Canadian Mennonite University

How does cultivating a passion for storytelling at CMU lead to a national award?

CMU alumna Emma Siemens' writing skills were strengthened through writing opportunities at CMU, both in the classroom and beyond. Now, she is the recipient of a national writing award that will help fund her pursuit of a Master of Journalism.

"The biggest thing that CMU gave me was a sense of empowerment or confidence with my writing," says Siemens. "I felt seen but then also empowered to grow my capacity with writing specifically, which is exactly what I would have wanted for my writing journey."

Read the full story here: https://ow.ly/JQui50ZeKPX

On National Indigenous Peoples Day, CMU celebrates the contributions, cultures, and presence of our Indigenous students, staff and faculty. Every year, a tipi is set up on our campus to remind us of our commitment to learn from and with Indigenous peoples.

CMU is grateful to be located on Treaty 1 Territory, the traditional land of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.

What if science wasn't about memorizing formulas, but solving puzzles?

For Dr. Candice Viddal, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Physics at CMU, teaching is about fostering curiosity, and that starts by presenting science as a series of intriguing questions. When explaining a scientific idea or theory, she first gives her students the same scenarios that confronted scientists in the past to demonstrate its origins and its significance in the present.

"By doing it that way, I always hope I'm making the subject look a lot less distant and mysterious," says Viddal.

As a co-recipient of the 2023 Kay and Lorne Dick Teaching Excellence Award, Viddal's invigorating courses have made her a beloved professor and mentor. Her philosophy and reflections on teaching reveal why she is highly respected by her students, and is an example of the exceptional education at CMU.

Read more about Viddal here: https://ow.ly/v5Xb50ZaxhA

"I have a memory from my first philosophy class of a professor walking in and setting the whole room at ease with both his mannerisms and teaching style. It was clear that he was on the same side as the students, hoping to get to know us and help us along in our academic walk... In every aspect, from dealing with finances to preparing for deadlines, the staff and faculty have been incredibly strong pillars."

2026 CMU graduate Nic Bergen understands that taking the next steps from high school to university can be nerve-wracking. But in his myCMUlife blog, Nic writes about how CMU can support new students with four pieces of reassuring advice. Comforting and inspirational, Nic's blog demonstrates how CMU allows students to fully explore their interests in their degrees.

Read Nic's full blog here: https://ow.ly/gES450Z8fnf

This past Sunday, CMU participated in the Winnipeg Pride Parade to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ members of our community. CMU joined q***r student group CMQ and 15 Mennonite churches and communities. It was a wonderful day filled with joy and love.

We all belong.

How does CMU bring people from various disciplines together to ask better questions and strengthen research?

One way CMU does this is through the CMU Research Ethics Board (REB), a cross-disciplinary group that ensures CMU research involving human participants is conducted responsibly while fostering rich conversations between researchers from different fields.

Unlike larger universities, which often have separate ethics boards for different disciplines, the REB at CMU reviews research projects across various fields. A project in music therapy may be considered alongside research in psychology, biology, theology or more. Such a review process creates richer conversations and stronger research, and reflects the commitments of CMU to bring different ways of knowing the world into dialogue.

"The cross-disciplinary work and dialogue that CMU is really great at, shows in our REB work and research," says Lee-Anne Dowsett, Chair of the CMU Research Ethics Board.

Read the full story here: https://ow.ly/1PaV50Z7Ihy

Happy World Bicycle Day!

To celebrate cycling in Winnipeg, CMU will host a pit stop on Bike to Work Day, June 9. From 6:30–9:00 AM, you are welcome to cycle to our pit stop to get delicious treats and coffee straight from folio café. We hope to see you here!

Bike to Work Day Pit Stop
June 9, 2026
6:30–9:00 AM
500 Shaftesbury Blvd.

🌈 Happy Pride Month! In celebration of our q***r community members, CMU, along with the q***r student group CMQ and fifteen Mennonite churches and communities, will once again participate in the Winnipeg Pride Parade on Sunday, June 7. CMU is proud to support 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion and belonging on our campus and beyond. We all belong.

See you at Pride!