Events

OUT OF BOUNDS LECTURE: "Looking Back in Order to Move Forward: African American Sacred Music is a Pathway to Resistance, Resilience, and Renewal"
2026-02-03 12:40 (America/Winnipeg) | R.D. Bell Hall, QEII Music Building, Room 1-57, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
We are very excited to host Frédéricka Petit-Homme and collaborators Myrtle Thomas and Alexandre Paquette in the School of Music,” said Professor Marika Galea. “As the host of CBC’s Choral Concert, a versatile performer, educator and researcher, the scope of Frédéricka’s work is unique and captivating. Dr. Andrée Dagenais and I have been working on cultivating this hands-on learning opportunity for our students for quite some time. I am looking to Tuesday afternoon’s Out of Bounds research presentation on African American Sacred Music in particular, which will hold special significance for us in the jazz and contemporary popular music area.”
No admission charge. All are welcome!

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.

Apply For Free Night
2026-02-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada

Gospel Music Week: "More Than a Song" Musical Celebration and Final Gathering
2026-02-06 19:30 | Kinsmen Rehearsal Hall, QEII Music Building, Room 1-20, 270-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
This final gathering is the culmination of the 2026 “More Than A Song” Gospel Music Week featuring Frédéricka Petit-Homme and collaborators Myrtle Thomas and Alexandre Paquette, curated by Marika Galea and Dr. Andrée Dagenais. This celebration will feature the BU choir, chorale and small jazz ensembles in a collaborative musical performance.
Tickets are $10, available at the door. BU students attend at no charge.

Theresa Thor and the Sun Dog Ensemble
2026-02-07 19:30 | Lorne Watson Recital Hall, QEII Music Building, Room 1-60, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
Brandon Chamber Players presents The SunDog Ensemble with a rotating cast of musical creators exploring sound across genres, beamed into existence by Canadian pianist and songwriter Theresa Thordarson. While members refract and shift, the SunDogs’ curious and playful approach to music-making remains constant, along with a commitment to creating new music and shedding light on music rarely experienced.
The current lineup features:
Theresa Thordarson, keyboards and vocals
John Himes, multi-disciplinary guitarist
Christopher Byman, acclaimed composer and clarinetist
Dr. Catherine Wood, clarinet
Marika Galea, bass
and jazz-adjacent guitarist and creator, Ava Glendinning
For more information, including tickets, please visit the Brandon Chamber Players website at: https://brandonchamberplayers.ca/

Public Talk: Access to Healthcare for Black People in Canada
2026-02-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Gathering Space, John E. Robbins Library, Canada
Dr. Bukola Salami presents research on access to healthcare for Black people in Canada, drawing on evidence from the Canadian Community Health Survey and qualitative interviews. This public lecture will explore systemic inequities in healthcare and their impacts on Black communities.
Please register your attendance in advance.
Snacks will be provided for those attending in person. A virtual attendance option will be available.
About Dr. Bukola Salami
Dr. Bukola Salami
Dr. Bukola Salami is a full professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Black and Racialized People’s Health at the University of Calgary. She is a member of the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists; Vice president of the Canadian Nurses Association; Board member and Health Working Group co-chair for the Black Opportunity Funds; Founder of the African Child and Youth Migration Network; and Founder and Lead of the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Salami to Brandon University to discuss strategies for faculty to support Black and racialized students in universities.
Black History Month at Brandon University
Each February, Brandon University recognizes Black History Month by celebrating the contributions, histories, and lived experiences of Black communities, while creating space for learning, dialogue, and connection. This event is part of BU’s 2026 Black History Month programming, organized in partnership with students, faculty, and campus and community partners.

Education Career Fair 2026
2026-02-13 10:00 - 14:00 | Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium, 205 20th Street, Brandon, MB, R7B 1L6, Canada
The 2026 Education Career Fair at Brandon University celebrates and strengthens connections between school divisions, aspiring educators, and future teachers across Manitoba and beyond. Hosted in conjunction with the BYTE Conference, this annual event brings together school boards, educational leaders, mentor teachers, and Bachelor of Education candidates for one of the premier recruitment and professional engagement opportunities in the region.
Building on the success of previous years — including participation from more than 30 school divisions — the Education Career Fair provides a vibrant, in-person forum for recruitment and engagement with teacher candidates preparing to enter the profession, showcasing career opportunities within school divisions across Manitoba, and networking and community building among education professionals, university faculty, and future educators.
Participants will have the opportunity to connect face-to-face with candidates from the Faculty of Education who are completing their field experience placements and preparing for classroom careers, explore employment pathways, and strengthen partnerships that support teacher recruitment and retention.
All BU students are welcome to attend to learn more about careers in Education!

Loy Excellentia Initiative — Black History Month Celebration 2026
2026-02-14 13:00 - 16:00 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
All Black-African Students are invited to attend an exciting event to mark the 2026 Black History Month celebrations in Brandon.
Organized by the Loy Excellentia Initiative, there will be music performances, free foods and drinks, fun activities, door prices/gifts and more. Let’s come together to celebrate our culture, community, and excellence! BU professor Dr. Balfour Spence will be keynote speaker at the event, speaking on “Unravelling Black History in Canada: Acknowledging the Past and Mentoring the Future.”
Register online at https://forms.gle/Pfqt57tFaa9SesE87
Registration ends on February 7 and more details will be shared upon registration. Make sure that you add contact@loyexcellentia.org to your email contact.
Watch some videos of past Black History Month Celebration on YouTube and photos on Instagram.
Black History Month at Brandon University
Each February, Brandon University recognizes Black History Month by celebrating the contributions, histories, and lived experiences of Black communities, while creating space for learning, dialogue, and connection. This event is part of BU’s 2026 Black History Month programming, organized in partnership with students, faculty, and campus and community partners.

University Closed — Louis Riel Day
2026-02-16 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Brandon University will be largely closed on Monday, Feb. 16 to observe Louis Riel Day. No classes are scheduled for Louis Riel Day.
Louis Riel was the driving force behind Manitoba joining Confederation and becoming Canada’s fifth province.
As the Métis leader of the Red River Resistance of 1869-70, he was instrumental in drafting the List of Rights that formed the basis of the Manitoba Act, passed by the Parliament of Canada in the spring of 1870, which brought the new province of Manitoba into Confederation.
Fearing prosecution, Riel fled to the United States. From exile, he was elected three times as a member of the House of Commons, but could never take his seat. Returning to Canada to help Métis leaders in 1884, he was defeated and captured at the Battle of Batoche. Despite popular appeals and a jury’s call for clemency, Riel was hanged for treason in 1885.
Louis Riel Day has been celebrated as a provincial holiday in Manitoba since 2008.
The University will re-open normal business hours on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
From Tuesday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 20, Brandon University will observe the Winter Study Break.

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.

Beyond ConnectED Alumni Mixer
2026-02-19 16:30 - 18:00 | Clarion Hotel & Suites Brandon, 3130 Victoria Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7B 3Y3, Canada
Beyond ConnectED is an informal mixer hosted by the Alumni Associations of Brandon University and Assiniboine College. This come-and-go event provides a relaxed opportunity for students, alumni, and industry partners to continue conversations and build professional networks.

OUT OF BOUNDS LECTURE: The Evolution of Female Indigenous Representation in Canadian Opera from 1879 to Present
2026-02-26 18:00 - 19:00 | Lorne Watson Recital Hall, QEII Music Building, Room 1-60, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada
Camryn Dewar with Anica Warkentine
Fulbright Scholar Camryn Dewar’s lecture recital, titled “The Evolution of Female Indigenous Representation in Canadian Opera from 1879 to Present” is a bold initiative dedicated to reshaping the Canadian opera landscape by centering and amplifying Indigenous voices.
Through an innovative lecture-recital and public discussion/Q&A, the presentation uses opera as a vehicle for truth, reconciliation, and education. Through analysis and performances of excerpts from Canadian operas Canada’s Welcome (1879) by Arthur Clappé and Frederick Dixon, Missing (2017) by Marie Clements and Brian Current, and Indians on Vacation (2021) by Ian Cusson and Royce Vavrek, Camryn will illustrate in detail how the heritage of creative teams and the creative inspiration of Indigenous operas impacts Indigenous female representation for the better.
The performance will incorporate live operatic performances with piano accompaniment that exemplify the evolution of female Indigenous operatic characters through the ages, as well as a visual presentation with lyrics and background historical information. Over the course of an hour recital, by showcasing the positive evolution of Indigenous representation in classical music from the 19th century to today, the presentation discusses authentic storytelling, challenges stereotypes, and inspires new standards and best practices for artistic collaboration and cultural respect. Topics covered include: historical context of the operas, creator and cast backgrounds, Indigenous languages, source material, creative collaboration, performance practice, the shift from fetishization of Indigenous women to fair and authentic representation, the impact of these works on both Indigenous artists and audiences, and best practices in representation moving forward.
Camryn toured this presentation in a successful and highly-acclaimed 3-date tour across the state of New Jersey in early 2025. Through this lecture recital, Camryn will show in more detail how this evolution in Canadian opera seeks to empower, rather than silence, Indigenous people of past, present and future. This lecture recital aims not only to educate audiences, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of Indigenous culture and music, but also to spread awareness of the wealth of incredible Indigenous opera that exists but is rarely performed.
This lecture recital is not just a performance — it is a catalyst for change. Bringing this lecture recital to Canadian audiences means not only deeply educating, but also challenging long-standing traditions of racism in opera, and demonstrating the transformative power of authentic, Indigenous-led storytelling. This work directly addresses the urgent need for truthful representation in the arts, ensuring that Indigenous performers are not only seen and heard, but are shown that diverse stories belong on every stage, and that opera can be a space for genuine cultural dialogue and healing. This knowledge is essential, not only to ensure authentic roles and works for diverse performers, but to inspire and empower others to follow in the footsteps of creating music with authentic representation going forward.
“The first time I sang an Indigenous opera, I felt my entire soul pouring out of my body. I could feel my ancestors behind me as I figuratively cried out for justice, truth, and understanding. It is a feeling I will never forget. That experience showed me that my true purpose is serving as an educator about Indigenous peoples and music, and using the power of music to foster understanding and reconciliation. I look forward to audiences hearing operas that are real, raw, and that fully show the Indigenous female, and really, the human, experience.” — Camryn Dewar
All are welcome! No admission fee.

Clarinet Festival 2026
2026-02-28 - 2026-03-01 | QEII Music Building, 270-18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 6A9, Canada
Please join us for the 16th anniversary of the Brandon University Clarinet Festival on February 28th and March 1st, 2026. This year we are featuring an incredible line-up of guest artists, including Jonathan Russell, Alex Whitehead, and Colin Mehmel. The festival features BU faculty Leanne Zacharias and Callie Siverson and BU alumni Danielle Guina and Lisa Rumpel. Guest conductor Cheryl Ferguson will lead the festival clarinet choir. The BU Clarinet Choir and festival host Cathy Wood will also be performing.
Great PD opportunity for musicians of all ages! The festival events include:

Workshops, vendors, and concerts
Festival Clarinet Choir for all participants (all levels)
Prize draws!

Registration Link: ($30 for students/seniors; $50 for adults): https://forms.gle/1T9U4pg8m8fiWbnk7
Festival Schedule
Saturday, February 28th
9:15am
Registration Opens, Music Lobby
Vendor Room Opens, Room 143
10:00-10:30am
Welcome; Coffee and Q&A with Jonathan Russell
Room 157
10:40-11:30am
I AM BETTER THAN MOZART (…at playing clarinet): An Empowering Composition Workshop for Clarinetists
Jonathan Russell
Room 157
11:40-12:40pm
Conducting Workshop: Cheryl Ferguson
Room 120
12:40-1:40pm
Lunch Break
1:45-2:15pm
Q&A with Alex Whitehead
Room 157
1:40-2:20pm
Group Lessons for Clarinet Choir Simplified Parts
Rooms 202, 004
2:30-3:20pm
Improving Embouchure Through Movement Feldenkrais Workshop: Colin Mehmel
Room 120 or 157
3:30-4:00pm
Guest Artist Concert: Alex Whitehead and Lisa Rumpel
Lorne Watson Recital Hall
4:30-6:00pm
Mass Festival Choir Rehearsal with Cheryl Ferguson
Room 120
6:00-7:30pm
Dinner Break
7:30pm
Guest Artist Concert: Jonathan Russell and Lisa Rumpel
Lorne Watson Recital Hall
Sunday, March 1st
9:15am
Registration Open, Music Lobby
Vendor Room Opens, Room 143
9:30-10:45am
Masterclass with Alex Whitehead
Lorne Watson Recital Hall or 157
11:00-12:00pm
Guest Artist Concert: Trio Improbable
Colin Mehmel, Callie Siverson, and Danielle Guina
Lorne Watson Recital Hall
12:00-1:00pm
Mass Festival Choir Rehearsal with Cheryl Ferguson
Room 120
1:00-2:00pm
Lunch Break
2:00-3:00pm
Host Concert: Cathy Wood and Leanne Zacharias
Lorne Watson Recital Hall
3:30-5:00pm
Final Concert: BU Clarinet Choir and Festival Clarinet Choir
Group Photo and Prize Draws
Room 120
More information is available in the Google Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nFi7f5GAXDi5x55tjuhYz3ZQBUyWv6PR?usp=share_link

Community Iftaar
2026-03-02 17:00 - 20:00 | Healthy Living Centre, 2010 Louise Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7B 0L4, Canada
Brandon University is proud to host an event organized by the Muslim community of Brandon through the Brandon Islamic Centre.
You are cordially invited to attend a Community Iftarr (breaking the fast of Ramadan) on Monday, March 2, at 5:30 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.).
The month of Ramadan requires fasting throughout the day, and Iftaar is the meal taken at the end of the day, following the call to prayer (around sunset). Iftarr is often done as a community, with people gathering to break their fast together.
This Community Iftaar will be held at the BU Healthy Living Centre, in the main gymnasium to accommodate the large gathering. Special guests will include Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.
You are asked to kindly RSVP so that appropriate amounts of food can be prepared: info@bicmanitoba.ca

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.

BU Jazz Festival
2026-03-12 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
BU Jazz Festival March 12-14, 2026. Please visit this link for details: https://bujazzfest.ca/

Long Night Against Procrastination
2026-03-18 19:00 - 2026-03-19 02:00 | John E. Robbins Library
Long Night Against Procrastination, the Library’s flagship event, and in partnership with Indigenous Peoples Centre, will take place Wednesday March 18, 7:00 pm-2:00 am. Food, drinks, and different activities are provided free of charge.
Details are available on our web page: Long Night Against Procrastination | Brandon University

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.

BU Queer Lunch and Learn: LGBTQ Health Awareness Week
2026-03-24 12:40 - 13:30 | Gathering Space, John E. Robbins Library, Canada
Join BU Queer for our next Lunch and Learn in recognition of National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week. This informal lunchtime event brings together community experts to share knowledge, resources, and perspectives on 2SLGBTQIA+ health, wellbeing, and inclusive care.
Guest speakers include Dr. Kelby Treloar from the Gender Affirming Care Clinic, Rachel Wu from the Sexuality Education Resource Centre, and Nicole Christine from Smitten Adult Boutique. Together, they will explore topics related to gender-affirming healthcare, sexual health education, and community supports, followed by opportunities for discussion and questions.
All students, staff, faculty, and community members are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.

Confidence Closet - pop-up event
2026-03-25 11:00 - 14:00 | Education Building Room 107, 270 18 St, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 6A9, Canada
Students! Looking for just the right outfit to nail that job interview but store prices are out of reach? The BU Confidence Closet might be the perfect fit.
A collaboration between the BU Co-op Program and the Faculty of Education Field Experience Office, the BU Confidence Closet is a pop-up shopping experience where the price is right — free. Carefully curated clothing items have been donated to provide you with access to professional attire in a welcoming, low-barrier environment while promoting reuse and responsible consumption. At our last Confidence Closet event, students found hundreds of professional clothing items, each carefully chosen to support upcoming interviews, work terms, field experiences, and professional opportunities.
Beyond immediate access, the Confidence Closet emphasizes sustainability by extending the life of quality clothing and encouraging thoughtful selection. Students are asked to be guided by the principle ‘take what you need and wear what you take,’ reinforcing both confidence and environmental responsibility.
The Confidence Closet reflects Brandon University’s ongoing commitment to student success, sustainability, and collaboration, and demonstrates how small, intentional initiatives can create meaningful impact.

Brandon Chamber of Commerce: Economic Outlook Luncheon
2026-03-26 11:00 - 13:00 | Victoria Inn, 3550 Victoria Ave, Brandon, Manitoba, R7B 2R4, Canada
Join us for the Brandon Chamber of Commerce March Economic Outlook Luncheon featuring Carolyn Rogers, Senior Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada and BU alumna!

Ms. Rogers will speak on factors affecting Canada’s economic outlook and financial system and will touch on the renewal of Canada’s monetary policy framework, which happens in 2026. Her perspective will be especially valuable for business leaders, policymakers and community stakeholders navigating today’s evolving economic environment.

Born in Winnipeg, Ms. Rogers has strong ties to Manitoba. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brandon University and a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of Canada’s leading economic voices!

Registration Deadline: March 23 at brandonchamber.ca

Sponsored and hosted by the BU Business Administration Department

*Students* Please note there will be an on-campus event for students with information to be sent to you directly.

University closed: Good Friday
2026-04-03 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Brandon University will be closed on Friday, April 3rd in recognition of Good Friday.
The University will re-open on Monday, April 6th.
Happy Easter!

Winter and Full-year Classes End
2026-04-10 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Classes end: Winter and full-year (both-term) courses (except Education: BEd (AD); BEd (IP) Yr 5; BMus/BEd Yr 5).

Final Exams 2026
2026-04-13 - 2026-04-25 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
Classes end for most Winter and full-year (both terms) courses on Friday, April 10, except for Education: BEd (AD); BEd (IP) Yr 5; BMus/BEd Yr 5, which end on Thursday, March 5.
School of Music examinations in Applied Music (except BMus/BEd Year 4 and 5) take place on Monday, April 13 to Tuesday, April 14.
Final examinations for both Winter term courses and full-year (both terms) courses, begin on Wednesday, April 15 and run until Saturday, April 25.
For exam timetables visit https://www.brandonu.ca/registration/current-registration-guides/exam-timetables/.

Vancouver Alumni & Friends Reception
2026-04-22 17:30 - 19:30 | Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, 3811 Point Grey Road, Vancouver, BC, V6R1B3, Canada
Royal Vancouver Yacht Club
3811 Point Grey Road – Vancouver, BC
hosted by Anne & Mitch Taylor, Class of ‘65
Cocktails – 5:30 pm
Remarks – 6:15 pm
Closing – 7:30 pm
RSVP to 1-877-282-4483 or alumni@brandonu.ca

?‍? Convocation 2026
2026-05-28 - 2026-05-29 | Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, Canada
