A team of volunteers will once again be rolling out the Welcome Wagon to greet Brock’s newest off-campus Badgers and help them build positive relationships with their Niagara communities.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, the University’s students, staff and local partners will visit more than 500 homes in St. Catharines and Thorold to speak with students and local residents and to distribute Off-Campus Living and Neighbourhood Relations resources.

The welcome kits include important information about living off campus, such as municipal bylaws and regulations, waste management, volunteering in Niagara and the Good Neighbour Guide. New this year is the addition of the Brock Student Local Guide, which highlights Niagara businesses and campus services that will help students make the most of their university experience.

“Welcome Wagon gives us an opportunity to partner with local businesses and community organizations, to welcome students and to educate them about their new home in Niagara,” said Syerra Jasmin, Co-ordinator, Off-Campus Living and lead of the Welcome Wagon program.

Familiar faces from Brock will be joined by representatives from the City of St. Catharines and City of Thorold, Niagara Regional Police Service, St. Catharines and Thorold Fire and Emergency Services, Niagara Region Waste Management and bylaw enforcement officers during the door-to-door initiative. Thorold Mayor Terry Ugulini and St. Catharines Deputy Mayor Bill Phillips will also be on hand to provide opening remarks for the day.

In partnership with the Thorold Business Improvement Association, local businesses have also been invited to post signs in their windows welcoming new and returning students into the community.

“The Welcome Wagon tradition continues to be a success thanks to a strong, year-round commitment from our community partners and local business owners,” said Kristen Smith, Manager, Off-Campus and Community Experience. “We’re delighted to welcome a brand-new class of Brock students and are here to support them in having a positive experience in Niagara, whether they are renting accommodations or living at home.”

Students, along with faculty and staff, will have an opportunity to contribute to the local community during Brock Cares Day of Service on Saturday, Sept. 7. The event, which is the University’s largest day of volunteering, highlights giving back as an integral part of the Brock student experience.

The Brock Cares Day of Service will launch a monthly series of coordinated opportunities for students to continue to volunteer throughout the year. Brock’s Off-Campus Living and Neighbourhood Relations Department will also conduct regular neighbourhood visits during the academic year to support positive relationships with students and residents in the Niagara Region.

Additional information about the Welcome Wagon and other community relations initiatives can be found on Brock’s Neighbourhood Relations website.