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The University of Regina Students Association (URSA) has won the independently-held referendum for student governance, according to its social media.
The referendum was held from Dec. 12 to 15, asking if the URSA would become the “official representative body for the students of the University, including its federated colleges, replacing the former Students’ Union of University of Regina (URSU).”
Read more:
- University of Regina terminates main lease with student union URSU
- ‘It was rigged’: University of Regina students express concerns over URSU dissolution vote
- URSU dissolution meeting adjourned without a vote
There were 442 votes in favour and 42 against the referendum question.
“Crucially this vote represents and repudiation of URSU, and its problematic actions in recent memory, in favour of building something new with the prevention of exploitation, exclusion and the corruption front of mind,” said URSA in a statement.
According to a statement issued by the University of Regina President Jeff Keshen, the next steps include engaging with URSA’s interim leadership team to “discuss and finalize operating relationships while URSA completes its incorporation and related filings.”
Once URSA has been incorporated, URSA will hold its first annual general meeting to elect student leaders, which should take place in the Winter 2026 term, according to the university.
“In the meantime, I want to express my appreciation to the interim URSA leaders for their continuing efforts to develop an effective form of student representation on our campuses, as well as the students who participated in the referendum,” said Keshen.
The Instagram post thanked community members, leaders on campus, friends, family and students at large for their help to “bring us to this point.”
“As we head into the new year we will be eager to start filling out our general council and entering negotiations with the university over issues of student life,” read the post.
University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) members voted a majority to dissolve the union in October.
However, some students said at that time they believed the vote was “rigged” and had no trust in URSU.
The vote was held after months of allegations against URSU around how it was interacting with other student groups on campus, allegedly withholding funds, its own finances, and the university itself finally cutting ties and ending its leases with the union.
Many students expressed frustration in the online meeting, as the previous virtual meeting—held on Sept. 24—was adjourned after two hours when students expressed accessibility concerns.
During that meeting, more than five people demanded adjournment and a physical vote, saying the meeting was being held and run improperly.
In a previous 980 CJME report, multiple students said around 200 people were let into the virtual meeting and that 70 individuals voted in favour of dissolving URSU, 13 voted no and one abstained.
The Regina Police Service confirmed in September that it has an ongoing investigation into URSU.
“This sends a strong message to our community and to institutions across the country. UofR students are not, and will not, be defined by URSU or its scandals. We will do what we can, within our new capacity, to ensure students see the accountability they deserve,” according to URSA’s statement.
