Campus Beautification Days are back!

Remember the days when staff and faculty got together outdoors to plant flowers and beautify our campuses? The annual event, which always includes a free BBQ lunch, has been taking place for many years and is enjoyed by all. But the last couple of years were a miss due to the pandemic.

In 2022, Campus Beautification Days are back. The university community will leave their classrooms, lecture halls and offices to embark on some flower planting and weed-pulling at both campuses, as well as the Smartpark area.

All staff and faculty are encouraged to come out and have fun with their co-workers. This year, Bannatyne will have its event on May 13. The early date will allow us to have the campus looking its best in advance of Bannatyne Convocation on May 19.

Fort Garry Campus Campus Beautification Day is scheduled for June 1, with a rain date of June 2.

With Mother Nature still struggling to relinquish its colder temperatures, the Operations & Maintenance team have created a plan to prevent any plant material loss, including covering plant material at night when needed and carefully timing their preparation and planting tasks.

Gardening activities and BBQ, and don’t miss the Pride Flag Raising

Activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. and go until noon on both campuses. Also join us for the Pride Flag Raising at Fort Garry Campus on June 1 at 9am.

The entire university community is invited to join in a day of gardening and planting at both campuses, with free barbecue lunch to follow. Everyone is encouraged to attend (even if you didn’t get to participate in the planting).

Please note: The location of the BBQ lunch at Fort Garry campus has been changed to the Active Living Centre Patio.

Participants can also enter to win some great prizes!

UPDATED MAY 27: For the Fort Garry Campus Beautification Day on June 1, flowers will be delivered in advance to all concrete planters and planting sites, including the Administration Building, Arthur Mauro Residence, Curry Place, University Centre Patio and many more (see plant list at the Physical Plant webpage).

Participants can plant and beautify around their buildings, and can also stop by one of two coordination tables set up by the entrances of Physical Plant and the Engineering Building to pick up work gloves, choose a task from the list and head out to the area of their choice! Participants are encouraged to bring their own personal handtools due to limited supply.

Note that starting at 9 a.m., everyone can also pick up coffee and cookies at the coordination tables!

June 1 also also kicks off UM’s Pride Month celebrations, and we invite the entire UM community to join us at at 9 a.m. for the flag-raising ceremony in front of UMSU University Centre (near the flag poles) for cupcakes, fruit and to hear from speaker Dr. Fenton Litwiller (they/them), Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management and Chair of UMQueer.

At 11 a.m. the UM community is invited to attend the oak tree planting to honour President Emeritus David Barnard’s 12 years of service as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manitoba. David will also be in attendance, so please join us for this special commemoration.

A popular and successful tradition

Campus Beautification Days have been a long-running, popular and successful tradition, thanks to the hard work and contributions of the volunteers who take the time out of their busy schedules to help beautify the campus space.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to bring our community back to campus to reconnect with each other, enjoy the outdoor spaces and instill pride in working and learning together,” says Naomi Andrew, Vice-President (Administration).

Should you have any questions please see the Physical Plant webpage.