History professor Gerry Bowler, a recognized Christmas expert and author of the popular book Santa Claus: A Biography, is currently featured in a series of Christmas-themed videos that can be found on the University of Manitoba’s YouTube channel (youtube.com/umanitoba).
Bowler discusses the origin of Santa’s iconic image and whether Coca-Cola had anything to do with it. […]

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Ever wonder why we dress up in costumes on Halloween? Or where the tradition of giving out treats came from? How about pumpkin carving, what’s up with that?
History professor Gerry Bowler, who researches the history and traditions behind holidays such as Christmas and Halloween, answers those questions in two new videos posted to our YouTube […]

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Distinguished Professors Recognized at Fall Convocation
The title Distinguished Professor is conferred by the University of Manitoba on academic staff members who have demonstrated outstanding distinction in research, scholarship, creative endeavours, professional service and teaching. Up to three people may receive this honour each year, and not more than 20 professors may hold the title […]

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This week, historians from across Canada will gather in St. John’s College to discuss what it means to live on the prairies.
In 2008, a group of historians at the University of Alberta and Athabasca University revived the traveling, bi-annual Western Canadian Studies Conferences of the 1970s and 80s. The University of Manitoba’s St John’s College […]

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The University of Manitoba’s Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture is pleased to announce the arrival of Ignatius Mabasa, its new Writer/Storyteller-in-Residence. Mabasa will hold the position through December 2010.
A poet, novelist and storyteller from Zimbabwe, Mabasa will visit classes, mentor writers and storytellers, and give several performances throughout the fall term. In addition […]

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Three University of Manitoba professors have been elected to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), the country’s most esteemed association of scholars and scientists, and one has been declared an award winner.

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Two students in the department of English, Film & Theatre have been given scholarships to create some literary eeriness. One is developing a Canadian Gothic novel and the other is dead-set on zombies and robots.
The C. D. Howe Memorial Foundation Fellowships in Creative Writing and Oral Culture fund graduate students working in the areas of […]

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