Media releases

• Brock’s first online cider course sells out as thirst for virtual learning grows

  Thursday, July 09, 2020 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 6 July 2020 – R0110

  As teaching and learning transforms in response to COVID-19, Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) has transitioned its popular Cider and Perry Production Foundation course to an online format.

  This first-ever online offering was developed alongside CCOVI’s North American academic partners and sold out almost immediately.

  “We’re thrilled to offer the foundation course in an innovative new format,” says Barb Tatarnic, CCOVI’s Manager of Continuing Education. “The uptake was incredible and affirms that we’ve provided the quality cider education experience students are looking for, even if we can’t provide it in person right now.”

  CCOVI worked together with the Cider Institute of North America (CINA) and other program providers to develop the online course. Although it was born out of necessity to adapt to world events, Tatarnic says it offers new opportunities, too.

  Since the online format is now offered over a 15-week period rather than a week-long intensive session, for example, it opens the course up to those with less flexibility in their schedules.

  Brighid O’Keane, Executive Director of CINA, says another benefit to going virtual is that they were able to bring more industry experts on board.

  “The Cider Institute represents the range of cider culture, production styles and techniques, apple regions, and business models across North America,” she says. “We are excited by the first-ever opportunity to connect students directly with leaders in the cider industry and experts in fermentation research through this online course.”

  For the first time, all of CINA’s expert fermentation researchers (from Brock, Cornell University, Washington State University and Virginia Tech University) will be teaching a portion of the course.

  Steven Trussler, Brock’s certified instructor for the course, said the co-teaching element is an exciting approach.

  “With each of the instructors coming from different professional backgrounds and areas of expertise, the students learn the material from a variety of perspectives in a very multifaceted way,” he says. “The depth of time you can spend with the material in a 15-week-format also provides a very different experience even though the course has the same content and learning objectives.”

  Guest speakers are also featured in the online course almost every week, including the internationally recognized Peter Mitchell, who developed the foundation course.

  Brock graduate Emily Gillard (BSc ’15) is also one of the featured industry speakers. She is the assistant cidermaker at Brickworks Ciderhouse in Toronto and was recently awarded the Cider Institute’s Peter Mitchell Award for Educational Excellence in Cider Production.

  The most challenging part of transitioning the course was finding a way to emulate the hands-on lab work, cider making and tastings to an online format.

  Trussler said they relied on a hybrid approach, pairing live, virtual lectures and online forums with pre-recorded video content and assignments that use those video demonstrations. Students also receive kits containing cider samples for the sensory analysis and tasting components of the course, as well as fermentation supplies to make and test ciders at home.

  “You have to adapt the way you are delivering this course and there is real work to make sure the value and the learning is still there,” says Trussler. “It’s not a question of what you can’t do online ­— it’s a question of what new things you can do online, and that presented a really exciting opportunity for this course.”

  Students will also have access to virtual behind-the-scenes tours of the top cider apple orchards and commercial production spaces across North America, and networking opportunities to foster teamwork and interaction.

  The current offering is sold out, but anyone interesting in taking the course is encouraged to enrol in the next session that runs from Aug. 31 to Dec. 18, with a live virtual session every week. Registration can be done online via Eventbrite and more information can be found on CCOVI’s website.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970 

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock team analyzes park and trail access challenges during COVID-19

  Thursday, July 09, 2020 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 30 June 2020 – R0109

  The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in outdoor activities.

  Demand for outdoor recreation such as hiking, cycling and other nature-based activities has increased dramatically as individuals have found themselves living with an altered work and leisure schedule.

  Just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) launched the Trail Assets and Tourism Initiative with the Niagara Parks Commission and the Ontario Trails Council. While the partnership began with specific goals, COVID-19 has altered not only life for virtually all Canadians throughout these past few months, but also this important partnership work.

  The Trail Assets and Tourism research team has turned its attention to examining best practices for communicating parks and trail use policies to the public.

  “The work of the partnership is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic as trails are the lifeblood of park systems and serve as connectors between people, nature and health,” says Garrett Hutson, Brock University Associate Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies and Chair of the Trail Assets and Tourism partnership. “As some park agencies continue to report record numbers of visitors, concisely clarifying and communicating best practices to protect people and the environment are necessary during this unprecedented time.”

  As a result of the increased demand, operators of parks and protected areas have been under pressure to re-open their properties. In order to do so, park agencies have a list of tasks that must be completed before visitors can be safely accommodated such as recalling seasonal employees and developing and implementing COVID-19 safety protocols in order to protect staff.

  The agencies must then complete all necessary pre-season maintenance work that had not been possible during the previous shutdown stages. Finally, before an agency is ready to welcome visitors, COVID-19 related safety protocols for visitors must be developed and implemented.

  Once this is done, agencies face one of the most difficult tasks yet — effectively educating the public of the new policies and guidelines for visiting each specific location. Given the current COVID-19 climate, with many provinces loosening restrictions and enabling increased access to tourism and outdoor recreation, this communication has become incredibly important.

  With hundreds of independent park agencies in Canada, visitors have found themselves required to learn the policies of each agency they might consider visiting. For example, a visitor in Ontario may find themselves visiting a Niagara Parks location, an Ontario Parks location and a Parks Canada location — all with their own COVID-19 policies.

  “There has been extensive confusion for trail users throughout Ontario as to what trails and parks are open and what safety protocols are in place,” said Wayne Terryberry, President of Ontario Trails Council. “This research project provides extremely valuable information, which will assist trail management agencies communicate and plan in a concerted and co-ordinated manner.”

  While it is important for individuals to plan and prepare for their visits to parks and trails, it is the responsibility of each park agency to facilitate that preparation by providing accurate, concise and readily available information regarding the changes in policies and procedures at their locations.

  The Trails Assets and Tourism Initiative team examined more than 40 park and trail agency social media and website communications regarding COVID-19. It found that park agencies with an active social media presence and more information on their websites earn better approval and more appreciation from the public.

  Given the evolving and changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, park agencies should consider utilizing reciprocal linking with other agencies to a greater degree, to demonstrate a coordinated approach to health and safety recommendations and communications, says Hutson.

  With the help of the Niagara Parks Commission, the Ontario Trails Council, and through reviewing other agency COVID-19 communications, the Trail Assets and Tourism Initiative team has put together a list of best practices, which can be found in the infographic attached to this release.

  “As restrictions continue to be lifted, our actions collectively, while congregating to some degree in natural and other areas, will determine the trajectory of the spread of COVID-19, which will likewise determine whether natural assets such as parks and trails will remain open for use,” Hutson says.

  More information can be found on the websites of the Niagara Parks Commission, Leave No Trace and Ontario Trails.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases