Brock’s Board of Trustees officially approved the University’s partnership of Canada Games Park on Thursday, Dec. 5. On hand for the meeting were a number of Niagara political leaders and Canada Games officials. Pictured from left are St. Catharines Deputy CAO David Oakes, Niagara Region Acting CAO Ron Tripp, Chair of the Niagara 2021 Canada Summer Games Host Society Doug Hamilton, St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik, Brock Board of Trustees Chair Gary Comerford, Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley, Thorold Mayor Terry Ugulini, Brock President Gervan Fearon, Brock Board Vice-Chair Robin Williams and Brock Senior Associate Vice-President, Operations and Infrastructure Services Scott Johnstone.Brock University’s Board of Trustees has formally endorsed the University’s commitment as a community partner for Canada Games Park.
The state-of-the-art athletic complex is being built on the Brock campus at the southwest corner of Sir Isaac Brock Boulevard and Merrittville Highway. It will be the signature venue for the 2021 Canada Games and will become a legacy of the Games for the region.
On Thursday, Dec. 5, the Board voted in favour of Brock becoming a partner in owning and operating the facility.
“Brock is incredibly proud to work with our community leaders to make this happen,” said Board of Trustees Chair Gary Comerford. “This is a wonderful legacy facility that is bringing the community back onto our campus and really integrates our campus into the community.”
The vote follows similar decisions by the councils for the cities of St. Catharines and Thorold, as well as the Niagara Region. The two municipalities and the Region will join Brock in being ownership partners Canada Games Park, while St. Catharines, Thorold and Brock will form an operational partnership to run the facility.
While some operating details for the facility are still being worked out, its construction has now started on the Brock campus. The Canada Games Host Society selected Aquicon Construction to build the complex, and the company has begun site preparation work.
Brock University President Gervan Fearon said Brock is proud to be a partner with St. Catharines, Thorold and the Niagara Region.
“This project supports the University’s priority of contributing to the vitality of local communities and regional development,” he said. “I am pleased Brock is playing its part in supporting Canada’s sport and athletic excellence by having Canada Games facilities located here at the University.”
The Canada Games will bring more than 5,000 athletes from across the country to Niagara from Aug. 6 to 21, 2021 to compete in 18 sports.
In addition to being home to Canada Games Park, Brock will host other competitions in its existing athletics facilities, and its student residences will be the Athletes Village.
Brock students, faculty and staff will also be directly involved in volunteering, developing academic and research programs, and community engagement initiatives leading up to and during the event.
“Brock is proud to be supporting the mission of the Canada Games, which is to bring Canadians together,” Fearon said.
