All UM campuses are generally closed beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, 2025, though some services will remain open, noted in sections below.

Please inform the Operations and Maintenance customer service desk at 204-474-6281 of any special access requirements relating to animal care, accessibility, research projects or equipment prior to Dec. 23, 2025.

The IST Service Desk will close Friday, Dec. 23, 2025 at 6 p.m. and will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2026. You can submit a ticket, and find helpful information on the IST Service Catalogue, accessible from the IST website, umanitoba.ca/ist. If you would like to leave a message for the Service Desk, please send an email to servicedesk@umanitoba.ca.  All inquiries will be responded to when our offices re-open in January. To report a major system outage, call 204-474-8600 and press 2.

Fresh Food Company will remain open from Dec 24 to Jan 4, from 5 p.m. to 7.pm. Staff will be on site from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. during this period, and regular hours will resume on Jan 5.

Campo will be closed from Dec 24 to Jan 4, reopening Jan 5. 

The Dafoe Library and NJM Library will be open until 5 p.m., all other libraries are open to 4:30pm on Dec. 23, 2025 to provide study space for exams happening on campus. After that, all Libraries will be closed during the holiday break from Dec. 24, 2025 and reopening on Jan. 5, 2026.
 

Student Residences will remain open during Winter Break. This includes Arthur Mauro, Mary Speechly, University College, and Pembina Hall residences. During this time, approximately 325 students will remain in residence, but University services and staff are limited.

Residence security staff remain on duty, 24 hours a day from Dec 24 to Jan 4 inclusive and the AVM customer service desk will be staffed most days for limited daytime hours.  

Caretaking staff will be present 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily throughout the break ensuring general cleanliness. Additional caretaking will be present on December 29, 30 and 31 to complete room turnover.

The Fresh Food Company will also be open daily from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for dinner service. Several Dining Services staff will be present to accommodate meals for residents staying over the break.

The Active Living Centre, Frank Kennedy Centre, Joyce Fromson Pool and Joe Doupe Recreation Centre at Bannatyne campus will remain open to the public during the holiday break, per the following days and hours:

• Dec 24 and Dec 25: Closed
• Dec 26 to Dec 30: Open 8:00am-8:00pm
• Dec 31 and Jan 1: Closed
• Jan 2 to Jan 4: Opened 8:am-8:00pm

All recreation facilities will resume regular hours on Jan 5.

University Centre (including the bookstore) will be closed Dec 24, 2025 and will re-open on Jan 5, 2026.

Ensure doors and offices are locked over the holiday closure. Door opening requests over the holidays should be sent to Security Services by December 19, 2025. These requests should be approved in advance by the Dean/Director or Unit Head.

All departments should ensure that contact information on lab doors and critical pieces of equipment is up to date. Having accurate contact information for someone who will be available during the break is vital in the event of equipment failure.

Other preparations to consider include:

• Turning off all lights and computers
• Closing all windows before leaving offices, labs, and classrooms
• Making sure all taps and faucets are in the closed or off position
• Shutting down any unnecessary lab equipment
• Securing and store all chemicals in a safe manner
• Unplugging all small appliances and space heaters
• Unplugging all extension cords

University Security Services personnel are onsite 24/7 during the holiday break.  

Should a Safety, Security or Building emergency arise, please call any of the following:

• 204-474-9341 (UM Security Services emergency line)
• 555 from university land lines
• #555 from Rogers and Bell MTS cell phone customers
• or 911 for police, fire or ambulance  

The Safe Walk program will be available over the holiday break. To request a Safe Walk:  

• Bannatyne Campus: 204-789-3330
• Fort Garry Campus: 204-474-9312

During the closure, campus snow clearing needs will be assessed by Operations and Maintenance. Fire lanes, emergency access routes, Winnipeg Transit routes, loading docks and entrances at animal holding facilities, and Smart Park will be cleared.

All other locations, including parking lots and entrances to buildings will be assessed if snowfall occurs unless arrangements have been made with Operations and Maintenance.

If you have special access requirements relating to animal care, accessibility, research projects/equipment, this needs to be requested prior to Dec. 23, 2025. Please inform the Customer Service Desk, Operations and Maintenance at 204-474-6281.  

The University Shuttle at Fort Garry Campus will not be operating December 24, 2025 to January 4, 2026.

Please be advised that there will be no routine caretaking, trades, general grounds keeping or delivery/loading dock services.  Excluding the above-mentioned facilities, all other buildings will be locked with limited access during the holiday break.

Central Energy Plant (Fort Garry campus) and Power Engineers (Bannatyne campus) will be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the holiday closure. Emergencies can happen during the holiday break. Therefore, please ensure your building single point of contacts are updated and available during the holiday break.  

Elevators will remain functional in operational buildings. All passenger elevators are equipped with an emergency telephone and University Security Services are onsite during the holiday break.