{"id":68660,"date":"2020-10-16T15:50:07","date_gmt":"2020-10-16T19:50:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=68660"},"modified":"2020-10-16T16:08:10","modified_gmt":"2020-10-16T20:08:10","slug":"generation-without-borders-called-on-to-embrace-power-at-brocks-fall-convocation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2020\/10\/generation-without-borders-called-on-to-embrace-power-at-brocks-fall-convocation\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Generation without borders\u2019 called on to embrace power at Brock\u2019s Fall Convocation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When Lieutenant-General, the Honorable Rom\u00e9o Dallaire virtually addressed the graduates at Brock\u2019s Fall Convocation Friday, Oct. 16, he came with a clear directive.<\/p>\n<p>The celebrated international human rights advocate, who received an honorary doctorate from the University, wanted his audience of young learners to understand the power in their hands.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou are a particularly significant generation, because you are fully engaged in the communications revolution of our time,\u201d he told the roughly 1,000 new graduates he hoped to embolden. \u201cYou are already global. You are the generation without borders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The nature of the address, delivered as <a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2020\/10\/reminder-brocks-virtual-fall-convocation-launches-friday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brock\u2019s 108th Convocation ceremony went online<\/a> due to public health restrictions, was certainly fitting.<\/p>\n<p>With the ability to \u201ccoalesce massively within minutes,\u201d young Canadians can influence the \u201cflow of thinking\u201d in the world, and have a significant impact on and apply pressure to critical causes, said Dallaire, a respected author, government and United Nations advisor, and former Canadian senator.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have power that we never, ever could have,\u201d he said in reference to his own generation. \u201cThe question is, are you ready to use it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The founder of the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security spoke passionately about the impact this generation can have on climate change, Canadian politics, the outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic and the prevention of global conflicts.<\/p>\n<p>He urged graduates to harness that ability and become \u201cengaged in this revolution.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUse the magnificence of your youth to take risks, to advance and to push the envelope,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6atmG1QwDQA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In addition to Dallaire\u2019s keynote address, the virtual Convocation also included the <a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2020\/10\/hilary-pearson-to-be-installed-friday-as-brocks-ninth-chancellor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">installation of University Chancellor Hilary Pearson<\/a>, who succeeded <a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2020\/10\/cheechoos-time-as-chancellor-was-significant-for-brock-and-for-her\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shirley Cheechoo<\/a> to become Brock\u2019s ninth Chancellor.<\/p>\n<p>A recognized leader in Canadian philanthropy and community engagement, Pearson said she was drawn to Brock\u2019s local commitment and global outreach, clearly outlined in the University\u2019s Strategic Plan.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI read about your mission and your values,\u201d she said, \u201cand I reflected on the four priorities that are so well stated in the plan: offering a transformational university experience, building research capacity, enhancing the life and vitality of the region, and fostering a culture of inclusivity, accessibility, reconciliation and decolonization.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe words that rang through this statement resonated with me,\u201d said Pearson, who has served in senior policy roles in the federal government and as President of Philanthropic Foundations Canada for 18 years, working closely with many of the country\u2019s largest private charitable foundations. \u201cThis is not a University that sits remotely in its ivory tower, even if it is indeed on a hill. It is actively engaged with the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While the University\u2019s mission played a significant role in bringing the new Chancellor on board, it was word of the cultural fabric of the Brock community that Pearson found most convincing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy conversation with Chancellor Cheechoo persuaded me that there was an opportunity to work with committed people at Brock,\u201d Pearson said. \u201cI am truly inspired by her example of integrity, courage and belief in inclusivity and reconciliation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI admire her commitment to cultural creativity and individual expression. As an ally, I hope to support and continue the work that she began at Brock to honour Indigenous culture and beliefs, and to offer Indigenous students the full opportunity to participate and contribute to the University community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pearson, who in 2018 was named a Member of the Order of Canada, also took the opportunity to offer words of inspiration to the Class of 2020.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou are going out into a world that is being challenged by huge events: the pandemic and its consequences and the search for sustainable and equitable growth in the face of climate change and other global disruptions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is opportunity here for you. Brock has given you skills, experiences and values that will equip you well to meet what is out there. With creativity, entrepreneurial ambition and confidence, you are the talent that Canada and the world need to work through the challenges of the coming decades.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The virtual celebration, which <a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/convocation\/virtual-fall\/?sc-fn=Isaac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">remains available online<\/a>, also recognized several award winners, including Distinguished Teaching Award recipient <a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2020\/10\/perseverance-pays-off-for-distinguished-teaching-award-winner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kai-Yu Wang<\/a>, Professor and Chair of the Marketing, International Business and Strategy department at the Goodman School of Business; Distinguished Research and Creative Activity Award recipient <a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2020\/10\/angela-evans-named-distinguished-research-and-creative-activity-award-winner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Angela Evans<\/a>, Associate Professor of Psychology in the Faculty of Social Sciences; <a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2020\/10\/spirit-of-brock-winners-shine-at-virtual-convocation-ceremony\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spirit of Brock medalists Christopher Yendt<\/a> (Bachelor of Education in Adult Education) and <a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2020\/10\/spirit-of-brock-winners-shine-at-virtual-convocation-ceremony\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Carly Magnacca<\/a> (Master of Arts in Applied Disability Studies); and <a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2020\/10\/physics-grads-earn-governor-general-silver-medals-at-fall-convocation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Governor General Silver Medal recipients Kraig Helmeczi<\/a> (Bachelor of Science in Physics) and <a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2020\/10\/physics-grads-earn-governor-general-silver-medals-at-fall-convocation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Collin Tower<\/a> (Bachelor of Science in Physics).<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Xi7RfJOlNNY\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Lieutenant-General, the Honorable Rom\u00e9o Dallaire virtually addressed the graduates at Brock\u2019s Fall Convocation Friday, Oct. 16, he came with a clear directive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":68664,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[36,39,7484,40,7,3319,4052,188,55,37,41,1,4,38],"tags":[156,1368,9367,9041,5933,3262],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68660"}],"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\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68660"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68660\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68662,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68660\/revisions\/68662"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}