Having struggled herself upon arriving in Niagara, Kassie Galaski (BA \u201922) has set out to make the transition to life in St. Catharines easier for future Brock students.<\/p>\n
Originally from Midland, Ont., Galaski drew on her own experiences and creativity to build \u2018Where can we\u2026?<\/a>\u2019 for post-secondary students and other newcomers to the region. More than just a website to find information, the site also invites users to contribute their knowledge through participation in a Discord channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Galaski, who graduated from the University earlier this month with her Bachelor of Arts from Brock\u2019s Department of English Language and Literature, was inspired by the writing of Potawatomi author Robin Kimmerer\u2019s essay The Serviceberry: An Economy of Abundance<\/em>, which she read as part of ENGL 3V91 Social Justice and Cultural Production taught by Associate Professor Susan Spearey.<\/p>\n \u201cKimmerer focuses on the concept of a gift economy, where you give something without expecting anything in return and create a mutual benefit and deeper relationships,\u201d says Galaski. \u201cThe idea of connection hit deep for me, especially during COVID where we\u2019ve lost that sense of community.\u201d<\/p>\n The website focuses on students who are new to Canada or the region, helping them to locate resources and support and share information about life in Niagara.<\/p>\n \u201cHow can someone coming into Niagara participate in the gift economy with few funds?\u201d Galaski asks. \u201cEveryone has some kind of knowledge they can share, whether it\u2019s a recipe, a craft or a tip about a secret spot in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n Galaski\u2019s road to Convocation hasn\u2019t been an easy one. \u00a0She started her studies at Brock in the Concurrent Education program, but, after facing difficulties transitioning to life in Niagara, she found herself on academic probation.<\/p>\n \u201cI was new to the Niagara region and there were a lot of hurdles,\u201d she says, such as being unfamiliar with transit schedules and walk-in clinics, for example.<\/p>\n