Articles by author: Brock University

• Indigenous cultures celebrated as Pow Wow returns to Brock

  Friday, January 16, 2026 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE — January 16, 2026 — R0004

  As Brock University welcomed people of all nations to campus on Friday, the fresh blanket of glistening white snow outside reflected the powerful sense of renewal that accompanies winter pow wows.

  Hosted by the Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre with support from across the University, the “Cleansing our Spirits” Pow Wow took place in the Ian Beddis Gymnasium on Jan. 16.

  Thousands attended the free community gathering, which is a vibrant celebration of Indigenous music, dance, art and cuisine.

  Robyn Bourgeois, Associate Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement, said it is incredible to be marking the third iteration of the event at Brock.

  “Pow wows are significant cultural events for Indigenous communities — a time for dancing, music, visiting and celebration,” said Bourgeois, a mixed-race woman whose Cree family comes from Treaty 8 (Lesser Slave Lake) territory. “I am so proud and grateful that Brock University has committed to supporting this event and the significant commitment to decolonization and reconciliation it represents.”

  Grand Entry marked the official start to the day and honoured Elders (including Head Elders Peter Beaucage and Jackie Labonte), veterans (including Head Veteran Jason Isaacs), Brock leaders, dignitaries and dancers who presented various flags of significance.

  A packed day of dancing and music followed, with participation from across the province including Head Dancers Delbert Jonathan and Lorna Chrysler, Host Drum Charging Horse, Co-Host Drum Little Creek, and Invited Drum The 416. Head Youths were Alexis Isaacs and Ganrahse’:Twas.

  Frazer Phillips provided songs to accompany the women and men’s smoke dance special, a unique addition to the Pow Wow at Brock.

  Jordan Williams White-Eye, Pow Wow Master of Ceremonies and spiritual advisor, said the event represents unity and acceptance and is an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come together in shared celebration.

  “We are showcasing who we are and how we showcase ourselves to the Creator through dance and songs and a celebration of life,” said White-Eye, who travelled to Pow Wow from Bkejwanong Territory, formerly Walpole Island First Nation, in southwestern Ontario.

  Hadiya’dagénhahs Centre Operations Supervisor Syerra Jasmin (BA ’19, BEd ’22), who is of mixed Anishinaabe-Ojibwe heritage, said the Pow Wow organizers are grateful for the guidance of leaders like White-Eye and others who supported the event. 

  “I could almost cry thinking about how many folks have dedicated so much of their time to be here and make this event a success,” she said. “People are always so excited to come out, and as more communities and nations hear about the Pow Wow, it is only going to grow. I’m so excited to see for what’s in store in the future.”

  Cindy Biancaniello, Director of Hadiya’dagénhahs, beamed with pride as she reflected on all that had been accomplished.

  “I’m still smiling and filled with joy,” she said. “Our team really put the ‘wow’ in Pow Wow.”
   

   For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

   *Sarah Ackles, Communications Specialist, Brock University [email protected] or 289-241-5483

   – 30 –

  Categories: Media releases

• ‘Supercooling’ keeps salamanders from freezing in Canadian winters: Brock-led research

  Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE — January 14, 2026 — R0003 

  On a frigid April day, Brock University Professor of Biological Sciences Glenn Tattersall, then-PhD student Danilo Giacometti and wildlife researcher Patrick Moldowan ventured out into Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park hoping to take in a rare sight.

  Their efforts paid off as they watched several blue-spotted salamanders crawl across snow and ice — a curious move for amphibians known for being “freeze intolerant” and avoiding the extreme cold.   

  Freeze tolerant amphibians, on the other hand, can survive being up to 70 per cent frozen during the coldest winter weather, Tattersall says, and safely thaw when temperatures rise. This is because glucose and glycerol in their system acts as an “antifreeze” and protects their internal organs by keeping their tissues from freezing completely. 

  “But the blue-spotted salamander can’t survive being frozen in that same way,” he says. “We expected they would avoid physical contact with ice crystals to minimize the risk of freezing, so it seemed kind of funny that they would take that risk.” 

  Native to North America, blue-spotted salamanders are found in the Great Lakes region and other parts of Ontario, Quebec and the northeastern U.S. 

  They live in underground burrows below the frost line during winter and emerge to breed in nearby bodies of water in the spring. While they may encounter snow and ice along the way, Tattersall says it was commonly believed that sunshine and warmer air temperatures would offer them protection against freezing. 

  Much of the previous research on how the salamander’s body reacts to cold temperatures has been conducted in labs. To find out more about the amphibian’s thermal biology in a natural setting, the researchers collected a variety of measurements from blue-spotted salamanders migrating to Bat Lake in Algonquin Provincial Park. 

  Using a specialized camera, they captured thermal images of the salamanders, recorded their body mass and determined their sex, as well as measuring air temperature and humidity.

  The results showed that blue-spotted salamanders can partially overcome the risk of freezing through “supercooling,” a process in which the animal’s bodily fluids are able to drop below 0 degrees C without freezing. 

  Tattersall says the study is an initial step toward understanding how being in a supercooled state can help blue-spotted salamanders ensure their survival.

  He says this ability gives blue-spotted salamanders a competitive advantage over other animals breeding in the spring. By being among the first to arrive at water sources, the salamanders are able to lengthen their breeding season, avoid predators and create more opportunities for their offspring to grow. 

  The trio’s findings are detailed in their study “Sub-zero body temperatures during early spring migration in blue-spotted salamanders (Ambystoma laterale),” published last October in the Canadian Journal of Zoology. 

   

   For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  *Sarah Ackles, Communications Specialist, Brock University [email protected] or 289-241-5483 

  – 30 –

  Categories: Media releases