University of Manitoba University of Manitoba Latin: Floreat Rank: 601 worldwide The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a non-denominational, public research university in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1877, it is the first university of western Canada. Both by total student enrolment and campus area, a member of U15, the U of M is the largest university in the province of Manitoba and the 17th-largest in all of Canada. Boasting dozens of faculties and hundreds of degree programs, its main campus is in the Fort Garry neighborhood of southern Winnipeg, with other campuses throughout the city. The University of Manitoba, founded by Alexander Morris, was established under the University of Manitoba Act as a “Provincial University” on 28 February 1877, becoming the first institution of higher education thus also the first university to be established in all western Canada. Officially opening on June 20, 1877, the university was formed by the federation of three existing denominational colleges and only conferred degrees on students graduating from these colleges: Collège de Saint-Boniface (Roman Catholic), St John's College (Anglican), and Manitoba College (Presbyterian). Along with the Fort Garry campus as its central hub, the University of Manitoba operates three other major locations, the Bannatyne Campus, the James W. Burns Executive Education Centre, and the William Norrie Centre. In addition, the university also administers its French-language affiliate, Université de Saint-Boniface in the Saint Boniface ward of Winnipeg. As the region's largest and only research-intensive university that offers over 100 degrees, diplomas, and certificates. This university is known to be the best when it comes to Medicine, Law, and Engineering. Followed by top ranked programs, Computer Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Environment/Ecology, Food Science and Technology, Geosciences, and Immunology. As of 2010, there have been 96 Rhodes Scholars from the University of Manitoba, more than from any other university in Western Canada. Famous people that housed the university with pride and honors are namely Marshall McLuhan, Canadian philosopher, Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO of The Co-operators, Richard Spink Bowles, lawyer and former Manitoba Lieutenant-Governor and Brian Dickson, former Chief Justice of Canada. The university is represented in U Sports by the Manitoba Bisons. The university offers recreational programs year-round. Athletic facilities on campus include the Frank Kennedy Centre, Max Bell Centre, the Investor's Group Athletic Centre, and IG Field, the first three facilities contain indoor tracks, a swimming pool, work-out facilities, and an international ice hockey rink, as well as basketball, volleyball, squash, and racquetball courts. In addition, the Frank Kennedy Centre also hosts dance, combat and gymnastics rooms, and indoor tennis courts.