Kat presenting the Brock Badgers with the Steel Blade Classic, September 2023

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without studying Canadian Studies at Brock. What stood out most was the genuine support and mentorship from faculty in the Centre. Professors didn’t just teach; they took the time to get to know me, my interests, and my goals. That encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue projects I was passionate about and see myself as a scholar with something valuable to contribute.

The program’s interdisciplinary nature also made it incredibly flexible, allowing me to approach Canada’s history, culture, and politics through different lenses while shaping my studies around what mattered most to me. A few courses that were especially formative for me were INDG 2P91: Post-Confederation Indigenous History and CANA 3P93: Indigenous Representation in the Media which challenged me to think critically about cultural narratives. In my fourth year, CANA 4F00: Oral History gave me the tools to approach research in ways that centre lived experience and storytelling, while CANA 4P00: Directed Reading allowed me to tailor my studies toward my emerging research interests and build the confidence to design independent projects.

For me, those projects often centered on Canadian ice hockey. With faculty support, I explored hockey not simply as a sport, but as a space where ideas of gender, identity, and belonging are negotiated in Canada. Having the space to connect my academic work to something I grew up loving made my studies both deeply meaningful and personally rewarding.

What also set the program apart was the way it opened doors for me beyond the classroom. Through Canadian Studies, I had opportunities to attend conferences, travel across Canada and Europe to share my research, and even publish my work. These experiences not only helped me strengthen my skills as a scholar, but also prepared me for the next step in my academic journey.

Looking back, what makes Brock’s Canadian Studies program special is its student-focused approach. You’re not just a number, but a valued part of a close-knit community where your passions are taken seriously and your voice matters. It’s a program that gives you both the skills and the confidence to carve out your own path, inside and outside of academia.”

– Kat Rice (BA Hons)

“As a mature student, I was looking to pursue part-time undergraduate studies, not as a career move, but simply for the pleasure of learning.  I chose Canadian Studies because it encompasses many disciplines – history, politics, sociology, the environment, gender, and Indigenous studies – giving me the flexibility to focus my coursework to suit my personal research interests.

Because the Canadian Studies degree is offered as a co-major, you interact with students from a variety of other programs.  The seminar exchanges can be lively and engaging because there are so many diverse perspectives at the table; I often found myself reflecting on discussions long after I left the seminar room.

I appreciate the close-knit nature of the Centre for Canadian Studies.  Faculty and staff are always happy to provide personal attention, support, and encouragement.  The professors are experts in their field, and it’s not unusual to see them quoted in a newspaper or view them on screen.  For a small department, they organize an impressive number of events and conferences, providing students the opportunity to present research papers and hear from guest speakers.

For me, Canadian Studies has enriched my mind, made me a more informed citizen, and allowed me to think critically about the kind of country Canada is, and should be.”

– Sarah Cavanagh (BA)