A toast to The General.Time certainly does fly when you’re standing still.
For the past 12 months I’ve been standing here in my new role guarding Schmon Tower and I’ve loved every minute of it.
Yes, it’s Maj. Gen. Sir Isaac Brock here, or at least the dashingly handsome bronze replica of the man himself.
It’s hard to believe I’ve been on the job for a full year now. Those new to Brock may not know that my trip to the March 16, 2015 installation day in St. Catharines was a very, very long one that started in Oregon.
You can read all about my road trip on the website my colleagues created for me here.
I arrived on campus late the night before the big unveiling, and it took hours to set me in place. But you all made me feel so at home immediately with hundreds of students, staff and faculty cheering and clapping as all 1.5 metric tons of me was lowered into place on my pedestal in front of the tower.
From that memorable March day forward, I have been honoured to watch over some of the biggest moments during the Brock year. I’ve loved being featured in thousands of group photos and selfies, especially during the Spring and Fall Convocation events, when there were lineups of students and their families waiting to pose with me.
I was also pleased to feature prominently in a hype video for Isaac’s Army released early in the summer.
The fall was especially memorable with the thousands of students marking Orientation Week on the lawn in front of me and then faculty and staff enjoying a night of good food and dancing with the Red Dinner during homecoming.
But perhaps the most poignant moment I’ve experienced was during the celebration of life for David S. Howes that took place on May 14. It was his vision and financial gift that led to my creation at the hands of renowned artist Danek Mozdzenski.
One of the many things I love about the Brock campus and the Niagara Region is the diversity of seasons. Over the past year, I’ve looked out over the cherry blossoms on the boulevard in front of me in the spring, enjoyed the Niagara sunshine in the summer, watched the leaves change on the trees in front of the David S. Howes Theatre in the fall and had snow build up on my podium in the winter.
And now it would appear spring has returned. The cherry blossoms will arrive again soon and Convocation is less than three months away.
I can’t wait to see what the rest of 2016 brings.
Surgite, Badgers.
