U of M way over the hill

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/03/2017 (2277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was a birthday party over 100 years in the making.

Hundreds of students, staff, faculty, and dignitaries at the University of Manitoba celebrated the institution’s 140th birthday on Feb. 28 on the Fort Garry campus.

On the steps of the historic administration building, U of M president David Barnard kicked off a party that would have stunned the first university students in 1877.

Students joined an inflatable, life-size game of foosball in the Innovation Plaza and skated on a temporary ice rink in the quad. Meanwhile hot dogs, bannock, and cotton candy were handed out by the handful to hundreds of students waiting patiently in line for a free meal.

In addition to birthday cake, students roasted marshmallows over propane fire pits for s’mores and loaded up on free coffee and hot chocolate.

While the festivities rolled on, Barnard and other dignitaries, including premier Brian Pallister and mayor Brian Bowman, encouraged the university’s membership to consider identity and the space the U of M occupies in the community.

“The future of this community and all of us in it will benefit from a more inclusive approach to the U of M’s core functions of teaching and learning, discovery, and engagement,” Barnard said.

“We can all be proud of the central role this university plays in the economy and cultural and public life of this province.

“We want the next 150 years for Canada and the next 140 years for the university to be even better.”