Senior leaders from Brock University, the City of Burlington and Burlington Public Library toured Brock’s future Burlington Campus at the former Robert Bateman Secondary School on June 27. Throughout its history, Brock University has remained strongly rooted in community — and its new Burlington campus will be no different.
Brock has been working closely with the City of Burlington and Burlington Public Library to ready its new space in the Robert Bateman Community Centre, which will welcome Teacher Education and Applied Disability Studies students in September.
The modern learning environment, which Brock takes possession of in August, will feature state-of-the art science instructional labs, spaces designed for active learning in the arts, bookable study and research rooms, meditation and quiet rooms and a fitness facility. The campus will also offer Professional and Continuing Studies programming for community.
As an extension of their current programming, the Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre will operate a satellite office out of the Burlington campus to provide staff, faculty, students and community an opportunity to participate in a range of cultural workshops and activities.
Brock University Library will have dedicated space in the Burlington Public Library’s new on-site branch, offering increased access to resources, research support and collaborative programming for both the Brock and Burlington communities.
To improve access to campus, the Brock University Students’ Union has partnered with Burlington Transit to provide a discounted bus pass that will be available to students in early September.
“We are excited to expand Brock’s presence in Burlington and to see our students further grow connections to the community through this new, dynamic space,” says President and Vice-Chancellor Lesley Rigg. “Our students, Canada’s next generation of skilled educators and working professionals, will benefit from being immersed in this community hub for learning and education, just as the community will benefit from the presence of these bright, passionate minds.”
The community connections established during the development of the new campus build on Brock’s rich legacy of local engagement.
“Brock University was founded by and for community 60 years ago, and that connection remains just as important today as it was in 1964,” says Rigg. “We look forward to working alongside our community partners in Burlington to help the Robert Bateman Community Centre thrive.”
