Beginning each convocation ceremony with an Honour Song is a sign of respect and recognition of Indigenous Peoples as caretakers of this land. It recognizes our collective identities, cultures and languages, and the ongoing commitment of the university to Reconciliation. This song acknowledges the significant accomplishments of the graduates’ journeys as well as their transition into the next stages in their lives.

In the fall of 2022, in consultation with members of the Indigenous community at UM and a committee led by Catherine Cook, former Vice-President (Indigenous), new academic regalia were commissioned for the Chancellor and the President. The new robe designs honour the First Peoples of these lands, demonstrating UM’s commitment to Reconciliation and supporting a graduation experience that feels more welcoming for Indigenous students.

Jackie Traverse, a UM alum and Ojibway woman from Lake St. Martin First Nation, developed the designs in partnership with beader Shannon Denney-Edwards, a Canadian of Métis, French and Islandic descent, and robe fabricator Beverli Barnes.

The robes are constructed of black silk and employ gold piping as a nod to the design the President and Chancellor have worn to date, which were modeled after the University of Oxford’s academic dress. On these re-imagined gowns, motifs have been applied through a combination of embroidery and traditional beading using gold accents. Ms. Traverse explains how each aspect has a deeper meaning:

“The crocuses represent Manitoba and give us our sense of place. The use of white, yellow, black and red represents the four nations. The use of red and orange represent the missing Indigenous women and children. The roots symbolize our connections to this institution and to one another.”

The robes were worn for the first time at Spring Convocation 2023.

Learn more on UM Today

The colourful ensemble of gown, hood (worn over the shoulders) and cap worn by graduands and members of the academic procession has deep historical roots. Most universities and colleges in Canada, including the University of Manitoba, follow the British tradition of academic dress. 

There are three types of gowns at the University of Manitoba: the Bachelor’s and Master’s gowns are black; the Doctor of Philosophy gown is black with red velvet bars on the sleeves and front panels; and the Honorary Doctor’s gown is scarlet. Stoles can be worn over gowns and the colour of each hood lining signifies the degree to be presented to the graduand.

View the academic dress chart to learn more, including what each colour and stole pattern represents.

Honorary degrees (Scarlet exterior)

PhD degrees (black exterior with red bands and panel)

Masters degrees (black exterior)

Undergraduate degrees (black exterior with borg edging)

Certificates and diplomas

The focal point of the stage decorations at convocation ceremonies of the University of Manitoba has traditionally been a banner 8-feet wide and 13-feet long which incorporates the university crest.

The crest of the university is described in heraldic terms as: A quartered oval within bordure or inscribed as "Universitas Manitobensis 1877" sable, ensigned with the Imperial Crown.

Quarterings

Dexter Chief: Parted per fess: upper argent, cross gules surmounted by crown or, lined with the first: lower vert buffalo statant proper (being the arms of the Province of Manitoba).

Dexter Base: Argent, Saint John sejant, mantled sanguine, halo or, vested of the first, with eagle rising proper: chief, sky azure with light ray or, base vert (being the arms of St. John’s College, a charter affiliate).

Sinister Chief: Parted per fess: upper gules, book or pages argent, lower argent, two fleurs-de-lys or above a branch slipped of three maple leaves vert, stemmed proper (being the arms of St. Boniface College, a charter affiliate).

Sinister Base: Argent, a branch slipped of three grape leaves vert, stemmed proper, fructed purpure, surmounted by a barrulet or bearing motto “Floreat” of the first, edged sable (being the arms of Manitoba College, a charter affiliate).

Argent: silver coloured

Azure: blue

Barrulet: small bar or band

Base: lower part of the field of the coat of arms or shield

Bordure: a border surrounding the shield

Chief: area one-third of the width of the shield occupying the upper section of the field

Dexter: right side of the shield from the perspective of an individual holding it; left side of the shield from the perspective of the viewer

Fructed: depicted bearing fruit

Gules: bright red

Or: gold coloured

Parted per fess: partitioned by means of a horizontal line across the field

Proper: true or Natural colour

Purpure: purple

Quarterings: coats of arms combined on a shield

Sable: black

Sanguine: mulberry or dark red

Sejant: sitting

Sinister: left side of the shield from the perspective of an individual holding it; right side of the shield from the perspective of the viewer

Statant: standing on four feet, facing left

Vert: emerald green

Chancellor
Anne Mahon, B.H.Ecol.

Chair of the Board of Governors
Lynette Magnus, B.Comm (Hons.), CPA, CA

Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors
Kimberly Osiowy, BSc (CE), MSc

President and Vice-Chancellor
Michael Benarroch, PhD

Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
Diane Hiebert-Murphy, PhD

Vice-President (Administration)
Naomi Andrew BA(Advanced), LLB

Vice-President (Research and International)
B. Mario Pinto, BSc, PhD, FRSC

Vice-President (External)
Vanessa Koldingnes, MBA

Vice-President (Indigenous)
Angie Bruce, MBA

University Secretary
Jeffrey M. Leclerc, BEd, MEd, C. Dir.

Vice-Provosts

• Peter Nickerson, MD, FRCPC, FCAHS
• Lisa O’Hara, BA, MLIS
• Tracey Peter, PhD
• Laurie Schnarr, MA
• Greg Smith, PhD
• Mark Torchia, MSc, PhD
• Tina Chen, PhD

Associate Vice-Presidents

• Christine Cyr, BA
• Raman Dhaliwal, BComm (Hons.)
• Annemieke Farenhorst, PhD
• Stephanie Levene, MBA
• Hans-Joachim Wieden, PhD
• Susan Mainella, MAL

Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer
Mike Emslie, BComm (Hons.), CA, CPA, CIA, CISA

Chief Information Officer
Mario Lebar, BA, LLB, MBA

University Librarian
Lisa O’Hara, BA, MLIS