As Brock gets set to host more than 8,500 guests for Congress 2014 from May 23 to 30, on-campus services and facilities will be significantly impacted by the gathering.

The event, which is the largest academic gathering of its kind in Canada, will impact everything from parking and food services, to facilities and spaces, and more.

The University will be open, but things will be running a little bit different.

“During Congress, regular day-to-day operations at Brock will be noticeably impacted,” says Brad Clarke, Brock’s project manager for Congress 2014. “We’re asking the Brock community to be patient with unexpected delays, longer lines than usual, spaces that will be unavailable-those kinds of things.”

The main on-campus disruption leading up to and during Congress will be physical transformation of campus as classrooms and other spaces are commandeered and rearranged to accommodate our incoming guests.

Another key area that will be impacted by Congress is on-campus parking and traffic. Starting Friday May 23, the University is expecting increased vehicular traffic on campus during peak morning hours from 6:30 to 9 a.m.

Traffic volumes are also expected to peak during the first few days of Congress from Sunday May 25 to Wednesday May 28. Campus Security and Parking Services will be conducting incoming traffic at Brock’s main entrance.

To save time, Brock employees, volunteers and any charter buses with non-Congress visitors are asked to please enter campus through the Glenridge Ave. traffic circle entrance (opposite the Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre) during peak traffic times.

The Brock community is also reminded to leave plenty of extra time for travelling on and off campus during peak times in the morning and afternoon during Congress.

This bit of advice also applies to food service operations on campus during the event. Please be mindful of peak food-related times – morning and afternoon breaks, lunch time – and consider changing up your routine for the week to beat the rush.

Members of the Brock community are also encouraged to volunteer to help out at Congress. To get involved, contact Curtis Gadula, manager, Student Life and Community Experience at cgadula@brocku.ca

During Congress, there will also be many opportunities to experience some thought-provoking and entertaining events and presentations.

Brock’s “Congress Plus” program includes 30 events (theatre, art, concerts, lectures) that are free and open to the public. And The Big Thinking lecture series, featuring eight notable scholars, such as David Plotz, Catherine Dauvergne and Lawrence Hill, is free and open to everyone. Seating for these events is first-come first-served.

“As campus gets crowded with attendees during the week, we’re also asking everyone put their best foot forward as ambassadors for the University as we welcome the world to our campus for eight days,” adds Clarke.

For more info about Congress at Brock: www.congress2014.ca