Media releases

• Steel Blade Classic to usher in Brock’s 60th anniversary celebrations

  Tuesday, August 13, 2024 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: August 13, 2024 – R0097

  A Brock University Homecoming event that captures the essence of community, competition and camaraderie is making its return to downtown St. Catharines.

  The Steel Blade Classic hockey game will help to kick off Brock’s 60th anniversary celebrations, while also marking a milestone of its own.

  It has been 25 years since the inception of the fan-favourite event that now annually draws thousands of people to the Meridian Centre in the heart of downtown.

  That tradition will continue Friday, Sept. 20 when the Brock Badgers men’s hockey team faces off against the Guelph Gryphons at 7 p.m.

  Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 14 on ticketmaster.ca at 10 a.m.

  General admission lower bowl tickets are $30 each, with $1 from each ticket donated to the Food First Program. The partnership between the Brock University Students’ Union, the Graduate Students’ Association and Brock University supports students impacted by food insecurity.

  Brock Alumni Relations will also be hosting an Alumni VIP Section on the Club Level of the Meridian Centre. Tickets for alumni, which include access to a private bar and complimentary snacks (while supplies last), are $35 and can be purchased through the Brock Homecoming website. A limited number of club level tickets will also be available to community members through Ticketmaster for $40 for adults and $20 for children aged three to 12.

  Since its inception in 1999, the Classic has become a tradition that celebrates not only the competitive spirit of university hockey but also the deep historical connections of Brock University to the region.

  The game has since become an essential part of the Brock student and Homecoming experience. The trophy, a sword donated by the Werner family, is a unique championship piece that commemorates the War of 1812 and stands as a symbol of excellence and historical pride.

  Brock’s Fan Fest will kick off the game-day festivities, taking place from 5 to 6:45 p.m. outside the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA), across from the Meridian Centre.

  Open only to Steel Blade ticket holders, the family-friendly event will feature live music, showcasing local Niagara talent, as well as food trucks.

  “The Steel Blade Classic is more than just a hockey game, it’s a celebration of our community spirit,” said Brad Clarke, Associate Vice-President, Students. “Fan Fest is also a fan favourite, bringing together students, alumni and the broader Niagara community. It’s an opportunity to connect and experience the vibrancy of our region. We look forward to welcoming everyone for a memorable night that features both our sport heritage and the exciting future of Brock athletics.”

  In addition to Fan Fest, the space outside the MIWSFPA will also play host to the return of the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival’s Event in the Tent, which is presented by Community CARE in partnership with Brock University and the Grape and Wine Festival. Event in the Tent will take place from 7 p.m. until midnight and will also feature live music, food trucks and selections from local wineries and craft breweries. This ticketed event is open to guests aged 19 and over.

  “Our collaboration brings together the community, the thrill of sport and the cultural richness of Niagara’s wine heritage,” said Dorian Anderson, Executive Director, Niagara Grape and Wine Festival. “This event celebrates not only our shared passion for excellence but also the vibrant spirit of St. Catharines. We look forward to a memorable day filled with exciting hockey, fine wine and the unique charm that makes our festival a beloved tradition.”

  For more information on Brock’s 60th anniversary and related events, visit brocku.ca/60

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  * Sarah Ackles, Communications Specialist, Brock University, sackles@brocku.ca or 289-241-5483

   

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  Categories: Media releases

• Global standards needed to measure true environmental impact of 2024 Olympics: Brock expert

  Thursday, August 08, 2024 | By Brock University

  EXPERT ADVISORY: August 8, 2024 – R0096

  The organizing committee for the Paris 2024 Olympics has been touting it as the “greenest-ever Games,” setting lofty targets to cut the carbon footprint in half compared to previous Games in addition to managing the event’s overall climate impact. 

  But when all the medals have been awarded and the excited roars of the crowd have quieted, it then becomes time to evaluate the true environmental impact of the Olympics, says Samir Trabelsi, Professor of Accounting and Governance at Brock’s Goodman School of Business. 

  However, the current lack of standardized, verifiable metrics makes it difficult to confirm whether the committee will have met its proposed commitments to environmental responsibility, he says. 

  “To combat greenwashing and ensure accountability, it is imperative to establish a robust framework of globally accepted sustainability standards,” he says. “These standards would provide clear, measurable criteria for evaluating the environmental performance of events, making it harder for misleading claims to go unchecked.”

  Trabelsi, whose research focuses on promoting better governance and sustainability reporting in the corporate world, says it is currently difficult to confirm whether an organization, like the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is actually “walking the talk” regarding its sustainability efforts.

  Without clear reporting standards there is a lack of transparency, he adds, which can allow for greenwashing — where organizations choose to highlight selective positive actions while downplaying or ignoring other any other negative impacts — to occur. 

  Olympic organizers have claimed, for example, to be committed to reducing emissions by reusing existing stadiums, utilizing renewable energy sources and promoting public transportation.

  But the construction of any additional venues required, and the carbon footprint associated with spectator travel and merchandise production, all come at an environmental cost, Trabelsi says.

  The claim that the Games have run on 100 per cent renewable energy also warrants scrutiny, he says, when considering France’s reliance on a nuclear-powered grid, which comes with its own set of pros and cons in terms of overall sustainability.

  “They aren’t intentionally trying to mislead anyone by making these claims, but it’s very important, from an accounting perspective, to audit these green claims and check on whether they are embedded in the value proposition of the organization or not, because what gets measured, gets managed,” he says.

  Trabelsi adds that the Paris Olympics also serves as a reminder that even with well-intentioned efforts, achieving true sustainability is a complex challenge.

  “It is crucial to maintain a critical perspective and demand transparency from organizers,” he says. “By pushing for globally recognized standards and holding events accountable, we can move towards a future where sustainability claims are backed by verifiable data and genuine action.” 

  Doing so, he says, will create replicable systems that can be used as a model for sustainable innovation. This can lead not only to more eco-friendly sporting events, but also to a clearer path forward for any organization or city working toward a greener future for all.

   

  Brock University Professor of Accounting and Governance Samir Trabelsi is available for media interviews on this topic.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Sarah Ackles, Communications Specialist, Brock University sackles@brocku.ca or 289-241-5483

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  Categories: Media releases