.

10-Minute Play Festival
2026-03-05 17:00 - 20:00 | Evans Theatre, McKenzie Building, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
Fourteen creative arts students in this term’s Directing class are each putting on a 10-minute play during an evening of rapid-fire drama at the Evans Theatre.

Ten of the 14 plays were written by members of the class. All 14 will be shown for one night only on Thursday, March 5, starting at 5 p.m.

The event is free for everyone.

Citizen-soldiers in a changing world: A conversation with your Army Reserve Brigade Commander
2026-03-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Gathering Space, John E. Robbins Library, Canada
Colonel Evelyn Kotzer, Commander of 38 Canadian Brigade Group
Canada faces an uncertain future in a rapidly changing world. Great power rivalry is intensifying, while the once-vaunted rules-based international order continues to erode in the face of ruptures. With our security and interests under increasing threat, and growing doubts that some of our traditional allies will always act in our best interests, Canada’s own strength may soon be tested.
Answering this call has, and continues to, fall in no small part to the Army Reserve. These citizen-soldiers put aside civilian careers to serve when the nation calls, from the militias of pre-Confederation to today’s hardening of NATO’s eastern flank.
Join us for a fireside discussion with Colonel Evelyn Kotzer, Commander of 38 Canadian Brigade Group and its part-time citizen soldiers of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario, on how the Army Reserve is preparing to meet these challenges.
Refreshments will be provided.

Application Deadline for May 2026 Convocation
2026-03-20 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Application deadline: May 2026 Convocation.

Voluntary Withdrawal (VW) Deadline - Winter courses
2026-03-23 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Voluntary Withdrawal (VW) deadline: Winter courses (except Education: BEd (AD); BEd (IP) Yr 5; BMus/BEd Yr 5).

Introductory Spanish 2 Runway & Design Challenge
2026-03-25 08:30 - 09:20 | Clark Hall, Room 004, 1270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Spring is approaching, and with it an opportunity to celebrate student creativity.
You are invited to attend the Runway & Design Challenge (First Edition 2026), organized by students in Introductory Spanish 2 under the supervision of Dr. Angelica Silva.
Where: CHO 004 (Clark Hall)
When: Wednesday, March 25
Time: 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM
This event highlights student work around the theme: “Pensando en una moda más sostenible” (Thinking about more sustainable fashion)
We hope you will join us to support our students and experience this showcase of language, design, and sustainability.
