Get UM winter-active

This February, UM community members can participate in a winter wonderland of outdoor activities on campus. UM Winter Active will host of a week of winter sports and activities starting Monday, Feb. 6, and throughout the week — all free to UM students, faculty and staff.

Ever wanted to try snow-shoes, cross-country skiing or winter fat-tire biking? You can try these activities for free with colleagues or friends during UM Winter Active. You may also want to join one or both of two winter walks at Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses.

On Thursday, Feb. 9, plan to attend Winter-palooza at the Duckworth Quad, where you and friends or co-workers can nibble cookies and sip hot chocolate around the cozy fire pit and skate on the new rink, or sign out snow-shoes, all with music by UMFM, UM’s campus and community radio station.

Get a free ticket to cheer on the UM Bisons men’s hockey and volleyball teams as they compete in games on Feb. 10 and 11. (See more information below.)

Most UM Winter Active activities are drop-in, but RSVPs are encouraged (info below). Please note that staff should participate during their lunch hour as much as possible, confirming permission for any additional time with supervisors.

UM Winter Active is co-sponsored by the Office of the Vice-President (Administration), the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management and the Office of Sustainability, and UMSU.

Enjoy the season of snow with activities for UM community members

Peruse the full schedule of UM Winter Active events below and plan to participate in one or more activities. Please RSVP for UM Winter Active events here; drop-ins welcome on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Bannatyne students and staff can take a free shuttle to Fort Garry campus. Watch for pick up times and location to follow. By bus, 36 Northwest Super Express Transit Route is another quick ride of approximately 25 minutes to the Fort Garry campus.

The week coincides with the annual, province-wide Jack Frost Challenge from Feb. 5-11, celebrating outdoor winter activities. The challenge is to gather teams of one to five friends, co-workers or family members to complete 130 collective kilometres of outdoor activities such as walking, running, skiing, snowshoeing, skating and cycling.

Pull together a team to enter the Jack Frost Challenge using the additional information below.

UM Winter Active activities schedule

Monday, Feb. 6 to Friday, Feb. 10

Please RSVP for UM Winter Active events here; drop-ins welcome on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Please note that participation in the advertised activities is at your own risk.

Winter walk (Fort Garry)

Monday, Feb. 6, noon to 1 p.m.

Join fellow students, staff and faculty for a winter walk, and explore some hidden gems in and around Fort Garry campus. Meet outside of University Centre along Chancellor’s Circle. RSVP for events here; drop-ins welcome.

Ride a fat-tire bike

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sign out a fat-tire bike or winter-ready bike for a 15-minute ride around campus. Helmets are strongly encouraged and will be available along with the bikes outside of University Centre. RSVP for events here and sign up for a 15-minute time slot; first-come, first-serve drop-ins welcome.

Try cross-country skiing

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Bring your own skis or sign out a pair from the Winnipeg Trails Association’s Ski Lending Library, available for free on campus, to ski the trails through Southwood Lands. The ski trails and equipment library are located at the east end of Markham Road. RSVP for events here; drop-ins welcome.

Winter-palooza (Duckworth Quad)

Thursday, Feb. 9, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Bring your skates to the Duckworth Quad, sign out some snowshoes, enjoy cookies and hot chocolate courtesy of UMSU around the fire pit to celebrate winter UM-style at this multi-activity event. To add to the celebratory vibe, UMFM, UM’s community radio station, will provide music! RSVP for events here; drop-ins welcome.

Winter Walk (Bannatyne)

Friday, Feb. 10, noon to 1 p.m.

Join fellow students, staff and faculty for a winter walk exploring Bannatyne campus and the surrounding area. Please note: Participants must pre-register for this event. 

Bisons Men’s Hockey and Volleyball games

Friday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, Feb. 11

Access game day tickets here: https://gobisons.ca/sports/2021/8/31/tickets

Use the promo code ‘UMWINTER’ on the review page to receive 1 free ticket.

• Bisons men’s hockey game vs Alberta Golden Bears
• Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Wayne Fleming Arena, Fort Garry campus
• Bisons men’s volleyball games vs Fraser Valley Cascades
• Friday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m., Investors Group Athletic Centre, Fort Garry campus
• Saturday, Feb. 11 at 5 p.m., Investors Group Athletic Centre, Fort Garry campus

Sign up for the Jack Frost Challenge, attend a UM Winter Active event with teammates to log kilometres

The annual, province-wide Jack Frost Challenge from Feb. 5-11 celebrates outdoor winter activities and encourages all Manitobans to get active outdoors and enjoy our wonderful winters.

Every year, Manitobans gather and register teams of one to five friends, co-workers or family members to take up the challenge and complete 130 collective kilometres, including walking, running, skiing, snowshoeing, skating and cycling.

Register your team and win prizes!

Register your team, log your kilometres and enter to win local prizes courtesy of the Jack Frost Challenge.

But wait — there’s more.

UM participants can add “UM” at the start of their team names for a chance to be entered to win UM prizes. (Example: “UM-team name”)

Register your team today.