Brock University is celebrating Homecoming this weekend and the Niagara community is invited. 

This year’s Homecoming celebration takes place from Friday, Sept. 21 to Sunday, Sept. 23 with a variety of activities happening on campus and in the community.

Highlighting the weekend are the annual Grape Stomp in Brock’s Jubilee Court Friday afternoon, the Steel Blade Classic Tailgate Party and now sold-out hockey game Friday night, the Alumni Recognition Reception Saturday at noon and Brock Night at the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival Saturday night.

“As the most anticipated alumni event of the year, Homecoming provides our Brock alumni the opportunity to connect with one another, their alma mater and our outstanding students,” said Shelley Huxley, Director, Alumni Relations. “Our alumni make us very proud and we are honoured to welcome them home.”

A full list of Homecoming weekend events can be found on the Brock University website, and all events are open to the media.

Here are some of the major Homecoming events scheduled for this year:

Grape Stomp
Friday, Sept. 21, Noon

Brock’s annual Grape Stomp has been called one of the Top 10 best Canadian university traditions. Nearly 1,000 students are expected to take part in the messy grape-stomping party in Brock’s Jubilee Court.

Homecoming Tailgate Party / 20th Annual Steel Blade Classic
Friday, Sept. 21, 4 p.m. / 7 p.m.

Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts is hosting the annual Homecoming Tailgate Party featuring refreshments, music and family-friendly events. From there, the party moves indoors when the Brock Badgers men’s hockey team hosts the Guelph Gryphons in the 20th annual Steel Blade Classic at the Meridian Centre. The game is now completely sold out. 

Alumni Recognition Reception
Saturday, Sept. 22, Noon

Taking place at Brock’s Lowenberger Dining Hall, alumni who graduated either 25 or 50 years ago will be recognized. The event will also celebrate Joe Kenny (MEd ’85) and Karen McAllister-Kenny (MEd ’97) as the 2018 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award, presented by the Brock University Alumni Association. They will be the first joint-recipients, the first married couple and the first master’s graduates to be honoured with this award. Brock’s Faculties will also present the Distinguished Faculty Graduate Awards Saturday.

Goodman School of Business Tours and Reception
Saturday, Sept. 22, 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Tours of the new Goodman School of Business building will be available at 1:30, 2:20 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22. The 30-minute tours will be led by the Lead Project Manager and the Business Student Association President and will include a walk-through of the classrooms, atrium and a demonstration of some of the new technology being used.

From 2 to 4 p.m., a free Goodman School of Business Reception will be held in the new atrium. In addition, Goodman graduating classes of 2008 and 2013 will celebrate reunions.

Brock Night at the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival
Saturday, Sept. 22, 5 to 7 p.m.

Back again for 2018 is the Brock VIP experience at the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival. Brock alumni who have pre-purchased tickets will experience local wine and food while enjoying a panoramic view of Montebello Park from the elevated and covered Harvest Lounge.

Educate Your Senses – Wine and Cheese Speaker Series – Niagara Grape and Wine Festival
Saturday Sept. 22, 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Presented by the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) in collaboration with VINES Magazine and the Real Canadian Superstore, Educate Your Senses takes place in the Roy T. Adam Bandshell at Montebello Park in St. Catharines. Brock alumni are welcome to join in and receive a free wine glass (with registration) as well as enjoy half-price seminars.

Reunions
Friday, Sept. 21 and Saturday, Sept. 22
Among the reunions being held throughout the weekend are: Class of 2008, 2013 and 2017; Earth Sciences; and Badgers reunions for hockey, lacrosse and fencing.

Brock Badgers
Saturday, Sept. 22 and Sunday, Sept. 23

In addition to the Steel Blade Classic hockey game Friday night, there will be a full slate of Brock Badgers home games taking place Saturday and Sunday including women’s rugby, men’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s soccer. There will also be rowing at the WIFC North Course in Welland Saturday, women’s hockey action at the Seymour Hannah Centre Saturday, and the tennis team competing at White Oaks both days. See GoBadgers.ca for a full schedule of times and locations for both home and away games this weekend.