Media releases

• Brock to host one of five new national rowing hubs

  Thursday, October 26, 2017 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 26 October 2017 – R00197

  Brock University is among five Canadian host sites selected for new Rowing Canada hubs aimed at identifying and training up-and-coming national-calibre rowers.

  Rowing Canada announced Thursday, Oct. 26 that Brock University, the University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, Western University and Trent University have been selected to host the Rowing Canada NextGen Hubs.

  Brock Sports Director Neil Lumsden called it a big win for the Badgers rowing program.

  “This reflects on the high level of coaching within our program along with our approach to developing our student athletes,” Lumsden said. “It’s a reflection of our rowing program, and Brock Sports as a department.”

  Brock head rowing coach Peter Somerwil said it’s also a reflection of the team’s history of producing talented athletes.

  “It’s a recognition of Brock rowing’s excellent track record of promoting athletes to the national team level through good coaching, equipment and winter training facilities,” said Somerwil, who pointed out that nearly a quarter of the athletes representing Canada at the 2015 U23 World Championships and FISU Games were Brock athletes.

  The NextGen Hubs will provide all-encompassing high-performance services to identify NextGen rowers. Rowing Canada said the Hubs will provide optimal coach-to-athlete ratios, extensive performance planning and enhanced technical coaching capacity. Sport science and sport medicine support will also be embedded within these daily training environments.

  The connection between these NextGen Hubs and their local clubs was an integral component in the overall selection process.

  “I’m truly excited about the engagement of the rowing community in the process,” said Adam Parfitt, RCA Director, Coach and Athlete Pathways. “They care about Canada’s performance and by putting their hands up, they want to share in the responsibility and process of finding and training our next Olympians.”

  The NextGen Hubs are part of a wider strategy that both replaces and builds on the learning and work done in the Row to Podium programs. Establishing these partnerships is a significant step forward in the overall Rowing Canada NextGen Athlete Strategy. This strategy focuses on enhanced programming at a targeted stage in the athlete development pathway. Talent identification programming will be conducted within the NextGen program through partnerships with provincial sport organizations, clubs, schools and institutions.

  Mike Purcer, Technical Specialist for Brock’s rowing program, said Niagara has one of the largest concentrations of rowing clubs in the country, which will benefit with events such as monthly training camps.

  “As a Rowing Canada Hub Training Centre, high-performance coaches and athletes will have an opportunity to connect to a national team pathway,” Purcer said. “Top club, university and high school athletes will become familiar with the training, technique and learning required to achieve the next level.”

  NextGen Hubs were evaluated and selected based on an objective criteria and extensive application process. These environments currently have existing targeted Olympic and Paralympic athletes, embedded coaching support, access to elite training facilities and Sport Science and Sport Medicine programming.

  Rowing Canada and NextGen Hubs will be forming one management committee to co-ordinate the overall development and strategic direction of the Hub programming. One of the first tasks will be to assist in the hiring of the Hub coaches.

  “The additional coaching expertise that will be part of being a NextGen Hub will help athletes with more personal, one-on-one coaching,” Somerwil said. “It will help athletes and the program keep abreast of the evolving best practices in physiological testing, training methods and procedures for trying out for the national team.”

  Lumsden said being named as one of the hubs will help with Brock’s recruiting efforts.

  “We become more attractive to student-athlete rowers who want to compete at a high level and advance their careers beyond varsity rowing to potentially represent their country,” he said.

  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

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock reminds students to be safe, smart on Halloween

  Wednesday, October 25, 2017 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 25 October 2017  – R00196

  Brock University is reminding its students to be smart and responsible over the coming days as they celebrate Halloween.

  To help ensure safe behaviour during a busy week of festivities, the University is taking the proactive measure of hiring 14 extra Niagara Regional Police officers between Oct. 26-31 to patrol on-campus residences as well as off-campus student neighbourhoods. Brock’s Campus Security Services will also have 10 extra special constables working over the weekend and on Halloween, in addition to its regular staffing.

  Anna Lathrop, Vice-Provost, Teaching, Learning and Student Success, said it is the responsibility of all students, on and off campus, to abide by municipal bylaws and the University’s Student Code of Conduct.

  “Brock University, the Brock University Students’ Union, our local municipal community partners and the Niagara Regional Police are united in their efforts to ensure the message of safe drinking, consent, bylaw adherence and responsible partying is promoted and enforced,” said Lathrop

  President Gervan Fearon said students are expected to be good neighbours who respect the rights and safety of others. He said the University will be mindful of student activities on and off campus, and serious misconduct violating the Code of Conduct could lead to action under the Code.

  Niagara Regional Police Chief Bryan MacCulloch said officers will keep a close eye on student behaviour.

  “Officers will be vigilant in ensuring students are not participating in underage drinking, unlawful possession or consumption of alcohol and that any noise complaints are addressed,” MacCulloch said. “We have been working in co-operation with Brock University, the City of St. Catharines and the City of Thorold to ensure the safety and lawful enjoyment of property of both students and the community.”

  Isaac’s Bar and Grill, the pub run by the Brock University Students’ Union, will have its Halloween party on Thursday, Oct. 26, and staff will be on hand making sure students comply with the Halloween Costume Protocol. Launched in 2016, the BUSU Student Justice Centre’s “Appreciate Don’t Appropriate” campaign is committed to support people of marginalized, racial, gender, sexual and differently abled identities. The protocol bans students from wearing costumes that, among other things, “reduce cultural differences to jokes, stereotypes or historical and cultural inaccuracies.”

  President of BUSU Faisal Hejazi said there’s nothing wrong with Halloween parties and celebrations, as long as they don’t cross the line.

  “While taking part in these events please enjoy responsibly and respectfully, ensuring that you are looking out for yourselves and friends,” he said. “Keep in mind that many children will also be out trick or treating on Halloween and to be mindful of our community members while on the road.”

  This week, the Brock Student Life and Community Experience office is launching its Don’t Put the Bad in Badger campaign, which includes posters and information booths on campus, as well as visiting neighbourhoods in Thorold and St. Catharines known to have a high number of students living in them. Joining Student Life staff on the visits will be bylaw enforcement staff from the two cities.

  “We want to ensure that students are safe,” said Bradley Clarke,
Director, Student Life and Community Experience. “By providing resources and key messages throughout the Don’t Put the Bad in Badger campaign, we are educating students about their responsibilities when partying off campus and providing reminders related to being a good neighbour in our community.”

  The Student Life and Community Experience team is also running its Trick or Eat campaign, where staff and city bylaw officers will deliver empty bags to neighbourhoods around Brock this week, and then Brock students — dressed in costume — will pick the bags up filled with food for Community Care on Halloween Day.

   

  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