The University of Manitoba campuses and research spaces are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Dene and Inuit, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2
Annual Report 2024-2025
The 2024-2025 year has been one of change. With the implementation of our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan: Building Healthy Communities, faculty and staff continue to find ways to achieve the goals we've set out for ourselves.
Change can sometimes be a challenge, but I am proud of the passion with which everyone, at all levels throughout the faculty, has embraced our new plan and committed to this endeavour.
Douglas Brown, PhD
Professor and Dean
Students
Student-athletes
Faculty and coaches
Full-time staff
Renovating the Frank Kennedy Centre faculty offices was a long, complex and exciting undertaking. Phase one began in 2024 and the project was completed in January 2026. The new office welcomes faculty, staff and students into a space inviting new ideas and shared community.
In 2024, the University of Manitoba began the process of refreshing the Bisons brand to align with the university’s imagery while continuing to reflect the strength, pride, and legacy that generations of student-athletes, coaches, and alumni have helped build.
Over the past year, the dialogue and collaboration that occurred at the guiding circle revealed how complex defining acts of reconciliation are at an institutional level. We are committed to using the UM’s Truth and Reconciliation Framework to inform how we fulfill our mission and strategic priorities as individuals and as an organization.
Faculty members in FKRM bring a collaborative and integrative approach to their roles. They provide undergraduate and graduate students with rich experiences and opportunities to develop through their own educational journeys, helping to improve communities across the globe.
Category | Total |
Assistant professor | 7 |
Associate professor | 7 |
Professor | 7 |
Senior instructor | 5 |
Senior instructor I | 5 |
Instructor I | 4 |
Total | 39 |
Guided by principles of Reconciliation and a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, FKRM's undergraduate programs are driving forward the study and practice of physical activity, sport and leisure.
Degree program | Total registered students | Direct entry students | Advanced entry |
| Bachelor of Kinesiology | 310 | 549 | 107 |
| Bachelor of Kinesiology - Athletic Therapy | 59 | - | 24 |
| Bachelor of Physical Education | 70 | 6 | 10 |
| Bachelor of Recreation and Community Development | 82 | 2 | 33 |
Degree program | Direct entry | Advanced entry |
| Bachelor of Kinesiology | 49 | 58 |
| Bachelor of Kinesiology - Athletic Therapy | - | 24 |
| Bachelor of Physical Education | 6 | 10 |
| Bachelor of Recreation and Community Development | 2 | 33 |
Degree program | Graduates |
| Bachelor of Kinesiology | 72 |
| Bachelor of Kinesiology - Athletic Therapy | 16 |
| Bachelor of Physical Education | 23 |
| Bachelor of Recreation and Community Development | 22 |
FKRM's graduate programs provide students with a diverse range of fundamental, theoretical and applied research experiences across fields health, leisure and human performance to find ways to help our communities live healthier lives.
Degree program | Total students | Graduates |
| Master's of Science | 22 | 9 |
| Master's of Arts | 10 | 5 |
| Applied Health Sciences PhD | 29 | 1 |
FKRM is the proud home of world-leading researchers studying physical activity, human movement, sport and leisure through a variety of lenses. Our research helps improve lives through the pursuit of both physical and mental well-being for individuals and communities.
Category | Amount |
| Funding dollars | $6.4 million |
| Tri-Council grants | $1.05 million |
| Internal grants | $37,926 |
| Post Doctoral Fellowships | $220,916 |
| Total | $8.15 million |
Category | Number of students | Funding |
| Undergraduate Research Awards | 20 | $140,000 |
| CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master (CGS-M) | 4 | $70,000 |
| NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master | 1 | $17,500 |
| Total | 20 | $227,500 |
Bison Sports' mission is to provide high performance competitive programs that foster personal growth and leadership through the pursuit of athletic and academic excellence, and community engagement.
Sports | Roster | Academic All-Canadians | Scholarships and funding | Win/Loss | Head Coach |
| Basketball (M) | 17 | 5 | $60,560 | 80 | Kirby Schepp |
| Basketball (W) | 15 | 9 | $91,700 | 35 | Michelle Sung |
| Football (M) | 94 (1 female) | 12 | $231,280 | 87.5 | Brian Dobie |
| Golf (M) | 8 | 4 | $21,550 | Not applicable | Devon Schade* |
| Hockey (M) | 28 | 14 | $99,510 | 28.6 | Gordon Burnett |
| Hockey (W) | 26 | 9 | $96,940 | 53.6 | Jordyn Zacharias** |
| Soccer (W) | 28 | 10 | $102,030 | 39.3 | Vanessa Martinez Lagunas |
| Swimming (M) | 14 | 3 | $14,500 | Not applicable | Vlastimil Cerny |
| Swimming (W) | 8 | 5 | $14,500 | Not applicable | Vlastimil Cerny |
| Track and Field and cross country (M) | 57 | 31 | $53,900 | Not applicable | Claude Berube |
| Track and Field and cross country (W) | 57 | 28 | $45,250 | Not applicable | Claude Berube |
| Volleyball (M) | 20 | 7 | $122,610 | 45 | Arnd Ludwig |
| Volleyball (W) | 20 | 9 | $102,700 | 35 | Ken Bentley |
* seasonal coach
** Intirim head coach
Mini U has been a trusted provider of children's programs for over 40 years. Their programs offer children and youth the opportunity to discover new passions and develop essential skills, ensuring a memorable and impactful experience that lasts far beyond the summer months.
Category | Summer | *Mini U and | *Aquatics |
| Supervisors | 145 | 2 | 2 |
| Leaders | 12 | 29 | 55 |
| Total | 157 | 31 | 57 |
The Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management operates more than one million square feet of indoor and outdoor facilities on UM's Fort Garry Campus. Learn more about what our facilities have to offer.
Project | Completion |
| FKC renovation | January 2026 |
| Squash court renovations | March 2026 |
| FKC classroom renovations Rooms 133 and 136 | December 2025 |
| Joe Doupe Recreation Centre washroom renovations | November 2025 |
| Max Bell Centre mechanical upgrades | September 2024 |
Recreation Services provides membership and recreational programming opportunities for the university community and the general public at both Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses.
Category | Active memberships |
| Students | 18,655 |
| Staff | 667 |
| Alumni | 743 |
| Community | 697 |
| Total | 20,762 |
In thousands
Category | Budget | Year-end actuals | Varianace |
| Direct revenue | 14,513 | 16,267 | 1,754 |
Direct expenses Salaries, benefits and pay levy Non-salary expenditures | 15,181 5,878 | 15,434 6,473 | -253 -596 |
| Total direct expenses | 21,058 | 21,907 | -849 |
| Fund transfers | -2,204 | -2,995 | 791 |
Research Day is the annual celebration of the cutting-edge research happening within the faculty and its impact on the global community. Each year features expert lead panels letting guests hear from and speak with the researchers at the heart of it all.
2024's event welcomed UBC Okanagan’s Dr. Heather Gainforth as the keynote speaker. Gainforth says events like Research Day were one of her favourite things about her graduate experience.
“It’s a special moment where you go across disciplines and share what everybody’s been working on,” Gainforth says. “It’s nice to have these moments that milestone your degree.”
The event lets undergraduate, graduate and PhD students share their research through the annual poster competition.
Antonina Kandiurin, a Bachelor of Kinesiology-Athletic Therapy grad, says finding out she was accepted into the Max Rady College of Medicine was a bittersweet and overwhelming experience. Kandiurin says one of the driving forces behind her desire to get into medicine is seeing her grandmother, other family members, and the community struggle in the healthcare system.
“I think it’s important for me to acknowledge those family members who have come before me and put me in place and have given me the privilege to make change for other people.”
Ten years ago the Active Living Centre (ALC) opened its doors for the first time. A new icon on UM’s Fort Garry campus, the building was designed to be “extroverted, communicative and engaging.” Now, a decade later, the building’s legacy extends far beyond its award-winning architecture.
FKRM has focused on the ALC as a cornerstone in its mission to build healthy communities. The facility hosts special events, research labs and fitness spaces that are accessible to everyone.
The Mini U leadership team emphasizes leadership development amongst its staff at all levels. A focus of their training for staff and supervisors, Mini U's efforts to build and empower conscientious leaders in the community align with priority four of the 2024-2027 FKRM Strategic Plan.
Mini U Associate Director Ashley Gagnon says their goal is to provide staff with the tools and experience to become leaders in any field they choose.
Throughout the year, Bisons student-athletes represented Bisons Sports and FKRM as volunteers at 18 events across the province. This included CancerCare Manitoba's Challenge for Life walk, Down Syndrome Society walk, CanU Sports Day and more.
Student-athletes led initiatives like Bisons Book Buddies, CanU holiday hampers and stem cell drives.
The Bisons Against Bullying program visited 22 classes across the city to discuss the harms of bullying. Athletes spoke with students about modern challenges in the classroom, including cyberbullying and the struggles of being a new student.
This year Mini U was accredited by the Manitoba Camping Association (MCA), which develops and maintains standards for organized camping in Manitoba. Through the standards and accreditation program, MCA helps the general public identify safe, healthy and well-run camps.
The accreditation recognizes Mini U's commitment to help develop innovative leaders, providing stimulating, quality programs for children and youth that reflect the values of inclusiveness, fair play and healthy development.
Part of our commitment to positioning the faculty as campus leaders in health and wellness, Sneaker Day is an annual lunch hour event allowing staff and faculty from across the university to reconnect, enjoy some fresh air, and embrace an active lifestyle.
In 2024, the event welcomed over 300 participants preregistered from across campus to participate. The Office of the Vice-President (Administration) and the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management co-sponsor the event.
Dr. Stephanie Chesser was interviewed by The Free Press for their article, A grey area: The challenges of long-term care in Manitoba. Chesser says recreation is an essential program for long-term care residents.
“Recreation, oftentimes, is overlooked in terms of hiring and how important it is to be appropriately staffed and appropriately resourced, ” says Chesser, an associate professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management.
A diverse recreation spread is key to address loneliness, facilitate fun, and maintain participants’ cognitive health and functioning, says Chesser.
Chesser's research explores the intersection of leisure, aging, health and well-being, with a particular interest in ways we can create more inclusive communities for people to live, work, study and recreate in.
Bisons were well represented at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Former student-athlete Kelsey Wog made her second Olympic appearance as part of the Canadian swim team, competing in the 200-metre breaststroke.
Meanwhile, Bisons women's basketball head coach Michelle Sung lead Canada’s senior women’s wheelchair basketball national team as head coach.
Dr. Fabiana Turelli, an assistant professor with the faculty, travelled to Puebla, Mexico, in November 2024 to meet with other researchers and share her work at the first international meeting of the Red de Mujeres Científicas (Women’s Research Network).
“I am very happy to have been selected,” says Turelli. “It’s an opportunity for many of us to celebrate our work and being together in person for the first time.”
Turelli has been a guest editor with the Red de Mujeres Científicas and helped develop the fledgling organization. The network promotes, stimulates and supports women’s visible participation in research across a broad spectrum.
Adam Toffan, the Joe Doupe Recreation Centre supervisor, says Recreation Services' impact extends beyond the gym and the bond between members and staff have a larger impact beyond physical health and well-being.
Toffan says Recreation Services' goal is to build healthier communities by fostering physical, mental and emotional well-being for their members. They aim to create spaces where individuals can grow and develop into healthier, more capable and well-rounded people.
“We want to have a welcoming and inclusive community where people feel free to be themselves,” says Toffan. “We get to work with people through their journeys and get to know their stories. We want their experience to make them feel centred and heard.”
Dr. Edgar Galeano is the latest recipient of the Ruth Asper Scholarship in Kinesiology and Recreation Management, which helps support graduate student research and training within the faculty. Galeano says receiving the award is not just an honour, but a call to action.
Galeano is being advised by Dr. Rodrigo Villar, an assistant professor and primary investigator of the Cardiorespiratory and Physiology of Exercise Research Lab. Galeano says his focus is on exploring how progressive strength training can affect or counteract the frailty process that comes with age.
The Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management is building
healthy communities by bringing together leaders and learners to share
their knowledge to improve the quality of life for communities worldwide.
Our faculty, staff and students work side-by-side, furthering our understanding of physical and mental well-being for individuals and communities. More than just a faculty, FKRM is a place to study what moves you and how you can move others.
