One Year Later: What Happens When We Speak Up

One year ago, the University of Regina campus felt like it was holding its breath. The (foreshadowing: former) Students’ Union had voted to defund three key campus groups: the UR Women’s Centre, UR Pride, and Engineers Without Borders. For many, it was an alarming and confusing moment. For others, it was deeply personal. It shook the sense of safety and belonging that these spaces had worked so hard to build.

On December 11, 2024, we published a call to action. It was a love letter to equity work, and a reminder that when you speak up—especially when it’s uncomfortable—you can start to shift the ground beneath your feet.

Now, one year later, we want to pause and reflect on everything that’s happened since. Because in the face of what felt like chaos, students, staff, and community members didn’t back down. They stood up. They organized. They demanded better. And slowly, something remarkable started to unfold.

In those early days, confusion turned to concern, and concern turned to action. Within days, students were organizing, alumni were reaching out, and advocacy groups were mobilizing. RaiseHER wrote a public letter to the URSU board. We met with students who were planning petitions and protests. We backed the Women’s Centre and attended their AGM. We offered mentorship, resources, and whatever support we could.

And while we were doing that, countless others were too. The Women’s Centre team stayed steady and strong. UR Pride leaders spoke out with clarity and courage. Community members amplified the issue, and businesses stepped up in support. Students shared their experiences of fear and frustration—some locking their doors at work, others afraid to speak publicly. And still, they did.

From that moment onward, the campus entered a period of uncertainty and transformation. Some of it was slow. Some of it was messy. All of it was driven by people who believed in a better future.

In March 2025, students formally petitioned for the temporary dissolution of the Students’ Union. Legal actions followed in April, as the Women’s Centre and UR Pride fought to reclaim withheld student fees. By August, the University of Regina terminated URSU’s lease. In September, students began the academic year without a student union. And by November, a new student association was formed to replace URSU.

These were not symbolic changes. These were structural shifts. They were imperfect, and they were hard-fought. But they were also necessary. This year proved that when students speak, they deserve to be heard—and that policies, governance models, and power structures can evolve.

None of this would have been possible without a collective effort. To the U of R Women’s Centre team: thank you for your leadership, your consistency, and your care. You created space when space was being stripped away. To the student organizers: your courage made the difference. You kept going when things got hard. You used your voice, even when others tried to silence it. To the University of Regina administration: thank you for your willingness to engage, to listen, and to act when accountability was needed. To Carla from Prairie Moon Handmade, and all the local champions who stood up for these spaces: your solidarity mattered.

This wasn’t about one moment, or one post, or one organization. This was about the kind of campus—and the kind of world—we want to live in. One where safety, inclusion, and accountability are not optional.

It’s easy to feel like using your voice doesn’t matter. That social media advocacy is fleeting. That once the news cycle moves on, nothing really changes. But this past year is proof that it does. Advocacy is not always loud. Sometimes it’s quiet and behind the scenes. Sometimes it’s legal, logistical, or procedural. Sometimes it’s just deciding not to let something slide.

One year ago, many of us felt like things were crumbling. But a year later, we see what was really happening: people were building something better. A system changed. A new student-led structure is in place. Promises of transparency and oversight have been made. And while we’ll be watching closely, we’re also celebrating the fact that change did happen.

We’ve learned that speaking up works. Building community is always worth it. Progress can be slow, but it is still progress.

So here is our message, one year later: keep speaking up. Keep calling people in. Keep showing up for one another. Because when we rise together, systems start to shift. And they did.

With gratitude, hope, and solidarity.