Referendum result makes URSA new representative body for U of R students

The University of Regina Students’ Association (URSA) is now the official representative body of the university’s students following a referendum.

A letter circulated within the university community Tuesday by U of R president Jeff Keshen, which was provided to the Leader-Post, indicates the new group received a “definitive” endorsement from students.

According to the letter, the referendum question asked: “Do you accept the University of Regina Students’ Association as the official representative body for the students of the University, including its federated colleges, replacing the former Students’ Union of the University of Regina (URSU)?”

The results was 442 yes votes and 42 no votes, the letter states.

The vote to dissolve URSU happened in October after a year of controversy related to financial practices, operations and transparency, followed by a string of legal challenges. The union was cut off from funding by the U of R and evicted from campus as of September.

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‘Shaping a positive path forward’

According to the letter, the university plans to engage with URSA’s interim leadership to “discuss and finalize operating relationships.”

It goes on to say that once its incorporation is complete, the new organization will hold its first general meeting and elect leaders. This is expected to happen “during the Winter 2026 term.”

“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,” Keshen wrote in the letter, where he also thanked those who facilitated the referendum.

“As I have said before, student engagement matters and is critical to shaping a positive path forward in many aspects of university life and operations.”

Keshen concluded that he looks forward to working with URSA to ensure student “concerns continue to be heard, respected, and acted upon.”

bharder@postmedia.com

— with files from Larissa Kurz

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