Articles by author: Amanda Smits

  • Lincoln and Brock sign MOU to focus on community priorities

    Sunday, February 26, 2017 | By

    Published on February 22 2017

    From The Brock News
    February 16, 2017

    Brock University and the Town of Lincoln formalized an agreement that could help the municipality and the school identify joint projects that enrich Brock’s educational opportunities while advancing the town’s economic, social and community development.

    The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton and Brock Interim President Tom Traves on Wednesday, Feb. 15 is the latest venture to see the town and university collaborate on initiatives that support the strategic intentions of both parties.

    This helps build communities but also strengthens Brock and makes it increasingly valuable to the entire region as a key resource for education and knowledge.

    The MOU will see the two partners create a joint steering committee that explores ways of moving forward by matching the University’s areas of expertise with the Town’s needs and opportunities.

    Traves said Brock is committed to supporting the development of local communities, especially in ways that benefit both partners.

    “For the University, initiatives like this typically lead to work-integrated experiential learning opportunities, while advancing cutting-edge research and transferring Brock’s innovation into our host communities, supporting social and economic needs,” said Traves.

    This new genre of collaboration between universities and municipalities allows for community co-research models, where the town is an active partner who not only helps define the scope of a project, but participates in research whose outcomes are specific and can be realistically implemented by a local municipality.

    Easton said the MOU provides the knowledge and expertise of Brock faculty and students, bringing “a much broader perspective that can only assist us in our vision of a future, sustainable Lincoln.”

    “This collaboration serves as a local think tank with focus and expertise,” said Easton, “a relationship to benefit Council, our community, and our staff.”

    From The Brock News

  • New funding helps Brock add new online alternatives

    Sunday, February 26, 2017 | By

    Published on February 11 2017

    From The Brock News

    Brock University is getting nearly $430,000 from the Ontario government to help develop content for new online courses.

    A $330,000 eCampus Ontario grant will let the University create an online four-year bachelor’s degree program in Adult Education, while a separate grant of nearly $100,000 supports development of open course modules associated with the University’s Environmental Sustainability in Practice course in the Environment Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC).

    The Adult Education expansion builds on the success of Brock’s existing three-year bachelor’s degree program — the first fully online degree program introduced by the Faculty of Education in 1999.

    “It makes a direct contribution to the University’s strategic goals when it comes to online learning,” said Associate Professor Camille Rutherford in the Department of Teacher Education.

    New courses will be developed over the coming year in partnership with Niagara College as a supporting institution.

    The program’s fourth-year option is expected to launch in September 2018.

    Work will be done in conjunction with Brock’s Centre for Pedagogical Innovation to look at best practices for online learning and how to incorporate them into the program’s technical design.

    “Most highly engaging online courses aren’t just text,” Rutherford said, adding there’s an opportunity to include the effective use of audio, video and various digital activities.

    With the grant money, Brock can work with videographers, digital editors and multimedia specialists to develop a stimulating online experience.

    “The Ministry (Advanced Education and Skills Development) has given us the resources to be able to do this and to do it in a high-impact way,” Rutherford said.

    The intent is to develop strategies and templates for online courses that can be used across the University.

    Rutherford said online learning is crucial for people who require a flexible approach to post-secondary education. For instance, most students in the Adult Education program have day jobs, and need a work-around as they endeavour to improve their teaching skills.

    “We have a large number of learners that teach within the college system, people in social services, health care, in instructional roles in the military and a large cohort at the Bruce Nuclear Plant,” Rutherford said, adding those students enrol from across the province.

    “This gives them an opportunity to engage in those learning experiences regardless of their location. It fits into their work life.”

    The expansion, she said, will allow Brock to “continue to distinguish ourselves as a desired place to be, a leader in e-learning and supporter of future-ready skills.

    “This will be an exemplary program, not just here at Brock, but across the province.”

    The Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC), one of Brock’s five transdisciplinary hubs, also has plans to share its grant-funded work once its new Environmental Sustainability in Practice course is created.

    The course, set to launch in September, will be available to students in various undergraduate programs looking to take a minor in Environmental Sustainability.

    Once the modules are completed, they will be made available to institutions across the province for incorporation into various undergraduate programs.

    “This is a chance to create something that is special to Brock,” said ESRC Director and Professor Ryan Plummer.

    “The fact that our proposal was successful is a real nod to what we have in terms of talent and expertise here at Brock. We’re creating materials that can be used throughout Ontario.”

    The project shows the University is “making it a priority to respond to learners of the 21st century and rethinking how we do some things in terms of our innovative pedagogy,” Plummer said.

    “This is allowing us to realize some of the dreams that we have of how we ideally want to engage learners. It allows us to push the boundaries of what we can actually do online.”

    The funding will allow for content development using multimedia professionals, advanced audio and video techniques.

    “The University is absolutely delighted to see these successful eCampus Ontario grant proposals in online course module, program development and research and innovation categories,” said Vice-Provost Anna Lathrop.

    These projects, she said, will add to Brock University’s reputation as an institution that prioritizes 21st century learning in forums that integrate technological fluencies and personalized learning.

    Brock University offers 72 online courses across all Faculties, including 27 within Adult Education.

    While Adult Education was once the University’s only fully online undergraduate program, that recently changed with the introduction of the Masters of Public Health program.

    Brock has previously succeeded in obtaining eCampus Ontario funding for development of online courses in human geography, diversities in actor training and history.

    The non-profit collaborative centre of excellence in technology-enabled learning acts as administrator for a web portal that houses more than 13,000 online courses from post-secondary institutions across the province.

    From The Brock News

  • Collaboration planned between ESRC and Posthumanism research Institute

    Sunday, February 26, 2017 | By

    Published on February 11 2017

    From The Brock News
    By: Lydia Collas

    Two research centres at Brock have signed an agreement to improve their collaborative efforts.

    The Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) and the Posthumanism Research Institute (PRI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently that will lead to the two centres pursuing joint research projects, workshops and conferences over the coming year.

    “These two research collectives at Brock ask ‘How do we relate to the world around us? And, how is this relationship changing now and into the future?’ These are fertile areas of research often requiring transdisciplinary approaches to scholarship,” says Interim Vice-President Joffre Mercier. “The ESRC and PRI complement each other and this initiative to co-operate more formally highlights the transdisciplinary strengths and openness of Brock’s researchers. We look forward to the fruits of this co-operation.”

    The ESRC undertakes research investigating the challenges that arise from the interaction between humans and the environment, and opportunities to shift society to a more sustainable way of life.

    Posthumanist research explores what being ‘human’ means and questions the notions of progress, enlightenment, human nature, truth and happiness. In a world facing major crisis owing to humanity’s impact on the environment, Posthumanist thinking intersects with the research of the ESRC.

    Ryan Plummer, ESRC Director, is excited about the added dimension this collaboration will give to the Centre’s research.

    “Our ongoing dialogue revealed research questions of mutual interest, especially pertaining to the Anthropocene. Given our shared commitment to transdisciplinary research and scholarly excellence, the agreement provides a good basis for moving collaboration forward,” he said.

    Christine Daigle, PRI Director, added “Many posthumanist thinkers tackle issues related to sustainability and the environment as part of their inquiries into the human being as entangled in the natural world. It is imperative to engage in dialogues and exchanges with researchers that examine the scientific aspect of such issues in order to push the reflection forward.”

    The two centres have already made plans for their first joint venture.

    “A short term goal is to hold a joint event in which we discuss the Anthropocene and what it means to be posthuman in this epoch,” Daigle said.

    From The Brock News

  • Master of Sustainability student visits Slovenia for annual European Dendroecological Fieldweek

    Sunday, February 26, 2017 | By

    Published on February 01 2017

    By: Lydia Collas

    In September 2016, Dana Harris, a student in the Sustainability Science and Society graduate program, attended the 27th annual European Dendroecological Fieldweek in Slovenia. I caught up with her recently to find out about the experience and how it was contributing to her present research.

    As a first year Master’s student, Dana is in the early stages of planning her thesis. The research centres on dendrochronology- the method of dating tree rings to analyse past atmospheric conditions. So Dana thought the European Dendroecological Fieldweek provided the perfect opportunity to prepare for her own data collection, “I will be analysing anatomical features and cellular development of the Jack Pine tree species. I attended this workshop to gain the skills necessary to work with the processing techniques for microscopic analysis of wood anatomy.”

    The field week gives students the opportunity to work with leading scientists on dendrological issues. Early in the week they split off into small groups to conduct mini research projects, “I worked with the Wood Anatomy team and field leader Alan Crivellaro. We put together a series of research projects that would help our understanding of wood anatomical features and how these structures could be used to research environmental changes in alpine areas.”

    The event was held in the Slovenian Alps which provided a picturesque location for data collection, “We travelled from Kranjska Gora to the top of the Sleme mountain where we took samples of 25+ unique species. We looked at the cellular structures by taking thin sections of the stem of the plants and studied the anatomical changes from structurally simple plants like the lycopodium to complex plants like rhododendron.” This work gives rise to some striking images which are produced by adding dye to images seen with the help of a microscope.

    Dana said she gained much from the field week “it helped me gain both a deeper and broader knowledge of dendrochronology techniques and research. It specifically helped me learn the baseline tools and techniques for the research I will conduct as part of my thesis.”

    Alongside the hard work, there was time for sightseeing too, “I explored the main city of Ljubljana, took a day trip out to Piran on the coast, and visited the Skocjan Caves. My favourite day was when we hiked up the Sleme. At the top of the mountain you could see Austria, and Italy off in the distance, and some amazing views of the Slovenian Alps. We also got to swim in a lake in Kranjska Gora- it was freezing but a nice way to cool off after exploring some of the trails.”

    After presenting the research to the rest of the group at the end of the week, it was time to head home to where the university year was beginning. Dana is a student in the Sustainability Science and Society graduate program which brings together students from a range of backgrounds with a great diversity of research interests. For more information on the program, visit www.brocku.ca/ssas.

    Dana is very grateful for funding she received to attend this event courtesy of Dr. Michael Pisaric. More information on the event can be found at http://dendro2016.gozdis.si/.

    Rosa sp. Cross section. Cross sections are dyed so anatomical features are more apparent for analysis. Here you can see 5 growth rings separated by the row of larger vessels (early wood formation). Photo by Dana Harris.

     

    Getting a lesson in the Tamar Valley in the Triglav National Park. Photo by Dana Harris.

     

    Visitng the Skocjan Caves – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo by Dana Harris.

  • Master of Sustainability students present reports to the Town of Lincoln

    Sunday, February 26, 2017 | By

    Published on January 10 2017

    By: Lydia Collas

    On December 5th, 2016, a group of Brock’s Master of Sustainability candidates presented the culmination of the semester’s work at the Council Meeting of the Town of Lincoln.

    Students enrolled in the Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Management course (SSAS 5P13) had the opportunity to delve into real-life sustainability issues and come up with potential solutions. Under the direction of Professor Liette Vasseur, the students met with Mr. Michael Kirkopoulos, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Lincoln, in September to discuss where sustainability could be improved in the Town. This gave rise to three separate ideas for projects and so the class divided accordingly.

    The three projects focused on different opportunities for improving sustainability within Lincoln, including:

    • overcoming the urban-rural divide,
    • fostering community engagement through increasing landscape connectivity, and
    • investigating opportunities for making the new Prudhommes development sustainable.

    The students went on a field trip to see the area for themselves before beginning to consider how to address their issue in question.

    Professor Vasseur emphasised the importance of students conducting projects such as these, “Involving graduate students in community projects is a great experience. What we see in theory can be quite different than what is happening in communities. Such experiential learning can really help student discover what they can do.”

    The students’ ideas were expressed in a written report as well as the presentations to the Town Council. These presentations generated many questions and great praise.

    Mayor Sandra Easton expressed her gratitude for the students’ work after they finished their presentation, “Thank you all. It was all very relevant to our community and it was very unique to have such fresh ideas that are not encumbered by all kinds of barriers and thinking.”

    CAO Mike Kirkopoulos closed the session by saying, “I just want to thank the class, they’ve been great. Today is a great example of learning for students, and for us, on theoretical issues and the practical solutions that go with these issues.”

    For anyone who is interested to hear more about the projects and see the students presenting for themselves, a video of the council meeting is now available online. The students’ presentations run between 00:34:16 – 01:36:30.

    The presentation slides are also available online:

  • Looking back on the Sustainability Science and Society graduate program: Reflections from Katrina Krievins, a former student

    Sunday, February 26, 2017 | By

    Published on November 16 2016

    By: Lydia Collas

    Fresh off the back of her hugely successful thesis defence, we caught up with Katrina Krievins to discuss her experience as a Sustainability Science and Society (SSAS) student over the last two years. Katrina was amongst the very first cohort of students to undertake the new Master’s program. As applications are now open for what will be the fourth cohort of students, we wanted to share some words of wisdom from someone with experience in the program.

    Q. Firstly, what attracted you to the program?

    A. I did my undergraduate degree in Tourism and Environment at Brock University and then went on to do a post-graduate certificate in Ecosystem Restoration at Niagara College. During my year at Niagara College I became very interested in stream restoration and knew I wanted to learn more. The SSAS program appealed to me as a means of pursuing my interest in stream restoration further. At the time I chose to apply to the program, I was also very interested in gaining work experience so the co-op stream really stood out to me and set the SSAS program apart from other masters programs in my eyes.

    Q. So you started out as a co-op student, what motivated the switch to thesis stream?

    A. There are two main reasons I made the switch to the thesis stream. First, I had an incredible opportunity to apply to the Watershed and Aquatics Training in Environmental Research (WATER) Program run through the Canadian Rivers Institute. Acceptance into this program meant that I had access to a number of really great field and online courses related to watershed sciences. Many of the field courses were held during what would have been my co-op term so by switching to the thesis stream, I was able to take as many field courses as possible. In making this decision I felt strongly that although I wouldn’t be gaining formal work experience, I would be gaining equally valuable experience from the WATER Program courses.

    Second, through discussions with my supervisor about my proposed research, it became apparent that the scope of the study I hoped to carry out was beyond that of a Major Research Paper (MRP) given the shorter timeframe given to complete a MRP. I realized that switching to the thesis stream would give me the time necessary to carry out my proposed research.

    Q. How did the SSAS courses feed into your research?

    A. Aspects of different courses certainly fed into my research but more than that, I think the overall grad student experience from the first two semesters of coursework is what really had an influence on my ability to successfully complete my research. Those first two semesters really prepare you to be able to manage your time, deal with multiple tasks and deadlines, think critically about what you’re reading, problem solve, and much more.

    Q. Did you enjoy your time doing fieldwork?

    A. The fieldwork component of my research was the part I was most looking forward to. It wasn’t without its challenges but I really enjoyed getting out to the sites I was focusing on in my research. I used my time in the field to collect data using a number of different techniques including temperature monitoring, vegetation inventories, and recording underwater video footage. All of my fieldwork was undertaken in late spring this year in southern Ontario watersheds.

    Q. Do you have a favourite moment of the program?

    A. There are so many memorable moments from my time in the program and I don’t think I could choose one as my favourite. I can say, however, that sharing this experience with the seven other students in my cohort made it a truly unforgettable experience.

    Q. How do you feel the program has set you up for the next step?

    A. I was lucky enough to start a joint position with the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve and the Eastern Georgian Bay Stewardship Council as a Conservation Program Assistant as soon as I finished my thesis. I’m finding that concepts I learned and skills I gained through the program are very applicable to my new position. In fact, the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve was the focus of one of my assignments during my very first semester!

    Katrina is very grateful to the supporters of the awards and scholarships that she received during her time as a Master’s student:

    • The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Award
    • The Dr. Raymond and Mrs. Sachi Moriyama Graduate Fellowship
    • The Ontario Paper Thorold Foundation Graduate Award

    The SSAS program at Brock engages students in exploring the concept of sustainability – a notion which is increasingly recognised as integral to the future of our planet. All the way from studying what sustainability means, students investigate how sustainability might be realised and what interventions this may require. Students have the opportunity to develop their own particular research interest either through a MRP or a thesis.

    7.

  • Canadian and Swedish researchers team up to compare wildfire emergency responses

    Sunday, February 26, 2017 | By

    Published on September 23 2016

    By: Julia Baird

    A consortium of researchers from Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, the University of Alberta, Stockholm University and Uppsala University, Sweden, collaborate on an international comparison of wildfire emergency response.

    Wildfires present complex challenges across scales and contexts that no entity or person can address alone. Collaboration is thus critical for effective responses that minimize impacts on the community.

    Researchers from Canada and Sweden are teaming up to compare emergency response to the wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alberta in 2016, and Västmanland, Sweden in 2014. Their aim is to explore:

    1. how collaborative networks in headquarters and coordinating entities function in crisis situations, and
    2. why collaboration is more or less effective for solving emergency response challenges.

    Understanding how collaborative networks form and how they respond to large-scale natural disasters is a high priority research subject, with important lessons for policy and practice.

    “The scale of the Fort McMurray fire and the evacuation are unprecedented in Alberta’s history. A great deal can be learned about how formal emergency plans and policies came together with ad hoc initiatives and networks to mitigate the tremendous risk that the fire posed. Future disaster responses will benefit from this research,” notes Dr. Bob Summers from the University of Alberta.

    The Brock research team includes Dr. Ryan Plummer and Dr. Julia Baird from the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre. They’ll work with Dr. Summers to compare the Canadian data to preliminary findings from the Swedish study conducted by Dr. Örjan Bodin (Stockholm University) and Dr. Daniel Nohrstedt (Uppsala University).

    The Swedish results highlight that there are specific configurations of collaborative networks that seemingly result in more effective response to wildfires. But the Swedish wildfire is one single crisis, and to be able to draw more general conclusions, comparisons with other crises are needed.

    It is the ambition that valuable bench-marking of “best practices” will be generated through this comparative project.

    “We got access to key individuals in the crisis responder networks, which enabled unique insights into the collective crisis response. We are very enthusiastic to collaborate with the Canadian team to see what lessons can be learned across the two cases”, says Dr. Daniel Nohrstedt.

    The comparison with the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire in Alberta will provide an excellent opportunity to offer ground-breaking insights in crisis and disaster management. This research will also generate important practical lessons for emergency management practitioners in Alberta, in Canada, and globally.

    Dr. Baird emphasized the urgency of the data collection for this research project: “It is critical to connect with key individuals from the wildfire emergency response effort as soon as possible after the event to ensure their recollection of how collaboration unfolded around specific tasks and challenges is still top of mind.” She and Dr. Summers will be conducting interviews in Alberta in the coming weeks.

    This project is funded by several Swedish funders and is undertaken under the auspices of the Canadian-Swedish Agreement on Cooperation in the area of Civil Security Research concluded in 2014. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and the Canadian Defense Research and Development Canada-Centre for Security Studies administer the agreement for the purpose of facilitating joint research projects engaging scientists from the two nations.

    For more information about the research project, please contact Dr. Julia Baird (jbaird@brocku.ca).

  • Brock experts weigh in on drought and heat

    Sunday, February 26, 2017 | By

    Published on July 25 2016

    From The Brock News
    July 22, 2016

    With much of Ontario under a heat warning from Environment Canada, and widespread drought conditions, Brock University has a number of experts available to discuss the implications.

    Professor Steven Renzetti is a leading expert on the economics of water. He can speak to the ongoing drought and its potential impacts on our wallets through increased food prices and water charges. The professor can discuss the implications of a long-term drought and the impact of water scarcity.

    “We’re already seeing the effects of the drought. It’s affecting the timing and quality of crops. That will have an immediate impact, potentially, on the cost of produce in farmer’s markets and in grocery stores. Drought means it is more costly to do business so that can impact households.”

    Professor Stephen Cheung is a Canada Research Chair who runs a research lab at Brock with the capabilities of simulating temperatures ranging from -30 degrees to +50 degrees. He can talk about the impact of extreme heat on the human body, the role hydration plays in controlling body temperatures, and the best strategies for keeping cool for athletes, workers and the general public.

    “You should really be careful about heavy exercise and being out for longer than usual. Even elite athletes will be impaired in the heat so you shouldn’t be expecting the same type of endurance that you may have, no matter how fit you are.”

    Julia Baird is a research associate at Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre whose research focuses on environmental governance in relation to water resources and climate change. She can discuss the resilience of farmers and the social and environmental systems in place to help endure droughts and other climate-related disturbances.

    “Indications are that these disturbances are just going to become more common and more severe over time with climate change. There are ways you can prepare for these things so you are better able to withstand or endure.”

    Story from The Brock News

  • Walking in naturalized landfill areas improves mood, connection to nature

    Sunday, February 26, 2017 | By

    Published on June 29 2016

    From The Brock News
    June 29, 2016

    Need a pick-me-up? Just head out to the nearest landfill – one that’s been converted to a park, that is.

    New Brock University research shows strolling through green space that was once a landfill has positive impacts on mood and physical health and encourages a feeling of connectedness to nature.

    “No one has really ever looked, experimentally, at the extent to which these naturalized landfills are beneficial for mood and overall well-being and yet, we’re restoring these landfills all over the country and the world,” says Shawn Geniole, graduate student and lead author of the study published June 27 in the journal Ecopsychology.

    The research team divided 31 participants into two groups. At different times during a one-week period, those in the first group strode through the Glenridge Quarry Naturalization Site in St. Catharines while participants in the other group did the same in an adjacent business and commercial zone, which the team called an “urban” area.

    Participants returned one week later – at the same time and day – to walk the opposite route, so that all participants eventually experienced both the nature and urban routes.

    Before each walk, participants underwent a battery of tests that measured their mood, alertness, attention level, and amount of cortisol and testosterone in their saliva.

    Researchers administered the same tests after each walk, with two additional questionnaires. One rated participants’ relationship with the natural environment and the other asked them about what they noticed – air quality, number of trees and building, etc. – in both areas.

    By analyzing the before-and-after test results of each walk and then comparing these with results from the other walk, the researchers came up with a number of findings, including:

    • both walks increased alertness and attention
    • stress levels, as measured by cortisol levels, decreased after both the urban and the nature walks to the same degree
    • participants’ mood improved with the naturalized landfill walk but not with the urban walk
    • overall, the naturalized landfill walk increased participants’ connectedness to nature more than the urban walk
    • participants reporting high connectedness to nature showed almost equal benefits to nature, but for those saying they do not feel connected to nature, their mood decreased during the urban walk and increased during the naturalized landfill walk

    “The main finding is that, although you get positive benefits from both walks, mood improvement was really specific to walking in nature,” says Professor of Psychology Cheryl McCormick, the research team’s leader.

    “So, you can get some stress reduction and attention control increase in both walks, but the real psychological and health benefits – an improvement in mood – came from the naturalized landfill walk.”

    Geniole says he hopes the team’s research findings will translate into land use policies and measures that increase not only the number of revitalized landfill sites but green spaces in general in cities and towns.

    “There’s a crazy amount of unused space in urban areas around the world called ‘brownfields’ where factories or landfills used to be,” he says.

    “Converting these brownfields into nature areas presents people the opportunity to improve their quality of life without having to drive six hours up north to get away,” he says. “It’s a mini-escape. What we’re showing is some pretty big benefits in boosting mood.”

    Geniole adds that the value of houses near these green spaces also goes up.

    The Brock study – “Restoring land and mind: The benefits of an outdoor walk on mood are enhanced in a naturalized landfill area relative to its neighbouring urban area” – comes at a time of rapid urbanization worldwide.

    The study quotes various research findings that:

    • more than half of the earth’s population live in urban areas compared to 30 per cent in 1950
    • people spend, on average, 93 per cent of their lives indoors, with nature-related recreational activities dropping by about 25 per cent since the early 1990s
    • brownfields occupy anywhere from five to 25 per cent of major cities in North America
    • there’s an estimated five million acres of brownfields worldwide and half a million acres in the United States alone
    • people living in cities are more likely to develop mood disorders than those living in the countryside
    • the likelihood of developing schizophrenia increases with the degree of exposure to an urban environment

    “Those are the people who need nature most, the ones who are least connected with it,” says McCormick. “They might be most susceptible to the harmful effects of urbanization.”

    Story from The Brock News.

  • Vibrant green spaces needed in downtown St. Catharines: Brock research

    Sunday, February 26, 2017 | By

    Published on June 29 2016

    From The Brock News
    June 29, 2016

    The City of St. Catharines is off to a good start with recent downtown revitalization efforts, but more needs to be done to attract residents and enable those who work downtown to relax, according to new Brock University research.

    On Wednesday, Brock’s Niagara Community Observatory released the report Downtown Revitalization in St. Catharines: Building the Vibrant Public Space, which includes the results of data collected by Professor of Geography Michael Ripmeester through polling 300 city residents on what they thought of recent downtown redevelopment efforts.

    These include the construction of the 5,000-seat Meridian Centre, the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre and Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.

    About 80 per cent of those surveyed believe the Performing Arts Centre, the Meridian Centre and the Walker school are beneficial to the downtown.

    However, only 7.63 per cent of survey respondents reported attending live arts events and 6.5 per cent live sporting events on a regular basis.

    Of those who held positive views of St. Catharines’ recent development projects, “95 per cent also noted that other things would be more likely to bring them downtown,” says the report.

    “They suggested that the downtown needs more welcoming spots in which to stroll, sit or commune with other downtown visitors,” says Ripmeester.

    Survey respondents offered a number of ideas of how to make the downtown core greener and more relaxing and interesting.

    “It seems clear that participants believe that the presence of individuals, families and seniors doing everyday social activities could provide the vibrancy that would attract them to downtown,” Ripmeester says.

    “They want to see places where people are comfortable and engaged in pleasurable, low-cost or free leisure activities.”

    The report concludes with a list of six recommendations for the downtown core, including:

    • Install more benches for “people watching”
    • Invest in a water feature in the city hall/market square area that could be a skating rink in the winter
    • Add landscaping, artwork and creative lighting
    • Arrange for free family outdoor entertainment during the spring and summer
    • Convert James St. between Church and King streets as a pedestrian walkway

    Story from The Brock News.

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