For more than 25 years, Niagara Parks has helped Brock students grow through hands-on experience and career-building opportunities.

Niagara Parks has been recognized for its outstanding contributions to student learning and professional development, earning multiple honours among Brock University’s 2024 Co-op, Career and Experiential Education (CCEE) Awards.

The organization was recently named Co-op Employer of the Year in the Large Organization category. Its Chief Human Resources Officer, Janice Spino, was recognized with an Outstanding Co-op Supervisor award for her leadership and mentorship.

“Niagara Parks is committed to providing meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities that support students in developing the skills and confidence they need to thrive,” said Spino. “The enthusiasm and talent demonstrated by Brock students throughout their co-op placements have made them an invaluable part of our team, and we are proud to support their career journeys.”

A steadfast supporter of Brock’s co-op programs, Niagara Parks has hired nearly 30 co-op students across various disciplines in the past two years alone, including Political Science, Psychology, History, Sustainability, Business, Public Health, Labour Studies and Biological Sciences.

Beyond offering transformative co-op work experiences, Niagara Parks has played an active role in Brock’s career development initiatives, participating in networking events and formalizing its partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year.

Niagara Parks was among six organizations to receive one of CCEE’s new Experiential Education Community Partner of the Year awards honouring organizations that experiential learning for Brock students.

• Faculty of Social Sciences category: Niagara Parks, which offers students hands-on experience with local conservation initiatives.
• Faculty of Applied Health Sciences category: St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, which offers internships and clinical placements for Recreation and Leisure Studies and Nursing students.
• Goodman School of Business: Canadian Grapevine Certification Network, which integrates sustainability into coursework and hires co-op students.
• Faculty of Education: District School Board of Niagara, which supports teacher candidates through field placements and practicums.
• Faculty of Humanities: The Brown Homestead, which collaborates with students on digital media projects and tourism programming.

The 2024 CCEE Awards recognized several other employers and community partners for their commitment to student success:

• DDL & Co., which received the Co-op Employer of the Year in the Small-Medium Enterprise category, has provided a supportive learning environment for 34 Brock co-op students since 2022.
• Halton Region, which received the Co-op Employer of the Year in the Non-Profit category, has provided 19 co-op work terms across multiple programs since 2019.
• Brooke Iannuzzelli (BBA ’14), Human Resources Advisory with the City of Welland, who was named Alumni Co-op Employer of the Year for her mentorship of Brock students.
• The Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), which received the Law Plus Partner Award, which has been a key partner of the program since 2019. NRPS offered students the opportunity to tour its headquarters and training facility and to learn about forensics, dispatch and specialized units such as the Emergency Task Force.
• Supporting Neurodiversity through Adaptive Programming (SNAP), which received the Med Plus Partner Award, provides students in the program with experience supporting children and youth with disabilities. Many students advance into leadership roles, and SNAP leaders also deliver a highly rated workshop on adaptability and inclusivity for future health care professionals.
• David Dec was awarded the Med Plus 25th Anniversary Partner Award. Dec has shaped the Med Plus program for nearly 25 years. As a guest speaker, he introduces students to Family Medicine and Medical Ethics while offering job-shadowing opportunities for first-hand insights into the health care field.

“We deeply appreciate our employer and community partners for their dedication to student growth,” said Julia Zhu, Director of Co-op, Career and Experiential Education. “Their mentorship, real-world experiences and coaching help shape the workforce of tomorrow.”