Media releases

• Brock looks to relocate its satellite campus to Burlington

  Wednesday, October 21, 2020 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 20 October 2020 – R0157

  Brock University is coming to the City of Burlington.

  The University has announced it will relocate its current Hamilton campus to a more accessible location in Burlington, to better serve students and the broader community.

  Brock and the City are signing a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to find a site and to realize the intention for the relocated campus. Burlington City Council passed a motion on Monday, Oct. 19 approving the MOU, which was also recently approved by the University’s Board of Trustees.

  Besides agreeing to search for a new campus site, the MOU also calls for Brock and the City to seek opportunities to use the University’s assets and resources in other collaborative efforts that will benefit the Burlington community.

  Brock has for 20 years operated a satellite campus on King Street East in Hamilton, serving mainly as a site for teacher education. In November 2019 the University determined that the converted 1960s high school would be too costly to update. Brock opted to sell the property and seek a replacement site in the Hamilton-Burlington-Oakville corridor that is more adaptable for university purposes, and better meets students’ needs such as being closer to public transit and main road networks.

  Brock President Gervan Fearon praised Burlington officials for helping the University identify suitable candidate sites that are located close to the GO commuter rail system and QEW highway access.

  “Over the decades, Brock has developed a relationship with the Hamilton-Burlington-Oakville communities, and we have seen strong growth in student enrolment from across these communities,” said Fearon.

  “It is important for us to be able to more effectively serve our students, faculty, staff and community partners across the region that includes Niagara and the Burlington corridor. We are focused on contributing to community growth and vitality.  We appreciate the City of Burlington’s partnership, as achieving this will be a win for all parties.”

  Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward called the announcement “truly exciting news for Burlington.”

  “It’s also been a goal of mine for the past 10 years, and part of our City’s Strategic Plan, so it’s great to see it finally coming together. It’s a win-win not just for Brock University, but Burlington will also benefit from getting a foothold in the post-secondary undergraduate world

  “This will bring more students and workers to our community and I couldn’t be more thrilled to see it happening.”

  Anita Cassidy, Executive Director of Burlington Economic Development, endorsed that sentiment.

  “Burlington Economic Development has been working actively with the City of Burlington and our post-secondary partners to expand opportunities for undergraduate education in Burlington for a number of years and we are excited to move forward with Brock University,” said Cassidy. “Burlington’s GO Investment Corridor is the ideal location to tap into a growing talent base and we anticipate many economic benefits to both the City of Burlington and Brock from the partnership.”

  Brock completed the sale of its Hamilton campus in September, in an agreement that gives the University the option of continuing to conduct teaching and research there until August 2022, allowing it time to obtain and prepare a replacement facility.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  • Kevin Cavanagh, Executive Director, Brock University Marketing & Communications [email protected]     905-321-4310

  • Kwab Ako-Adjei, Director, Corporate Communications & Government Relations, City of Burlington [email protected]     905 335-7600 ext 7747   905 220-5870

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  Categories: Media releases

• Reminder: Brock’s Virtual Fall Convocation launches Friday

  Thursday, October 15, 2020 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 15 October 2020 – R0156

  The doors to Brock University’s Virtual Fall 2020 Convocation are about to swing open.

  More than 650 Brock undergrad students and 340 graduate students will convocate Friday, Oct. 16 as the University’s 108th Convocation ceremony goes online.

  It follows a similar format to Spring Convocation, which was held virtually in June due to public health COVID-19 restrictions around large gatherings.

  Fall Convocation is traditionally a one-day affair, and those graduating will receive an invitation to their personalized Convocation portal from the Deans of their respective Faculties first thing Friday morning.

  Inside, they will find a tailored graduation experience they can access whenever it’s convenient for them and their families.

  This Convocation will include numerous significant milestones.

  First will be the installation of incoming Chancellor Hilary Pearson, who follows Shirley Cheechoo to become Brock’s ninth Chancellor. Cheechoo was installed as Chancellor in 2015 when she became the first woman and first Indigenous Canadian to hold the ceremonial leadership role at Brock.

  Pearson is a recognized leader in Canadian philanthropy and community engagement. She has served in senior policy roles in the federal government and as President of Philanthropic Foundations Canada for 18 years, working closely with many of the country’s largest private charitable foundations. In 2018, she was named a Member of the Order of Canada. 

  One of her first tasks as Chancellor will be conferring an honorary degree on Lieutenant-General, the Honorable Roméo Dallaire. A celebrated international advocate for human rights, Dallaire is a respected author, government and United Nations advisor, and former Canadian senator. He is also founder of the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security.

  Appointed as commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda, Dallaire was witness to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. He spoke at Brock on International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 2017 and will give a keynote address on the Convocation portal.

  The Virtual Convocation experience will also include video messages from University President Gervan Fearon, student and alumni leaders and others.

  While graduands will have their degrees officially conferred by Chancellor Pearson on Friday, their physical degree parchments will arrive in the mail in the coming weeks. Students who have requested to have their diploma mailed will receive a package that will include the degree, a Convocation program, an alumni pin, a bag of Class of 2020 confetti, and a few other items.

  For faculty, staff and community members who want to see what Brock’s Virtual Fall Convocation is all about, this Brock News story will be updated at 9 a.m. Friday with links to the graduation portal.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

   * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University [email protected] or 905-347-1970 

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  Categories: Media releases