Media releases

• Brock set to host Canadian Fencing National Championships

  Tuesday, May 15, 2018 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 15 May 2018 – R00106

  More than 1,000 of the top fencing athletes in the country will descend on Brock University this week as the Canadian Fencing National Championships come to Niagara for the first time.

  Brock Fencing is hosting the Canadian Fencing Federation competition Friday, May 18 to Monday, May 21, where national champions will be decided in some four dozen categories, from under-15 to 40+ veterans and the national university championships.

  The championships have become the most important event on the Canadian fencing calendar, with the national teams to be decided, where athletes representing Canada at the World Championships and Olympics are selected from.

  The event will take over Brock University throughout the Victoria Day weekend with competition taking place from 8 a.m. Friday until Monday afternoon in both Ian Beddis and Bob Davis gymnasiums. In addition, hundreds of athletes and coaches are staying in the Brock residences, and a two-day coaching clinic will be held on campus May 22 and 23.

  “This event is a huge win from the perspective of all the University units working together to facilitate this hosting experience,” said Brock Fencing coach Tim Stang.

  He said more than half of the athletes are of the age where they’re considering their post-secondary education options.

  “This event will serve as a great tool to show what Niagara and Brock have to offer and what our varsity and club fencing teams can do. It’s a fantastic recruiting tool,” Stang said. “Our target is to get kids to come to Brock. It’s not just the individuals who want to come here for fencing, but it’s their brothers and sisters and extended family members. As beautiful as the campus is, they come here and fall in love with it.”

  In addition to a variety of age and gender divisions, athletes will compete in the three fencing disciplines including foil, epee and sabre.

  Each day will see preliminary rounds start at 8 a.m. with the finals beginning at 1 p.m. The university championships will be held Monday, when Stang believes the Brock Badgers have a legitimate shot at a couple of medals with Beamsville’s Malcolm McLeod, the reigning university men’s foil champion, and freshman Aaron Olmstead, who medalled in the provincial championships. Brock has 14 athletes competing with another seven competing from the Brock Academy club team, including the top-ranked under-15 sabre athlete in Canada, Pranav Parakh and top-ranked under-15 foil athlete Darren Dong.

  The Canadian Fencing National Championships are free to attend. For more information and a full schedule, visit fencing.ca

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, 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

• UN partnership opens international co-op opportunities to Goodman students

  Monday, May 14, 2018 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 14 May 2018 – R00105

  Brock University’s Goodman School of Business is the first business school in Canada to form a co-op partnership with the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada).

  The new partnership will make it possible for Goodman students to work at a United Nations agency on an eight-month co-op work term, starting in September, while receiving up to $8,000 in financial support from the business school and an additional $1,000 from Brock’s Co-op Education office.

  In its 23rd year, UNA-Canada’s International Development and Diplomacy Internship Programme includes a network of more than 600 Canadian youth who have worked in various roles in many countries around the world.

  Although the internship program has connected hundreds of interns with international work opportunities, this is the first time UNA-Canada has partnered with a university co-op program.

  The partnership opens a world of possibilities for students who could be placed in any country while working as a junior professional consultant in a specific area of business including business analytics, finance, accounting, strategic communications and international trade.

  Goodman School of Business Dean Andrew Gaudes said the partnership means students will have access to opportunities that will give them a global perspective.

  “We recognize that non-governmental organizations and social responsibility are important elements in addressing global needs,” he said. “Through this collaboration, our students have a wonderful opportunity to be placed around the world to be prepared for a wide variety of needs. We’re addressing individual students’ personal and professional fulfilment objectives and recognizing that they are interested in participating and contributing in a meaningful way beyond the boardroom.”

  Past junior professional consultants have worked for the United Nations Development Programme in Cambodia, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Peru and International Organization for Migration in Ghana.

  Like all Brock University co-op work terms, UNA-Canada co-op opportunities will be evaluated to ensure students are provided with valuable transferable skills that are relevant to their degrees.

  The program will also help students launch careers in international business and give them an understanding of Canada’s role within the United Nations system.

  Selected students will be provided with pre-departure training and orientation sessions and will be coached by UNA-Canada throughout their work term.

  UNA-Canada President and CEO Kathryn White said the partnership will make a lasting impression on students who are selected.

  “UNA-Canada is very pleased to work with our valued partner, Goodman School of Business, to provide remarkable international development experiences for Canadian youth with our UN partners where they will get to accelerate their careers and build long-lasting networks,” she said.

  The opportunity is open to all Goodman School of Business undergraduate and graduate co-op students. Interested students can apply for the UNA-Canada positions through the CareerZone job board. Applications are due May 20.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, 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