Articles by author: pmcilroy

  • CPCF Welcomes Prospective Students on Fall Preview Day

    Wednesday, November 05, 2025 | By

    four people, some in Brock University clothing, stand behind a table and pose for a photo. The sign behind them identifies their department programs as Buisnes Communication, Media and Communication and Film Studies

    The department was well represented at Fall Preview Day on Sunday Nov 2, as staff, faculty and student ambassadors welcomed prospective students to Brock.  The university estimates there were more than 4,700 guests — the largest draw since the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Visitors were able to speak with their future professors and peers and learn about our multi-disciplinary program and how it can set them up for future careers.  Whether they had questions about emerging AI, an ever-changing media landscape, or how a strong understanding of communication can shape success in the business world, students left with a clear understanding of how CPCF can offer the tools needed in an increasingly unpredictable world.

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    Categories: Events, News

  • Congratulations CPCF Graduates!

    Monday, October 20, 2025 | By

    A student holding flowers and wearing a graduation gown smiles for a photo. They are surrounded by other students in gowns.

    Congratulations to all the CPCF graduates who crossed the Convocation stage this Fall!

    Your passion, dedication and hard work have paid off. We are so proud of all that you’ve accomplished during your time at Brock University, and we can’t wait to see where your next adventure takes you.

    See the gallery and read more here.

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    Categories: Events

  • CPCF Meets Prospective Students at the Ontario Universities Fair

    Wednesday, October 01, 2025 | By

    A man in a Red Brock University shirt gestures as he speaks to a gathering of students, professors and parents.

    This past weekend, the Ontario Universities Fair was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. OUF is the main recruiting event for Brock University, as the two-day event draws over 80,000 prospective students and their families annually, and CPCF was well represented.

    Staff, faculty, and student representatives promoted our Communication and Film programs. It is always a great opportunity for CPCF to meet prospective students and share how our programs offer fresh, relevant ways to understand the world we live in. Department Chair Dr. Derek Foster was there to share his enthusiasm and “looks forward to seeing many more potential CPCF students at Brock’s Fall Preview Day on Sunday, November 2nd.”

    If you are interested in the programs offered by the Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film, have a look at the courses offered here.

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    Categories: News

  • Professor Joan Nicks Returns to the Niagara Falls Museum for the Fall Film Series

    Monday, September 22, 2025 | By

    a Woman in a white shirt and blue jeans leans against a white pillar in front of a white house and bench.

    Over 10 years ago, CPCF’s Adjunct Professor Joan Nicks was approached by the Niagara Falls History Museum to program a public film series, and today it is still going strong. Professor Nicks curates two series a year, one in the fall and one in the winter. On September 25th, the newest series begins with “Borders – Crossing the Line North and South.”

    Each series has its own theme. This fall, it is “borders” and how particular genres, from westerns to crime films, characterize border themes. Professor Nicks explains that it “fits today’s social and cultural currents of unstable borders, something people in the Niagara Region understand directly.”

    Every film receives an introduction from Professor Nicks, followed by a lively discussion with the audience. “Museum audiences are very engaged,” Professor Nicks explains. “Many are regulars from the get-go. Some are first-timers discovering a particular series (and, in some cases, the Museum) for the first time. What they all share is an appetite for a special movie-going experience.”

    The first film in the series is The Grey Fox (Phillip Borsos, 1982). The film is about an aging stagecoach robber who crosses into British Columbia to rob trains and finds romance. For the full line-up and to purchase tickets, check out the Museum’s website. Films are free with a museum membership or $5 at the door.

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    Categories: News

  • Team CPCF represents at 2025 Homecoming Grape Stomp

    Monday, September 22, 2025 | By

    Student pulls on their t-shirt to reveal CPCF Logo and Grape Stains

    On Friday, September 19, nearly 300 students and alumni participated in Brock’s Homecoming Grape Stomp! It has been hailed as one of the best university traditions in Canada by University Affairs magazine. And CPCF was well-represented by some enthusiastic students.

    Organized by Professor Karen Louise Smith, students were encouraged to “Join Team CPCF.” Those who did received a clean white T-shirt before the festivities that would soon become a stained souvenir from the event. The students piled into Jubilee Court and, using two metric tonnes of Concord grapes — donated by Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery in Jordan — slid and stomped to show their Brock spirit.

    Thanks to Professor Smith and everyone who participated in the event. Check out the photos to see the messy fun.

     

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    Categories: Events

  • Professor Anthony Kinik Participates in Terry Fox Run

    Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | By

    A man in running gear holds a small sign that says "Dear Terry I'm running for Dad". There are other participants and a start/finish banner behind him.

    On September 14, 2025, CPCF professor Anthony Kinik participated in the Terry Fox Run in St. Catharines, Ontario. A tradition for Professor Kinik, he runs in honour of his father, John Kinik. He explains that his father “started jogging in his 30s as part of the jogging craze of the 1970s, continued running for nearly 40 years after that, and… instilled a love of jogging in me when I was just a kid.”

    The goal for this year was $2,479. Professor Kinik explains, “My father died of cancer 17 years ago. This year, he would have been 87 years old. As a result, my personal goal was to raise $2,479 (17 × 87 + 1,000).”

    However, this year’s run had additional meaning for Professor Kinik. He recently became the director of the Centre for Canadian Studies at Brock University. “Canadian icons like Terry Fox are an important part of our curriculum, so it made sense to start a team to honour him and his remarkable Marathon of Hope, and to further help with the cause.” CANA is the code used for Canadian Studies courses, so the team name is “Yes We CANA.”

    A huge congratulations to all involved. Not only did Yes We CANA end up raising over $3,500, but Professor Kinik also surpassed his personal goal, raising over $2,500.

    If you would like to donate or get involved with the Terry Fox Foundation, [click here].

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  • A Guest Lecture from CPCF Alum Paige Johnson-Serjue

    Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | By

    A smiling woman in denim stands in front of a white background

    Paige Johnson-Serjue is the first guest speaker of the semester in the Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film’s Internship in Communication course. As a CPCF alum, best-selling author, and award-winning marketing strategist, she returns with a message for the COMM 4F00 students: your story matters. Speaking about forging her own path, she explains, “Who you are will get you further. Your story is more important than any resume.”

    Johnson-Serjue works with parent-focused brands and entrepreneurs, helping them craft authentic marketing strategies and build meaningful connections. Through her company, PG Marketing, she combines her passion for storytelling with her expertise in digital marketing. Sharing her unique voice, and helping companies find their own, has made her a sought-after consultant in her field.

    As the Communication students examine the history of work, identity, and ethnography, Johnson-Serjue encourages them to think about how they view their careers. She reminds them that understanding their own voice is key to plotting their own path. By embracing their genuine identities and stories, students can challenge traditional notions of work and create spaces where they not only succeed but also make meaningful impact. She explains, “When jobs tell you you have no experience, flip that around and let them know that you have the educational background and you’re part of the generation they’re selling to.”

    When speaking about her past, her time at Brock, and the people she now works with, a major theme Johnson-Serjue returns to is community. She urges students to build connections among each other because, as she reminds them, “you are not alone in this.”

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    Categories: Events

  • Welcome New and Returning CPCF Students!

    Thursday, September 04, 2025 | By

    A group of students sitting in rows of desks in a tiered auditorium

     

    The Department of Communication, Popular Culture, and Film is excited to welcome new and returning students for the 2025/2026 academic year at Brock University.

    At a new student orientation session, Dr. Derek Foster, Dr. Tim Dun, and Dr. Anthony Kinik commended the students for choosing Brock as a point of stability in an increasingly unpredictable world.

    They reiterated the importance of media literacy, communication, and the understanding of visual language in an era of video saturation, AI intrusion, and unprecedented trade wars.

    Thank you to Koreen McCullough for all the amazing work she did to coordinate and facilitate this event. For information on Academic Advising, email [email protected]

     

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