Brown, gold and bold

For much of the university’s history, the University Crest—or coat of arms—was the institution’s primary visual identity. The crest is a traditional heraldic shield based on the seal that was adopted when UM was established in 1877. The four quarters in the crest, seen here on the University Banner hanging at Convocation, incorporate symbols from the arms of the Province of Manitoba and the university’s three founding colleges:

Upper left: The bison and red cross on white come from the arms of the Province of Manitoba.

Lower left: The eagle and the saint represent the arms of St. John’s College.

Upper right: The book, fleurs-de-lys and maple leaves are from the arms of Collège de Saint-Boniface (now the Université de Saint-Boniface).

Lower right: The grape vine and the Latin word “Floreat” (flourish) come from the arms of Manitoba College.

By the late 1960’s, many Canadian institutions were embracing modern graphic design, and there was a desire to establish a more contemporary visual identity for the university. Designed by School of Art professor Ed Dore, the first official logo was selected from several concepts and debuted in August 1970. 

The crest remains the university’s official seal and an important symbol of its heritage. It is still used for ceremonial and official purposes today, like at Convocation, where students walk by the crest when they cross the stage. 

If you spent time on campus in the 1980s or 1990s, chances are you remember the university’s distinctive curved logo.

Introduced in 1980, the design remained in use for roughly two decades. Like many logos of its era, it embraced a cleaner, more modern aesthetic and reflected a broader trend among universities seeking recognizable visual identities.
 

UM’s current logo was introduced in 2019 and expands beyond the official UM colours of brown and gold to incorporate blue. It wasn’t designed behind closed doors; it was informed by Indigenous perspectives and more than 7,000 people from across the country contributed their insights. 

Dr. Catherine Cook, the inaugural Vice-President (Indigenous) and one of three brand advisory council co-chairs involved in the project, noted the goal was to create a visual identity that better reflected who UM is today and who it hopes to become tomorrow.

“In our brand sessions, we kept hearing how our existing logo didn’t reflect who we were in 2019 or who we want to be,” she said. “This new logo captures a new voice for our university but it’s one that’s made up of many, many voices and perspectives.”  
 

UM’s varsity teams weren’t always united under a single athletic brand. The Bisons name didn’t appear until 1935, when men’s hockey and basketball teams began using the moniker. In 1946, the women’s basketball team adopted the nickname “Bisonettes.” The “ettes” suffix for the women’s teams was phased out by the 1980s.

The sports teams didn’t have their first visual identity until the 1970s, but over time, the bison became the unifying symbol for UM athletics and one of the university’s most recognizable icons.

Long before modern logos and branding campaigns, student athletes proudly wore the Bisons Block M.

Traditionally awarded in an athlete’s third year, the coveted Block M sweater represents dedication, achievement and belonging. For generations of Bisons athletes, it’s been more than apparel. It’s a symbol of pride and a connection to a community that stretches across decades.

Follow our university social channels and never miss a 150 moment. Here is the Brown, gold and bold carousel on Instagram.

Plus, stay up to date on all the ways we are celebrating 150 years, please visit UM at 150 for all the details.