2026-2027 IHPSA Executive Council By-Election and RFHS Council IHP Representatives Election | Election Candidates
Director of Academic Events
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Program: Bachelor of Health Sciences
Current Year: 2
Candidate Information:
I am interested in running for Director of Academic events because I understand the immense importance that academic and career oriented events can have in helping students made decisions that will shape the rest of their lives. My own high school experiences of attending events on campus at the UofM and hearing directly from students in the Interdisciplinary Health Program was incredibly influential in my choice to stay in Manitoba for Post secondary. Hearing from students in a variety of programs and getting to experience what life would be like in such programs or prospective careers is extremely valuable, and I want IHP students to have these opportunities. I am also interested in helping to develop the IHP mentorship program, as I believe mentorship is impactful for the both the mentees and the mentors, as well as growing connections throughout campus.
My experience as an IHPSA general council member and Indigenous student representative, as well as being in a variety of councils throughout high school, has given me a strong basis to fulfill this position. I have experience in helping to plan and prepare social events. I hope that I can also grow my ability to connect with other clubs and programs, as growing my collaboration skills will allow IHPSA to make each academic event as expansive and meaningful as possible. As well, I have experience in mentorship programs as both a mentee last year and as an upcoming mentor for the 2026-27 school year. This experience will aid me in the development of an IHP mentorship program. I understand both the importance of mentorship and how vastly different being a mentee versus being a mentor can be. Overall I believe I have the potential to be a strong Director of Academic Events.
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Program: Bachelor of Health Sciences
Current Year: 1
Candidate Information:
I am interested in running for a position on the Executive Council or RFHS Council because I want to be more involved in representing students and contributing to a positive student experience. I believe these positions provide an opportunity to listen to different perspectives, bring forward student concerns, and help create meaningful changes within the faculty. I also see this as a chance to grow as a leader while working collaboratively with other students and faculty members. I would approach the role with an open mind, a willingness to listen, and a commitment to being approachable and dependable. Most importantly, I want to use this position to make sure students feel heard and represented, while helping build a supportive and connected student community.
I believe I would bring strong communication, organization, teamwork, and interpersonal skills to this position. I am comfortable listening to others, considering different perspectives, and working collaboratively to find practical solutions. I also understand that being a good representative is not just about sharing my own opinions, but about understanding the concerns and priorities of the students I represent. Through this position, I hope to further develop my leadership, advocacy, and decision-making skills. I would also like to become more confident in communicating with faculty and administration and learn more about how student governance works. I am willing to take initiative, be accountable for my responsibilities, and contribute consistently throughout the year.
Director of UMSU Relations
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Program: Bachelor of Health Sciences
Current Year: 3
Candidate Information:
I am interested in the Director of UMSU Relations position because IHP has been a safe and welcoming space for me, where I have been able to form meaningful friendships and feel connected to my community. I want to help maintain that environment while also helping strengthen IHP’s connection with the broader university community. Through my involvement in the IHP Marketing Committee and as an RFHS Council Student Representative, I have become more interested in contributing to the IHP community, connecting with students, and representing their perspectives. I see this position as a way to stay involved in a community that has meant a lot to me while helping build and maintain a strong relationship between IHP and UMSU.
I think an important part of UMSU Relations is being able to build relationships across different communities and understand how to communicate effectively within each one. My experiences have allowed me to work with people in a variety of environments and adapt to the needs of each setting. Through the IHP Marketing Committee, I have worked on creating content for our community, while my experience as an RFHS Council Student Representative has given me some exposure to student representation. My research experience has taught me how to work collaboratively and communicate carefully when working with data, while volunteering in a psychiatric ward has challenged me to be attentive and thoughtful in how I interact with others. As a lifeguard and swim instructor, I have also worked with people of different ages and backgrounds, which has taught me to adjust my communication depending on the person and situation. I believe these experiences have helped me become comfortable working across different environments and communicating with different people, which are skills that are valuable for building and maintaining the relationship between IHP and UMSU.
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Program: Bachelor of Health Sciences
Current Year: 4
Candidate Information:
I am interested in running for the Director of UMSU Relations position because I want to become more involved in the IHP community and advocate for our students' needs! We are a small but diverse student population, and I want to help ensure that our perspectives are effectively represented within broader university governance. This position provides the opportunity to communicate UMSU decisions and developments to the IHP student body in an effective and reliable manner. I want to help ensure that IHP students remain informed and represented, while strengthening the relationship between our association and UMSU. Ultimately, I hope to positively contribute to this relationship and share an IHPSA perspective that accurately reflects the needs, experiences, and perspectives of IHP students.
I have developed strong communication, teamwork, and advocacy skills through volunteering, leadership positions, and research. I remain active on campus by volunteering with UMSU, mentoring new students with the International Centre, and participating in a variety of club events and workshops. These experiences strengthen my ability to build connections and communicate with a diverse range of students. My research experience provided opportunities to translate complex information into formats accessible to a general audience. These are skills I would employ when sharing UMSU developments to IHP students. Additionally, I am actively developing my skills in representing student populations through my role as the Women's Representative in the U1SC. Through this position, I hope to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of student governance, including the procedures and formalities involved. Additionally, I want to further my skills in advocacy and continue to build my confidence learning how to effectively express IHP interests.
RFHS Council Faculty IHP Representatives
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Program: Bachelor of Health Studies
Current Year: 1
Candidate Information:
I am interested in running for this position because I want to ensure that the voices, opinions, and priorities of Interdisciplinary Health Program students are represented and heard at the broader Rady Faculty of Health Sciences level. I want to be someone who actively listens to the diverse perspectives within IHP and brings those perspectives forward when important faculty-wide discussions and decisions take place. I also hope to advocate for opportunities, resources, and initiatives that can help IHP students achieve their academic and personal goals. Most importantly, I want to be a representative who students feel comfortable approaching and trusting to genuinely listen to their concerns and advocate for them.
I have previous experience in leadership, advocacy, event planning, communication, and teamwork that I believe would be valuable in this position. As an executive member of Zonta International, a feminist advocacy group, I helped plan events and advocate for women and girls in my community, giving me experience representing the interests of others and working toward meaningful change. I also served as an advertising committee leader in high school, where I developed my ability to communicate effectively, promote initiatives, engage an audience, and collaborate with a team. In addition, my volunteer experiences have strengthened my interpersonal and organizational skills. Through this position, I hope to further develop my advocacy and leadership skills while gaining experience working within a larger faculty council and representing the IHP community on a broader scale.
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Program: Bachelor of Health Studies
Current Year: 3
Candidate Information:
I am in my third year at the University of Manitoba now, and my first two years consisted of breaking throughout my own personal barriers that I restricted myself in. I grew up in a rural town that had a graduating class of thirteen people. Moving to a school with over thirty thousand people attending was a huge change for me. I was anxious and scared everyday. Over time, I got used to the people and got out of my shell. I am now back to my extroverted self and want to be even more involved. I love making new friends and want to be able to represent IHP in good spirit from someone with a intersectional background. Not only am I from a rural area, I also am a proud Métis gay man.
I worked at a Friendship centre that has provincial and national meetings throughout the year. I am very passionate about the Friendship centre movement and have gained so much insight as a youth member observing the meetings process. On the provincial level, we are planning on starting a provincial youth committee where I would represent my local Friendship centre, Riverton. I would love to build up and strengthen my knowledge of each position in both the Executive and RFHS council. I am a extroverted person from working with all age groups at my job. We have a day camp and senior centre where I have made life long bonds with all walks of life.
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Program: Bachelor of Health Sciences
Current Year: 3
Candidate Information:
I want to run for a position on the RFHS Council because I want to help fellow IHP students better understand the opportunities available to us. As IHP students on the Fort Garry Campus, we are far from the Rady Faculty on the Bannatyne Campus, and it can feel disconnected. There are certain opportunities that are available to us that many of us don’t know about because of the disconnect. As a representative, I want to bridge that gap and help IHP students learn what it actually means to be a part of the IHP and what opportunities are available to us. I would also love to learn more about our program and how it fits into the larger RFHS. I have been a general council member of the IHP for the past 2 years, and I would love to give back to the IHP community by representing us all in this position!
As I mentioned before, I have been a general IHP council member for the past two years, and I hope to continue this year. By attending monthly events, I know what concerns students have and what students want to get out of this program. Furthermore, I was a summer research student at one of the labs on the Bannatyne Campus this past summer. Being on the Bannatyne Campus all summer allowed me to gain some insight into what other programs in the RFHS look like, and what our program could become. I have strong communication skills through my roles as Environmental Prefect in high school, my job as a swimming lesson instructor, and my past position as an executive for the Volunteer Committee in the Medicine 4 Youth club, so I will be able to communicate our concerns. Overall, my leadership experiences and active role in the IHP general council make me well-suited for this position!
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Program: Bachelor of Health Sciences
Current Year: 1
Candidate Information:
I am interested in being an IHP representative within the RFHS Council because, even though I am only in my first year of the program, I still remember getting accepted months ago and how much that meant to me. I would be proud to represent a program that I already feel strongly connected to. I have worked in representative roles before and have always enjoyed being able to represent a larger group. I also think there is value in having a first-year perspective on the council, as I am currently experiencing the program at the beginning and can bring that perspective with me. I am willing to learn more about the Interdisciplinary Health Program and the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences so that I can represent the program to the best of my ability. I am also genuinely interested in understanding how things work and how decisions are made, and would do my best to share relevant information between the IHP community and the Rady Faculty.
I have previously held both representative and collaborative roles that have given me experience communicating with a wide range of groups. I served as secretary on my high school student council, where I had to communicate with the council, student body, and teachers. I also served on the School-Wide Events Committee where collaboration and communication with students and staff were extremely important. These positions have taught me the importance of teamwork, cooperation, and making sure everyone feels heard. I also believe that one of the most important skills in a representative role is the ability to listen. I believe I demonstrate that well, and always want to make sure I understand and consider different perspectives. Through this position, I hope to build on these skills while gaining experience representing IHP at a higher faculty level and learning more about how decisions are made within both our program and the broader faculty.
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Program: Bachelor of Health Sciences
Current Year: 5+
Candidate Information:
Having the chance to serve as an RFHS Council IHP representative interests me because it is a meaningful opportunity to share student perspectives in a space where they are welcomed and valued. I appreciate the opportunity to run for this position, and, if elected, I would bring forward a perspective, that both aligns with IHP students, and compliments those of my fellow student representatives. I am eager to make a positive difference, acting as a voice for IHP students, while collaborating with RFHS faculty.
I believe that my experience in various leadership positions, ranging from being a member of student council, to being captain of my high school volleyball team, as well as my 4.5 years with high ratings in a customer service role, have allowed me to build both communication and interpersonal skills that would be an asset to me in serving as an RFHS Council IHP representative. My genuine desire to support and serve others is something I would bring wholeheartedly to this role. I value opportunities to listen, understand the perspectives and experiences of others, and help ensure that people feel heard, supported, and included. I would approach this role with a willingness to contribute, advocate for others, and help foster a positive and collaborative environment.