News and events

  • Call for Volunteers: GSA Board and Committees

    Wednesday, May 03, 2023 | By

    Hello, Graduate Students!

    As we begin the 2023-2024 academic year, the GSA is currently recruiting for the following positions!  Please note the specific application requirements and email contact for the role you are interested in.

    Applications must be received by the GSA no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, and will be determined by the date & time stamp of the email received in the GSA email system.

    💼 GSA Board of Directors (Application deadline: Wednesday, May 17 @ 4pm EDT)

    We are currently looking for graduate students interested in student advocacy, the graduate student experience and non-profit governance to sit on our Board of Directors.  Our Board engages in making decisions that define the GSA’s strategic objectives and priorities, organizational values, and future course for the GSA.

    While applications from ALL faculties are welcome, we are primarily looking for students from:

    • Education
    • Humanities
    • Goodman School of Business

    Click to review the Roles & Responsibilities of the Board and Board members.

    Click here to review the set meeting dates of the Board for 2023-2024.

    Board of Directors Application:  Please send applications (cover letter and resume/cv) to board@brockgsa.ca.  All documents will be kept in confidence.  Time Commitment: 3-5 hours/month

    🙌 GSA Committees (Statement of Interest Deadline: Wednesday, May 17 @ 4pm EDT)

    Our internal committees are a great place for students interested in graduate student life and leadership.  It is a chance to meet other graduate students with similar interests and a place to collaborate with GSA Board Directors and members of the Executive Committee on matters related to graduate students.

    Our internal Committees, and average Time Commitment, include:

    GSA Committee Application:  Please send a Statement of Interest, maximum 250 words, expressing why you’d like to be involved with the selected committee, to opportunities@brockgsa.ca.  All information will be kept in confidence.

    CONNECT WITH US!

    Website: https://brocku.ca/graduate-students-association/

    Instagram: @BrockGSA

    Twitter: @BrockGSA

    LinkedIn: Brock GSA – Graduate Students’ Association 

    Categories: Current Opportunities, News & Events

  • GSA’s 3rd Annual Cultural Integration Week Schedule

    Friday, February 10, 2023 | By

    GSA’s 3rd Annual Cultural Integration Week Schedule

    February 13 – 17, 2023

     For any questions about Cultural Integration events, please email Alex at equity@brockgsa.ca

    MONDAY

    Culture and Sport @ 10:00am – 12:30pm (Ian Beddis Gym)

    Join us in Ian Beddis gym for a Tai Chi class from 10-11 followed by a Kyūdō demonstration from 11-12. Special thank you to Chris Sora for his demonstration of this traditional Japanese archery.

    Click here to register for the event

    Come Home: an immersion into Trinidadian Carnival @ 6:30pm (Cairns 207)

    Let’s learn about Carnival! Hosted by Brock Alumni and anti-racism advocate Monique Maison, we will take a look into the history of Carnival and its roots in Trinidad and Tobago. Music, colourful costumes, and festive dances are hallmarks of this world-famous festival. Come experience the music, costumes and more!

    Click here to register for the event

    TUESDAY

    Culture and Coffee @ 9am – 10:30am (MC-D302)

    Stop by for your morning coffee and snacks! And while here, grab our Local Area Culture guides and contribute to the 2023 Brock’s Culinary Culture Cookbook as well as our community culture playlist.

    Click here to RSVP for the event

    Black History Month Movie Night @ 4:30pm – 8pm (Cairns 207)

    Celebrate Black History Month with a movie screening! Join us on February 13 as we watch a fan favourite film together over popcorn and various refreshments.

    What movie you ask? The choice is up to you! On February 13, head on over to the GSA Instagram (@brockgsa) to vote for the movie you want to watch: The Hate U Give, Hidden Figures OR Straight Outta Compton.

    Click here to register for the event

    K-Pop Trivia @ 8pm (Virtual)

    Calling all Army, Blinks, Stays, Once, Carats, ATinys, and all fans of K-Pop – it’s a trivia night for YOU! From record breaking music videos to soundtracks, meme-worthy moments to love for the fans, this night will dive into all generations of K-Pop (though we may hold biases for 3rd and 4th Gen). This night is a perfect way to put your knowledge to the test or softly introduce yourself to K-Pop as a whole!

    Prizes are up for grabs for both the winner(s) and for players who make it all the way to the end with us!

    Click here to RSVP for the event

    WEDNESDAY

    Translation of Traditional Knowledge Panel @ 10:30am – 12:30pm (Pond Inlet)

    From stories to dances to song, knowledge and history has been passed on in a variety of ways. Student panelists will discuss the various ways in which they’ve learned their own cultural stories. Similarities and themes will be discussed in an open floor round table portion following predetermined questions for your panelists. Please reach out if you are interested in being a panelist, seats may still be available.

    Click here to register for the event

    Iaminuk with Cindy Biancaniello @ 1:30pm – 3:30pm (Sankey Chamber)

    Led by Cindy Biancaniello, Iaminuk highlights traditional Inuit life dating back as far as 1897. Cindy will share with us photos and stories from her own family and the experiences of people in the far North. We are asking students who are able to bring a non-perishable food item as admission to support the Hadiyaˀdagénhahs student food bank.

    Click here to register for the event

    THURSDAY

    Culture and Coffee @ 9am – 10:30am (MC-D302)

    Stop by for your morning coffee and snacks! And while here, grab our Local Area Culture guides and contribute to the 2023 Brock’s Culinary Culture Cookbook as well as our community culture playlist.

    Click here to RSVP for the event

    Culture Shock: Beyond the Media Student Panel @ 4pm – 7pm (TH 253)

    Student panelists will discuss issues faced daily that are largely ignored by mainstream media, bringing light to important experiences encountered by Brock students. Audience participation is encouraged in the discussion. If you are looking for a sense of solidarity, community, or are looking to learn to be a better ally for classically excluded groups, this panel will be a wonderful learning experience for all involved. Please reach out if you are interested in being a panelist, seats may still be available.

    Click here to register for the event

    FRIDAY

    Hadiyaˀdagénhahs Open House @ 10am – 1pm (TH 145)

    Stop by and say meet the team in Hadiyaˀdagénhahs! Hadiyaˀdagénhahs (formally named Aboriginal Student Services) is a place to gather for Indigenous students and a resource for non-Indigenous students who are interested in learning more about Aboriginal culture. Check out the space grab some refreshments while you’re there!

    Click here to RSVP for the event

    International Flavour Fest @ 11:30am – 1:30pm (Pond Inlet)

    Grad students are invited to join us for a globally-inspired lunch during Cultural integration Week – no passport required!

    Several tasting stations will include:

    • Bao Buns (three options)
    • Vegan Curried Chickpea Chana Masala
    • Halal Chicken Shawarma
    • Poutine Bar

    and more!

    Sit down for your meal or grab your globally-inspired lunch to-go. Limited spots are available. FREE for graduate students, a charge will apply for non-students.

    Graduate students: Click here to RSVP for the event

    For non-graduate students wishing to attending, please secure your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/international-flavours-fest-tickets-542817290127

    Click here to RSVP for the event

    Brock’s World Fair @ 5pm – 8pm (Pond Inlet)

    Come out to Pond Inlet for Brock’s world fair, and open mic night and showcase for cultural art in all forms from students in our community. Including art, beading, dance performances, music, and more, this will be a night you will not soon forget! All are welcome.

    If you are interested in performing or having your art showcased, please reach out to equity@brockgsa.ca to secure a space. Don’t miss out!

    Click here to register for the event

    ALL WEEK LONG

    Brock’s Culinary Culture: 2023 Edition

    Contribute your favourite cultural recipes to our first ever cookbook! Submissions can be handed in to the GSA office, at any of our events, or by filling in the form at the link below.

    Click here to submit your cultural recipes

    Community Culture Playlist

    We are always looking for new playlists to play in the office, but instead looking, why don’t we create one? Share your favourite cultural tunes with our collaborative Spotify playlist.

    Click here to join the party and help us build this playlist

    Categories: News & Events

  • Announcement of Resignation for Vice-President, Student Engagement

    Friday, October 28, 2022 | By

    Announcement of Resignation for Vice-President, Student Engagement

    October 28, 2022 – (St. Catharines, ON)

    Upon meeting with our Board of Directors late yesterday, October 27, we share the resignation of our Vice-President, Student Engagement, Safa Khan, due to personal circumstances. This resignation will formally take effect on November 4, 2022. We fully respect this decision brought forward by Safa and wish her well in personal, academic, and professional endeavours.

    “Safa joined the GSA in October 2021 as Vice-President Student Engagement during a Fall recruitment and was then re-elected into the same position through the Executive Elections in March 2022. When Safa first joined our team, she brought in eagerness and excitement for event planning alongside experience of planning events on the Brock campus,” reflects GSA President, Haley Myatt. “We thank Safa for her work in creating engagement opportunities for graduate students over the last year and further thank her for sharing her enthusiasm within the graduate community. We do wish her the best as she completes her studies at Brock and for whatever follows her time here.”

    Through a decision of the Board of Directors, and in alignment of relevant governing legislation, the GSA will not be embarking on a recruitment cycle to fill this vacancy for the remainder of the 2022-2023 operating year (until April 2023). The duties of Vice-President, Student Engagement will be dispersed among the current Executive team.

    “In conversations within the Executive Committee, and in consultation with our Board of Directors, we are confident in our abilities as a team to ensure that graduate students have options of engagement activities and opportunities for the remaining six months of this operating year,” shares Myatt. “We thank the Board for their confidence in our team to move forward in this direction. We also wish to thank our members in advance for their patience and understanding on any disruptions to service or delays in communications during this time.”

    If you have questions regarding this announcement, the role of Vice-President, Student Engagement or upcoming events and engagements from the GSA, please reach out to Haley Myatt at president@brockgsa.ca.

    – 30 –

    Categories: News & Events, Uncategorised

  • Ontario Municipal Elections 2022: St. Catharines, Thorold and Niagara Falls Mayor and City Councillor Candidates

    Friday, October 21, 2022 | By

    Ontario Municipal Elections 2022: St. Catharines, Thorold and Niagara Falls Mayor and City Councillor Candidates

    On Monday, October 24, Ontario will be hosting municipal elections across the province, including elections in St. Catharines, Thorold and Niagara Falls. Residents will have the chance to vote for candidates who will become mayors, councillors, regional councillors, and school board trustees. This process happens every four years in Ontario

    Municipal elections hold a focus on issues that are local level. Some issues of focus that affect the daily lives of post-secondary students include transit, housing (inclusive of renting), food security and city by-laws.

    Wanting to help ensure that you are informed voters at the polls, we’ve reached out to local mayor and city councillor candidates in St. Catharines, Thorold and Niagara Falls for their perspectives on some issues affecting graduate students: housing, food security and inclusion/supports for international students.

    Read their responses here: Ontario Municipal Elections 2022: St. Catharines, Thorold and Niagara Falls Mayor and City Councillor Candidates

    Additional Resources:

    For more general information about the Municipal Elections in Ontario, visit: https://www.ontario.ca/document/2022-voters-guide-ontario-municipal-council-and-school-board-elections

    For general information about St. Catharines Elections, visit:
    https://www.stcatharines.ca/en/council-and-administration/election-2022.aspx

    For general information about Thorold Elections, visit:
    https://www.thorold.ca/en/city-hall/elections-municipal-school-board.aspx

    For general information about Niagara Falls Elections, visit:
    https://niagarafalls.ca/city-hall/elections/default.aspx

    Categories: News & Events

  • Convocation Message To GSA Graduates

    Tuesday, October 11, 2022 | By

    Dear Graduate, Congratulations!

    As the convocation ceremonies are set to begin later this week, and you look to the next step in your lives, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for being a member of the Graduate Students’ Association.

    We are thankful that you will have the opportunity this week to celebrate your convocation in person with your peers, your families and friends. And if you are not able to make it to this week’s ceremonies in person, we hope that you are able to find a moment of time, wherever you may be geographically, to celebrate your achievements.

    As you move forward into the next chapter of your lives, we hope that you keep in touch and share your upcoming achievements, news and updates! If you’d like to join our growing alumni records, reply to this message with your personal email, your faculty and degree or designation achieved. While we will limit our outreach, we hope to share future opportunities and other relevant news with graduate studies alumni.

    On behalf of our team, once again, congratulations! We are immensely proud of you and hope to keep in touch.

    Prost,

    Haley Myatt, President and CEO

    Categories: News & Events

  • National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2022

    Friday, September 30, 2022 | By

    National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2022

    September 30, 2022 – (St. Catharines, ON)

    The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a federal holiday established to honour residential school survivors and recognize the Indigenous lives lost across Turtle Island (an Indigenous name used to reference America and/or Canada).

    It is a day formerly known as Orange Shirt Day, created by Phyllis Webstad of Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. The orange shirt is a reflection of Phyllis’ own orange shirt that was taken from her as a six-year-old when she attended a residential school; her orange shirt was taken, along with her culture. The orange shirt is worn to raise awareness about the negative consequences of the residential school systems felt by Indigenous communities, like Phyllis’ and the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation.

    As Indigenous communities continue to combat the ongoing legacies of colonization, the GSA believes that it is the responsibility of settlers to learn about the history of residential schools, the 60s scoop, missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (MMIWG), as well as ongoing land reclamation and sovereignty efforts.

    Earlier today, a reflecting statement was released earlier today by Interim President Dr. Lynn Wells and Acting Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement Dr. Robyn Bourgeois. We encourage all graduate students, members of the Brock community and those outside of our community to take time today to reflect on our country’s relations with Indigenous Peoples and to consider what each of us can do to advance reconciliation meaningfully.

    We also encourage you to take meaningful steps with us towards ending the legacies of colonization; to take actionable steps forward toward reconciliation. Here are some steps that we would encourage you to take, today and every day:

    • Create space for Indigenous people to speak and share their perspectives and voices.
    • Take time to learn about the histories of Indigenous peoples in Canada and reflect on actions taken by Canada towards these communities.
    • Learn how to properly acknowledge the land you reside on and engage with tools like Native Land’s Interactive Map to learn about traditional territories around you.
    • Read the 94 Call to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Truth and Reconciliation Report and identify your role in the work left to be done.
    • Support Indigenous-owned businesses, artists, experiences, and events.
    • Find ways to spread awareness by sharing resources and educating your friends, families, and communities.

    For a starting place of resources and additional information, we would suggest exploring these links:

    Brock-based:

    [Brock Service] Hadiyaˀdagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre

    [Brock Webpage] National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

    [Brock News Article] Events and Resources: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

    [Brock Library Collection] Reconciling the History of the Residential School System in Canada

    [Brock Workshop] Indigenous Ways of Teaching and Learning on October 22

    External:

    [Website] Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

    [Interactive Map] Native Land: Find out whose traditional territory you live on

    [Website] ON Canada Project: Settlers Take Action

    [Course] Free 12-week Indigenous Canada course from University of Alberta

    [Interactive Website] CBC’s Beyond 94: Truth and Reconciliation in Canada

    [Website] 35 Books to Read for National Indigenous History Month

     

     

     

     

    Categories: News & Events

  • Announcement of Resignation for Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion

    Friday, July 29, 2022 | By

    Announcement of Resignation for Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion

    Upon meeting with our Board of Directors yesterday afternoon, we share the resignation of our Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion, Ash Grover, due to an employment opportunity with Brock’s Learning Services. We deeply respect this decision by Ash and though are saddened by the departure from our Executive Committee, the GSA fully supports this next step in Ash’s professional endeavours.

    “I have loved my time with the Graduate Students’ Association and I am grateful to have served on the Executive team for over a year,” shares Grover. “It was an honour to work with this brilliant group of individuals, and I look forward to continued opportunities to support the graduate student experience through my new role with Learning Services.”

    “Ash joined the GSA first as a Board Director in October 2020 and then the Executive Committee as Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion in May 2021. As an organization, we have been incredibly fortunate to have had her compassionate leadership, expansive knowledge, and steadfast commitment to supporting all graduate students,” shares President Haley Myatt. “As the inaugural office holder for the Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion position, Ash made monumental progress in this portfolio and created an approachable foundation for future office holders. We are deeply appreciative of all the work that Ash has done for the Association over the past few academic years and wish her the best.”

    As we embark on another summer recruitment cycle, we want to thank our members in advance for their patience and understanding for any disruptions to service or delays in communications during this time. Today, Friday, July 29, we will begin the recruitment process to fill the vacancy of Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion and to complete our Executive compliment once again.

    In discussions outside of the Board of Directors’ meeting yesterday, the Executive Committee has collectively agreed to subsequently support the transitional period wherever possible.

    If you have questions regarding the recruitment process or the role of Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion, please reach out to Haley Myatt at gsapresident@brocku.ca.

    – 30 –

     

    Categories: News & Events, Uncategorised

  • GSA Announces Appointment of Vice-President, Communications and Advancement for 2022-2023

    Thursday, July 28, 2022 | By

    July 28, 2022 – (St. Catharines, ON)

    GSA Announces Appointment of Vice-President, Communications and Advancement for 2022-2023

    After the position of Vice-President, Communications and Advancement went unfilled during the March 2022 election period and an additional April recruitment cycle, the GSA turned towards strategic planning to fill the vacancy during the summer semester.

    During the recruitment period, in pursuance to Document 001 and other relevant GSA legislation, the Board of Directors agreed that the position’s duties be split in the interim by Haley Myatt, GSA President (former Vice-President Communications and Advancement), as well as Christopher Yendt, Past President until a successful candidate was determined and appointed by the Board.

    The recruitment process in its entirety was held in online spaces due to current hybrid nature of the GSA offices and operations. The Recruitment Committee’s recommendation for the position was presented to the Board of Directors at the July 28 meeting, providing Board Directors the opportunity to scrutinize the recruitment process and the nomination. The Board unanimously supported the appointment of Sarah Burger to the position of Vice-President, Communications and Advancement for the remainder of the 2022-2023 operating year (August 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023).

    “The GSA actively works to maintain a comprehensive, accountable and transparent process to fill any executive vacancies whenever they arise,” says Myatt. “Last year, the GSA codified and implemented new policies for which we followed in this recruitment process. These practices mirror those of the sector and ensure that the needs of our organization are met alongside our strategic commitments to upholding equitable and inclusive recruitment practices.”

    Burger, a current master’s student in the Faculty of Education, has been an active part of the Brock community throughout her time on campus and notably has added meaningful contributions to the Faculty of Graduate Studies through work with their team over the last year. “I am very excited to join the GSA team,” shares Burger. “I believe in a holistic approach to supporting the graduate community at Brock. While I am part of the fantastic Faculty of Graduate Studies team, I look forward to enhancing the graduate experience and creating a strategic Communications plan from multiple lenses that aligns with the greater interests of grad students and the Brock community.”

    “I am confident that Sarah’s expertise, experiences, and enthusiasm for communications will help elevate this portfolio within the GSA’s operations. With passions for collaboration, consistency, and engagement, I am excited to see what comes from Sarah in this role,” says Myatt. “Over the coming weeks, we will be undertaking a comprehensive onboarding process to make sure that Sarah and the rest of the Executive team are best positioned for success during the remainder of the 2022-2023 year. I want to acknowledge and share my appreciation for the members of the Recruitment Committee for their investment over the past months, for the Executive who have stepped up to share the workload in interim basis and the Board for their continued guidance throughout this recruitment process.”

    We encourage members to follow our social media channels to stay up to date on the latest news, as well as keeping an eye on our communication channels for upcoming avenues for your own involvement with the GSA.

    – 30 –

    Visit our website for news, opportunities, service information, current legislation and more: https://brocku.ca/graduate-students-association/

    Find us on social:

    Facebook – Brock University Graduate Students’ Association

    Instagram – @BrockGSA

    Twitter – @BrockGSA

    LinkedIn – Brock GSA – Graduate Students’ Association

    Categories: News & Events, Uncategorised

  • Mental Health and Well-Being Supports Available to Graduate Students

    Friday, May 27, 2022 | By

    May 27, 2022 – (St. Catharines, ON)

    Mental Health and Well-Being Supports Available to Graduate Students

    Over the last few weeks, news and social media channels have been flooded with stories that have felt heavy to many. We acknowledge that recent news updates alongside continued navigation of pandemic/post-pandemic spaces, balancing graduate workloads and finding harmony between all outputs of your lives can feel overwhelming.

    We want you to know that your experiences are valid. We want you to know that you are not alone.

    Acknowledging that reaching out for support may not always be easy, we have gathered a list of resources that we hope can be a starting point for you discovering supports that work best for your own well-being, mental health and situation.

    Personal Counselling & MySSP App

    Personal counselling is available to all Brock graduate students 24/7. You can speak to a professionally trained counsellor in a confidential space, completely free.

    • For an appointment call 905-688-5550 x 6380 or visit ST400 on campus
    • For urgent 24/7 telephone counselling, call 1-833-BROCK33 (1-833-2762-533)

    You can also download the MySSP app (provided free by Brock) and receive confidential 24/7 support via text or telephone with a professional counsellor. Support is available in English, French, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese (simplified Chinese via chat).

    The app also offers an extensive library of mental health and well-being resources, including articles, podcasts, infographics and videos and unlimited free access to the virtual fitness app LIFT. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play. When creating a profile, be sure to enter ‘Brock University Student Counselling Program’ as the school.

    For other avenues of well-being, wellness, and mental health supports, please consider:

    Additional App Recommendations

    If you are looking for a resource that is more portable and accessible to your every day, perhaps a mobile-based app could work for you. While there are several support resources online that you can access, here are a few suggestions to kickstart your search to find the best option for you:

    Categories: News & Events

  • Increased Engagement Opportunities for Graduate Students Through BUSU Partnership

    Friday, April 29, 2022 | By

    April 29, 2022 – (St. Catharines, ON)

    Increased Engagement Opportunities for Graduate Students Through BUSU Partnership

    Throughout the last two years, particularly in light of the ongoing pandemic, we have witnessed a growing interest from graduate students vocalizing their desires for more opportunities to create community, connect with other graduate students and get more involved on the Brock campus. As a strategic pillar within our organization, we continue to prioritize efforts to build community through and within our actions as an organization.

    Considering student need and under the direction of our Strategic Plan, we have worked diligently over the last year to identify opportunities for graduate students. Today, we are proud to announce a deepened partnership with the Brock University Students’ Union (BUSU).

    Through a new omnibus agreement with BUSU, the GSA has secured the following for graduate students:

    • Access to BUSU events and programming, under the same terms and conditions offered to undergraduate students
    • Ability to create graduate student clubs, under BUSU’s purview
    • Open opportunity to join and participate in BUSU clubs, in accordance with BUSU policies and established club rules

    Event and club access now stands alongside the previous agreed upon services between the GSA and BUSU: the Food First program and transit/U-Pass.

    “This agreement finalizes years of efforts to partner more closely together, benefiting both graduate and undergraduate students,” shares GSA President, Christopher Yendt. “We have been aligned on a number of major projects over the last several years, from the Zone renovation, mental health initiatives and increased support for Aboriginal Student Services. Having worked for both BUSU and the GSA, I have long seen the opportunity to bring our two organizations closer together and this agreement is not only a culmination of those efforts but represents a first of its kind partnership within the student association sector in Ontario.”

    Graduate students are now able to access BUSU events, programming, and clubs.

    We look forward to the continued partnerships with BUSU and will continue to work towards the establishment of strong community for graduate students at Brock.

     

    -30-

    Categories: News & Events

1 2 3 4