Media releases

• Brock offering full slate of activities to encourage responsible gatherings this Halloween

  Tuesday, October 26, 2021 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 26 October 2021 – R0115

  Brock University students will have plenty of options when looking for something safe to do this Halloween weekend.

  As it continues to work with Niagara communities and encourage its students to be good neighbours, the University has expanded its on-campus offerings throughout this week and weekend, while also ramping up off-campus patrols.

  Brock continues to work with local municipalities, Niagara Regional Police Service and Niagara Region Public Health to educate its students about making smart decisions, especially as COVID-19 restrictions remain in place.

  “We have seen many issues arise in the province so far this fall, with students making poor decisions that adversely affect their local communities,” said Brock University Interim President Lynn Wells. “As a part of this Niagara community, it is important for us to educate our students and make them aware of alternatives to attending unlawful and unsafe gatherings.”

  With public health measures still in place, large student gatherings on or off campus are not permitted. Local law enforcement and bylaw officers are taking a zero-tolerance approach, with significant fines being handed out as required.

  As it has done throughout the start of the Fall Term, Brock is paying for additional Niagara Regional Police officers to patrol known student areas off campus. Brock Campus Security will also have its full complement of staff working throughout the weekend.

  “We really want to encourage our students to explore the wide variety of engaging Brock-sanctioned events and activities that are being offered both in person and online,” said Brad Clarke, Director, Student Life and Success. “We understand that Halloween is a time when students want to gather and enjoy themselves, but we’re asking that it happen in a safe and responsible manner.”

  Visit ExperienceBU for the full lineup of Halloween events and for additional details, including registration information.

  Here are some highlights of the initiatives taking place:

  • The Don’t Put the Bad in Badger campaign returns with Brock’s Off-Campus Living and Neighbourhood Relations office delivering messaging to students on campus and in higher density student areas off campus throughout the week.
  • The Brock University Students’ Union (BUSU) is using its outdoor patio to set up Halloween-themed decorations and will have passive activities and giveaways for students.
  • The Department of Residence has been offering consent and healthy relationship programming throughout October and will have alternative Halloween programming Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
  • Brock’s Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre (SWAC) has launched campus-wide educational campaigns on substance abuse, consent, staying safe during Halloween and COVID-19, and safe partying and safe drinking. SWAC is also working with various campus partners to host Treat or Treat events Wednesday and Thursday that encourage students to visit various locations on campus to learn a tip about celebrating Halloween safely in return for a giveaway.
  • Brock Human Rights and Equity (HRE) is focusing on several social media campaigns that will educate students on appropriate Halloween costumes, consent, partying and healthy relationships. In partnership with SWAC, HRE is hosting a virtual Spooky Tie Dye event on Tuesday, Oct. 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. In partnership with the Student Justice Centre (SJC) and Student Life and Success (SLS), HRE is also hosting the Be Spooky not Racist event on Thursday, Oct. 28 from 6 to 7 p.m.
  • The SJC is working on a large-scale campaign related to appropriate Halloween costumes and hosted a virtual 2SLGBTQ+ Adult Virtual Drop In Group Monday night.
  • The SLS department is offering students a series of alternative Halloween programs, both on and off campus, including trips to the Crux Escape room in St. Catharines Wednesday and Thursday; a Halloween-themed painting event on campus Thursday; a Tip or Treat event in the Student Success Centre Friday; a Movie Fright event at Landmark Cinemas Saturday night; Ghouls just wanna have fun – Music Trivia Sunday night; and the annual Trick or Eat event Sunday, where students go door to door collecting food donations for Community Care of St. Catharines.
  • Brock International is hosting a trip to Warner Ranch and Pumpkin Farm on Wednesday as well as a Halloween Social and Costume Contest Friday.
  • Brock Recreation is hosting Pumpkins in the Pool Friday, where students can swim alongside pumpkins and take one home after. The Walker Sports Complex will have extended hours until 8 p.m. on Saturday and will be allowing students to sign up for two-hour timeslots at the Zone Fitness Centre. There will also be Fright Night on Alumni Field, where Brock’s turf field will be open for soccer, flag football, spikeball and more under the lights. In addition, Brock Sports is featuring a series of varsity games between Thursday and Sunday with Halloween themes.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University [email protected] or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock’s Talent Bridge program to guide grads to insurance careers

  Thursday, October 21, 2021 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 21 October 2021 – R0114

  It’s a perfect match.

  As new grads polish their academic skills for the job market and employers strive to find new talent, one Brock University program is bringing them together.

  After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brock’s Talent Bridge program will again welcome graduates from any accredited post-secondary institution and program to take part in an 11-week online program that will offer career development training in the insurance field.

  Talent Bridge Manager Jillian Nero said the program offers a chance for participants to gain the necessary skills to begin a fulfilling and profitable career in an established industry.

  “Talent Bridge will help bridge the gap between academics and employment for those interested in jump-starting their careers in this dynamic and evolving industry,” she said. “Through collaborations with our new and returning partners, participants will build their professional network, benefit from one-on-one coaching and other career supports, and participate in an exclusive recruitment opportunity at the completion of the program.”

  As part of the application process, the Talent Bridge team will review each applicant’s professional and academic history, while also engaging applicants in a virtual interview process to ensure their goals and values are aligned with roles in insurance. Then, from January until April, participants will complete the training program while simultaneously preparing to write entry-level licensing exams with the Insurance Institute of Canada.

  “We are pleased to enter into a partnership with Brock University for licensing delivery and a variety of career development events and activities through Career Connections,” said Margaret Wasserman, Senior Director, Insurance Institute of Ontario. “This collaboration provides an exciting opportunity for new graduates to begin their careers in the property and casualty insurance industry.”

  The final portion of the program will include a two-week exclusive recruitment opportunity to connect participants directly with employers.

  Employer partner Scott Maskell, President of Erion Insurance Group, said the insurance industry is in need of the skills and work ethic possessed by recent graduates.

  “Finding and developing talent to grow the insurance brokerage industry and prepare and embrace the changes brought about by retirement and technology is one of the priorities of my job,” he said.

  “University graduates have the necessary skills, experiences and traits that are most suitable for the critical thinking required of an insurance broker. However, the insurance brokerage is not well understood by the next generation of the workforce and university graduates are not exposed to the unique opportunity to work in an industry that suits their learnings and relationship skills.”

  Maskell said Talent Bridge at Brock “provides both the connection and exposure to the insurance brokerage industry and the sales side of the insurance business, while also providing talented graduates with the unique qualifications, licensing and soft skills to enter the workforce as an insurance broker.”

  The program fee is $5,200 and financing options are available to participants. Employer partners will also reimburse about 80 per cent of the fee to participants who secure roles and complete a predetermined employment probationary period.

  Terry Cockerline, Brock’s Director of Alumni Relations, said the opportunity offers a chance for recent Brock graduates to showcase their skills.

  “Brock Alumni are leading in every field they enter, including insurance,” he said. “We can’t wait to see what the next cohort of Talent Bridge participants brings to that industry and we are so thankful the University has curated this program to further the careers of our recent graduates.”

  Applications for Talent Bridge are now open and will close Friday, Nov. 26.

  Brock alumni interested in learning more about Talent Bridge are invited to an online event hosted by Co-op, Career and Experiential Education, and Alumni Relations on Wednesday, Oct. 27 from noon to 1 p.m. The event will include a presentation about the Talent Bridge program and feature a panel of Brock alumni currently working in the insurance industry.

  Anyone else interested in learning about Talent Bridge is invited to attend one of the information sessions listed on the Talent Bridge website.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University [email protected] or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases