{"id":102167,"date":"2025-06-09T13:59:29","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T17:59:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=102167"},"modified":"2025-06-09T17:45:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T21:45:54","slug":"convocation-through-time-a-celebration-for-the-ages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2025\/06\/convocation-through-time-a-celebration-for-the-ages\/","title":{"rendered":"Convocation through time: A celebration for the ages"},"content":{"rendered":"

From the size of the graduating class to the larger \u2014 and now indoor \u2014 venue, much has changed since Brock University\u2019s first Convocation in 1967.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cConvocation 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,\u201d says Sandy Howe, the University\u2019s Director, Enrolment Supports. \u201cIt\u2019s truly a celebration like no other on campus.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Brock University\u2019s 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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe number of Brock grads going out into the world every year is incredible,\u201d Howe says. \u201cThe growing alumni family is a reflection of how far the University has come since its humble beginnings 60 years ago.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s Spirit Bear, Entiohahath\u00e9\u2019te, as part of the Reconciliation Ambearrister program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The spring 2024 ceremonies marked the first time the Convocation procession was led by Brock\u2019s Eagle Staff, a sacred symbol that represents many traditional Indigenous cultures and clears the way for everything that comes after it.<\/p><\/div>\n

The spring 2024 ceremonies marked the first time the Convocation procession was led by Brock\u2019s Eagle Staff, a sacred symbol that represents many traditional Indigenous cultures and clears the way for everything that comes after it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The University\u2019s ability to adapt was tested during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented traditional in-person ceremonies from taking place.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCOVID-19 threw a curveball to every post-secondary institute \u2014 and everyone around the world \u2014 in spring 2020,\u201d Howe recalls. \u201cWe knew we had to find a way to still celebrate our graduates and the hard work that brought them to their graduation day.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The University hosted online Convocation ceremonies in 2020 and 2021 \u2014 complete with a \u201cConvocation-in-a-box\u201d 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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether in person or online, the ceremonies are made possible through a collective effort from faculty and staff from across the University.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone plays a part \u2014 whether they are frontline to the student experience or behind the scenes on campus \u2014 in helping our students to reach graduation, so it\u2019s a rewarding day for everyone on campus,\u201d Howe says. \u201cHelping people pursue and then achieve their dreams is something pretty special to be a part of.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From the size of the graduating class to the larger \u2014 and now indoor \u2014 venue, much has changed since Brock University\u2019s first Convocation in 1967.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":102186,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7484,3319,1],"tags":[13423,156,3775],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102167"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102167"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102194,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102167\/revisions\/102194"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}