Self Guided Tour

Our UM self-guided tour begins outside the Chancellor Circle entrance of UMSU University Centre (UC). UMSU University Centre houses Campo, a variety of different businesses, and student services. You may hear people refer to University Centre as “UC” but be careful! They may be referring to University College, a building we will visit later.

The ground floor houses the UM Bookstore where you can purchase textbooks, school supplies, stationery, lab supplies, tech gear, and UM merchandise. Also on this floor is the Cashier’s Office (for paying tuition), Campo, the largest cafeteria on campus, a Security Services station, GPA’s convenience store, and the University of Manitoba Students' Union (UMSU) Service Desk. 

On the second floor, you can find the Student Life Office which helps students become more involved on campus and build community. Near the elevators is the largest Tim Hortons on campus. 

The third floor is home to a handful of UMSU-owned and operated businesses, including Degrees Restaurant, IQs, UMFM Radio Station, and VW Social Club. 

The fourth floor of UMSU University Centre is where you’ll find important student services such as the Registrar’s Office where you can get your student ID, transcripts, and other documentation and the Financial Aid & Awards Office where you can inquire about scholarships, grants, provincial loans, the work-study program, and the foodbank. Student Counselling Centre is also on this level and provides personal counselling, support groups, and workshops for students. Lastly, Career Services assists students with career planning and job searches, offering a wide range of help throughout a student's career journey.

The top and fifth floor of UMSU University Centre houses Student Accessibility Services which provides support and advocacy for students with disabilities. Additionally, the Student Advocacy and Case Management Office is there to advocate for your rights as a student at UM. The Sexual Violence Resource Centre offers support and education for everyone. The International Centre offers resources and support for international students and resources for all UM students about internationalizing their UM experience, while the English Language Centre provides courses and accommodations to students whose first language is not English. Lastly, Spiritual Care offers interfaith spiritual support and wellness events throughout the year. 

Standing outside the central hub of the university you will see the many different buildings we will explore in this tour. Notably from this point you can see the building at the centre of Chancellor Circle – the Administration Building. It used to house the Agricultural College and is one of the original buildings at UM.

Innovation Plaza has the busts of 5 distinguished researchers from UM – Dr. Stefansson, Dr. Bowman, Dr. Chown, Dr. Shields, and Dr. Plummer. 

Use this as one of the landmarks on your self-guided tour.

Open to the public, the Buller Greenhouse is the long, rectangular, white building to your right which houses a diverse set of beautiful plants. They sometimes have plant sales (and occasionally give away free plants) for plant-lovers, so be sure to give them a visit!

The Buller Building houses the Department of Microbiology and is the location of many laboratory classes held for biology and microbiology courses. Many professors in these two departments have their offices and laboratories in the Buller building.

You can find an accessible entrance to the Buller building through the Armes Link (follow Stops B & C).

55 Chancellor's Circle houses Community Engaged Learning (CEL) and several classroom spaces. 

Open to the public, the Buller Greenhouse is the long, rectangular, white building to your right which houses a diverse set of beautiful plants. They sometimes have plant sales (and occasionally give away free plants) for plant-lovers, so be sure to give them a visit!

The Biological Sciences Building houses labs and the general office for the Department of Biological Sciences in the Faculty of Science.

The Allen Building hosts the majority of higher-level Physics courses and laboratories.

Fun fact! The Allen Building was once the home of the Spiral Ridge Cyclotron Laboratory, which was the first research facility to successfully “accelerate negatively charged heavy hydrogen ions in a cyclotron and control the direction of their spin.”

Facing the Women in Science art pieces, the ramp to your right is the accessible entrance to the Buller Building.

This building houses the Department of Microbiology and is the location of many laboratory classes held for biology and microbiology courses. Many professors in these two departments have their offices and laboratories here.

Facing the Women in Science art pieces, the doorway behind you will lead you to the Allen Physics Building. Currently, the Allen building hosts the majority of higher-level Physics courses and laboratories.

Fun fact! The Allen Building was once the home of the Spiral Ridge Cyclotron Laboratory, which was the first research facility to successfully “accelerate negatively charged heavy hydrogen ions in a cyclotron and control the direction of their spin.”

Facing the Women in Science art pieces, to your left is the Parker Chemistry Building. The Parker building is the location for various chemistry laboratory courses such as organic and biochemistry.

Fun fact! This building is named after one of the original six professors at the University of Manitoba, Dr. Matthew A. Parker. A fitting name because Dr. Parker is a founding member of the Chemistry Department!

To get to the Wallace Building, walk down the right hallway of the Allen Physics building. Exit the building, turn right on Sifton Road, and cross Dysart Road.

The Wallace Building houses the Department of Geological Sciences within its very colourful interior.

Fun fact! This building is famous for the giant of the Ed Leith Cretaceous Menagerie, which includes three other replicas of gigantic creatures from the Cretaceous Period.

Proceed through the doorway beside the Women in Science art. 

This hallway is the atrium to many lecture auditoriums collectively known as the Armes Lecture Hall. Lectures of many different entry-level courses are held in this building – be sure to check if you have a course held in this building!

Fun fact! This building is named after the former Head of the Chemistry department and Dean of the University Dr. Henry Percy Armes.

As you walk down the hall, to your left is a lounge owned by the Science Students Association (SSA). This lounge is open to everybody and not just Faculty of Science students, so feel free to hang out there with your friends! 

Machray Hall houses the Faculty of Science Dean’s Office and the Departments of Statistics and Mathematics. When you pass through the building, the Faculty of Science Advising Centre - where you can talk to the Faculty of Science Academic Advisors for advice on planning your courses, classes and degree - will be on your left. Further ahead is the Jim Peebles Sciences and Technology Library, which is UM’s second largest library. 

UM Libraries offer a variety of great resources for students to use.
These include:
     • Printing, scanning, and photocopying,
     • Quiet study spaces and bookable group study rooms,
     • Access to collections and materials, and
     • Help from librarians through appointments or the service
       desk.

Jim Peebles Sciences and Technology Library is open from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm Monday to Friday and from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Duff Roblin Building is the home base for some zoology laboratories and UM’s Psychology Department.

Fun fact! This building was named in honour of former Manitoba premier Dufferin “Duff” Roblin.

Behind Machray Hall (and on your left, if you're walking between Stops D & E) is the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. This building has resources to educate people about the profound injustices inflicted on First Nations, Inuit, and the Metis nations.

There are multiple exhibits which you can view during their hours of operation, which are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

University College is one of the many colleges at UM.

Despite being the common location for lectures on Philosophy, Film, History, and other courses from the Faculty of Arts, it also houses the Lockhart Planetarium, making it a great place for first-year astronomy students to learn how to observe the night sky.

After passing University College, you will reach a building with a bear barrister – a Bearister statue! This building is Robson Hall, home to UM’s Faculty of Law.

Inside Robson Hall are a variety of spaces for law students. It has the Common Room that allows students to study together, the Moot Court Room where students and professors can argue their cases against each other, the E.K. Williams Law Library, and many more resources for law students.

The E.K. Williams Law Library is open from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm Monday to Friday and from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Innovation Plaza has the busts of 4 distinguished researchers from UM – Dr. Stefansson, Dr. Bowman, Dr. Chown, Dr. Shields, and Dr. Plummer. 

The Human Ecology Building is home to the Health Sciences / Health Studies programs (plus many Human Nutritional Sciences courses!).

Fun fact! This building used to be the Horticulture and Biology Building for the then Manitoba Agricultural College.

Elizabeth Dafoe Library is UM's largest library!

Once you enter its accessible entrance, its foyer will have colourful chairs. The doors to your left are the entrance to the main floor of the library, while the staircase to your right will lead you to the Fletcher Argue Lecture Theatres.

Apart from library resources, Elizabeth Dafoe Library boasts a Starbucks store inside for emergency late night hours of school work!

UM Libraries offer a variety of great resources for students to use.
These include:
     • Printing, scanning, and photocopying,
     • Quiet study spaces and bookable group study rooms,
     • Access to collections and materials, and
     • Help from librarians through appointments or the service
       desk.

Elizabeth Dafoe Library is open from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm Monday to Friday and from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Facing the elevators at the foyer of Fletcher Argue, to your left is a set of doors that lead to the Fletcher Argue Lecture Theatres. Many courses offered in the Faculty of Arts hold their lectures here.

The main Fletcher Argue Building houses the general offices of the Faculty of Arts and the professors of its departments. There are also multiple resources in the building, such as the Information Services and Technology (IST) office, where students and staff can ask for assistance regarding technological problems they are encountering, the Arts Students' Lounge, and the super cozy Greenhouse Cafe.

The accessible entrance to the Isbister building is from Fletcher Argue, at the end of the hallway where IST is located, just before the exit to the parking lot.

Fun fact! The namesake of the building, Robert Fletcher Argue, is a veteran of the First World War and is a former English professor and Dean of Junior Men at UM.

Located behind the Tier Building, the Isbister Building houses multiple classrooms and lecture theatres for Faculty of Arts Classes.

Fun fact! This building is named after Alexander Kennedy Isbister, an English Metis who is UM's first benefactor. Isbister's bequest totalled around $83,000, which today amounts to over one million dollars!

The Tier Building houses the Faculty of Social work on its top floor, and the First Year Centre, an important resource for new students, on its second floor. This office is where all first-year students can visit to learn more about what they need to know regarding their transition to university. The Academic Learning Center is also located on this building's second floor and offers all students at UM different workshops to improve study skills and help them in their academic careers.

The First Year Centre can:
     • answer many questions about requirements related to your
        program and degree of interest, as well as different university
        policies and procedures.
     •  review your progress, evaluate your academic plans, and
        connect you to campus resources as needed
     •  provide assistance for support if you experience challenges or
        difficulties that affect your studies,
     •  discuss the impacts of decisions before you take action.

Fun fact! The Tier Building is named after William Tier, who is a former Dean of Arts. It is the first building that shied away from using red bricks in constructing its exterior.

Across the main entrance to Tier Building is a circular patch of grass called the Duckworth Quad. Throughout the school year, many different events are hosted here. Be on the lookout and regularly pass by the Quad to find out!

This series of bus stops along Dafoe Road is collectively known as UM Station. UM Station is the terminal stop for many busses that connect the University to different parts of the city.

This series of bus stops along Dafoe Road is collectively known as UM Station. UM Station is the terminal stop for many busses that connect the University to different parts of the city.

The building with pillars in the shape of the letter 'V' is ARTlab. This building houses teaching facilities for UM's School of Art and has a Category A gallery inside.

Fun fact! This unique-looking building won the Governor General's Medal for Architecture in 2016!

The red building behind you is the Drake Centre, home to UM's Asper School of Business.

Fun fact! This building's history is rich with royalty - Queen Elizabeth II partook in the sod turning ceremony of this building using her golden shovel.

The long building to your left is Tache Arts Complex, home of UM's Desautels Faculty of Music. This building is directly connected to ARTlab, which enhances the collaboration between the different projects, research, exhibitions, and performances of the two Faculties.

Across EITC is a circular patch of grass called the Duckworth Quad. Throughout the school year, many different events are hosted here. Be on the lookout and regularly pass by the Quad to find out!

The long building across Dafoe Road is Tache Arts Complex, home of UM's Desautels Faculty of Music. This building is directly connected to ARTlab, which enhances the collaboration between the different projects, research, exhibitions, and performances of the two Faculties.

Pembina Hall is a student residence that can accommodate about 360 students, offering them single dorms with private washrooms. Each floor has a shared lounge space and 24-hour laundry services are available on the second floor. Pembina Hall shares a dining facility with Mary Speechly Hall, located on the main floor.

Mary Speechly Hall is a traditional dorm-style residence that focuses on a sense of community. Each floor houses 30-40 students with the rooms organized in pods. Mary Speechly also has in-house dining facilities that are connected via a walkway to Pembina Hall.

Arthur V. Mauro Student Residence offers residence to upper-year students who have completed at least one year of study at UM.

EITC or Engineering Information and Technology Complex is where the majority of engineering lectures, laboratories, events, and important offices are located and is composed of three buildings connected by an atrium.

Wayfinding tip!
When standing in the atrium with the Tim Hortons to your left, the stairs to your right leads down to the tunnel connection to the rest of campus.

EITC 1 will be in front of you, and is the original building from 1913. It can be distinguished by the red brick with limestone trim.

EITC 2, which will be behind you, was demolished and rebuilt in 2005 and can be distinguished by the large glass windows that line the atrium.

Finally, EITC 3, built in 1967, can be found to your right.

EITC or Engineering Information and Technology Complex is where the majority of engineering lectures, laboratories, events, and important offices are located and is composed of three buildings connected by an atrium.

Wayfinding tip!
When standing in the atrium with the Tim Hortons to your left, the stairs to your right leads down to the tunnel connection to the rest of campus.

EITC 1 will be in front of you, and is the original building from 1913. It can be distinguished by the red brick with limestone trim.

EITC 2, which will be behind you, was demolished and rebuilt in 2005 and can be distinguished by the large glass windows that line the atrium.

Finally, EITC 3, built in 1967, can be found to your right.

Stanley Pauley Engineering Building can be recognized by the red lion and its black-tinted windows. It is home to several laboratories, study spaces, meeting rooms, and a graduate student space.
 

This building is directly connected to EITC Complex via an indoor overpass.

Fun fact! This building, which opened in 2019 was named after a Faculty of Engineering alumni. It was created with sustainability and efficiency in mind.

The Dairy Science building was one of the original buildings on campus. It houses many different facilities including production rooms to make cheese and ice cream.

The WR McQuade Structures Laboratory has several different laboratories and rooms that are used by students in Civil Infrastructure and Construction.

Agricultural Engineering Building originally was used as a space to judge stock animals. It was previously surrounded by barns that housed these animals but has since been renovated to better accommodate the many other building along this street.

The Agriculture Building houses the William R. Newman Library and the Faculty of Agriculture Advising Office. It is directly connected to the Plant Science building behind it, which contains labs, offices, and a greenhouse.

The west entrance when facing the Agriculture Building is its accessible entrance.

Fun fact! Built in 1915 and most recently added to in 1996, this building takes up a significant portion of Dafoe Road. Marking this building is a mosaic above its entrance, commissioned by the Faculty of Agriculture for its 50th anniversary in 1958.

The Agriculture Lecture Block is also one of UM's original buildings. It was recently renovated in 2018 to update the student lounge and student council office in it.

The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning is a support unit that offers UM teaching assistants, instructors, and post-doctoral fellows programs to develop their leadership and expertise and further the mission of teaching and learning at UM.

This building is the Active Living Centre, which is place for students and members to work out judgment-free! They offer exercise classes, workshops, and facilities such as a rock-climbing wall, an indoor track, and a pool for members to use.

The membership fee for students is included in the tuition, so you can visit the ALC front desk to learn more about how to activate your membership.

Frank Kennedy Centre is the home to UM's Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management. It also houses the Gold and Brown gyms, which are two of the major examination areas used during the final exam period.

Frank Kennedy Centre is the home to UM's Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management. It also houses the Gold and Brown gyms, which are two of the major examination areas used during the final exam period.

Extended Education is the office to approach if you are looking for non-degree/non-credit education or pathways to degree studies. Programs offered by the office can help one build on their diploma, degree, or experience.

Max Bell Centre is distinguished by the colourful blocks on its outside wall. It contains an indoor track and field and a year-round ice skating rink.

The Migizii Agamik or Bald Eagle Lounge houses the Indigenous Student Centre and offers a safe place for everyone to learn about different indigenous cultures. It also has study spots inside its student lounge and computer labs.

Fun fact! The Prairie Architects designed the Migizii Agamik - some of them are indigenous graduates from UM.

Investors Group Athletic Centre or IGAC occasionally hosts volleyball, basketball, and rhythmic gymnastic competitions. It is also where UM holds its annual Graduation Pow Wow and convocation ceremonies.

St. Paul's College is one of the many colleges at UM. It offers resources and experience for students on campus. One such resource is the Father Harold Drake Library where students can study. Their Campus Ministry also provides an open, caring, hospitable, and collaborative environment that supports the mission of the College. Lastly, the cafeteria in its basement, the Belltower Cafe, offers a wide range of breakfast and lunch selections.

Father Harold Drake Library is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Robert B. Schultz Theatre houses a major lecture theatre used by a variety of faculties. This is also often an examination room during final exam season. It is directly connected to St. John's College, which is located behind it.

St. John's College offers residences, parking spots, and lockers for its members. It also houses the Daily Bread Cafe.

The University Centre Parkade is one of the many visitor parking locations available on campus. It is directly connected to Helen Glass Centre and University Centre.

Visit umanitoba.ca/parking to learn more about parking services on campus.

The Education Building is dedicated in honour of the leading and future Manitoba Educators and houses UM's Faculty of Education.

Helen Glass Centre is the home of UM's Faculty of Nursing. This building is directly connected to the UMSU University Centre.

Fun fact! Nursing is the only faculty that belongs to the Faculty of Health Sciences that has its home at the Fort Garry Campus. The rest are located at the Bannatyne Campus.

John A. Russell Building is home to the Architecture/Fine Arts library as well as the Faculty of Architecture academic advisors.

Fun fact! This building was named after the faculty's first dean who was appointed in 1964 and who was instrumental in establishing the first 'stand-alone' school of architecture in Canada.

The Architecture/Fine Arts Library is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday.

The accessible entrance to the Russell Building is located at the bottom of the loading area behind the building.