The Isle of Man Post Office recently announced the release of a new collection of six stamps studying The Age of the Sea Kings: The Medieval Kingdom of Man and the Isles, 1079-1265, created in collaboration with Brock History Professor Andrew McDonald and Manx artist Juan Moore.
Read more: Stamp of approval: Research delivers medieval sea king history to the world – The Brock News
Professor Behnaz Mirzai featured in Brock News article for International Women’s Day to inspire the next generation!
Read more: International Women’s Day: Brock researchers aim to inspire the next generation – The Brock News
OPINION: Colin Rose discusses the papal conclave’s history – The Brock News
This piece written by Colin Rose, Associate Professor of History at Brock University, originally appeared in The Conversation.
On April 8, 2025, the History Department celebrated our students’ successes throughout the 2024-25 academic year.
An enthusiastic crowd of family and friends gathered at the St. Catharines Public Library for the official launch of the tenth volume of The General, Brock’s undergraduate History journal.
The audience heard riveting presentations from student co-editors Alessia Priolo and Jarred Polege and the authors of the nine essays published in the volume, which highlighted the range and quality of Brock History students’ work.
The General showcases outstanding student research, offers a half-credit of History coursework for its two co-editors, and brings many other students into the publication process as volunteer peer reviewers. It also hosts a competition for cover art.
Volume 10 can be found here.
We also celebrated our students with the presentation of several merit-based monetary awards. The recipients are exceptional students who have displayed the dedication, hard work, skill, and talent needed to succeed in Humanities education, and the History Department is thrilled to recognize the fruits of their labour.
The award winners are:
Donald Goodspeed Book Prize
Awarded to a History student who has made a significant contribution to the History Department
Sarah Skolud
John and Barbara McEwen Prize in British History
Awarded to a student who excels in British History at the second-, third-, or fourth-year level
Nikola Dixon
Lillie A. Traver Scholarship
Awarded to a student with honours standing, majoring in History
Braeden Moore
Frank and Amy Wills Memorial Award
Awarded to a History student who has demonstrated superior creativity and thoroughness in research presented in the History
Alessia Cotic
Department of History First Year Book Prize
Awarded to an outstanding History student in first year
Ben Spittal
Department of History Second Year Book Prize
Awarded to an outstanding History student in second year
Thomas Tselepakis
Department of History Third Year Book Prize
Awarded to an outstanding History student in third year
Evan (Vanja) Hamister
Explore the fascinating world of the medieval Sea Kings with this striking Isle of Man Post Office stamp collection. Spanning the years 1079 to 1265, these six stamps bring to life the powerful rulers of the Kingdom of Man and the Isles, a maritime realm that once stretched from the Isle of Man to the Outer Hebrides.
Created in collaboration with Manx artist Juan Moore and Brock University History Professor R. Andrew McDonald, this collection showcases the dramatic stories of warlords, rulers, and religious patrons who shaped the history of the Irish Sea. Inspired by the medieval Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles, these stamps offer a unique glimpse into a lost kingdom, its legendary figures, and its lasting legacy.
Fonthill was the epicentre of where geology and culture met in Niagara for the inaugural “You See ’Em Museum” event, held Sunday at Meridian Community Centre.
“From a family perspective, it’s to raise awareness of the cultural heritage we have in Niagara and to see things that are tangible,” said event organizer Darren Platakis, founder of Niagara Geo Park and co-leader of Niagara Geo Club.
Platakis celebrated it as an “intersection of where geology and culture come together,” highlighting Niagara’s history.
“Many vendors or participants, they’re showing archeological artifacts that have been found, the geo park is showing the geology of the area and for the visitors coming around … we’re putting that story together for them,” he said.
“Niagara as an area is culturally significant, not just for the 200 years (since) the War of 1812, but for the 12,000 years previous to that, when we had the first Indigenous communities living here.”
Platakis said events like this are important for many reasons as they tell the story of the region, both through evidence and shared oral histories.
“They’re about the stories, everyone who lives in the geo park has a story of alocation they might have gone to,” he said. “Those stories and locations, over time, disappear and I’m hopeful events such as this bring those stories to the forefront.”
Maritime history and Niagara’s connection to it were highlighted during Sunday’s event.
The Point Abino Lighthouse Preservation Society, a volunteer group, offered its perspective of Niagara’s maritime history.
Society president Alf Goodearle praised “You See ’Em Museum.” “This is a tremendous opportunity, tucked away in the corner of the Niagara region. The lighthouse gets limited exposure,” he said. “We’re using this event to sell our society on trying to recruit some new volunteers.”
Goodearle said to preserve the region’s heritage, the organization relies on donations and volunteers.
Kimberly Monk, adjunct professor at Brock University and director of the Shickluna Shipyard project, said connecting with the public on local maritime history is rewarding.
“As archeologists, historians, members of the museum community, we are all very aware, clearly, of our past, but many others not in professional fields … may not be,” she said.
“We want to connect the public with the importance and significance of our histories to engage on why this work is so important and why it deserves to be recognized.” The importance of Niagara’s history cannot be overestimated, Monk said. “We hope the municipalities and the region appreciate that, as we look toward celebrating the Welland Canal’s bicentennial and supporting, of course, historical and archeological programs and projects relating to that history.”
Monk said a rare aspect of the project unearthing the St. Catharines shipbuilder’s story is talking about local maritime history. Many marine sites no longer exist or“ they are obscured from the public because they are submerged.”
“The opportunity to share in our maritime past, a past that had everything to do with the settlement, with economic development of the Niagara region, is so crucial to appreciating those who came before us,” she said.
The event, originally slated for Family Day weekend, had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather.
A weeks-long history course about Taylor Swift filled up in just a matter of minutes, making a record for the Ontario university similar to how the musician herself breaks records for her stadium shows.
“Its filled up in 19 minutes. It was a record,” Elizabeth Vlossack, historian-turned-Swiftie at Brock University, told CTV News Toronto.
The associate professor of history explained she started to recognize Swift as more than just a popstar a couple of years ago after listening to “folklore”—an album where Swift deviates from singing solely about her life to delving into the lives of others….
We are excited to be apart of this Brock News article, featuring History Professor, Dr. Murray Wickett and his Spring course offering ” The History of Sports in the United States”!
To learn more about the course, read here: Spring/Summer courses dive into sports industry – The Brock News
To register for our spring course offerings, visit” Register for spring/summer classes – Admissions @ Brock
