Think of September in Niagara and it’s hard not to think of the Grape and Wine Festival, that 10-day ritual of pageantry and social events that is as deeply popular with local residents as with generations of former Niagarans who flock home to meet up with old friends.

Brock President Gervan Fearon in the mood on Grade Parade day.

Each year, the allure of “Grape and Wine time” also embraces Brock staff, students and alumni. Whether non-local undergrads living in residence, graduates coming back for reunions or international students from around the world who delight in Niagara’s biggest party, they enjoy the opportunity to connect with and be a part of their host communities.

The 2017 participation levels by Brock people were as high as the temperatures in the record-breaking heatwave. From sold-out alumni events in Montebello Park, to a sea of red-clad trekkers in the Grande Parade, the Brock community was out in force.

The most visible participation came Saturday, Sept. 23, when more than 200 students, staff and faculty flowed through the streets of downtown St. Catharines, embodying Brock’s outreach to large crowds lining the Grande Parade route. Fresh-faced undergrads sidled alongside senior administrators, even the Chair of the Board, a procession of waving, dancing Badgers adding their fuel to the festive atmosphere.

President Gervan Fearon, who waved and danced through the parade, said the widespread Brock participation in official Festival events sends an important message to the University’s neighbours and partners.

“Our students lived up to and surpassed expectations today,” Fearon said following the parade. “This is an example of what we can achieve when the Brock community turns out like this to be strong role models and contributors.

“Brock is working with local mayors and regional communities to keep building the relationship, and we respect that they are also taking the steps they consider necessary to ensure all members of the community enjoy the best the region has to offer.

“We want the Niagara community to be proud of the University, and we have to earn that respect every day.”

Brock University Students’ Association President Faisal Hejazi went step for step with Fearon through the parade, and saluted the volunteers and staff who helped coordinate the Brock contingent.

“Being involved in the parade along with our students, faculty, staff and administration was an outstanding experience,” said Hejazi. “It was the President’s first time participating in this event, and it was awesome seeing him interacting with families along the route, walking with our students and enjoying his time.

“It’s always a pleasure when the various members of our community come together to celebrate and enjoy what Niagara has to offer.”

A lot of the participation could be traced to awareness-raising by Brock’s Office of Student Life, though Tanya Bradley, Manager of Student and Community Experience, said Brock’s parade presence was caused by “a true collaboration across campus, and one that I was very proud to be part of.”

“Supporting and connecting with our community was very important to the participants who walked alongside the Brock float and demonstrated what the Brock experience means to our students, staff and faculty.”

In the mood: Brock alumni had a lot of fun mugging for the camera catching up at the VIP Reunion event.