Media releases

• School’s back, and Brock’s O-Week celebration begins Sunday

  Thursday, August 31, 2017 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 31 August 2017 – R00151

  It’s a campus tradition that focuses on safe and inclusive alcohol-free events for incoming students.

  Brockchella, as the Brock University Students’ Union Orientation Week celebration is known, kicks off Sunday, Sept. 3 with a party in front of the Sir Isaac Brock statue. O-Week includes a full slate of on-campus activities designed to help first-year students familiarize themselves with their new home through fun, engaging and educational programming.

  O-Week officially begins with Move-In Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday as hundreds of upper-year students help nearly 2,400 first-years and their families move into Brock’s seven residences. The day wraps up with the Tower Party and Live Burn, a demonstration by St. Catharines fire department and Brock Campus Security that teaches students about fire safety in their residence rooms.

  Monday will see students competing in the Summer Games in Weather Station Field, followed by a 9 p.m. movie screening in the field in front of the Sir Isaac Brock statue.

  Tuesday and Wednesday will see a massive Vendor Fair taking place in Weather Station Field, which will introduce students to local businesses and various departments and activities on campus.

  New for 2017 is the Wellness Fair being held Thursday, which will allow students to learn more about wellness-related services available both on and off campus. It will also kick off Wellness Days, which will be hosted by BUSU throughout the school year.

  The annual O-Week Paint Party will take place Friday, Sept. 8, wrapping up with a fireworks display at 10:45 p.m., weather permitting.

  On Saturday, Sept. 9, hundreds of Brock students will head out across Niagara for Brock Cares, an annual day of volunteering and fundraising throughout the community.

  That night, Brockchella will hit its peak when American rapper Desiigner will headline a performance in Brock’s Weather Station Field. Signed by Kanye West’s label, Desiigner is a breakout star on the hip hop scene whose hit song Panda has had more than 245 million views on YouTube.

  “We think it’s a huge win for the University,” said BUSU President Faisal Hejazi. “Desiigner has become an internationally recognized artist in a short period of time. He’s still young so I think we can expect a lot more from him in the future.”

  “A lot of students have voiced that they wanted to see a hip hop or rap artist come to Brock, so we’re super excited to be able to bring that to them,” said Maddy Wassink, BUSU’s Vice-President, Student Services. “Not only do we have an amazing headliner, but also our support artist, Jazz Cartier is getting a ton of attention, too.”

  Wassink said the students’ union is committed to being a good community neighbour and will follow all city by-laws, ensuring O-Week activities wrap up by 11 p.m. each night.

  “The team and I have spent our summer living and breathing O-Week so we couldn’t be more excited going into this, ready to share a packed week of fun to welcome our Badgers back to campus,” she said. “We have catered all events to be inclusive, safe and continue to allow students to have the time of their lives.”

  For a full schedule of events for the week, visit Brockchella.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.

  – 30 –

  Categories: Media releases

• Suzanne Rochon-Burnett’s contribution to indigenous arts honoured in new exhibit

  Wednesday, August 30, 2017 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 30 August 2017 – R00150

  Before Suzanne Rochon-Burnett passed away, she asked that her daughter Michele-Elise take over where she had left off.

  “She gave me instructions for her art,” said Michele-Elise Burnett. “She said, ‘you’ve been fortunate to see and know this art, but it will be your responsibility to continue to share the knowledge, the teachings and the messages that are being told through our people’s art.’”

  The desire to continue advocating and sharing indigenous art is the driving force behind a new art exhibition opening next week at Brock University’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA).

  Brock University, The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and Kakekalanicks Indigenous Arts Consultancy are joining together to present Awakening Her Spirit — Select Works from the collection of Suzanne Rochon-Burnett as part of the first Celebration of Nations event.

  The exhibit opens at the MIWSFPA Visual Arts Gallery Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.

  The exhibition follows Suzanne Rochon-Burnett’s journey to empower and support indigenous arts in Canada and globally through a collection of paintings, mixed media, sculpture and personal objects. Curated by Samuel Thomas (Cayuga), the show will feature never-before exhibited original works by Norval Morrisseau, Daphne Odjig, Carl Beam, Roy Thomas, Vince Bomberry, Simon Brascoupe, Bruce King and more.

  “My mom was an advocate and champion of indigenous art before it was being recognized as legitimate art,” Michele-Elise Burnett said. “She helped build recognition and respect to ensure that indigenous artists were compensated fairly like everybody else. She championed artists and their work and encouraged them to find value in it.”

  Samuel Thomas, a master bead worker and family friend, will lead an interactive Curator’s Talk on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. at the Visual Arts Gallery.

  “My mother took beading lessons from Sam’s mother,” Michele-Elise explained. “When I told Sam about the Celebration of Nations exhibit of my mother’s art, he was pleased and honoured to help pull it together.”

  Rochon-Burnett was a Métis broadcaster and businesswoman who started her career as a journalist in Quebec. Among her many accomplishments, she and daughter Michele-Elise became the first indigenous Canadians to own a CRTC broadcast license as owner and operator of Spirit 91.7 FM radio in Niagara.

  Rochon-Burnett would also become co-founder and first vice-chair of the Métis Nation of Ontario, and sat on boards at TV Ontario, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canadian Council of the Arts, among others. In 2002, Rochon-Burnett received an Honorary Doctorate from Brock in recognition of her contributions to Canadian cultural life.

  She has left many legacies, including the Suzanne Rochon-Burnett Scholarship at the University, which has to date helped 18 indigenous students embark on a university education they may have otherwise never had. Fiercely proud of her heritage, Rochon-Burnett has shown that an individual who is inspired can wake up every day and follow and achieve their dreams.

  Awakening Her Spirit is part of Celebration of Nations, a gathering of indigenous arts, culture and tradition set for Sept. 8-10. The gathering features ticketed performances by Buffy Sainte-Marie, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, DJ Shub as well as free workshops, performances and teachings all weekend long. The full schedule is available at www.celebrationofnations.ca

  The exhibit continues through Sept. 30 at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts located at 15 Artists’ Common in downtown St. Catharines.

  Situated on the lower level of the MIWSFPA, regular hours of the Art Gallery are Tuesday through Friday from 1-5 p.m. Additional open hours for Celebration of Nations include:

  Thursday, Sept. 7 from 6-9 p.m.

  Friday, Sept. 8 from 1-8 p.m.

  Saturday, Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

  Sunday, Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

  Saturday, Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

   

  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

  – 30 –

  Categories: Media releases