Media releases

  • Brock Convocation to usher Class of 2025 into next chapter

    Thursday, June 05, 2025 | By

    MEDIA RELEASE – JUNE 5, 2025 – R0070

    The few symbolic steps across the Convocation stage come with big change.

    For some graduates, the moment marks the beginning of a new career. For others, it turns the page to a new chapter in higher learning.

    About 3,800 Brock University graduands will take the next steps in their journey next week, receiving their hard-earned degrees as part of Spring Convocation. In addition to marking their accomplishments, the week will also help to round out Brock’s 60th anniversary celebrations, which have been underway since September.

    Graduands will have their degrees conferred during seven ceremonies held from Tuesday, June 10 to Friday, June 13 in Brock’s Ian D. Beddis Gymnasium.

    Ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day, with the exception of Friday, when only a morning ceremony will be held.

    In addition to celebrating its graduands and their accomplishments, Brock’s 117th Convocation will also see former National Hockey League coach and Indigenous rights advocate Ted Nolan presented with an honorary doctorate.

    Nolan will receive the honour and deliver the Convocation address to the graduating class during a Faculty of Applied Health Sciences ceremony on Tuesday, June 10 at 2:30 p.m.

    For those unable to attend Convocation, all ceremonies will be livestreamed online at brocku.ca/livestream

    Tickets will not be required to attend, but there is a two-guest limit per graduand. All guests will be required to check in prior to entering the ceremony. Guests are encouraged to have the name and student identification number of the graduand they’re celebrating with them at check-in.

    Complimentary parking will be available for all Convocation ceremonies. Directional signage will lead guests to Lots D and B, with accessible parking located in Lot P. If these lots fill, overflow parking will be available in Lots 2 and 3. Carpooling and ride sharing is highly encouraged.

    For more information, visit brocku.ca/convocation

    Below is a schedule of this year’s Convocation ceremonies, along with some of the many highlights:

    At each of the seven ceremonies:

    • Brock President and Vice-Chancellor Lesley Rigg will address the graduating class, celebrating their accomplishments and reflecting on Brock’s milestone 60th year.
    • Chancellor Hilary Pearson will share thoughts on the important role universities and education play in the world, citing a past Convocation address delivered by her grandfather, former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson.
    • Provost and Vice-President, Academic Arja Vainio-Mattila will educate graduands and their guests about the history and symbolism of Convocation regalia.

    Tuesday, June 10, 10 a.m. — Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

    • Recreation and Leisure Studies graduand Grace Dale, whose successful experiential education experience with the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services has led to full-time employment with the military, will receive her degree.
    • Associate Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies Corliss Bean, whose research looks at how sport and physical activity supports overall well-being in community, including youth, postpartum women and people at risk for prediabetes, will deliver the Convocation address. Bean received a national honour for her work last fall and was named Brock’s 2025 Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Research Excellence Award recipient.
    • Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medallists Emma Ratke and Jessica Braun will be honoured for their academic excellence and community involvement. Ratke is known for mentoring junior students on campus and advocating for student needs. Braun is a champion of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and played a key role in launching the Niagara Chapter for Girls SySTEM Mentorship program.

    Tuesday, June 10, 2:30 p.m. — Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

    Wednesday, June 11, 10 a.m. – Faculty of Social Sciences

    • Associate Professor of Child and Youth Studies Chelsea Jones, recipient of the provincial government’s Early Researcher Award, will deliver the Convocation address.
    • The first graduates of Brock’s Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice program will cross the stage.
    • Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medallist Ben Johnson will be honoured for his dedication to advancing equity, diversity and human rights at Brock and beyond.

    Wednesday, June 11, 2:30 p.m. – Faculties of Social Sciences and Humanities

    • Oliver Webb Wilkinson, a transgender graduand who found his authentic self while taking Brock’s Dramatic Arts program, will receive his Bachelor of Arts.
    • Professor of English and Medieval and Renaissance Studies Leah Knight, recipient of the 2025 Faculty of Humanities Award for Excellence in Teaching, will deliver the Convocation address.
    • Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medallists Christabell Creighton, Colin Spencer and Cassidy Robertson will all be honoured. Creighton will be recognized for spearheading initiatives for Brock’s Labour Studies students and local environmental conservancy; Spencer for his contributions to student culture in the English Language and Literature Department; and Robertson for her efforts to strengthen Humanities graduate research at the University.

    Thursday, June 12, 10 a.m. – Faculty of Education

    • Bachelor of Early Childhood Education student Jade Grandpre will receive her degree after overcoming family tragedy to graduate with distinction.
    • Professor of Educational Studies Chunlei Lu, recipient of the 2025 Faculty of Education Award for Excellence in Teaching, will deliver the Convocation address.
    • Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medallist Rakha Zabin will be recognized for her work fostering inclusivity in post-secondary education by connecting real-world international experiences to institutional, provincial and federal policies.
    • The first graduates from Brock’s Bachelor of Arts in Adult Education program will cross the stage.

    Thursday, June 12, 2:30 p.m. – Faculties of Education and Mathematics and Science

    • Assistant Professor of Physics Gavin Hester, recipient of the 2025 Faculty of Mathematics and Science Award for Excellence in Teaching, will deliver the Convocation address.
    • Governor General Gold Medal recipient Aws Al Jumaily will be recognized for completing his master’s in Computer Science with the highest average among graduate students in the Class of 2025, finishing with a 98 per cent.
    • Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medallists Reina Tanimori, Amelia Godwin and Anne Worrell will be honoured. Tanimori, a first-generation university student, will be recognized for her volunteer work tutoring local youth and enhancing literacy in Niagara; Godwin, who balanced her studies alongside working full time and being a single mother, for using the skills she developed at Brock to advocate for underrepresented communities in STEM and health care; and Worrell for her research excellence and mentorship of junior students in the field of Chemistry.

    Friday, June 13, 10 a.m. – Goodman School of Business

    • Associate Professor of Business Ethics Robert Steinbauer, recipient of the 2025 Goodman School of Business Award for Excellence in Teaching, will deliver the Convocation address.
    • Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medallists Michael Cubelic and Catriona Lee Cormier will be honoured for their student leadership and community involvement. Known for giving back to the Brock community, Cubelic founded the Goodman School’s inaugural class gift and was an active student leader who co-captained the delegation for a major business competition team. Cormier will be recognized for her academic excellence and work using sport to inspire and connect with underprivileged youth and Canadian newcomers.

    Media are welcome to attend Brock’s Spring Convocation ceremonies. Photographers shooting from directly in front of the stage are asked to wear a Convocation gown, which can be arranged through Communications Specialist Sarah Ackles.

    For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

     *Sarah Ackles, Communications Specialist, Brock University [email protected] or 289-241-5483

    – 30 –

    Categories: Media releases

  • Brock University and St. Clair College launch fast-track to Sport Management degree

    Wednesday, June 04, 2025 | By

    MEDIA RELEASE – JUNE 4, 2025 – R0069

    Students looking to kick their sport industry career into high gear now have a new path to programming at Brock University.

    Brock University and St. Clair College have formalized a transfer pathway to enhance program options for students interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Sport Management (BSM) degree.

    The articulation agreement delivers a seamless roadmap from St. Clair’s Sport and Recreation Management advanced diploma program to Brock’s BSM program. Eligible students will receive eight transfer credits, reducing time to degree completion and offering cost savings.

    By building on their existing education, students can accelerate their entry into the sport management industry, pursuing careers in areas such as operations, recruitment, athlete performance analysis, marketing, communications and event planning. They will also unlock Brock’s robust alumni network, accessing a wealth of mentorship, professional development and career opportunities.

    “This new pathway will connect transfer students with the industry and classroom expertise that has helped Brock graduates find success in all areas of sport,” says Curtis Fogel, Professor and Chair of the University’s Department of Sport Management. “Harnessing their knowledge from both St. Clair and Brock, students will develop the skills necessary to not only enter but also thrive in this competitive field upon graduation.”

    Kevin Corriveau, Co-ordinator and Professor in St. Clair’s Sport and Recreation Management program, says students will reap the benefits of studying at both dynamic institutions.

    “This transfer agreement creates a valuable partnership for our graduates from St. Clair College with an established leader in the field of sport management,” he says. “It will provide our students the opportunity to continue their educational and practical journey in the field of sport and recreation management, allowing them to grow their skill set and position them for careers in the industry.”

    The initiative supports Brock’s broader commitment to student mobility and academic accessibility.

    “Brock is excited to open yet another door to success, equipping transfer students with tools to meet the evolving needs of the sport industry,” says Assistant Professor of Sport Management Michael Van Bussel, who, as a member of the University’s Sport Management Undergraduate Committee, establishes pathways into the program. “Through this partnership with St. Clair College, we are creating a path forward for the next generation of leaders in the field.”

    Transfer students contribute valuable perspectives to the academic environment, enriching classroom experiences for both peers and faculty, he says.

    More information on Brock’s Bachelor of Sport Management is available on the program’s web page.

     

    For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

    *Maryanne St. Denis, Associate Director, Strategic Communications, Brock University, [email protected] or 905-246-0256

    *Kevin Corriveau, Co-ordinator and Professor, Sport and Recreation Management, St. Clair College, [email protected] or 519-972-2727 x.4548/5369

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    Categories: Media releases

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