Brock University is enhancing the online experience for graduating students in its 110th Convocation next month.

More than 1,100 students will graduate when the University celebrates Fall Convocation on Friday, Oct. 15. While public health restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact the ability to hold a traditional in-person Convocation ceremony, Brock will add a new livestreamed element this time around.

At 11 a.m. on Oct. 15, the speaking and ceremonial elements of a traditional ceremony will take place live at brocku.ca/livestream with students, their friends and families and the wider community able to tune in from wherever they are around the world.

The livestream portion of the ceremony will include addresses from Interim President Lynn Wells and Chancellor Hilary Pearson, as well as the conferring of an honorary doctorate to Ava Hill, an Indigenous leader who served 15 years on the Six Nations Elected Council, including two terms as Elected Chief.

Hill, who was born on the Six Nations Reserve and is a Wolf Clan Mohawk, is a co-chair of a Working Group that is creating a Declaration on Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples Through Sports. She was also appointed as a Board Director for Commonwealth Sport Canada and is a member of the Canadian Advisory Board for Right to Play.

A recipient of the YMCA Peacemaker Medal from the YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington and Brantford in 2020, Hill will deliver a Convocation address as part of the Brock broadcast.

Following Hill’s address and the official conferring of the degrees by Chancellor Pearson, the names of all 1,100 graduating students will be shown on the livestream. In addition, the University is once again bringing back its Convocation Portal, where students will have the opportunity to experience a personalized celebration page tailored to them.

The Convocation Portal includes the Celebration page, where grads can download filters, wallpapers and photo frames for use on social media, as well as the Celebration Wall, a popular feature added for Spring Convocation where anyone can post congratulatory photos and video messages to the Class of 2021.

The Brock Campus Store is again offering students the opportunity to purchase souvenir graduation gowns, hoods and cords, along with other Convocation gifts such as grad clothing, Class of 2021 lawn signs and degree frames.

Shortly after Virtual Convocation launches, all graduating students will be mailed a package that includes their degree parchment, a Convocation program, letters of congratulations from Brock administrators and student leaders, an alumni pin and other information from the Brock University Alumni Association, information from the Campus Store and a bag of Class of 2021 confetti. Graduands are encouraged to update their address and phone number on their Brock student portal.