MEDIA RELEASE: 15 October 2020 – R0156

The doors to Brock University’s Virtual Fall 2020 Convocation are about to swing open.

More than 650 Brock undergrad students and 340 graduate students will convocate Friday, Oct. 16 as the University’s 108th Convocation ceremony goes online.

It follows a similar format to Spring Convocation, which was held virtually in June due to public health COVID-19 restrictions around large gatherings.

Fall Convocation is traditionally a one-day affair, and those graduating will receive an invitation to their personalized Convocation portal from the Deans of their respective Faculties first thing Friday morning.

Inside, they will find a tailored graduation experience they can access whenever it’s convenient for them and their families.

This Convocation will include numerous significant milestones.

First will be the installation of incoming Chancellor Hilary Pearson, who follows Shirley Cheechoo to become Brock’s ninth Chancellor. Cheechoo was installed as Chancellor in 2015 when she became the first woman and first Indigenous Canadian to hold the ceremonial leadership role at Brock.

Pearson is a recognized leader in Canadian philanthropy and community engagement. She has served in senior policy roles in the federal government and as President of Philanthropic Foundations Canada for 18 years, working closely with many of the country’s largest private charitable foundations. In 2018, she was named a Member of the Order of Canada. 

One of her first tasks as Chancellor will be conferring an honorary degree on Lieutenant-General, the Honorable Roméo Dallaire. A celebrated international advocate for human rights, Dallaire is a respected author, government and United Nations advisor, and former Canadian senator. He is also founder of the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security.

Appointed as commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda, Dallaire was witness to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. He spoke at Brock on International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 2017 and will give a keynote address on the Convocation portal.

The Virtual Convocation experience will also include video messages from University President Gervan Fearon, student and alumni leaders and others.

While graduands will have their degrees officially conferred by Chancellor Pearson on Friday, their physical degree parchments will arrive in the mail in the coming weeks. Students who have requested to have their diploma mailed will receive a package that will include the degree, a Convocation program, an alumni pin, a bag of Class of 2020 confetti, and a few other items.

For faculty, staff and community members who want to see what Brock’s Virtual Fall Convocation is all about, this Brock News story will be updated at 9 a.m. Friday with links to the graduation portal.

For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

 * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970 

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