It has come to our attention that Frances Widdowson, an individual who has been barred from the University of Winnipeg campus, may come to UWinnipeg in the coming days. Widdowson has caused disruption on our campus in the past and continues to harass UWinnipeg Indigenous students, faculty and staff, as well as local Indigenous residential and day school survivors and community members who are our partners in Reconciliation. This individual is not invited to and not welcome on our campus.
Throughout this and next week, we are commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a series of events and activities on campus. If this individual comes to campus in these coming days, it will be the second time they have disrupted this highly important and meaningful time for our community. Should they appear on campus, the Winnipeg Police Service will be called to enforce the barring notice.
We stand with residential and day school survivors and their families. We unequivocally denounce any attempts to deny or downplay the harms that residential schools, day schools, and other acts of genocide against Indigenous Peoples have caused. These are real, and their effects continue today. Acknowledging them and advancing Reconciliation is a responsibility we all share.
Scholarship, teaching, and community engagement from many members of the UWinnipeg community helps to illuminate the truth about residential and day schools and to deepen our understanding of the structures and ongoing effects of settler colonialism in Canada.
We recognize that this is a difficult time, and there are supports available. The Indigenous Student Services Centre (ISSC) is open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and provides a safe, culturally supportive space for Indigenous students, including space for smudging, access to Elders-in-Residence, and connection to an Indigenous counsellor. Students can also access support through Student Wellness, and faculty and staff can access support through the Employee & Family Assistance Program. Faculty are also advised to reach out to their Faculty Deans who will provide supports during this difficult time. The National Residential Schools Crisis Line is also available 24 hours, 7 days a week at 1-866-925-4419.
University offices, classrooms, and residences are not open to unauthorized visitors. If you encounter Widdowson or another person trespassing in one of these spaces, please contact Campus Security at 204-786-6666 or use the UW Safe app to report the incident and ask for help.
Dr. Jino Distaso
Interim President and Vice-Chancellor
Dr. Pavlina Radia
Provost and Vice-President, Academic
Dr. Peter Miller
President, University of Winnipeg Faculty Association
The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association
