Articles by author: Connor Wilkes

  • CPCF Grad Spotlight!

    Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | By

    Today we are featuring CPCF graduate Devon Ainslie.

    Devon graduated from CPCF in 2017 with a degree in Media and Communications Studies with a Concentration in Digital Culture. She currently working for the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) as the Senior Communications Associate. In this role, Devon oversees the strategic direction of ICES social media channels, website strategy, and builds relationships with internal departments to advance new communication initiatives and projects with community partners.

    “As a transfer student, I really enjoyed the interdisciplinary courses and variety of courses in the CPCF department. There is course content that is still relevant to me today at work and has been assisting me with current projects. I studied abroad in Scotland which gave me a whole new perspective on media in other parts of the world. The internship course was of particular interest as well, it allowed me to discover the area of communications I wanted to focus on and gave me everlasting partnerships and connections.

    During my time at Brock, I interned with McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences Public Relations Office, which propelled my interest in health communications. After my internship ended and I graduated, I took time off and a break from school to travel (highly recommend if you get the opportunity). I then started at McMaster University, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Niagara Regional Campus as the Communications Assistant where I was immersed in all aspects of media/communications, design, event planning and social media content creation. It was a wonderful experience and allowed me to build a solid foundation of many different areas. I was also able to mentor my own CPCF intern to give her the experience to propel her forward.

    My advice to current students would be to stay curious and adaptable – health communications is a dynamic field that’s always evolving. It’s important to build a strong foundation of both technical skills (writing, social media management, data analysis, project management) and soft skills (like empathy, active listening, creativity, and time management). Don’t underestimate the power of networking – seek out internships, volunteer opportunities, or roles that have an emphasis on health communications and connect with individuals already within that field. Build a strong foundation with storytelling – whether you’re sharing research findings, promoting health initiatives or creating social media messaging, it is important to frame your message in a way that resonates with your audience. Finally, use your creativity to think outside of the box. Health communications often involve navigating complex issues, crises, and engaging with the public. Ensure your ideas are innovative, current and fresh will be the key to engaging people effectively. Stay open, keep learning, and take every opportunity you can to grow!”

  • Memorial for Dr. Laura Wiebe

    Thursday, January 16, 2025 | By

     

    On August 16th, 2022, the Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film lost a former professor, student, and friend Dr. Laura Wiebe after a battle with cancer.

    Dr. Laura Wiebe was not only a beloved student and professor here in the CPCF Department, but also a beacon of kindness and compassion. Her dedication to her students and her love of animals (especially cats!), heavy metal, horror films and basketball were well-known and cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing her. In her final lecture, she left us with a powerful message: “Always be kind to each other.” These words continue to resonate deeply within our community.

    In honour of Dr. Wiebe’s enduring legacy, we are creating a special memorial space on campus. This space will not only celebrate her contributions to academia but also serve as a sanctuary for reflection, kindness, and the joy she found in her friends. It will be a place where students, faculty, and visitors can come together to remember her and be inspired by her example.

    To bring this vision to life, we need your support. Your generous donation will help us create a beautiful and meaningful space that truly reflects Dr. Wiebe’s spirit.  Every donation will make a significant impact.

    Together, we can create a lasting tribute to Laura, ensuring her legacy of kindness continues to inspire future generations.

    Link to donations.

     

  • Marc MacDonald’s CPCF Journey

    Thursday, January 09, 2025 | By

    Today we are featuring CPCF graduate Marc MacDonald. Marc graduated in 2008 with a BA in Popular Culture and a minor in Professional Writing. Since graduating, Marc has worn many different hats. He is currently working for the City of Welland as the Chief Communications & Engagement Officer and recently published his first novel!

    Here is a little bit of what Marc has to say about his experience in CPCF and at Brock.

    Photo of Marc MacDonald

    My career path started in the journalism industry, after spending my undergraduate days working for the Brock Press. From there, I wrote for weekly newspapers before transitioning to a traditional communications role, which began in the Faculty of Education at Brock in 2012. My political calling was answered in 2017 when I shifted to the Town of Pelham before joining the City of Welland in 2021. Moreover, my personal hobbies have taken a significant role in my life, especially writing. This passion resulted in a published novel in October 2024, my first of what I hope will be several.

    More than anything, my education taught me to be curious; to uncover what was on the surface and ask questions about what else was hiding – in plain sight or otherwise. It also taught me the ways in which language, writing, and storytelling can be persuasive and enthralling. Storytelling is such a large part of my life – professional and personal – and one area that I think is often misunderstood and under appreciated. But take a look around, stories are being told everywhere.

    When asked what advice do have for current students who want to make the most out or their? Marc responded with: be curious. Ask questions to understand. And above all else, follow your passion. What you do for your day job may not perfectly align with your passion but find a way to engage with that passion elsewhere. Give yourself an opportunity to be as complete as possible.

    Again, be curious and get involved. For example, if you’re interested in working in a municipality, there are many ways to get involved ahead of submitting an application that will show not only your interest, but that you’re doing your research in the field you’d like to join.

    Have I mentioned curiosity? I wholly subscribe to the idea that doing something because it’s the way it’s always been done that way is a colossal waste of time. Dream big, stretch boundaries, and try new things. If it doesn’t work, who cares, you’re leaving with lessons learned. But when you hit the mark on those big ideas? Look out. I look for people who can appreciate this vision. It doesn’t have to be matched, but it does have to be appreciated.

  • Dr. Good on the Take Me Outside Podcast!

    Thursday, January 02, 2025 | By

    In this inaugural Take Me Outside podcast episode, Professor Jennifer Ellen (Jenellen) Good talks with Take Me Outside founder Colin Harris about the climate crisis, technology, and eco-spirituality. They discuss how these issues are communicated, both societally and educationally, and the role these issues play within the education system.

    Link to full podcast here.

    Take Me Outside is a Canadian non-profit organization focused on promoting outdoor learning and encouraging students, teachers, and schools to engage with nature. Founded in 2012, the organization advocates for the integration of outdoor education into school curricula, to enhance students’ physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

  • Meet the New CPCF Ambassadors!

    Thursday, October 03, 2024 | By


    I’m Dharmi Dhiraj Gohil, a third-year Business Communications student minoring in Business Management. My pronouns are she/her. As a passionate digital media enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring the ever-evolving world of content creation and social media. Being able to curate and share stories online has been an exciting journey for me, and I’m excited to bring that energy to my role as a CPCF Student Ambassador!

    What I love most about Brock’s CPCF department is its welcoming and vibrant community. It’s a place where creativity and critical thinking thrive, and I’ve always felt inspired by the courses and the people I’ve met here. From participating in campus events to working and helping students, I’ve been actively involved at Brock, and I’m excited to give back by helping new students feel at home in CPCF.

    As an ambassador, I am looking forward to organizing fun social gatherings, connecting with new students, and contributing to student outreach at events like the Ontario University Fair and Brock’s Open Houses. It’s a chance to share why CPCF is such an amazing department, and I can’t wait to help others experience it!


    Hi, I’m Charles one of the Student Ambassadors for CPCF this year. I am currently in my third year of Business Communications.

    I applied for this position because I wanted to get more involved within our department. I think that CPCF is a great place to be because all our students come from different backgrounds, but we share some common interests such as learning more about the media and culture.

    I am excited to be a CPCF Student Ambassador this year because I am very outgoing and am willing to get to know more people from our department and connect with you guys. What I hope to do after I graduate from CPCF is go to grad school for further studies or stepping into the field of education (I’m not sure yet).  Although, I feel like CPCF is the place to learn more about us and connect with others. That’s why we are all here right?

    Hope to meet you all soon!

  • Brock experts find wine is central to Niagara’s identity

    Thursday, September 26, 2024 | By

    This story originally appeared in The Brock News
    by Amanda Bishop


    Brock Associate Professor Russell Johnston and Professor Michael Ripmeester made a corker of a discovery when conducting surveys on how locals identify Niagara.

    As St. Catharines gears up for the annual Grape and Wine Festival, two Brock researchers have uncorked findings on how important wine really is to Niagara residents.

    For almost two decades, Russell Johnston, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film, and Michael Ripmeester, Professor in the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, have studied how local residents identify the Niagara region.

    In their recently published book, Meaningful Pasts: Historical Narratives, Commemorative Landscapes, and Everyday Lives, Niagara’s wine culture is one of two in-depth case studies.

    Their research, beginning in the early 2000s, originally sought to determine if and how people engage with monuments in Niagara. With the celebrations of the War of 1812 bicentennial still on the horizon at that time, Johnston and Ripmeester started surveying St. Catharines residents on the street about what sprang to mind when they thought of Niagara.

    “We both had an interest in understanding what monuments actually did, apart from what they were supposed to do, so we specifically did not use words like ‘past’ or ‘history’ when talking to Niagara residents,” says Ripmeester. “We were very much interested in whether or not people would go there — and they didn’t, at all.”

    The researchers were surprised to find that wine was identified strongly as part of the region’s fabric — sometimes, even more than the iconic waterfall at Niagara Falls.

    Johnston says that once wine was established as a key identifier, subsequent surveys dug into whether people believed there was any historical connection with wine. Results confirmed that wine was viewed “as part of Niagara’s agricultural heritage, and not just a contemporary industry.”

    “As it developed, the wine industry did a great job of inserting itself into heritage narratives so that people were able to see it as part of a longer-term agricultural trajectory of Niagara, from small towns and family farms to wine and wineries,” says Ripmeester. “So, for all kinds of reasons, the wine industry is speaking to the people of Niagara in the sense that it gives them a positive identifier.”

    The researchers say the bicentennial of the War of 1812, which fell in the midst of their research, provided an interesting counterpoint to their findings on wine. Commemoration projects and events ran from 2011 to 2014, so when Ripmeester and Johnston conducted another survey about Niagara identifiers in 2016, they expected to be able to observe the impact of this substantial investment and the extensive local media coverage surrounding it.

    Almost no one mentioned it.

    “Out of everyone we surveyed, one or two people mentioned the War of 1812,” says Johnston. “In 2016, we had the lowest number of respondents naming the War of 1812 out of all of our surveys dating back to the early 2000s.”

    Ripmeester says they were shocked by this result.

    “The federal government, the Department of National Defence, local dignitaries and historians thought it was important to give people a sound knowledge of the War of 1812 and spent tens of millions of dollars,” he says. “Yet it didn’t create a lasting impression on local people.”

    Instead, wine culture, tourism, heritage and industry continued to top the survey responses throughout the project. Researchers say this is because people name what’s personally meaningful — not necessarily what officials who work to steer public memory hope to highlight.

    “Narratives come in and out of relevance for people living in a particular community,” says Johnston. “People are often reaching for what’s right now.”

  • CPCF Abroad

    Thursday, September 26, 2024 | By

    This summer, CPCF Professor Dr. Marian Bredin presented original research at international conferences in the Netherlands and New Zealand.

    At Erasmus University in Rotterdam, she presented the paper ‘Popular Indigenous Television and Narratives of Colonial Violence in Canada’ to the conference on Representation of Diversity in Mediated Popular Culture. This project analyzed two recent TV drama series — Bones of Crows (2023) and Little Bird (2023) — created by Indigenous directors, producers and actors to tell the stories of the residential schools and the Sixties Scoop.

    In Christchurch, Dr. Bredin presented the paper ‘Indigenizing Media Policy and Practice, Decolonizing Media Spaces’ to the 2024 meeting of the International Association for Media and Communication Research. This project focused on the political economy of Indigenous media and analyzed how Indigenous peoples’ interventions in Canadian media policy and production have fostered the decolonization of media spaces.

    Dr. Bredin is photographed here with CPCF colleague Derek Foster and CPCF graduate Sydney Forde who is currently completing her PhD at the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, Pennsylvania State University.

  • Brock expert studies public memory of Terry Fox via Instagram

    Thursday, September 26, 2024 | By

    This story originally appeared in The Brock News
    By Amanda Bishop


    Professor Foster presenting at the International Association for Media and Communication Research this summer.

    Forty-four years ago, Terry Fox captured the hearts of the nation by running across Canada on one leg to raise funds for cancer research. Although the beloved Canadian is no longer here to personally continue his Marathon of Hope, his legacy lives on through annual memorial runs and, according to Brock’s Derek Foster, through Instagram.

    Fox, who succumbed to his battle with cancer in 1981, is at the centre of Foster’s recent research involving public memory, social media and well-being.

    As part of his ongoing research into how the celebrated Canadian is remembered in popular culture, the Brock Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film analyzed hundreds of Instagram posts created by people who visited Fox memorial sites.

    In the lead-up to this year’s Terry Fox Run, held annually in September, Foster says he wanted to see how user-generated content creates and shapes the public memory of Fox compared to the Terry Fox Foundation’s official messaging about runs and fundraising.

    “The public memory of Terry Fox is very much forward looking, in the sense that what he was pursuing in 1980 is still a collective endeavour for people motivated by finding a cure for cancer,” says Foster. “So, the memory isn’t just tied to the past through a lens of nostalgia, but rather, connected to our present and also a dream of a future.”

    Foster’s review showed about one third of his sample made clear references not only to emotional experiences, such as visitors being moved to tears, but also to what he calls “self-transcendent emotions” such as awe and gratitude.

    He also notes the posts don’t appear to be driven by a desire for engagement, as social media posts often are. In fact, only a small number of people liked or commented on the posts he reviewed. Foster says it’s significant that “the hashtag isn’t driving the discourse” because it shows a level of sincerity from the creators.

    “What we see is the vernacular memory — everyday people as they are deciding to create, produce and circulate these thoughts and experiences on their own, not organized in any way,” he says.

    Foster also says the way individuals are using social media to share their personal experiences with Fox memorials is an excellent case study on the legacies of public figures.

    “Most public memory involves looking back to build a sense of community or reinforce certain values that we can then use as we move forward,” says Foster. “That is far more explicit in the public memory around Terry Fox than other figures — the aim is not just to maintain him in memory but to continue to strive for the goal that he wasn’t able to reach.”

  • Brock’s 2024 Indigenous Leader finds magic in doing what’s difficult

    Friday, June 28, 2024 | By

     

    Jon Davey, Chief of Staff to the President and CEO of Scotiabank.Jon Davey, Chief of Staff to the President and CEO of Scotiabank, is the honouree for Brock’s 2024 Indigenous Leaders Speaker Series.

    This article written by Sarah Ackles, it originally appeared in The Brock News

    There are seminal moments in life that determine the impact someone will have on the world.

    When proud Haudenosaunee man Jonathan (Jon) Davey (BA ’05) was presented with those monumental calls to action throughout his career, he knew his overarching goal was to honour his ancestors and “make things better for future generations.”

    Davey often reflected on the refrain of his father when faced with decisions about how to best serve his community and become a person of substance.

    “What’s the more difficult thing to do?” his father would ask.

    As Davey told the attendees of the fourth annual Indigenous Leader Speaker Series on June 20, “That’s where the magic is — where you don’t want to go and what you don’t want to do.”

    A man sits in front of books and gives a virtual presentation.

    Jon Davey (BA ’05), Chief of Staff to the President and CEO of Scotiabank, was the selected speaker for Brock’s 2024 Indigenous Leaders Speaker Series, which took place online on June 20.

    The community webinar took place in the lead up to National Indigenous People’s Day, which recognizes the heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people across Canada.

    Hosted by Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement Robyn Bourgeois, the speaker series is a partnership between the Office of the Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement and the Goodman School of Business.

    “I didn’t want us just to focus on the hard things Indigenous people go through —which we have to — I also wanted to celebrate indigenous excellence,” Bourgeois said. “Jon embodies the spirit of Indigenous excellence.”

    Davey is a proud member of the Lower Cayuga of Six Nations of the Grand River. A lawyer by trade, the Brock graduate and Board of Trustees member is currently the Chief of Staff to the President and CEO of Scotiabank. He also spent a decade working with the Federal Crown counsel in the Aboriginal Law Division of the Department of Justice Canada.

    As a young person beginning his academic journey, however, Davey admits he was nervous to leave the comforts of his home in Hamilton, Ont., where he felt acceptance of his culture and heritage as the son of a Haudenosaunee father and non-Indigenous mother.

    When he arrived on campus, however, he said he found a community where he could “stand tall and be proud” of who he was while completing a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication in an environment that both supported and challenged him.

    “Brock’s probably had the most integral impact on me becoming a person, becoming a young adult, and taking responsibility, and I’m very grateful for the support I received throughout my time here,” he said. “When my four years was up, I didn’t want to leave; I was comfortable again, like I had been before I left home.”

    Along with that strong sense of community, Davey has also looked to the traditional teachings of his ancestors to guide his career decisions, noting that he approaches challenges and opportunities with a “good mind and good heart.”

    He ties this back to the messages of the Two Row Wampum belt, the symbolic record of an agreement made in 1613 between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and Dutch settlers. It features two parallel beaded rows that represent two boats, reflecting two entities that progress side-by-side in mutual respect.

    “When you think about the Two Row Wampum there is this idea of harmony and peace and I want to see that more and I want to be that change,” he said. “There is harmony, but there still needs to be shared understanding, there still needs to be a bridge from time to time.”

    He said the common thread woven through his work — whether with the federal government, in the financial sector or directly with the community — is understanding and sharing “that value of partnership and working together, and, at the same time, exemplifying it.”

    He also stressed that it is crucial to thank those who supported and charted a path forward before him, and that he hopes to do the same for future generations who will continue to do the work after him — including his two young children.

    Although he joked that lawyers are often taught to give “recommendations” rather than “advice,” he also left new and future graduates with some parting words from his father, which he said have always served him well.

    “If you have something of substance to say, you’re always going to have an audience,” he said.

    A recording of the event will be shared on the Indigenous Leader Speaker Series web page.

  • Canadian newscaster’s journey began with Brock internship

    Monday, June 10, 2024 | By

    This article written by Amanda Bishop, it originally appeared in The Brock News

    When Alessandra Carneiro (BA ’16) first began dreaming of a career in broadcasting back in high school, she couldn’t have guessed that she would be sitting behind an anchor desk a few years later.

    Today, the Brock Media and Communications alumna is an anchor and reporter for CTV News Barrie and has anchored nationally for CTV News Channel.

    She advises students approaching graduation to keep lessons learned in the classroom fresh in their minds as they may need that information sooner than they think.

    “I remember learning about the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and thinking at the time, you know, will I ever really need this?” she says. “Now, every single day, the CRTC and its regulations are vital to my work.”

    Carneiro frequently returns to campus to speak with students in the Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film (CPCF) about how her experience in the fourth-year internship course enabled her to achieve her career goals.

    “My internship at the local cable station taught me every aspect of the business, from what to look for when shooting a story to how to make sure that your writing matches the visuals to editing,” she says. “My supervisor knew my goals and helped me get the right stories to create a good demo, and that ultimately got me my first job on camera.”

    But Carneiro didn’t have a chance to use the demo right away. While still in her fourth year at Brock, she took the first job she could find with a major media company, handing out swag at events. After graduation, she worked in radio marketing and promotion before moving into media sales.

    When an opening finally came up for an anchor in Yorkton, Sask., Carneiro had her demo ready. She landed the role at age 25.

    She soon moved to Saskatoon, where she spent two years as a weekend anchor and reporter. The news stories she filed sometimes attracted national attention, and she was able to return to Ontario three years ago for her current role at CTV Barrie.

    Carneiro says that in a changing media landscape, her Brock degree has provided her with the context and agility to take on roles in various parts of the industry.

    “When I came into the business, I wasn’t solely coming from a journalism program or a broadcasting program,” she says. “My program included a variety of different ways to approach media and to learn about different sectors, which gave me skills and knowledge that have really helped me on my career journey.”

    Kate Cassidy (MEd’01, PhD’13) regularly invites Carneiro to speak to current CPCF interns and says that she is “a shining testament to the value of our media program’s comprehensive foundation, enriched by experiential learning.”

    “I truly appreciate Alessandra’s willingness to return to the classroom and mentor our students,” says Cassidy. “Her journey serves as a powerful reminder that with diligence and passion, they too can become trailblazers, just as she has done.”

    Carneiro always reminds students that openness can make all the difference to a career path.

    “Be open to every opportunity, even if it’s not the opportunity that you initially had in mind, and be willing to learn every aspect of a field because you will find your way,” she says. “ And network fearlessly — the careers of friends and mentors grow with yours, and they become voices in leadership who can vouch for what a hard worker you are and how passionate you are.”

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