Brock University actively provides free public access to its library resources, ensuring that books, publications, and scholarly materials extend beyond the university community. Through the James A. Gibson Library, Brock welcomes individuals with a diverse range of interests including alumni, retirees, and community members to utilize its comprehensive collections and services.

Borrowing privileges:

• Individuals with a valid Brock University photo ID, alumni card, Special Borrowers’ card, or a valid card from a Canadian university library may borrow materials.

Community access and open resources:

• Community members can consult both print and online collections free of charge in person.
• A significant number of open access databases remain freely available for off-campus use, supporting research and education across the region.

Collaborative partnerships:

• Brock University is part of the Omni network, maintaining a reciprocal borrowing agreement, allowing faculty, staff, and students from 19 participating universities to borrow books from member libraries at no charge.

The Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MWS) houses the Visual Arts Gallery and Student Exhibition Space, which is open to the wider public to view in-person exhibitions at no cost.

Beyond contemporary art, Brock demonstrates its commitment to cultural heritage through the Department of Classics and Archaeology’s Cypriote Museum. This specialized collection features Cypriote antiquities spanning from the Neolithic to Medieval periods, including stone items, bronze daggers, ancient terracotta, and ceramics. While primarily serving as a teaching tool, the collection is accessible to school groups and community institutions through arranged visits, extending educational opportunities beyond the campus community.

Brock University provides free public access to open spaces and green spaces, seamlessly integrating the campus into the broader Niagara community’s natural landscape.

Brock’s campus serves as a vital green corridor, with communal spaces thoughtfully positioned throughout outdoor areas that are freely accessible all day:

• Pond Inlet – a scenic space that overlooks a human-made pond and waterfall, providing a soothing outdoor sensory experience.
• Jubilee Court – a large multi-purpose communal courtyard lined with picnic tables and trees
• Walker Complex Courtyard – a manicured outdoor area with shaded seating under umbrellas and multi-purpose outdoor workout space
• Outdoor firepit near Alphies Trough – tucked behind the Thistle Complex along the escarpment
• Picnic tables outside Market Hall – providing a space for people to enjoy a meal together close to food stations on campus

Daily, employees from neighboring institutions such as Hotel Dieu Shaver and the Niagara Region utilize these spaces, demonstrating the university’s role as a community hub for health, wellness, and connection to nature.

The campus’s integration with the Bruce Trail—Canada’s longest and oldest hiking trail—exemplifies Brock’s dedication to maintaining shared land ecosystems and promoting conservation.

The Brock Choirs welcome all university students, staff, faculty, and community members, hosting public performances throughout the academic year.

Beyond choral performances, Brock has partnered with Royal Bank of Canada to present the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts RBC Music at Noon concert series every Tuesday, offering free public access to live musical performances. These weekly concerts, while requiring tickets, remove financial barriers to arts engagement and create regular cultural touchpoints for the broader community.

The university’s theatrical productions through the Department of Dramatic Arts further extend this commitment, with multiple mainstage and studio productions annually that serve both educational and community cultural purposes. Through the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, Brock University, in partnership with other key community members, assists in running a professional-quality venue that hosts both university productions and touring professional companies, enriching the Niagara region’s cultural landscape.

Brock actively delivers projects to record and preserve intangible cultural heritage, including local folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge. Through strategic priorities centered on community vitality, Brock demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding both physical and cultural legacies in the Niagara region.

A landmark example of Brock’s heritage preservation efforts is the Marilyn I. Walker School of the Fine and Performing Arts, which carefully restored the historic Canada Hair Cloth Company building—originally constructed in 1884 along the hydraulic raceway adjacent to the Welland Canal. This 2015 refurbishment not only preserved an important piece of St. Catharines’ industrial heritage but also catalyzed the revitalization of the city’s downtown core as part of a broader “creative cluster” initiative. Over the past several years, this project has proven instrumental in the cultural and economic rebirth of the city center.

Beyond preserving tangible heritage, Brock is deeply committed to revitalizing intangible cultural heritage through its strategic priority of reconciliation, Indigenization, and decolonization. The Office of the Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement leads diverse programs and projects that work to preserve and celebrate the cultural heritage of local Indigenous communities. These initiatives encompass traditional knowledge, languages, storytelling, and cultural practices that might otherwise be at risk of being lost.

Brock University recognizes the vital role of sustainable transportation in creating more livable communities and reducing environmental impact. The institution is working toward establishing comprehensive measurement systems and targets for more sustainable commuting options including walking, cycling, non-motorized transport, carpools, vanpools, shuttle services, public transportation, and electric vehicles.

Through its Sustainability Office, Brock intends to develop robust tracking mechanisms that monitor commuting behaviors across the campus community. The university’s approach involves conducting regular transportation surveys to establish baseline data on how students, faculty, and staff travel to campus, with particular attention to the proportion using sustainable modes versus single-occupancy vehicles. This data collection framework would enable Brock to set meaningful targets, such as achieving a sustainable transportation mode share while working to reduce drive-alone commuting rates.

In addition, Brock tracks its fleet vehicle composition, which is predominantly electric or hybrid, and continues to prioritize the purchase of electric vehicles where possible. The university also provides 22 electric vehicle charging stations on campus, with usage data monitored to inform future planning and support the growing adoption of electric mobility. Together, these initiatives demonstrate Brock’s commitment to measurable and data-driven progress toward sustainable transportation across its campus community.

Brock University demonstrates a comprehensive commitment to promoting sustainable commuting through a multi-faceted approach that makes environmentally friendly transportation accessible to the entire campus community. Brock undertakes actions to promote more sustainable commuting by providing extensive infrastructure and programs that encourage alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles:

Cycling infrastructure

• Over 30 bike racks are strategically positioned across campus, providing secure and convenient parking for students, faculty, and staff who choose this zero-emission mode of transport

Electric vehicle (EV) support

• 22 EV charging stations are available across 13 campus locations, supporting the growth of electric vehicle use by allowing drivers to charge while on campus

Public transit access

• Through the Brock University Students’ Union (BUSU), all students enrolled in more than 1.5 credits receive an annual bus pass at no additional cost, removing financial barriers and ensuring worry-free access to reliable, affordable public transportation throughout the academic year.

Remote work flexibility

• Brock offers remote work options for employees, reducing daily vehicle emissions recognizing that the most sustainable commute is no commute at all.

Through these combined efforts—from bicycle infrastructure to EV charging capabilities, subsidized transit passes to remote work flexibility—Brock University creates an ecosystem where sustainable transportation choices are both practical and accessible for the entire campus community.

Brock University promotes telecommuting and remote working for employees as a matter of policy and standard practice through its comprehensive Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) Policy. Following successful telecommuting guidelines piloted since 2021, the Office of People and Culture conducted extensive consultation across the Brock community to formalize these arrangements. The policy applies to numerous employees, recognizing that some unions already enjoy additional flexibility through collective agreements while others have specific contractual considerations.

The FWA framework offers multiple pathways for employees to fulfill their responsibilities while reducing their environmental footprint including: Work-from-Home arrangements (one or multiple days weekly), Compressed Work Week schedules, Adjusted Schedules, and Stacked Arrangements that combine these alternatives. This flexible approach empowers employees to propose customized arrangements—including specific hours and days—and collaborate with colleagues to determine optimal work formats and schedules that balance productivity with sustainability goals.

Brock University recognizes the critical importance of supporting sustainable communities by addressing the need for affordable housing for employees. Understanding that housing affordability is a key factor in employee well-being and community sustainability, the university demonstrates its commitment through tangible support mechanisms for its workforce. The Brock University Faculty Association Collective Agreement includes a “Travel and Moving Allowance” providing relocation reimbursement for new or moving faculty, reflecting Brock’s understanding that housing accessibility is essential for attracting and retaining talented staff and faculty.

To further assist employees in securing quality housing, Brock partners with Places4Students, a free platform with a dedicated staff/faculty tab offering off-campus listings for visiting scholars and Brock employees. The university also pays all staff a living wage for the Niagara region, helping to alleviate local housing and living costs.

Through these measures and its broader partnerships with municipal and community organizations, Brock demonstrates a continued commitment to sustainable development and inclusive, resilient communities where employees can thrive.

Brock University demonstrates its commitment to providing affordable housing for students through a comprehensive residential system and dedicated support services. The university offers three distinct on-campus residence types—traditional, semi-suite, and townhouse style—each with pricing structures that accommodate different budgets and academic levels for both undergraduate and graduate students. This tiered approach ensures students can select housing options that align with their financial circumstances while maintaining quality living standards.

For students seeking alternatives to on-campus living, Brock extends its housing support through partnerships with listing services that help connect students with safe and affordable off-campus accommodations.

Brock recognizes that affordability extends beyond infrastructure to financial accessibility. The university provides financing opportunities and assistance through programs like Care and Connect and Food First. By ensuring its housing provisions and infrastructure are accessible to students across various economic backgrounds, Brock University reduces the stress of housing. This approach allows students to focus on their academic pursuits regardless of their financial pressures.

The University prioritizes pedestrian access on campus through comprehensive planning and infrastructure that places people first. The Campus Plan emphasizes a robust pedestrian circulation network designed to facilitate easy and efficient movement throughout campus while addressing local climate challenges. Most of Brock’s buildings are interconnected on the second floor through enclosed, climate-controlled bridges and pathways, enabling the university community to move safely between buildings regardless of weather conditions.

Outdoor walkways also link buildings while providing access to courtyards, gardens, and the Bruce Trail. Multi-use paths in and around Brock’s campus accommodate both pedestrian and bicycle traffic, connecting the university campus and business district to surrounding residential areas, including recent improvements like the safer walkway completed in 2019.

Numerous crosswalks throughout campus roadways ensure pedestrians maintain priority over vehicular traffic. During winter months, Grounds Services actively maintains outdoor walkways through regular salting and plowing operations,

This pedestrian-first approach reflects Brock’s commitment to creating an accessible, walkable campus environment that supports sustainable transportation choices and enhances the daily experience of students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Brock University supports a number of partnerships to address planning and development issues in its local community. Through its partnership with the YWCA Niagara Region, Brock supports initiatives that improve safe and affordable housing for women across Niagara. Brock has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold, facilitating volunteer opportunities and student-led initiatives to support the organization’s goals and objectives. These include the annual Trick or Eat Campaign, where students collect food donations each Halloween, and the 5 Days for the Homeless event, which raises funds and awareness about homelessness in the region through students sleeping outdoors in winter conditions.

Being a valued contributor to the Niagara Region, Brock participates in the Brock District Plan, collaborating with the City of Thorold, Niagara Region, and City of St. Catharines on planning, design, and development initiatives in the surrounding area. This collaborative framework ensures that University growth aligns with broader regional planning goals and community needs, contributing to sustainable urban development. By bridging academic resources with municipal planning processes, Brock demonstrates how universities can serve as key partners in creating inclusive, well-planned communities that prioritize affordability and accessibility for all residents.

All building projects on campus must adhere to Brock University’s internal policies, including comprehensive design standards and master plans. These measures help to ensure a safe, healthy, inclusive, and functional environment aligned with both short-term and long-term goals. Brock Univeristy also complies with strict development and construction guidelines from the Niagara Escarpment Commission, reflecting the university’s commitment to environmental stewardship in the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO Biosphere Reserve .

Brock has multiple LEED certified buildings, including the Plaza Building, International Centre, and Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. LEED is a globally recognized green building certification program that provides a comprehensive framework for constructing and operating buildings in a sustainable manner, ensuring energy efficiency, resource conservation, and healthy indoor environments.

Brock’s commitment to sustainable building extends beyond new construction; the university prioritizes renovations and repurposing existing spaces as a first approach, building new only as a last resort. A dedicated space management committee regularly convenes to evaluate program changes and space utilization requests, minimizing the need for new builds and maximizing the efficient use of existing infrastructure.

Brock University demonstrates environmental leadership through its commitment to building on brownfield sites where possible. A flagship example of this sustainable development practice is the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MWS), constructed on a former industrial brownfield in downtown St. Catharines. The site, historically occupied by the Canada Hair Cloth Co. Limited since the 1880s, presented significant environmental challenges due to legacy contamination from metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), petroleum hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other industrial substances.

Brock University continues to monitor the site annually for contamination risks to ensure the safety of its occupants and the surrounding community. By choosing to build on this brownfield site, Brock has contributed to city centre revitalization, demonstrated responsible environmental management, and created a model for institutional development that prioritizes sustainability development practices.