Media releases

• Virtual memberships available as students help Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being expand offerings

  Monday, May 11, 2020 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 11 May 2020 – R0083

  The Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being continues to adapt under the COVID-19 pandemic challenges to help older adults and others stay active throughout the quarantine.

  When the pandemic first started impacting Niagara, the Brock University-operated Centre closed its doors, but began offering online tools and daily home workouts to keep members engaged and active. As it became clear that local businesses would need to stay closed for a significant period of time, the Centre enhanced its remote operations.

  The Centre has now begun to offer online fitness classes hosted by the Centre’s staff and Brock graduate and undergraduate students who have previously worked or completed courses in the Centre.

  “Initially, only existing members of the Centre were eligible to join; however, with appropriate documentation, online membership is now open to community members,” said Debbie O’Leary, Professor of Health Sciences and Director of the Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being. “A virtual membership includes live fitness classes, educational seminars, weekly check-ins and social meetings with the students.”

  The Centre has about 75 online members, but that number is growing. Classes being offered include yoga, circuit workouts, golf, chair-based, osteoporosis, core and Parkinson’s classes, all delivered on the video conferencing platform Lifesize.

  “The virtual fitness classes are extremely important for our members to promote physical and mental health and to maintain their social connections,” said Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Director of the SeniorFit program, Kimberely Gammage.

  Brock Kinesiology, Health Sciences and Therapeutic Recreation students will be teaching virtual classes throughout the Spring and Summer Terms that will count towards the placement aspect of their credits.

  Specifically, Kinesiology students are offering one-on-one sessions to develop personalized home-based workout programs. They will use these sessions to create a library of exercise-related videos, presentations and pamphlets. Health Sciences students are working on social programming designed to enhance mental health and well-being.

  Four master of Professional Kinesiology students doing their placements with the Centre will be offering virtual programming, as well as doing the intake of new members, mentoring undergraduate students and doing online fitness testing with members.

  “These classes are allowing us to continue to offer student-learning opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge about working to promote health and well-being in diverse populations,” said Gammage. “Our students are also developing a whole range of new skills related to communication and the implementation of technology in the workplace.”

  For information on joining the Centre with an online membership, please visit the Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being 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

• Canadian scholar, academic leader to be Brock’s next Provost

  Monday, May 11, 2020 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 11 May 2020 – R0082

  Lynn Wells, an accomplished scholar and academic leader, will be Brock University’s new Provost and Vice-President Academic, effective July 1, 2020.

  Brock President Gervan Fearon made the announcement Monday, May 11, welcoming the scholar and researcher to Niagara. Wells is currently the Associate Vice-President, Students and Teaching at MacEwan University in Edmonton, and previously served as the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, and Acting President at the First Nations University of Canada, in Regina. She has many years experience as a professor, teacher and researcher in the Department of English, including scholarly work in contemporary British fiction.

  “Brock is pleased to welcome someone with the wealth of experiences that Dr. Wells brings to our campus,” said Fearon. “Lynn is a highly respected teacher, has undertaken thoughtful and important research and is one of the country’s leading senior academic administrators. Our faculty, students and staff as well as the academic mission and strategic priorities of the University will be well served by her appointment.”

  Wells said she is excited to be joining an institution where academic excellence, research strength, inclusivity and university-community partnership are key priorities.

  “As someone from Ontario, I’ve long known that Brock is a community of accomplished faculty, researchers and great students,” she said. “With Canada’s universities working to address major challenges resulting from the global pandemic, Brock’s role is even more vital to Niagara and to Ontario, and I am honoured to be joining the institution and the community.”

  Wells has more than a decade of experience in senior administrative roles at universities. Prior to accepting her current position in 2018, she spent seven years in the senior posts at First Nations University of Canada. She also served from 2006 to 2011 at the University of Regina, in consecutive postings as Associate Dean (Research and Graduate), Faculty of Arts; Acting Dean, Faculty of Arts; and Associate Vice-President (Academic).

  She received her PhD (English) from Western University (1997); MA (English) from York University (1987); and Honours BA (English/French Studies) from York (1986, Summa Cum Laude).

  Wells will succeed longtime Brock leader Greg Finn, who stepped into the University’s senior academic role in October 2018, and who has been instrumental in supporting the implementation of the University’s Strategic Plan and helping Brock achieve record enrolments.

  Fearon praised Finn for his “tireless service,” saying the community is indebted to him for providing vital leadership and stability during a transitional phase at Brock.

   

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

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

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  Categories: Media releases