What's open and closed at UM during Winter Break
What's open, what's closed
General closures
All UM campuses are generally closed beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2024, 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. 20, 2024.
Information Systems Technology
The IST Service Desk will close Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 at 6 p.m. and will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 2, 2025. If you require urgent support or to report a major system outage during this period, call 204-474-8600 and press 2. If your call is not urgent and you would like to leave a message for the Service Desk, please press 1 or email servicedesk@umanitoba.ca. All voice and email messages will be responded to when our offices re-open in January.
Dining services
Fresh Food Company will remain open from Dec 21 to Jan 1, 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 2.
Campo will be closed from Dec 21 to Jan 5, reopening Jan 6.
Libraries
The Dafoe and Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Libraries will be open until 5 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2024 to provide study space for exams happening on campus. After that, all Libraries will be closed during the holiday break from Dec. 21, 2024 and reopening on Jan. 2, 2025.
The St John’s College 24/7 study space will be open until 4:30pm on December 20th. This space will be closed after that time and will open with regular business hours on January 2nd.
Student residences
Student Residences will remain open during Winter Break. This includes Arthur Mauro, Mary Speechly, University College, and Pembina Hall residences. During this time, approximately 400 students will remain in residence, but University services and staff are limited.
Residence security staff remain on duty, 24 hours a day from Dec 21st to Jan 1st 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 27, 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.
Recreation facilities
The Active Living Centre, Frank Kennedy Centre, Joyce Fromson Pool and Joe Doupe Recreation Centre Bannatyne campus will remain open to the public during the holiday break, per the following days and hours:
- Dec 21 to Dec 23: Open 8:00am-8:00pm
- Dec 24 and Dec 25: Closed
- Dec 26 to Dec 30: Open 8:00am-8:00 pm
- Dec 31 and Jan 1: Closed
All recreation facilities will resume regular hours on Jan. 2.
University Centre
University Centre (including the bookstore) will be closed Dec 21, 2024 and will re-open on Jan 2, 2025.
Preparing spaces for the break
With facilities closing and limited staff available on campus, students, staff and faculty should prepare themselves accordingly.
Lock up and secure your space
Ensure doors and offices are locked over the holiday closure. Door opening requests over the holidays should be sent to Security Services by December 18, 2024. 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
Security, safety and emergencies
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
Snow clearing
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.
Campus access and transit during break
If you have special access requirements relating to animal care, accessibility, research projects/equipment, this needs to be requested prior to Dec. 20, 2024. 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 21, 2024 to January 2, 2025.
Operations and Maintenance service reminders
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.