The Faculty of Medicine began life in 1883 as the Manitoba Medical College. Winnipeg had been transformed from a sleepy, fur trading village into a raw, rowdy, bustling frontier city floating on a lake of Red River gumbo. Among its population of 20,000 young people, bent on finding fortune in railways and land, there were a few would be medical students and a cadre of highly competent and dedicated young doctors. After much lobbying and skillful diplomacy, the necessary ingredients were put in place and the first lecture delivered on November 21, 1883. In 1919, the College became a Faculty within the University of Manitoba. As the first and for several decades the only medical school in western Canada, the College and later the Faculty attracted a large portion of its student body from the other western provinces.
For the first 75 years of its history, the Faculty was almost exclusively devoted to undergraduate training leading to the Doctor of Medicine degree, but beginning in the 1950s, the scope of its programs and activities grew rapidly. The Faculty is now a major centre of medical education and research linked to sister institutions throughout Canada and the world. It offers a full range of undergraduate and post-graduate programs embracing basic biomedical sciences, clinical medicine, and population health.
Winnipeg offers a wide range of affordable off-campus housing from room at board (at about $400.00 a month) to apartments ($400.00 to $600.00 a month) to full house rentals ($700.00 plus). There is a good selection of apartments close to the campus. The Housing and Student Life Office offers help with accommodation searches.
University of Manitoba offers a unique, innovative program for the incoming students, University 1. This program is an opportunity for students to have the greatest range of flexibility in choosing courses and the best array of services to help in making a successful transition from high school to university. The credits earned while a student is in University 1 become the first year of the student's degree program when they move from University 1 for their second year of studies. The University 1 Help Centre provides group and individual sessions and advising, including a two day fall orientation to get the year off to a great start.
The Counselling and Career Services Office, in conjunction with the Student Employment Centre, assists students with career planning throughout their university days. Help is available for career research, mentoring arrangements, resume writing, interviewing and job search techniques, co-op and internship placements, summer and part-time employment placements, and graduation recruitment interviews. Several of the individual schools and faculties also offer career services and sponsor employer fairs.
The U of M is a member of Canadian International Sport and the Canada West Universities Athletic Conferences. Our very competitive intercollegiate teams play under the brown and gold colours and are called the Bisons. Intramural and sports clubs are very popular with teams from the faculties and schools, the colleges, the residences, and social groups. A students facilities pass of $72.00 allows use of four modern, well equipped facilities with a full range of health and fitness activities, including swimming, weight training, marital arts, aerobics, fitness assessments, and more.
From the campus wide two day orientation program to the Graduation Pow Wow, the university year is packed with activities to suit every student. Some of the highlights of the year include the 'socials', which are sponsored by different faculties and student groups throughout the year, the Festival of Life and Learning in winter, and the career fairs held by various faculties. Students can also become involved with student government or the student run radio and newspaper.
In addition to the faculty, school, college, and residence associations, there are dozens of other student groups on campus, political, cultural, special interest, religious, athletic, social, or service groups. There are at least one or two of interest to every U of M student. The Students Union sponsors many of the clubs and sponsors a fall promotional and membership week.
All students are eligible for a computer account, which includes Internet access, an e-mail address, and use of open area computing facilities (over 600 workstations). Courses in program use and Web site development are also available. Some of the residence rooms are wired for net access.
The city of Winnipeg is a very culturally rich and diverse city and this is also reflected in the University. The U of M has over 800 international students from more than 60 countries and these students, in co-operation with the International Centre of Students, are encouraged to share their multicultural views and talents with the University community. There is also an active Aboriginal student body who work with the Aboriginal Student Centre, the Aboriginal Student Association, and other support and academic groups in bringing their culture to campus. Opportunities in music, art, and theatre are available on campus for participants or observers.
The University of Manitoba is committed to accessibility and a student centred approach to student services. The Disability Services Office, the Aboriginal Student Centre, and the International Centre for Students all provide specialized services for their clientele. Other student affairs supports include the Counselling and Career Services Office, Student Health Services, Student Advocacy and Student Resources Centre, the English Language Centre, and more.
Individual and group tours for prospective students and their teachers or families are available on request throughout the year. Send an e-mail to student_recruitment@umanitoba.ca to make the arrangements. The campus is also open to all prospective students for two days every February in our annual Info Days.