Media releases

  • Brock, University at Buffalo launch cross-border economic research project

    MEDIA RELEASE: R00236 – 2 November 2016

    A research project between universities in neighbouring countries will take a close look at the economy on both sides of the Niagara River.

    Brock University’s Niagara Community Observatory and the University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning have teamed up to create a one-year research project that is taking an inventory of the two neighbouring economies.

    The project aims to lay the groundwork for regional economic growth stemming from the start-up of cross-border partnerships.

    “The ambition of this project is to begin to leverage Niagara’s assets as a border community, to extend the hand of partnership across the border,” says NCO Director Charles Conteh. “Both sides of the border are in economic transition. Recent reports suggest that cross-border regions are becoming more globally competitive for firms and talent.”

    The bi-national team’s first workshop will take place at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7 at University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning. It will focus on the life sciences sector.

    The joint project involves researchers collecting, mapping and analyzing data on the economic strengths and weaknesses of the Niagara, Ontario and Buffalo regions in four key sectors:

    •    Health/life sciences
    •    Advanced manufacturing
    •    Cultural/heritage tourism
    •    Natural resources stewardship

    “Collaborating and positioning ourselves as a bi-national region would strengthen our position in the global marketplace,” says Kathryn Friedman, research associate professor at the University at Buffalo Regional Institute and project co-coordinator.

    “We would become a very attractive region for investment and economic growth,” she says.

    See story in The Brock News.

    For assistance in setting up interviews, contact:
    * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

    * Rachel M. Teaman, Assistant Dean for Communications, School of Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo, 716-829-3794, rmansour@buffalo.edu

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    Categories: Media releases

  • Badgers look to continue dominance as Brock hosts national lacrosse championships

    MEDIA ADVISORY: R00237 – 3 November 2016

    The City of St. Catharines and the sport of lacrosse have a relationship going back more than a century.

    Not only is the Garden City home to the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame, it’s also home to the most successful university lacrosse program in Canada.
     
    The Brock Badgers have won 18 Baggataway Cup national titles in the 31-year history of the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association, and they’ll look to extend that number on home turf as Brock hosts the national championship this weekend.

    Joining Brock in the three-day tournament being held on Alumni Field will be Ottawa, Guelph, Bishop’s, Trent and Western.

    The Badgers’ first game of the CUFLA championships will be Friday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. when they host Ottawa in the quarter-finals. Games will continue through to the gold medal match Sunday at 1 p.m.

    Weekend passes are $25 and individual game tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. Throughout the weekend there will be food trucks on site and a licensed area. Games will also be streamed online at brocktv.ca.

    In addition to the games themselves, a focus of the weekend will be on St. Catharines’ place in the history of lacrosse in Canada, and on display will be a certificate from the 1908 Olympic Gold Medal win by St. Catharines native Frank Dixon.

    Born in 1878, Dixon is considered one of the Top 50 lacrosse players of all time, and in 1908 – the last year men’s lacrosse was a full sport in the Olympics – he helped Canada win gold.

    Dixon’s grandson Mike Dixon, a Brock University alumni, now has the Olympic gold medal while Brock Board of Trustees member Gary Comerford, Mike Dixon’s brother-in-law, has the certificate handed out with the gold medal in 1908.

    Also being recognized this weekend will be some of the successful Brock lacrosse graduates. Since it’s inception, the program has sent 40 players and five coaches to the National Lacrosse League.

    Brock will unveil a special plaque in Walker Complex recognizing the program and its exceptional alumni, including Shawn Williams, one of the top players in lacrosse over the past two decades.

    Williams, who will be at the championships this weekend, is the all-time leading scorer for the Badgers. In his five seasons, Williams was a five-time team MVP, four-time Baggataway Cup champion as a player and two-time Baggataway Cup champion as a coach. Like Frank Dixon, Williams represented Canada on the world stage winning three World Championships during his career. He is the only CUFLA player to be honoured by a university’s Sports Hall of Fame.

    For more information on the 2016 CUFLA Baggataway Cup, visit gobadgers.ca or cufla.ca

    For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:
    * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

    * Shawn Whiteley, Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator, Brock University swhiteley@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x4506

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    Categories: Media releases