Brock senior leaders hosted an online Town Hall Friday, June 25 to discuss the community engagement pillar of the University’s Strategic Plan.

Nearly 300 people watched the livestreamed event that featured conversations with community members about how the University is enhancing the life and vitality of the Niagara region and beyond.

A recording is available to anyone wishing to watch it on demand.

Lynn Wells, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, and Tim Kenyon, Vice-President, Research, opened the Town Hall by discussing community engagement at Brock and the impact of community-based research.

Following these highlights, three community conversations took place:

• Members from the local chambers of commerce and representatives from Brock Co-op Education discussed how co-op students helped support businesses during the pandemic. Meaghan Rusnell, Executive Director, Government and Community Relations, moderated a panel discussion with Mishka Balsom, CEO, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce; Kevin Jacobi, Executive Director, CanadaBW Logistics Inc. and member of the South Niagara Chambers of Commerce; Julia Zhu, Associate Director, Co-op Education; and Anthonie Korstanje, former co-op student and recent Bachelor of Arts in Economics graduate.
• Matthias Oppenlaender, Chair of the Grape Growers of Ontario and General Manager of Huebel Grapes Estates, and Debbie Inglis, Director for Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, presented a video that discussed the impact of Brock research on the grape growing industry. After the video, Wells moderated questions from viewers.
• Participants of the Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being discussed how its research and community exercise programs help improve the health and quality of life of older adults, cardiac patients and individuals living with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis and amputees. Rusnell moderated a panel discussion with Deborah O’Leary, Associate Dean, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences; Kimberley Gammage, Associate Professor of Kinesiology; Taranjot Dhillon, part-time staff member with the Centre and recent Master of Kinesiology graduate; and Karen Davis and Hugh Sawyer, community members who use the Centre.

Closing remarks were offered by Gervan Fearon, President and Vice-Chancellor.

Several Brock senior leaders were available to answer questions, including Scott Johnstone, Senior Associate Vice-President, Infrastructure and Operations; Josh Tonnos, Chief Financial Officer and Associate Vice-President; and Gord Arbeau, Associate Vice-President, Advancement and External Relations.