Media releases

  • New scholarship shaping future of game design in Canada

    Thursday, April 18, 2024 | By

    MEDIA RELEASE: April 18 2024 – R0051

    Ubisoft Toronto has created a game-changing opportunity for emerging talent from Brock University.

    The games industry leader is providing a boost for Brock game design students to help better reflect the diversity of Ontario’s interactive digital media sector.

    Building on an existing partnership with the University’s Department of Digital Humanities (DDH), Ubisoft Toronto has established a five-year scholarship that will support equity-seeking groups in forging their professional paths ahead of graduation.

    Aaron Mauro, DDH Chair and Associate Professor of Digital Media, said Brock’s collaboration with Ubisoft Toronto has been nothing short of transformative.

    “Ubisoft’s active engagement and support have opened doors for our students that go beyond traditional academic boundaries, offering them a glimpse into their future careers and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead,” he said.

    Through participating in student game design reviews and attending the DDH Industry Night, which connects professionals and students for an evening of networking and celebration, Ubisoft Toronto has directly contributed to developing Brock students’ talent and knowledge, Mauro said.

    This new initiative takes that engagement one step further.

    “Ubisoft Toronto is committed to empowering students to build a career in game development. Our partners at Brock University truly exemplify our commitment and we are thrilled to be working with them towards a more diverse and inclusive game development community,” said Tanvi Athavale, Team Lead – Campus and Early Career Programs at Ubisoft Toronto.

    “Together, we are significantly enhancing student learning, fostering talent development and bridging the gap between academic preparation and industry expectations,” Mauro said.

    Through Ubisoft Toronto’s $25,000 investment, five fourth-year GAME students will be selected for each of the next five years to receive a $1,000 scholarship that recognizes excellence in game art, music, programming, production and leadership.

    The award is designed to help students create a professional and polished portfolio before embarking on their career.

    The scholarship highlights an ongoing commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in the technology and game sector shared by both DDH and Ubisoft Toronto.

    The first set of awards will be presented in December 2024.

    To learn more about Brock’s GAME program, visit brocku.ca/game

    For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

    * Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications, Brock University mstdenis@brocku.ca or 905-246-0256

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    Categories: Media releases

  • Brock summit aims to gather community to improve youth sport

    Monday, April 15, 2024 | By

    MEDIA RELEASE: April 15 2024 – R0050

    Ways to better the world of youth sport for current and future athletes will be at the heart of an event hosted by Brock University next week.

    Organized by Brock’s Centre for Healthy Youth Development through Sport in partnership with Youth Research and Evaluation eXchange (YouthREX), the Youth Sport Summit on Wednesday, April 24 will feature two dozen workshops, panels and presentations from both academic and community sport professionals.

    “We have an amazing lineup of presenters who will share insights and best practices in several facets of youth sport, including inclusivity, injury prevention, mental health and more,” says Corliss Bean, Director of the Centre for Healthy Youth Development through Sport and Assistant Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock. “This event will be a meaningful space to bring people together to learn, network and generate new ideas.”

    Sawyer Nicholson, a 12-year-old soccer player and record-breaking runner, will be among the presenters at an inclusivity themed podium session. She will share her experiences earning a world record for her age group at last year’s Niagara Falls International Marathon and will discuss how to create welcoming and belonging spaces for girls in sport.

    The event’s keynote speakers include Marco Di Buono, President of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, who will address the future of youth sport in Canada, and Dean Kriellaars, Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Manitoba, who will discuss physical literacy research and practice.

    Representatives from several Brock research centres, including the Centre for Sport Capacity, the Brock-Niagara Centre of Excellence in Inclusive and Adaptive Physical Activity and the Brock Sports Performance Centre, will share research and best practices as part of a safe sport panel.

    Community collaborators with the Centre for Healthy Youth Development through Sport will also present at the summit, including Canadian Girls Baseball and Lay-Up Youth Basketball.

    “Most of the work we do at the Centre is community-engaged, so many of our community partners are attending the summit as a way to translate their learnings around quality sport and showcase findings from the collaborative research we have engaged in,” says Bean.

    Complementing the workshops, panels and presentations will be more than a dozen poster presentations outlining student and faculty research on topics such as positive youth development, evidence-based practice, and equity, diversity and inclusivity in youth sport.

    The summit also serves as an experiential learning opportunity for Brock students, who will help organize and manage event-day operations, moderate sessions and review research abstracts.

    Everyone is welcome to attend the Youth Sport Summit, including professionals involved in all types of youth sport and physical activity, post-secondary students, researchers and community members.

    Registration is open until Friday, April 19. For more information, visit the Youth Sport Summit website.

    For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

    * Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications, Brock University mstdenis@brocku.ca or 905-246-0256

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    Categories: Media releases

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