"Back-to-Class" Breakout Sessions & Tours

Series # 1 - 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Series # 2 - 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Alumni Weekend “Back-to-Class” is a series of workshops, seminars and tours offered by Brock alumni, faculty and staff. To attend any or all of the Alumni Weekend events between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., there will be a $15 registration fee. This includes admittance to as many sessions as you want as well as parking and lunch.

A registration table will be set up from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the bottom of the Walker Complex ramp in order to check in and receive your Alumni Weekend gift bag.

Faculty speaker - Lorne Adams

What the teacher has learned: Lessons from students
Series # 1 | 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Academic South 215

Lorne Adams is one of Brock’s best-known and longest-serving educators, having won the prestigious 3M Canada Teaching Fellowship Award in 2004. Adams has been a member of the Brock community for more than 35 years as a faculty member, administrator, coach and Athletics director. Adams helps redefine the term “student-athlete” as he encourages students to exceed their goals in the game as well as the classroom. While he has been a valuable instructor on multiple levels at Brock, it has been a constant learning experience for him as well. During Alumni Weekend, he’ll be sharing what he has learned from students in his 35 years of teaching.

Alumni speaker - Adam Shoalts (BA ’09)

Exploring in the 21st century 
Series # 1 | 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Academic South 216

Think the age of exploration is over? Think again. Join explorer and author Adam Shoalts, whose expeditions have been sponsored by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, to learn what exploring in the 21st century is all about. Hear what it is like to plan an expedition, come face to face with a snarling polar bear, wield a machete in the Amazon, and paddle unnamed rivers to the Arctic Ocean. Shoalts is a contributor to Canadian Geographic and other magazines. Check out our video interview with Adam this past March.

Photography workshop - hosted by 344 Photography

Tips for the amateur photographer
Series # 1 | 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Academic South 217

If you’ve ever wanted to take better photographs, this is the seminar for you. Local photographer and Brock grad Chris Beard (BA ‘04) will walk you through his best tips for capturing amazing images, with hands-on demonstrations and shooting around campus. A good working knowledge of your camera is required for this workshop. Limited to 25 participants.

Tour of the Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex 

Series # 1 | 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Meet at the Campus Store in the Plaza Building

After years of construction, the new Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex officially opened in September. Be one of the first to tour the fantastic new facility and get the inside scoop on the complexity and innovation incorporated into its design and a peek into Brock’s dynamic future. Please wear appropriate footwear. Tour is limited to 20 participants.

Keynote address - Peter Goodspeed (BA ’74)

Senior reporter, international affairs, National Post
12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Academic South 204
 

Peter Goodspeed is an award-winning journalist with almost four decades of experience. He has worked as a foreign correspondent, war reporter, editor, manager, feature writer and political reporter. He has reported from 63 countries and covered 22 conflicts, often at great danger to himself. Goodspeed is also a recipient of an Alumni of Distinction Award (2012). As our keynote speaker, Goodspeed will share his extraordinary insights into war correspondence and the future of international reporting.

After 39 years as a reporter, covering everything from city council to wars on four continents, Goodspeed will reflect on some of the stories he’s covered and try to look at how traditional news outlets are now struggling to reconcile their old ways of reporting with new ways of delivering editorial content across a wide variety of platforms.

Faculty speaker - Barry Wright

Leadership and organizational change
Series # 2 | 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Academic South 215

Barry Wright is an associate professor in the Faculty of Business. Wright's research centres primarily on change and its influence on organizational members. Specifically, his research interests focus on leadership issues, small business use of information technology, and enacting organizational change. He has provided consultation to a number of organizations, including Sobeys, Bank of Montreal, Price Waterhouse Coopers, and the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Barry has been nominated several times for teaching awards and has been recognized as a Maclean’s magazine “Popular Professor.”

Alumni speaker - Christine Rougoor (BA/BEd ’11)

Extreme living with a disability
Series # 2 | 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Academic South 216

Christine Rougoor experienced a devastating and catastrophic accident during the fourth year of her undergraduate program, rendering her a paraplegic. Determined, Rougoor returned to school as a student with a disability, completed her degree with first-class standing, and became a newly certified Ontario teacher. She is working towards her Master of Education degree at Brock University. Rougoor has demonstrated strength and determination, becoming a strong advocate for persons with disabilities and an inspiration to everyone she encounters. She will be talking about her experiences of overcoming a traumatic change that affected all aspects of her life, including her recent trip to B.C., where she bungee jumped in her wheelchair.

LinkedIn workshop - Kevin Magee

Growing your professional network
Series # 2 | 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Classroom A, Matheson Learning Commons

One of the fastest-growing social media platforms for business purposes is LinkedIn. The Brock University Alumni group has 3,500 engaged members whereas the Facebook page has 2,800. In this workshop, learn the ins and outs of this professional site. Learn how to grow your network, create a superior profile and what common mistakes to avoid from social media expert Kevin Magee. You must have a current LinkedIn profile to participate. This workshop is limited to 25 participants.

Tour of the Brock tunnels

Series # 2 | 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Meet at the Schmon Tower lobby

Go underneath the University’s floors to the system of service tunnels connecting the buildings of Brock. Please wear appropriate footwear. Tour is limited to 20 participants.

Campus tours

Big red wall (top of the Walker Complex ramp)
Every hour on the half hour, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Haven’t been to campus in awhile? We’ll show you around! Meet by the big red wall between the Walker Complex and Academic South and let one of our knowledgeable tour guides lead you down memory lane and visit some undiscovered pathways.