Media releases

• Brock grad to represent Canada at creativity festival in Cannes

  Tuesday, May 10, 2016 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: R00099 – 9 May 2016

  A Brock University graduate is headed to Cannes, France after winning a prestigious national marketing contest.

  Christian Di Vincenzo, a graduate of Brock’s Goodman School of Business (BBA ’13), won the Young Marketers division of The Globe and Mail’s national Young Lions and Young Marketers competition, putting him on an international stage next month at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity held annually in Cannes.

  The competition showcases the best of the best in marketing and advertising. Only those marketers who win first place in their national divisions make it to Cannes. The three-round Canadian competition was held over the past few weeks.

  Di Vincenzo works as a digital marketing consultant at Lexus Canada, where he leads the brand’s national digital marketing strategy while managing an internal team and external agency partners.

  Along with his Lexus colleague Olena Sapojnikova, Di Vincenzo developed and designed a pitch for the competition, answering a call to young marketers in Canada to create a marketing campaign that incorporated their companies’ brands and David Suzuki Foundation’s Superhero Challenge, an initiative to encourage children to enjoy the outdoors and maintain healthy lifestyle habits.

  Di Vincenzo credits his success to his time at Brock, where he was actively involved in co-curricular activities. 

  “Four key things from my Goodman experience have helped me in my career so far: co-op, international exchange, business competitions and Monster Pitch,” he said.

  Di Vincenzo was on winning teams at both the Monster Pitch competition and Nicol Business Plan Competition, competed at the prestigious Royal Roads University International Undergraduate Case Competition and went on an international exchange at the University of South Australia.

  “Co-op and competitions taught me how to think on my feet and come up with creative ideas,” he said. “Going on exchange and having these experiences has helped me learn to connect with people, which is ultimately the most important thing in marketing.

  “You have to understand how to connect with individuals and speak to their emotions, which is essentially what advertising is all about and what we do as marketers.”

  Working with their mentor, Mark Childs, chief brand officer of Samsung Canada, Di Vincenzo and Sapojnikova are now preparing for the final round of the competition. Nearly 15,000 delegates will gather in Cannes, where the coveted golden lion statue will be handed out to the contest winner.

  Di Vicenzo is available to speak with the media about his winning entry and his time at Brock University.

  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

• Racial issues on the agenda this fall as U.S. conference comes to Brock University

  Tuesday, May 10, 2016 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: R00098 – 3 May 2016

  For the first time in its history, the White Privilege Conference — a prominent American symposium of educators and students “designed to examine issues of privilege beyond skin colour” — is venturing outside of the U.S.

  This fall, Brock University will be the host site for the White Privilege Symposium Canada (WPSC). The two-day event Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 will use a format of guest speakers and group workshops to examine the impacts of, and solutions to, racial and cultural oppression.

  Organized by Brock’s Task Force on Racial Climate, and supported by the U.S. parent group, the WPSC will be themed “Academics & Activists: Advocating for Equity, Justice and Action,” and is expected to draw attendees from Canada and the U.S.

  Topping the list of speakers at Brock will be American scholar and racial justice activist Eddie Moore, who founded the White Privilege Conference as well as The Privilege Institute, which engages people in research, education and leadership through workshops and conferences.

  Other scheduled keynote speakers include Shauneen Pete, a First Nations educator and University of Regina associate professor; Ritu Bhasin, a Canadian lawyer and equity consultant; Afua Cooper, the James R. Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies and professor at Dalhousie University; rap artist and anti-violence activist Jasiri X; and U.S. author and racial justice educator Debby Irving.

  Organizers expect the Brock WPSC event will attract a diverse audience of students, parents and community leaders, as well as school teachers or counsellors who work on issues of equity and social justice.

  Dolana Mogadime, Associate Professor in Brock’s Faculty of Education and a member of the Task Force on Racial Climate, said holding the conference at Brock will help the entire Niagara community better understand inclusivity.

  “We have more than a War of 1812 discipline of heritage,” said Mogadime. “This is about acknowledging and growing our knowledge of our own history.

  “As the first Canadian institution to host the White Privilege Symposium, Brock is leading a national discussion. And it is informed by collaboration with American thought leaders who bring expertise in grappling with issues of inclusion, and advocating for redressing communities that are marginalized by asking important questions that lead to positive change.”

  Mogadime said Canada is one of the most cosmopolitan countries in the world, and Brock’s own campus community continues to be broadened by students from the GTA and overseas. She said a major event like the WPSC plays a big part in helping people have the conversations that lead to understanding diversity and living in a diverse community.

  The Task Force on Racial Climate was created after a “black face” incident occurred at a Halloween costume party in Brock’s student pub in 2014. Task force chair Brad Clarke, who is also Brock’s Director of Student Life and Community Experience, said its mandate is to bring together students, staff and faculty to examine and consider the dynamics of race within the Brock context, and to initiate activity that will improve the racial climate at the University.

  “Unfortunately racism — implicit and explicit, intentional and unintentional — is present on every campus and in every community,” said Clarke. “Brock is no different. We must encourage activities that acknowledge and embrace diversity, while increasing equity and inclusion for all.”

  In the coming months, watch for more interviews and details about the symposium. In the meantime, use these links to see the agenda as well as biographies of keynote speakers.

   

  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