The Department of Geography and Tourism Studies and the Co-op, Careers and Experiential Education Office is pleased to present the 2019 Exploring Careers in Geography and Tourism. This will be a two-part event, consisting of a Career Fair and Roundtable Networking Event.
Career Fair
Monday, March 25, 2019
2 – 4pm
Pond Inlet, Brock University
Roundtable Networking Event
Monday, March 25, 2019
6 – 8:30pm
Pond Inlet, Brock University
In 2018 the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies hosted the Brock Tourism Networking Event. The event was an exciting new initiative developed in collaboration between the faculty, staff and students in the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies and across Brock.
This year we’re building on the success of the inaugural networking event by expanding it to include an afternoon career fair and a networking evening event.
For organizations, this event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your organization to Brock University and Niagara College students, including those studying Tourism and Geography. For students, this event is a great way to network with industry professionals, learn from their experiences, and gain insights into career opportunities.
We’ve organized this event with a number of objectives in mind:
- Connect students, faculty, and staff with industry partners.
- Give students the chance to learn from industry experts.
- Increase students’ awareness of career opportunities in geography and tourism.
- Discuss employment and research opportunities in geography and tourism.
- Provide industry partners with a glimpse of some of the geographical, environmental and tourism research that our faculty members and students have been conducting in recent years.
- Identify experiential education opportunities in local geography- and tourism-related organizations.
Industry professionals have three options to participate in the Exploring Careers in Geography and Tourism Event. These are listed below.
Career Fair: Book your table
The Career Fair will be open to the entire Brock University student community, and we expect that many of those attending will be students enrolled in our Tourism and Environment, Tourism Management, Human Geography, Physical Geography, and MA in Geography programs. Additionally, students from Niagara College’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport and School of Environment and Horticulture have been invited to this event. Combined, we have over 1,000 students in these programs and over 3,000 students enrolled in Geography and Tourism courses.
- 50 spaces available for geography- and tourism-related organizations
- Includes booth space with a six foot table (tablecloth provided if requested), dinner for up to two participants, and organization logos featured on our website and social media accounts
- Cost: $75 per table, free for Gold and Silver Sponsors
Geography and Tourism Networking Event: Share your Expertise
The Geography and Tourism Networking Event will also be open to the entire Brock University student community; however, registration priority will be given to students enrolled in the Department’s undergraduate and graduate programs. The Networking Event will include a panel of guest speakers, to be followed by a more formal roundtable networking component and some casual “conversational networking”. During the roundtable networking, employers will share about their educational and career experiences with small groups of students in 15-minute roundtable discussions. Students will rotate among several tables over the course of 120 minutes. We are seeking industry professionals who want to share about their experiences with our students.
- Up to 15 organizations can participate in this event
- Cost: Free
Sponsorship: Promote your Organization
Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Exploring Geography and Tourism events. In total, we have 11 paid sponsorships and the option for free sponsorship through donations. Limited sponsorship packages are available and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Gold and Silver sponsorship includes Career Fair booth. Gold sponsorship includes a reserved table at the Networking Event.
- Sponsorship benefits vary depending on your level of sponsorship. Details are available here.
- Cost: $0—$500
Career Fair
2-4pm
The Department of Geography and Tourism Studies and the Co-op, Careers and Experiential Education Office invites Brock University and Niagara College students to the 2019 Exploring Careers in Geography and Tourism Career Fair. This expo style event will feature employers and post-grad study opportunities for students.
Highlights:
- Network with employers for career, volunteer, internship and co-op opportunities
- Learn about furthering your studies through post-grad programs at Brock or Niagara College
- Learn about the many career paths that are available in geography- and tourism-related industries
- Door prize draws
- Opportunity to mix and mingle with alumni and other students
- Free event
Roundtable Networking Event
6-8:30pm
Come meet industry professionals at this roundtable networking event to gain insight and advice from people who are currently working in the field.
In small groups industry experts and alumni will share:
- Their career and educational experiences
- Industry trends
- Career paths
- And more!
Registration for the event is now open and spaces are limited. Additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list and notified should a spot open up for them. Students who register but do not attend the event will be charged a $25 fee.
Free food and door prizes.
1:30pm: Industry participants begin arriving to set up booths
2:00pm: Career Fair opens
4:00pm: Career Fair closes
4:30pm: Dinner and networking session for industry participants (optional)
5:30pm: Registration opens for Geography and Tourism Networking Event
6:00pm: Geography and Tourism Networking Event begins; Opening remarks from Department Chair
6:10pm: Employer/Alumni panel
6:40pm: Roundtable networking session begins
8:00pm: Roundtable networking session concludes; Conversational networking begins
8:15pm: Closing remarks from the Department Chair; Door prize draws
8:30pm: Event concludes
Sponsors
Career Fair Participants
Roundtable Participants
Owen Bjorgan, Hiking Tour Guide, Speaker, Biophilic World Hiking Tours
Damian Golbourne, Associate Dean, Niagara College School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport
Lezlie Harper, Owner, Niagara Bound Tours
Ian Kivell, Sales Manager, Contiki Holidays
Jennifer Langelaan*, Director, Asset Management, Forge and Foster Investment Management
Sue Mabee*, Supervisor of Planning Services, District School Board of Niagara
Tommy Nguyen, Manager-Retail, Tour, Event Operations, Vineland Estates Winery
Darren Platakis*, Founder/CEO, Geospatial Niagara
Al Unwin, Associate Dean, Niagara College School of Environment and Horticulture
Becky White-Côté *, Sales and Membership Coordinator, Niagara Falls Tourism
Lacey Willmott*, PhD Candidate in Geography, University of Waterloo
Samantha Zandvliet*, Environmental Planner, AECOM
*Brock Geography or Tourism alumni
Our Department is made up of 21 faculty and staff members, and over 250 students. We offer 3-and 4-year degrees in Tourism Management, Tourism and Environment, and Human and Physical Geography. This year, we have over 3000 students enrolled in our tourism and geography courses.
Experiential learning is central to our Department and it has been since day one; we believe that it’s important for our students to have meaningful experiential opportunities in class at Brock, and outside the classroom walls. Our experiential learning opportunities include:
- Co-op and internship placements;
- Course field trips;
- International and domestic field courses;
- In-class labs and seminars; and
- Study abroad and international exchanges.
We are always looking for organizations to partner with us for these experiences. Please connect with us if you are interested in learning more.
From 9am – 6pm you will have to park in one of Brock’s pay-and-display parking lots. Please note that Lot E is closest to Pond Inlet.
COST: Lots D and E are $12/day; and Lots E, EA, J, K, Q, and Flora Egerter Way are $3/hour.
Parking is free in Zones 1 and 2 after 6pm. Since this event will be taking place in Pond Inlet, we recommend parking in Zone 1 near the end of Mackenzie Chown and the Cairns Complex.
View Brock’s Interactive Campus Map to see where these lots are located.
Thank you for considering sponsoring or participating in the Exploring Careers in Geography and Tourism events. As experts in the industry, our students will benefit greatly from your participation in this event. Likewise, we know that you will benefit from connecting with the next generation of geography and tourism professionals.
Please connect with us to secure your sponsorship package, ask questions, or inquire about how you can partner with us for events like this or experiential learning opportunities in the future.
Samantha Morris, Communications Coordinator
Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, Brock University
Phone: 905-688-5550 x3514 | Email: smorris3@brocku.ca
