October Newsletter

October is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the women and girls from our past and our present, who are contributing to a better, more inclusive Canada. Women’s History Month is also an opportunity to reflect on the work still ahead to remove barriers so everyone can participate fully in Canada’s social, cultural, and economic life.

Halloween Costume Competition and Movie Night 

Get ready for a spook-tacular evening of fun! Join us for our Halloween Costume Competition and Movie Night, where creativity meets community. Dress up in your best Halloween costume and compete for prizes, then sit back and enjoy a thrilling movie with friends. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season, share some laughs, and show off your Halloween spirit. RSVP here

Budgeting 101 Event (Financial Literacy Series) and Free Lunch

GSA is collaborating with Student Finance and Awards to host a "Budgeting 101" information session as the first of our three-part Financial Literacy Series! Please join us at the GSA Commons on October 22 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. We will cover topics such as what a budget is and how to build one, value-based spending, and the importance of planning. The goal of this series is for financial professionals here at USask to help students expand their financial knowledge and feel more secure in their financial decision-making. Lunch will be provided for registered participants – please get tickets here by October 20. Space is limited.

Graduate Voices: From Farm Fields to Research Fields – Jeremy Irvine’s Journey

From his family farm in Saskatchewan to award-winning research in sustainable agriculture, Jeremy Irvine (he/him/il) is turning his roots into impact. A Vanier Scholar and PhD student at the University of Saskatchewan, Jeremy studies sustainable pest management in forage seed systems, aiming to reduce pesticide use, protect pollinators, and support farming communities. Beyond the lab, he is a mentor, leader, and advocate who reminds fellow graduate students that resilience and balance are key to success. Read Jeremy’s full story on our website. 

The Graduate Voices series celebrates the diverse journeys of graduate students and highlights their unique contributions to our community. Interested in being featured? Email gsa.pres@usask.ca with a short paragraph (150 words maximum), a photo of yourself, and we’ll contact you to learn more. 

 

Fall GSA-CGPS Need-Based Bursary Call Opens October 7

In collaboration with CGPS, GSA awards $110,000 in bursary funds to students in need each academic year. The Fall call for the GSA-CGPS Term Need-Based Bursary will open on October 7, 2025. Please review the application requirements and submit your application before the deadline (October 24, 2025, 11:59 PM). Successful applicants will be notified by EOD November 10, 2025. To apply, please visit the GSA website and follow the application instructions – only complete applications will be considered.

 

GSA Brings Campus Safety Concerns to President’s Executive Committee

At the first meeting of the academic year, GSA executives brought concerns about campus and campus-adjacent safety to Dr. Stoicheff and the members of the President’s Executive Committee. Topics included traffic flow issues on campus-adjacent roadways, lack of safety precautions during road construction, insufficient bicycle and pedestrian safety measures, and concerns about safety using public transit. You can read the full document here. GSA has the opportunity to meet monthly with the University President and a committee of administrators – if you have a topic relevant to the graduate student experience at Usask (aside from tuition and fees) you’d like GSA to discuss with the committee in the future, please email a concise overview of the issue to gsa.pres@usask.ca.  

October CGPS Professional Development Opportunities

This October, graduate students are invited to take part in a series of professional development opportunities designed to support both academic and non-academic success. From webinars on exploring industry careers and building a strong LinkedIn profile to sessions in the Cultural Adjustment Series, these events provide valuable skills, resources, and insights to help you thrive during and beyond graduate school. Dates and registration links can be found in the Upcoming Events section below.

Job Opportunities: 

Tour Guides at the Canadian Light Source

The Canadian Light Source (CLS), a national research facility at USask, is hiring casual tour guides to support its public and school group tours. This flexible role offers approximately 4–7 hours per month and is ideal for students interested in science outreach and communication. View the job posting here, and learn more about the CLS here.

Access and Equity Services is hiring Invigilators for their Exams Program! 

If you're looking for flexible, meaningful work, this is the perfect opportunity. As an Invigilator, you'll supervise exams in a one-on-one or small group setting, ensuring a smooth and fair testing experience. Enjoy flexible scheduling with shifts available mornings, evenings, and weekends, along with paid training in exam setup and technology. With shift lengths ranging from 2 to 7 hours, this role is ideal for those who are reliable, detail-oriented, and enjoy working independently. Contact Michelle Guillemette - Exam Program Advisor Ph:306-966-1856 or Email: aesexams@usask.ca

Why did health and dental fees go up?

Like most insurance plans, the GSA Health & Dental Plan is renewed with the insurer each policy year. The premiums are adjusted by the insurer and based on the claims experience (i.e. more claims = higher premiums). More claims aren’t a bad thing – it means students are receiving more care that is being covered by the plan. However, due to the significant increase in claims over the past few years, a fee increase was necessary to preserve as many benefits as possible. Without the fee increase, the GSA would have had to cut significant portions of the plan, affecting the most used services such as mental health, prescription drug, and dental coverage. A coverage reduction would have left students with higher out-of-pocket costs. 

During the January 2025 GSA Council meeting, your student representatives voted to raise the fee, seeing that graduate students are gaining significant value from use of the plan. For more information, please check out this FAQ Sheet.

NextFresh 2025: Freshers Reception & Graduate Farewell!

The Bangladeshi Students Association invites all Bangladeshi students to join NextFresh 2025 on Saturday, November 1, 2025, a vibrant evening to welcome new students and honor graduating members with cultural performances, music, authentic food, and celebrations. RSVP here.

Upcoming Events

GSA Commons Fall Hours

The GSA Commons is located in the Emmanuel & St. Chad Chapel at 1337 College Drive. Commons fall term hours will be 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday-Friday, closed all statutory holidays & occasionally for private events. During regular hours, the GSA Commons offers a quiet study environment with computers for student use and a free coffee and tea bar. 

If you have questions/concerns, please contact the Operations Manager or any of the GSA Executives via email:

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This email is being sent by the GSA to all graduate students through the PAWS Announcement System. It is not a message from or endorsed by the University of Saskatchewan.