‘More than just simply a university’

The University of Winnipeg’s acting president prides himself on being a lifelong cheerleader for the Wesmen and he’s bringing that energy — as well as plans to revisit the soccer program — to his new post.

“I bleed U of W red,” urban geography professor Jino Distasio said in an interview, hours before heading to the Wesmen Classic.

“I really have a passion for the University of Winnipeg. Since I was a student there, back in the ’80s, to where I am now, the U of W’s been my home.”

Distasio has dedicated the last 26 years to teaching and researching urban revitalization and housing insecurity. He stepped into the new role on Dec. 12.

While admitting he’s proud and “partially terrified” about the next 12 months, the career researcher said he plans to lead with optimism and put trust in his colleagues.

Staying “connected to the classroom” is a priority for Distasio, who has carved out time for his research while holding administrative roles in the past and is scheduled to teach one course next term.

The urban studies expert made a name for himself for his work on the “housing first” principle.

The leadership shakeup was announced two weeks after the board of regents removed Todd Mondor from the president’s office.

Senior administration provided few details about Mondor’s departure, which took place following a year of cost-cutting measures and related morale challenges.

The former president cited a significant drop in student enrolment after a new federal cap on international students when he froze hiring, discontinued specialized programming to help newcomers improve their English and scrapped the women’s soccer team in 2024-25.

Distasio’s daughter, the eldest of his three adult children, was on the soccer team at the time.

“We’re more than just simply a university and I really hold that (idea) to a high standard.”

The acting leader said he’s keen to support any opportunities to give students the chance to express themselves and explore their non-academic interests.

Students need to be able to enjoy themselves on campus and so do visitors, Distasio said, recalling how heartwarming it was to witness hundreds of people participate in touch football at the Axworthy Health & RecPlex last week.

“We’re more than just simply a university and I really hold that (idea) to a high standard — we have to be seen as an open, welcoming part of the downtown, part of the West End, part of the inner city, part of Winnipeg,” he said.

Distasio, who has served as both an acting dean and permanent vice-president over the last decade, was the director of the Institute of Urban Studies between 2000 and 2019.

He worked closely with former president Lloyd Axworthy, a mentor who’s influenced his view on U of W and its potential to transform downtown Winnipeg for the better, during that period.

As he pilots the president and vice-chancellor titles, Distasio will be stepping away from consulting on Axworthy’s rail reallocation study.

Whether he’ll put his name forward to officially compete to become U of W’s 11th president will be determined on the “test drive,” he said.

Premier Wab Kinew called Distasio “the perfect person” for the job, both in the interim and future.

“He has a longstanding connection to the university. He understands its role as the downtown university that’s really integrated into the community. He’s literally the expert on urbanism,” Kinew said.

The duo worked together at U of W between 2011 and 2016, prior to Kinew entering politics. They had a brief reunion at the Manitoba legislature this month.

Distasio said he anticipates he’ll be working closely with provincial officials to put pressure on Ottawa to “find a balance” when it comes to the international student population.

“It’s not just about international student revenue. It’s about the movement of international ideas,” he said.

Building on his predecessors’ work, he said he wants to continue to collaborate with other post-secondary institutes, support innovative research projects and embrace Axworthy’s philosophy.

“People underestimate the importance of education in our downtown as really being a peak catalyst for transforming (it),” Distasio added.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Maggie Macintosh
Education reporter

Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie.

Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative.

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