More Student Housing Outside University of Manitoba

Of the 15 major universities across the country with medical schools, the University of Manitoba has the fewest student housing option of any of those listed. The Fort Garry campus even up to the 1980s was a far into the suburbs as possible and even then it was light on residential units. In the 1980s, the University of Winnipeg closed down all their student housing. Brandon University and Canadian Mennonite University have been better for housing than the two biggest campuses in Manitoba.

Pembina Hall was added to the University of Manitoba to make way for major work to expand academic teaching space into Tache Hall. It was imperative for the university to build housing to unlock donation money that came in. That will has died off waiting for the next capital campaign. It has only been private investors who have filled the void and it has taken a while for these projects to get done.

The Toronto-based Campus Suites began the process eight years ago and acquired land and began to build the first of two 16 storey mixed use towers across from the University of Manitoba. At the southwest corner of Pembina and Bison Drive, the first tower began to take shape around 2017. A spectacular fire just as it reached the top floor delayed the project but eventually the ARC was completed. It made for a fairly bold skyline just at the curve on Pembina Highway was in front of the university.

The purpose-built student residence is the tallest apartment in front of the U of M but was not the only one built over the the previous years. Surrounding and bordering the Real Canadian Superstore are a series of apartments from 4 to 7 storeys. Students have moved into these apartments although they are not designed for them in the way the ARC has been. Part of the student housing is amenities such as furnished apartments as well as price point are a strong draw for U of M students, especially international students.

Over the last several years, the Chinese population along Pembina has grown substantially. The university has been one of the main reasons. With 368 units and 570 beds, the ARC represents a good chunk of new student housing within walking distance of the campus. The 2023 enrollment at U of M was over 30,000 with around 7,000 international students, a 2.9% increase. Were it not for the private apartments, the university would be in no less a jam than some others across the country.

The curved building of the ARC has a Little Pizza Heaven and a dentist office in it. And just open now is Meltwich. The mixed development is being seen in more and more apartments. The first floors of many places are often the least desirable for renters/owners, especially women. It would appear that some shops and restaurants are giving the first floors a chance.

The Arc now has about 70% student residents living there. It was so successful that Align, the second phase 16 storey tower 397 units and 554 beds will be ready just as school starts. A Dairy Queen and a Subaru dealership occupied the spot the two towers are on. A rail track runs behinds the buildings. The two towers share a similar colour scheme and are only slightly set back from the sidewalk. 

The 16 floors of total space are not the only apartments that have gone up in the last little while near the University of Manitoba. As mentioned, there are three building sites called Bison Pointe already completed by the Superstore. A number of condos and apartments have gone up on Chancellor Drive and further down Pembina Highway. The apartments further down are also 15 and 16 storeys.

It is the University of Manitoba that sits on the largest chunk of land. Their present footprint plus the former Southwood golf course represent one of the biggest opportunities of providing housing to the 30,000 students and growing Fort Garry area. It has been a painfully slow process and pretty much all concerned hope the first of a number of projects are announced. The biggest university can score a big advantage over others in Canada if nearby and affordable housing is available for students, faculty and others in the area. 

Protests Mount at Campuses in U.S. While Canadian Universities Largely Quiet

Perhaps it is that the university year is mostly coming to a close in Canada but, by and large, campuses in Canada have mostly been quiet in regards to protests on Gaza and the Israeli response to the terrorist attack back in October. That is not to say there have not been rallies, public awareness campaigns and the like at universities but thus far, in Manitoba, we have not seen police involved in ways we have seen in the U.S. At McGill, protestors set up camp on campus over the weekend but the larger group of supporters went home. A contingent is left and the university has said the tents should be removed but their protests otherwise are permitted so long as they follow campus rules.

In Manitoba, the campuses have been devoid of occupations. Calls for divestitures of school funds from areas protestors have identified as supporting the war hasn't seemed to have cropped up here. The just $60 million investment fund at University of Manitoba is reviewed annually and has a mechanism in place to identify problem areas. So far no one has stepped forward on this issue. In terms of Israel, it is possible there is nothing direct at all.

The various protests in Winnipeg over Israel/Palestine have been usually off campus. Some have resulted in anti-Semitic and violent language. There has been some physical confrontations but so far no police involvement. No one want a repeat of some past protests that have resulted in occupations and vandalism mixed in with violence. This isn't just restricted to the present conflict overseas but over Covid and indigenous protests of that last few years. The Legislature is no longer the easy to access property it once was. Security greets people at the road entrance now and it isn't easy to get inside to talk to your own MLA.

Some protestors about Israel's response to Gaza devolve to Anti-Semitism all too easily. Other question Israel's right to exist. And others say Israel got what it deserved in the attack in October. It is hard to go anywhere with that type of hatred. It offers no solution except extremism.

Canada, like many countries, support a two state solution and the Oslo Agreement came close to that objective when extremists left things where they are now. Hamas, which controls Gaza, has no interest in two states. This wish to eliminate Israel and create a Muslim state covering the entire region. The group is considered a terrorist organization all over the world. However, for some people in Canada they are heroes despite the fact they have no interest in a peaceful solution and attack, rape and kill.

Israel is a democracy and even now the population is split of what to do next. Historically, a prime minister who was in charge following a major security breach lost their jobs. Netanyahu probably doesn't survive an election when it comes. The failure of both military and intelligence to thwart and respond to the October attack is squarely a leadership issue. The lengthy Israeli attempt to end Hamas is probably not going to work, especially if a long term occupation is the end strategy. 

Sadly, the recovery of hostages has been nearly impossible except during ceasefires. Far fewer have been recovered in military operations. The big question is whether Netanyahu will seek to pull back and negotiate if he loses his job in an election. Oddly enough, the protests against Israelis that lean towards violence and anti-Jewish sentiment overall probably helps Netanyahu.

As the school year ends in Manitoba and much of the rest of Canada, we are not going to see a campus occupation. Places like University of Manitoba will be in summer mode with Bombers games on site. There is no hay to be made on a sleepy campus. It remains to be seen in the fall if there is a rise of protests. However, by that time, we might see a cooling of hot war going on and protests will have no fuel to begin anew. Hostages are probably only going to be negotiated for with a ceasefire. As for Hamas, they are no doubt going to have to be removed by the Palestinian people themselves.