Distinguished Visiting Lecturer Program

Nominations are considered by an advisory committee, which takes into consideration the distinction of the proposed visitors, the length and type of visit proposed, the extent of support that has been secured from other funding sources, and the specific engagement opportunities that the organizers are planning. Specifically:

• The main criterion will be the distinction of the nominee, which will be assessed on the breadth and depth of the nominee’s contributions and esteem within their respective field.
• A typical visit is expected to last three to five days, though alternate durations will be considered.
• Priority will be given to nominations for visiting lecturers who will give at least one lecture that is of wide interest to the university, as well as free and open to the public. It is expected that while the visiting lecturers are at the university they will conduct seminars or workshops for faculty, staff, and students and make themselves available for consultation.
• Units submitting nominations are expected to be able to provide substantial funding support either from their own budget or in partnership with other units. The Distinguished Visiting Lecturer Fund typically is not offered in an amount exceeding 50% of the cost of the visit.
• Best efforts will be made to respond to nominations that, when taken together, identify candidates in the wide variety of disciplines reflected throughout the university.
• While it may have to reconsider the matter in light of the nominations it receives, the advisory committee anticipates the amount of each award would support an honorarium of up to $500.00 per diem, depending on the length of stay, in addition to travel and accommodation expenses involved in the visit. 

A maximum of $15,000.00 is made available every fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) to provide partial financial support for units’ nominations. It is expected that four to six visits will be approved each year.

If a nomination is approved, notification of approval will include information on the amount of the grant to be provided. In virtually all cases, cost‐sharing will be a required element of proposals, though in exceptional circumstances this requirement may be waived. Distinguished Visiting Lecturer Program Funding normally shall not exceed 50% of the cost of a proposed visit.

Upon approval, the nominator will be asked to identify a FOAP and the approved amount will be transferred. The department hosting the visitor is expected to directly pay all expenses relating to the visit. Within 30 days of the conclusion of a visit, a copy of the final expenditures should be sent to the Office of the President, 200 Administration Building.

The nominating unit shall be responsible for all elements of organizing the approved visit. This includes ensuring that interested groups (i.e. staff, students in the discipline and related areas, professional groups, and community groups) are informed of the visit and encouraged to attend the public lecture.

Publicity for the visit should be coordinated through the Marketing Communications Office. Time should be reserved in the visit for media interviews, in the event that members of the media are interested in the visitor and their discipline.

Reference to sponsorship from the Distinguished Visiting Lecture Fund should appear in all printed materials related to the visit. The following may be used:

• A University of Manitoba Distinguished Visiting Lecturer
• Distinguished Visiting Lecturer
• The Distinguished Visiting Lecturer Program
• The Distinguished Visiting Lecture Fund

If the Distinguished Visiting Lecturer is not a resident of Canada, a 15% withholding tax must be deducted from the visitor's honorarium.

However, if the visit to Canada is not for a prolonged period of time, it may be possible for this withholding tax to be reduced to nil if the following steps are taken in a timely fashion:

1. Non‐Resident Tax Waiver Certificate Application (Regulation 105) should be sent to the non‐resident with a letter of offer.
2. Waiver applications must be submitted to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) no later than 30 days before the period of service begins or 30 days before the initial payment for the related services. It is recommended that all requests be submitted through My Account, My Business Account or Represent a Client, or sent by fax to 1-833-329-1160 (Canada and U.S.) or 418-566-0323 (outside Canada and U.S.).
3. A copy of the waiver received from CRA must be included with invoices. If the university does not receive the waiver, the university will have no option but to deduct to deduct the 15% non‐resident tax at source.

• Download a copy of the Non-Resident Tax Waiver Certification Application 
• Learn more about withholding tax on the CRA's website

Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire

Sponsored by the Richardson Foundation, and hosted by the Arthur V. Mauro Institute for Peace & Justice at St. Paul's College, the Distinguished Visiting Lecturer Program was proud to provide support for the 2023 Sol Kanee Lecture Series, which feature distinguished leaders in the field of peace and justice. On Thursday, November 9, 2023, we welcomed Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire to campus to discuss Peace, Faith, and Humanity in Times of Crisis.

Learn more about the Sol Kanee Lecture Series here.

Hosted by the Faculty of Social Work, Dr. Simcock was welcomed to UM as a Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in July 2023. 

Dr. Peter Simcock is Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Birmingham City University, United Kingdom. He has an academic background in law, social work, and gerontology, and has worked in social work education for over ten years. Prior to his academic career, Peter was a social worker, working predominantly in the physical and sensory disability field. Widely published in the field of deafblindness, he is also co-author of the Polity published text ‘Social Work and Disability’  and more recently published a chapter on disability in the text ‘Human Rights and Social Justice. Key Issues and Vulnerable Populations’ edited by Prof. Carole Cox and Prof. Tina Maschi.

Mr. Robert Baines is the President and CEO of the NATO Association of Canada, where he is focused on communicating the importance of NATO and the international-rules based order to Canadians. With support from the Distinguished Visiting Lecture Program, Mr. Baines delivered The Paul Buteux Memorial Lecture as part of the 39th annual J.W. Dafoe Political Studies Students' Conference.

Mr. Baines' lecture, Alliances in a New Age: Celebrating 75 Years of NATO, will was held on Thursday, January 31, 2024.

Dr. Bryan Palmer is Professor Emeritus of Canadian Studies at Trent University and a former Tier 1 Canada Research Chair. He has published widely on the history of capitalism, class, labour, and left politics. His work has been translated into multiple languages. Dr. Palmer has also been instrumental in building the field of labour and working-class history, both through his own work and his over 30 year stewardship of the journal Labour/Le Travail.  

The Labour Studies Program hosted Dr. Palmer at UM from Tuesday, January 30, 2024 to Thursday, February 2, 2024 to discuss Canadian labour and working-class history.