Media releases

• Animal protection expert available to comment on new Ontario legislation

  Tuesday, October 29, 2019 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 29 Oct. 2019 – R00170

  The Ontario government today tabled The Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act which, if passed, would establish an enforcement team made up of a chief inspector, locally deployed provincial inspectors and specialized inspectors for agriculture, zoos, aquariums and equines.

  https://news.ontario.ca/mcscs/en/2019/10/ontarios-new-animal-welfare-model.html

  Kendra Coulter, Chair of the Department of Labour Studies at Brock University, is a leading Canadian researcher on issues of animal welfare. She has been widely published in journals and quoted in news media across North America and around the world.

  Coulter has studied animal cruelty investigations in Ontario and other jurisdictions since 2015. Earlier this year she released a report calling for a dedicated, public provincial anti-cruelty unit — an aspect which is the core plank of the new legislation.

  This is an important issue for animals and for public safety, since animal abuse often occurs alongside violence against women and children, and as a gateway to other crimes.

  Coulter says the introduction of this legislation is promising, but she needs to see more details, including the funding commitment.

  Kendra Coulter is available for media interviews, and can be reached at kcoulter@brocku.ca

   

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  Kevin Cavanagh, Brock University Communications, kcavanagh@brocku.ca or 905-688-5550 x5888 or 905 321-4310
  Michelle Presse, Brock University Communications, mpresse@brocku.ca or 905-688-5550 ext 4420 or 905-246-1963

  Categories: Media releases

• New residence signals new era for Brock University

  Monday, October 28, 2019 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 28 October 2019 – R00169

  As the shovels were pushed into the ground by Brock University senior staff and student leaders, an important construction project on the main St. Catharines campus officially kicked off on Monday, Oct. 28.

  Answering the request for more on-campus housing from students and the community, the University broke ground on Residence 8, a $40-million, six-storey student residence expected to be completed by the summer of 2021. The project is self-funded and will contribute to the University’s operating budget when it opens.

  University President Gervan Fearon said Brock’s reputation for academic excellence and student experience has led to record enrolment and more students wanting to enrich their university experience by living on campus.

  “We have a responsibility to help more students have that experience, but Brock also has a duty to our host communities,” said Fearon. “Brock needs to be part of the solution. We need to help accommodate the people we are attracting, and that’s what we are doing today. Residence 8 is a positive move for Brock and for our host communities.”

  Residence 8 is the first Brock-owned housing complex to be built on campus since Lowenberger opened in 2003, when the University’s enrolment jumped because of the end of Grade 13 in Ontario high schools. The new facility’s 300 beds will increase Brock’s housing capacity to nearly 2,800.

  “This project is important because demand for residence exceeds our capacity,” said Director of Residences Jamie Fleming. “We have a long waiting list, so we could have filled this residence this year if it was open.”

  He said living on campus is an important part of the student experience that Brock is recognized across the country for.

  “Many of our students choose to live in residence and many initially do so because they find it convenient, but very quickly realize there’s a whole experience that goes along with it,” he said. “It’s a very safe, comfortable and welcoming environment that makes them feel engaged with what’s happening on campus.”

  Residence 8 will be built beside the existing Alan Earp Residence using a section of what is currently Parking Lot M. In order to accommodate the building and to increase the University’s parking capacity overall, a new parking lot will be built on the east side of Ray Woodfield Drive parallel to Glenridge Avenue.

  The new housing facility will include a new dining hall, a 24/7 service desk for students and a hub for Conference and Events Services.

  The University also recently announced it was exploring opportunities to partner with private developers to increase student housing options by building residences near the main campus or in downtown St. Catharines near Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.

   

  A full gallery of images, video and artist renderings available for editorial use from Monday’s groundbreaking is available by clicking here.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

  Brock University Marketing and Communications has a full-service studio where we can provide high definition video and broadcast-quality audio.

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  Categories: Media releases