Media releases

• Poetry contest celebrates International Year of Indigenous Languages

  Wednesday, November 21, 2018 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 21 November 2018 – R00206

  Language plays a critical role in the daily lives, histories and identities of people around the world.

  Despite the important connections tied to the words we speak, UNESCO has identified more than 2,000 languages spoken by Indigenous peoples around the world that are in serious danger of disappearing.

  In an effort to recognize the important contribution these languages play in our cultural diversity, Brock’s UNESCO Chair in Community Sustainability has declared the theme of its annual Sustainability Poetry Contest to be aligned with the International Year of Indigenous Languages.

  Every year, the contest calls for writers from the local community to submit unpublished poems and artwork on themes related to sustainability.

  The contest is open to all residents of Niagara (inclusive of members of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities and Six Nations), and will operate in co-operation with Indigenous groups and stakeholders across the region.

  UNESCO Chair Liette Vasseur said the contest will raise awareness about the need to preserve, revitalize and promote Indigenous languages and knowledge around the world.

  “I believe this is one small step that contributes to the sharing of knowledge with and about Indigenous peoples of Canada,” she said. “Their knowledge and languages are essential to understanding where we come from as a society and the sustainability of the environment around us.”

  The contest also seeks to promote the steps being taken by UNESCO, other United Nations agencies and stakeholders around the world to support, access and promote Indigenous languages in co-operation with the people who speak them.

  In Canada, every effort should be made to contribute to the Truth and Reconciliation Call for Action, Vasseur said — and little steps count.

  UNESCO has been celebrating March 21 as World Poetry Day since 1999. The contest uses poetry as a tool to bring awareness to social issues, give a voice to the community, promote linguistic diversity and change the way people view their place in the world.

  Vasseur said this year’s poetry contest has an especially important role to play in the promotion and preservation of linguistic diversity, culture and identity for vulnerable Indigenous communities in Canada.

  Poems can be submitted online until 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15 by visiting the UNESCO Chair’s website.

  Prizes such as books and gift cards will be awarded in each of four categories: elementary student; high school student; college/university student; and general public.

  Winners will be announced at the UNESCO World Poetry Day celebration at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 21 at Mahtay Café in downtown St. Catharines. The event is free and open to the public, but registration will be required as space is limited.

  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

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  Categories: Media releases

• Doing your homework important as Black Friday approaches

  Wednesday, November 21, 2018 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 21 November 2018 – R00205

  Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Travel Tuesday and Giving Tuesday. You will be given many options for parting with your money over the coming days.

  What used to be an American-only tradition, Black Friday is now firmly engrained in Canadian culture and is an important kickoff to the holiday shopping season.

  “It has become a time for Canadians to shop and look for deep discounts,” says Eric Dolansky, Associate Professor of Marketing in Brock University’s Goodman School of Business. “It wasn’t always that way. It’s a fairly recent phenomenon in Canada.”

  Dolansky says because it has now been around for a few years, the novelty has worn off, leading to an expectation of big sales among consumers.

  “Now, retailers who don’t offer great deals are at a disadvantage,” he says.

  However, the marketing expert says it’s important for consumers to do their homework.

  “The fact that people expect the deals can be exploited by retailers. There are people who value the deal more than the savings and that can be dangerous,” he says. “Sometimes people spend more than they intend to or they can afford to because they feel they’re saving so much it would be foolish not to take advantage of it.”

  But there are more options for spending than just buying discount electronics.

  Todd Green, Assistant Professor of Marketing in the Goodman School of Business, points out that the Giving Tuesday trend is growing every year. It takes place on the Tuesday after Black Friday, and encourages consumers to donate money to charity.

  “Giving Tuesday is a way to absolve your guilt after spending a ton of money on Black Friday and Cyber Monday,” Green says. “Wash away your unnecessary purchases that you made because they were 50 per cent doorcrashers.”

  Green points out that Buy Nothing Day is also a growing international movement, encouraging people to abstain from making purchases on Black Friday.

  “For people who view it as an ethical approach, it’s almost a protest against the consumer movement,” he says, adding there has been backlash against the movement by retailers and others who believe spending is good for the economy.

  “Some people aren’t happy about Buy Nothing Day and I think it has been way more difficult to have that movement break through.” 

  Associate Professor of Marketing Eric Dolansky and Assistant Professor of Marketing Todd Green are both available to speak with the media about the trends and movements around this weekend.

  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

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  Categories: Media releases