From the size of the graduating class to the larger — and now indoor — venue, much has changed since Brock University’s first Convocation in 1967. 

And while the pomp and circumstance has remained the same, so has one other unwavering element: the pride felt by students and their families on graduation day. 

“Convocation is the culmination of many years of hard work for so many students who have all reached this goal despite each having very different circumstances,” says Sandy Howe, the University’s Director, Enrolment Supports. “It’s truly a celebration like no other on campus.” 

Brock University’s inaugural Convocation saw 39 graduates receive their degrees on the open-air, rooftop podium atop what is now the Rankin Family Pavilion. Now hosted in the Ian Beddis Gymnasium, about 5,000 grads celebrate the milestone moment each year between seven ceremonies in the spring and two in the fall. 

“The number of Brock grads going out into the world every year is incredible,” Howe says. “The growing alumni family is a reflection of how far the University has come since its humble beginnings 60 years ago.” 

While its literal size has expanded, the University has also grown in other ways through its ongoing commitment to foster a culture of reconciliation, decolonization, accessibility and inclusivity.  

In recent years, Brock has introduced several Indigenous elements into its Convocation ceremonies, which now feature the presence of Indigenous Elders, music from the Strong Water Singers and the inclusion of Brock’s Spirit Bear, Entiohahathé’te, as part of the Reconciliation Ambearrister program. 

The spring 2024 ceremonies marked the first time the Convocation procession was led by Brock’s Eagle Staff, a sacred symbol that represents many traditional Indigenous cultures and clears the way for everything that comes after it.

The spring 2024 ceremonies marked the first time the Convocation procession was led by Brock’s Eagle Staff, a sacred symbol that represents many traditional Indigenous cultures and clears the way for everything that comes after it. 

Brock has also worked to make Convocation more accessible to all, with American Sign Language interpreters, among other accommodations, now available at each ceremony, along with livestreaming services featuring closed captioning. 

The University’s ability to adapt was tested during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented traditional in-person ceremonies from taking place. 

“COVID-19 threw a curveball to every post-secondary institute — and everyone around the world — in spring 2020,” Howe recalls. “We knew we had to find a way to still celebrate our graduates and the hard work that brought them to their graduation day.” 

The University hosted online Convocation ceremonies in 2020 and 2021 — complete with a “Convocation-in-a-box” package of celebration essentials delivered to grads at home. Once restrictions lifted in 2022, alumni from the impacted years were invited to return to campus to cross the stage during legacy Convocation events. 

Whether in person or online, the ceremonies are made possible through a collective effort from faculty and staff from across the University. 

“Everyone plays a part — whether they are frontline to the student experience or behind the scenes on campus — in helping our students to reach graduation, so it’s a rewarding day for everyone on campus,” Howe says. “Helping people pursue and then achieve their dreams is something pretty special to be a part of.”