The University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) hosted UMSU Forward: The 100th President’s Dinner on March 13 in the Marshall McLuhan Hall, featuring the unveiling of the union’s five-year strategic plan.
“Tonight, we gather not just to celebrate a milestone in the history of the University of Manitoba Students’ Union, but to honour the incredible work that has been done, and to look ahead at a future we are building together,” said Rachhvir Dhaliwal, UMSU vice-president university affairs.
The invite-only event, also advertised as a “special event celebrating UMSU’s 100th president,” was attended by outgoing and incoming UMSU board members, students-at-large, university administrators, as well as city councillors and Members of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly.
The event also featured a networking reception, a dinner buffet and a panel discussion, per the invitation.
Outgoing UMSU president Divya Sharma and incoming president Prabhnoor Singh, pictured with past UMSU presidents and other guests. Photo by Milan Lukes
Strategic plan features ‘short- and long-term goals’
UMSU president Divya Sharma presented the union’s strategic plan for 2025-30, which consisted of six “short- and long-term goals.”
“One of the biggest benchmarks that we have is an increased physical presence,” said Sharma.
The strategic plan mentioned interest in having more space for students to utilize at the Fort Garry campus through a “building owned by students for students.”
Another possibility included having an “UMSU owned and operated business within the Southwood Circle lands,” the site of the former golf course near campus that is being transformed into a multi-use residential community.
The plan also listed a “significant interest” in increasing presence at the Bannatyne campus, such as with a convenience store similar to GPA’s on the Fort Garry campus.
“Many students [indicated] that they do not believe that there is any UMSU presence” at the Bannatyne campus, according to the plan.
“The short-term goal would be to invest in a feasibility study of the proposed options and then let the results of that study inform any longer term goals.”
Other goals included having a new UMSU staff position to “support UMSU officers, board members, volunteers and community representatives,” and conducting a marketing campaign to raise awareness to the student community on “what UMSU is and what it does.”
The strategic plan also called for a review of UMSU programs to assess impact and sustainability, and for the creation of an app to assist students locate amenities and classrooms on campus.
The last goal included ways for UMSU to generate new revenue.
“There is an interest in creating an UMSU lottery system,” said Sharma. “We want to create some sort of a monthly 50-50 draw that would support UMSU programming.”
“By creating benchmarks, that sets us up for success,” she said.
UMSU president Divya Sharma presented a summary of the UMSU Strategic Plan 2025-2030 at the President’s Dinner. Photo by Milan Lukes
Planning started last summer
Dhaliwal, who also served as the co-chair of the UMSU strategic planning working group alongside vice-president finance and operations Carolyn Wang, said that the working group was formed in the summer of 2024.
UMSU Motion 0616, which called for the establishment of a working group until March 2025 that is “dedicated to strategic planning,” was passed at the Aug. 14 board of directors meeting.
The motion also noted that UMSU created a strategic plan in 2018.
Dhaliwal said that the working group began bi-weekly meetings in the fall of 2024 to “shape the road map that will guide UMSU forward.”
“A critical aspect of the strategic planning process was stakeholder engagement, ensuring that students and key stakeholders have their voices heard,” she said.
Dhaliwal stated that input was gathered from a student survey, the UMSU board of directors, UMSU board of trustees and UMSU staff.
“Two action planning days” were also organized, she said.
UMSU Act took effect 50 years ago, says Perrin
The panel discussion was led by Sharma and featured 56th UMSU president John Perrin (1973-74) and 94th UMSU president Tanjit Nagra (2016-18), as well as UMSU general manager Thomas Blumer.
UMSU president Divya Sharma, past UMSU presidents John Perrin and Tanjit Nagra, and UMSU general manager Thomas Blumer took part in a panel discussion. Photo by Milan Lukes
Perrin was responsible along with others for devising the University of Manitoba Students’ Union Act — provincial legislation that outlines the purpose and powers of the union, amongst other criteria.
“I wanted UMSU to become more disciplined and effective on behalf of the students. To be more of an adult organization, able to operate businesses that could benefit students, to take responsibility for its own affairs and to be taken seriously,” stated Perrin during the panel discussion.
“That’s really the genesis of the idea, we wanted UMSU to stand on its own two feet.”
He added that the Act received royal assent and was enacted “exactly 50 years ago this year.”
UMSU is the only student union in Canada operating under its own legislative act, according to Dhaliwal.
Sharma, who did not seek re-election in the recent UMSU general election, stated that the students’ union turned 106 years old this week.
To view the full UMSU Strategic Plan 2025-2030, visit themanitoban.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/UMSU_strategic_plan.pdf
