Articles tagged with: brock international

  • Brock will require COVID-19 vaccination for students, staff, faculty to access campus

    Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | By

    Aerial view of Brock University campus walkway at Cairns bulding

    THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 | by The Brock News

    As Brock continues to prepare for a significant return to campus for the Fall 2021 term, the University will require COVID-19 vaccination for all students, faculty, staff and visitors who wish to access campus this fall. This is the latest in several measures the University is taking as part of its ongoing commitment to the health and safety of its community.

    At least a first dose of a Health Canada-approved vaccine will be required by September 7, and a second dose will be required by October 15. Anyone who cannot be vaccinated, based on medical or other grounds recognized by the Ontario Human Rights Code, can request an accommodation. Those who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine on the World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing are deemed to have met this requirement.

    All members of the Brock community returning to campus will be required to attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status and be prepared to furnish proof of vaccination to the University.

    A protocol that includes screening and frequent testing will be established for those who are not vaccinated.

    Brock had previously announced a vaccination requirement for those living in residence as well as for all student-athletes.

    The health and well-being of the Brock community remains the University’s top priority. Vaccination against COVID-19 is, by far, the best way to protect the community against the spread of COVID-19, and to ensure the return to campus this fall is as safe as it can be. Brock encourage everyone who can to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

    Early results of a survey sent to students indicate the vast majority — more than 90 per cent — are already vaccinated against COVID-19 or intend to be by the beginning of the Fall Term.

    We would like to thank our students, faculty, staff and bargaining partners for their support as we continue to plan for a safe return to campus in the fall. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to keep everyone safe and healthy as we begin the Fall Term and into the future.

    Brock has supported Niagara Region Public Health with on-campus public vaccination clinics, continues to engage in an awareness campaign about the importance of getting vaccinated, and provides regular COVID-19 updates on The Brock News and social media.

    The University has put in place a number of measures in preparation for a safe return to campus this fall, including making significant improvements to campus ventilation systems, using a booking system for access to recreational and other space, and increasing student wellness services, including access to a specialized COVID-19 nurse.

    Brock joins a number of post-secondary institutions across Ontario in making COVID-19 vaccination a requirement in order to be present on campus.

    Further details on the implementation of Brock’s vaccination requirements will be made available soon.

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    Categories: Current Students, Department/Centre News, Faculty & Instructors, News, Uncategorised

  • Fall/Winter 2021 timetable is live, undergrad registration starts July 6

    Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | By

    Schmon tower with General Brock statue at Brock University and students walking in front

    Originally published in The Brock News |  TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 

    Brock University last week reiterated its hope that students will be welcomed back onto campus starting this fall and today, Tuesday, May 25, the Fall/Winter 2021 timetable went live.

    In it, students will see a course calendar that reflects a significant return to on-campus instruction with a majority of classes being offered in person, while still having many classes offered in a hybrid online format.

    This is the fall scenario Brock is working towards, but the University will be ready to quickly pivot, should the public health situation require it.

    Course registration opens on the student portal at my.brocku.ca on Tuesday, July 6 for first-year undergraduates. Those with 15 or more credits may register starting July 9; 10 or more credits on July 12; five or more credits on July 14; fewer than five credits on July 15. There are a number of other key registration dates that can be found at brocku.ca/guides-and-timetables/dates

    The University realizes students will have questions as they prepare for registration to open on Tuesday, July 6. More information and the answers to many of these questions can be found at brocku.ca/fall and brocku.ca/coronavirus

    These websites are regularly updated with the latest information about the 2021-22 academic plans and the University’s pandemic response.

    Brock is preparing for the upcoming academic year with cautious optimism and with the knowledge all adults in Ontario who wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19 are now eligible to receive their first shot.

    Today’s release of the Fall/Winter 2021 timetable is the next step in that preparation.

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    Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Events, News, Uncategorised

  • Brock students selected to participate in national Black theatre initiative

    Tuesday, February 23, 2021 | By

    Soji Cole and Sid Malcolm

    Caption: Sid Malcolm (left), fourth year Dramatic Arts student with a minor in Music, and Soji Cole, second year PhD student in Interdisciplinary Humanities, are two of 21 students selected for “Seeding the Future”, a new initiative highlighting young Black voices. 

    Two Brock University students will be joining a historic group of Black theatre makers as part of the digital performance series “21 Black Futures.”

    Presented by Obsidian Theatre in partnership with CBC Arts, “21 Black Futures” has brought together 63 Black Canadian playwrights, actors and directors to create art during the pandemic and answer the question, “What is the future of Blackness?”

    The result is 21 filmed monodramas (theatre pieces featuring one person) that are currently premiering on CBC’s streaming channel, CBC Gem.

    Now, 21 students from across the country will join the movement, including fourth-year Dramatic Arts student Sid Malcolm, and Soji Cole, a second-year PhD student in Interdisciplinary Humanities.

    From a national call that attracted more than 60 applicants, Malcolm and Cole have each been awarded a spot in “Seeding the Future,” which invites Black students to create theatre pieces in response to each of the 21 monodramas of “21 Black Futures.”

    “Seeding the Future” is a partnership between Brock University, York University, Obsidian Theatre and CBC Arts, and allows students to create spoken word poetry, audio recordings, video recordings or written responses.

    “As we work at Obsidian to develop and advance Black artists across the country, we also recognize the glaring lack of Black voices in arts criticism and journalism,” said Michael Sinclair, General Manager of Obsidian Theatre. “Black and other BIPOC artists deserve to have voices at the table from their own communities engaging in dialogue about their work. We can’t wait to see what these 21 Black students have to say.”

    For Malcolm and Cole, being a part of this creative response highlighting young Black voices is very meaningful.

    Malcolm said being part of the project gives her and a large group of Black theatre students the chance to have their voices heard.

    “This is a space specifically intended to cultivate young Black artists and help them express what their experience is, and how that shapes the future of Blackness,” she said. “As a young woman of colour, it is often extremely difficult to find pieces of theatre I am able to connect with. There’s often very little representation for People of Colour within the world of theatre. Being a POC in theatre is seen as a rarity and is often trivialized.”

    Cole is excited about the project, and said it speaks to him on many fronts.

    “As a Black person, a migrant and an international student, I have been involved in conversations on the theme of Blackness and racism since I came to Canada in 2019,” he said. “This is the first one that intersects with a discipline and profession that I have identified with all my life.

    “This means a lot to me, as I have always believed that beyond the rhetoric of racism, arts — and especially theatre — can be used as twine to bind community together and dismantle the boundary of segregation.”

    The 21 student responses, including those of Malcolm and Cole, will be released in three instalments, initially on the students’ own social media channels and then re-published on the CBC Arts website. The first group of responses are now live. Malcolm’s work will be published on Monday, March 1 and Cole’s will be published on Monday, March 8.

    Cole, who is a playwright, director and actor, anticipates using his creative and critical wits to respond.

    “As someone who has a deep interest in the sociology of arts, I might want to connect my response to the social implication of the performance,” he said.

    Malcolm anticipates she may draw on specific aspects of her artistic practice.

    “I have a recent reignited passion for poetic writing,” she said. “Typically, I enjoy weaving controversial topics into my writing, which often means critiquing the way that race is perceived around me today.”

    She is also intrigued by the marriage of critical thought and artistic expression.

    “The arts are a dialogue and having Black theatre students continue the conversation begun by “21 Black Futures” is a hugely exciting prospect,” said Karen Fricker, Associate Professor of Dramatic Arts and the co-ordinator of Brock’s participation in “Seeding the Future.” “I can’t wait to see and hear how they all respond.”

    David Fancy, Chair of Dramatic Arts at Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, said the Department is committed to “the ongoing labour of decolonization, Indigenization, and anti-racism. We are particularly pleased to be involved in such an important initiative,” he said.

    Malcolm is energized by the many conversations “Seeding the Future” ignites, noting the opportunity for discussion while fostering growth through shared experiences.

    “I think a large outcome from this project will be the amount of networking that is possible for young Black artists that would be difficult to do without this project,” she said.

    Cole acknowledges the significance and enduring nature of this project.

    “While this is not a policy project, the expectation is that it will strengthen our understanding of memory, redress, and inclusivity,” he said. “The outcome should be able to resonate with every community; it should generate a peculiar echo of its own that will resound in the heart and mind of everyone.”

    To read the entries in “Seeding the Future,” visit CBC Arts.

    To view the performances in “21 Black Futures,” visit CBC Gem.

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    Categories: Alumni, Announcements, Current Students, Department/Centre News, Events, Faculty & Instructors, Future Students, In the Media, Media Releases, News, Uncategorised

  • Colourful new mural reflects Brock’s international connections

    Wednesday, September 04, 2019 | By

    Chardon Trimble-Kirk holding paintbrush in front of mural

    Fourth-year Visual Arts student Chardon Trimble-Kirk completed the new International Centre Global Commons mural over 240 hours this summer.

    (From: The Brock News, TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019 | by Mike Morrison)

    Before graduating from Brock University next year, Chardon Trimble-Kirk hoped to leave a vibrant mark on campus.

    And after committing more than 240 hours of work to a project at Brock’s International Centre this summer, the fourth-year Visual Arts student has done just that.

    Trimble-Kirk was drawn to a request for proposals posted in April that sought someone to create a mural in a commonly used community space within the centre. She had an idea, which she named “Connections,” and submitted a scaled-down version for review.

    Fourth-year Visual Arts student Chardon Trimble-Kirk worked from June to August to complete the new mural in Brock’s International Centre.

    Her vision featured chrysanthemums flowers, which are “symbolic of friendship and well-wishing,” she said. “Connecting them to a variety of countries intends to showcase the friendship that can be found in individuals regardless of their country of origin.”

    Leigh-Ellen Keating, Director of Brock International, said the design chosen for the project had to meet certain criteria, including being reflective of the entire Brock community, including faculty, staff and students from more than 100 countries around the world. It also needed to highlight the importance of internationalization and globalization, a key part of the University’s new Strategic Plan.

    After careful deliberation by a committee of Brock University representatives, Trimble-Kirk’s design was selected for the project and she began the painting in June.

    The newest symbol of Brock’s growing international community now stands more than 15 feet wide and nine feet tall in the Global Commons, a student lounge inside the International Centre that’s home to events and activities open to the entire Brock community.

    It is by far the largest project that Trimble-Kirk has ever worked on. Her previous record was four six-by-three-foot paintings for a third-year class.The experience led to a number of firsts for the artist.“

    I used scaffolding for the first time to complete the higher sections,” Trimble-Kirk said. “I had also never painted directly on brick walls and found myself learning to work with the texture rather than fight it.”

    The mural will be officially unveiled during Brock International’s Open House on Wednesday, Sept. 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the International Centre.

    Trimble-Kirk, who will continue doing freelance paintings after she graduates, plans to apply to a Master of Fine Arts program in the coming years.

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    Categories: Current Students, In the Media, News, Uncategorised

  • Weeklong event to celebrate Brock’s cultural diversity

    Thursday, January 31, 2019 | By

    Amanda Martinez and friends will perform on Friday, Feb 8 at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in downtown St. Catharines as part of Brock’s weeklong Celebration of Nations.

    (From The Brock News, January 30, 2019 | By: Mike Morrison)

    When it comes to diversity on Brock’s campus, there’s a lot to celebrate. As a result, the annual Celebration of Nations event once condensed to a single day has been expanded to a week of activities highlighting cultures of the world.

    Brock International Services will host a series of events from Monday, Feb. 4 to Friday, Feb. 8 that will educate the Brock community and help its members experience what makes different cultures found on campus special.

    “Expanding Celebration of Nations to a full week of activities truly reflects the diversity of our growing international community at Brock,” said Sandra Gruosso, Associate Director, Brock International Services.

    The University is home to more than 2,100 international students from 100 countries, in addition to faculty and staff with connections to countries around the globe.

    The festivities begin Monday with a Campus World Tour, which invites faculty, staff and students to explore Brock’s cultural clubs, learn about various regions around the globe and hear about student experiences abroad. The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various locations throughout Brock’s main campus.

    On Tuesday, Feb. 5, sit down for dinner with Brock International Student Ambassadors. The ambassadors have searched St. Catharines to find restaurants that best reflect their cultures and are inviting the University to join them for a meal from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Participants can choose between Latin-American food at Lost & Found Taqueria, Trinidadian food at Soxy’s Trini Takeout or authentic Chinese cuisine at Noah’s Kitchen. More information about each restaurant, including menu options and approximate cost can be found on the Celebration of Nations website. Those interested must RSVP by Monday, Feb 4 using the event’s online registration form.

    Anyone interested in sharing aspects of their own culture with the Brock community will have the opportunity to do so at the International Talent Showcase on Wednesday, Feb. 6. Held from 7 to 9 p.m. in Isaac’s Bar and Grill, the event will include live music, dancing, poetry and stories reflecting the cultural heritage of performers.

    “The event will be a great way for the Brock community to educate their peers about their culture in a fun and entertaining way,” Gruosso said.

    Faculty, staff or students interested in performing are encouraged to sign-up using the online registration form on the event website by Tuesday, Feb 5.

    On Thursday, Feb. 7, the International Centre Global Commons will host a movie night for the University community, with one of four highly acclaimed international films chosen for screening by popular vote. Options include: The African Doctor, Lionheart, Roma andThe Salesman. Voting will take place on Brock International’s Instagram story on Feb. 5, with the winning movie announced the following day. This event is a free to attend with no RSVP required. Snacks and drinks will also be provided.

    “Attending events during Celebration of Nations will truly deepen your understanding of the world outside of Canada,” said Gruosso. “It’s a valuable opportunity to learn more about cultural traditions and values from more than 100 countries on campus.”

    The week culminates with a live performance by Canadian singer-songwriter Amanda Martinez at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) on Friday, Feb. 8.

    Through her music, Martinez blends her unique Mexican and South African roots with flamenco soul.

    Held in partnership with the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts (MIWSFPA), and co-sponsored by the PAC, the concert will feature songs from Libre, the latest album by Martinez, which celebrates freedom of all kinds.

    “We are privileged to be among the first audiences to hear Amanda Martinez’s new album, Libre, live,” said Matthew Royal, Brock’s Department of Music Chair. “It promises to be a lively and entertaining evening, celebrating both musical and non-musical kinds of freedom.”

    Tickets are available online through the PAC website at a cost of $29 for adults, $23 for seniors and students, $13 for children 14 and under, and $5 for high school EYEGO students, plus applicable taxes and fees.

    Brock International will be giving away 10 pairs of tickets as part of an Instagram contest during Celebration of Nations. Follow Brock International on Instagram for complete details.

    Learn more about Celebration of Nations activities by visiting brocku.ca/nations or contacting Brock International Services by email at isa@brocku.ca or by phone at 905-688-5550 x4785.

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    Categories: Events, News