Brock University provides public access to library resources, services, and learning spaces through the James A. Gibson Library. Community members, alumni, retirees, visiting scholars, high school classes, and other eligible users can access library services, borrow privileges, study spaces, and selected campus resources, supporting lifelong learning and community engagement beyond the University’s student population.

The James A. Gibson Library welcomes community users through its Community Borrower program, which allows members of the public to obtain a Community Borrower’s Card and borrow library materials. Community borrowers have access to the library’s collections and services, extending educational and research resources to residents of the Niagara region.

In addition to borrowing privileges, community members may access library facilities for research, studying, and academic inquiry. The library supports a broad range of users including Brock alumni, retirees, visiting scholars, high school students, and members of the public, reinforcing Brock’s commitment to knowledge sharing and community access.

The library’s borrowing policies specifically recognize community borrowers as eligible users alongside students, faculty, staff, alumni, and users from other Canadian universities. Community members who hold a valid Community Borrower’s Card can access and borrow materials from the library’s collections.

Through public access to library collections, borrowing privileges, study spaces, and educational resources, Brock University supports lifelong learning, community engagement, and equitable access to information for residents of the Niagara region and beyond.

Collaborative partnerships:

• Brock University is part of the Omni network, maintaining a reciprocal borrowing agreement, allowing faculty, staff, and students from 19 participating universities to borrow books from member libraries at no charge.

Brock University supports public access to arts, culture, and heritage through exhibitions, galleries, and community cultural programming. The University provides opportunities for community members to engage with contemporary art, creative practice, and educational experiences through public cultural spaces and events.

The Visual Arts Gallery (VISA Gallery), located within the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, is open to the public free of charge and hosts rotating exhibitions featuring students, faculty, alumni, visiting artists, and independent curators. The gallery serves as a space for artistic engagement, dialogue, and community participation.

In addition, the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts hosts exhibitions, performances, and cultural events throughout the year, contributing to the cultural life of downtown St. Catharines and the broader Niagara community.

Brock also preserves the legacy of the former Rodman Hall Art Centre, a contemporary art gallery that welcomed students, artists, and members of the public and remains an important part of the University’s cultural heritage.

Through public galleries, exhibitions, and cultural programming, Brock University provides opportunities for community members to engage with the arts and participate in the cultural life of the Niagara region.

Brock University provides free public access to open spaces and green spaces, seamlessly integrating the campus into the broader Niagara community’s natural landscape.

Brock’s campus serves as a vital green corridor, with communal spaces thoughtfully positioned throughout outdoor areas that are freely accessible all day:

• Pond Inlet – a scenic space that overlooks a human-made pond and waterfall, providing a soothing outdoor sensory experience.
• Jubilee Court – a large multi-purpose communal courtyard lined with picnic tables and trees
• Walker Complex Courtyard – a manicured outdoor area with shaded seating under umbrellas and multi-purpose outdoor workout space
• Outdoor firepit near Alphies Trough – tucked behind the Thistle Complex along the escarpment
• Picnic tables outside Market Hall – providing a space for people to enjoy a meal together close to food stations on campus

Daily, employees from neighboring institutions such as Hotel Dieu Shaver and the Niagara Region utilize these spaces, demonstrating the university’s role as a community hub for health, wellness, and connection to nature.

The campus’s integration with the Bruce Trail—Canada’s longest and oldest hiking trail—exemplifies Brock’s dedication to maintaining shared land ecosystems and promoting conservation.

Brock University contributes to the cultural and heritage life of the Niagara region through arts education, public cultural programming, exhibitions, performances, and the preservation and adaptive reuse of heritage spaces. Through partnerships with artists, cultural organizations, community members, and audiences, the University helps strengthen local cultural identity while supporting creativity, artistic expression, and heritage preservation.

A cornerstone of Brock’s contribution to arts and heritage is the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA), located in a restored nineteenth-century industrial building in downtown St. Catharines. The adaptive reuse of the former Canada Hair Cloth factory transformed a significant heritage structure into a vibrant center for arts education, exhibitions, performances, and community engagement, contributing to the revitalization of the downtown core.

The MIWSFPA hosts more than 60 events annually and includes galleries, theatres, studios, and performance venues that support artistic and cultural programming for students and the wider community. Through exhibitions, concerts, receptions, lectures, and performances, the University contributes to the cultural vitality of the Niagara region.

The Visual Arts Gallery (VISA Gallery) further supports public engagement with the arts through free exhibitions featuring students, faculty, alumni, visiting artists, and independent curators. The gallery provides opportunities for cultural dialogue, creative exchange, and community participation in the arts.

Brock also preserves and shares the legacy of the former Rodman Hall Art Centre, a contemporary art gallery that served the Niagara community for many years and remains an important part of the University’s cultural heritage.

Through arts education, cultural programming, heritage preservation, public exhibitions, and community engagement, Brock University contributes to the cultural and artistic life of Niagara while supporting the preservation and celebration of the region’s heritage.

Brock University contributes to the preservation and documentation of cultural heritage through heritage conservation, archival collections, cultural programming, and the stewardship of significant artistic and historical resources. Through its academic programs, galleries, archives, and heritage spaces, the University helps preserve and share the cultural history of Niagara and beyond.

A significant example is the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA), which transformed the historic Canada Hair Cloth factory into a modern arts and educational facility while preserving key elements of the nineteenth-century industrial building. This adaptive reuse project protects an important piece of local heritage while ensuring its continued use as a cultural and community asset.

Brock also preserves and shares the legacy of the former Rodman Hall Art Centre; a contemporary art gallery located in the historic Thomas Rodman Merritt House. The University maintains documentation of the gallery’s exhibitions, publications, and history, supporting continued access to an important part of Niagara’s cultural heritage.

In addition, the Brock University Library maintains archival and special collections that preserve records related to the history, culture, and development of the Niagara region. Collections such as the Niagara Bruce Trail Club fonds document the preservation of the Niagara Escarpment and the history of one of Canada’s most significant public trail systems.

Through heritage preservation, archival stewardship, cultural collections, and the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, Brock University contributes to recording, preserving, and sharing cultural heritage for the benefit of current and future generations.

Brock University recognizes the vital role of sustainable transportation in creating more livable communities and reducing environmental impact. The institution is working toward establishing comprehensive measurement systems and targets for more sustainable commuting options including walking, cycling, non-motorized transport, carpools, vanpools, shuttle services, public transportation, and electric vehicles.

Through its Sustainability Office, Brock intends to develop robust tracking mechanisms that monitor commuting behaviors across the campus community. The university’s approach involves conducting regular transportation surveys to establish baseline data on how students, faculty, and staff travel to campus, with particular attention to the proportion using sustainable modes versus single-occupancy vehicles. This data collection framework would enable Brock to set meaningful targets, such as achieving a sustainable transportation mode share while working to reduce drive-alone commuting rates.

In addition, Brock tracks its fleet vehicle composition, which is predominantly electric or hybrid, and continues to prioritize the purchase of electric vehicles where possible. The university also provides 22 electric vehicle charging stations on campus, with usage data monitored to inform future planning and support the growing adoption of electric mobility. Together, these initiatives demonstrate Brock’s commitment to measurable and data-driven progress toward sustainable transportation across its campus community.

Brock University promotes sustainable commuting by encouraging the use of public transit, active transportation, and low-emission vehicles. Through transportation initiatives and supporting infrastructure, the University works to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions while providing sustainable travel options for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Examples of sustainable commuting initiatives include:

• Public Transit Access: Brock supports public transit use through the Universal Bus Pass program, which provides students with access to transit systems across the Niagara region and offers an alternative to single-occupancy vehicle travel.
• Cycling Infrastructure: Brock promotes active transportation by providing more than 30 bicycle racks across its main and east campuses and supporting cycling as a sustainable commuting option.
• Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Brock has installed 22 electric vehicle charging stations across campus, including Level 2 and Level 3 chargers that support low-emission transportation.
• Sustainable Transportation Promotion: The University actively promotes sustainable transportation options and provides resources that encourage the use of public transit, cycling, and electric vehicles.
• Remote Work Flexibility: Brock offers remote work options for employees, reducing daily vehicle emissions.

Through public transit access, cycling infrastructure, and electric vehicle charging facilities, Brock University supports sustainable commuting and contributes to reducing the environmental impacts associated with transportation.

Brock University supports flexible work arrangements through its formal Flexible Work Arrangement Policy, which enables eligible employees to perform some or all of their work remotely where operationally appropriate. The policy is designed to support employee well-being, work-life balance, productivity, recruitment, retention, and organizational effectiveness while maintaining operational requirements and service delivery.

Brock supports employee relocation through provisions in its collective agreements, including travel and moving allowances for eligible newly appointed faculty members and professional librarians, helping reduce financial barriers associated with relocating to the Niagara region. The following is a section from the Brock University Faculty Association collective agreement:

Brock University provides a range of on-campus housing options for students and publicly discloses residence and housing costs to support informed decision-making. Housing Services offers traditional, semi-suite, suite-style, and townhouse-style residences designed to accommodate a variety of student needs and budgets.

Residence fees and associated housing costs are published annually through Brock’s Housing Services website, providing prospective and current students with transparent information about accommodation expenses. Students can compare residence styles, room types, and housing options when making decisions about where to live during their studies.

In addition to housing options, Brock provides information on meal plans, residence services, accessibility accommodations, and support resources to assist students in accessing safe and suitable housing while attending the University.

Through the provision of university-managed residences and the public disclosure of housing costs, Brock University supports student access to housing and helps students make informed housing decisions.

Brock University prioritizes safe, accessible, and sustainable movement across campus through a network of sidewalks, pedestrian pathways, crosswalks, and accessible routes connecting academic buildings, residences, recreation facilities, and transit stops. The University supports walking as a primary mode of travel while promoting accessibility and reducing reliance on single-occupancy vehicles.

Pedestrian mobility is further supported through campus accessibility infrastructure, including mapped accessible routes, elevators, accessible washrooms, and passenger drop-off locations that help ensure campus spaces can be accessed safely and efficiently by all members of the University community.

Brock also encourages active and sustainable transportation through public transit connections, bicycle infrastructure, and access to the Bruce Trail, which passes through campus and provides opportunities for walking, recreation, and connection to the surrounding Niagara Escarpment UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Through pedestrian infrastructure, accessibility planning, and active transportation initiatives, Brock University supports a campus environment that prioritizes safe and sustainable movement for students, employees, and visitors.

Brock University collaborates with municipalities, community organizations, and regional partners to support evidence-based planning, sustainable development, and community resilience throughout the Niagara region. Through research partnerships, policy engagement, and community-based projects, the University contributes expertise that helps inform local decision-making and long-term planning initiatives.

Examples of local planning and development collaboration include:

• Brock-Lincoln Living Lab: A partnership between Brock University and the Town of Lincoln that connects researchers, students, municipal leaders, and community stakeholders to address local sustainability priorities. The initiative supports projects related to economic development, tourism, agriculture, water management, urban forestry, and community resilience.
• The Prudhommes Project: A collaboration involving Brock University, the Town of Lincoln, and the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre focused on sustainable community development and resilient urban planning. The project helps inform land-use planning, transportation requirements, public realm design, and green-blue infrastructure development.
• Niagara Community Observatory: Brock’s public policy think tank works with municipalities, community organizations, policymakers, and regional stakeholders to conduct research on emerging issues affecting Niagara. Its work supports evidence-based decision-making on economic development, public policy, community planning, and regional growth.
• Municipal and Community Research Partnerships: Through initiatives led by the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre and other academic units, Brock contributes research expertise, experiential learning opportunities, and policy analysis that help local governments and organizations address sustainability and development challenges.

Through collaborative planning initiatives, policy research, and partnerships with municipalities and community organizations, Brock University supports sustainable local development and contributes to informed decision-making across the Niagara region.

Brock University incorporates sustainability principles into the planning, design, construction, and operation of new and existing buildings. The University uses recognized sustainability frameworks, guidelines, and performance standards to improve energy efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and support long-term campus sustainability.

Examples of Brock’s sustainable building standards include:

• LEED Certification Framework: Brock uses the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system, an internationally recognized framework for sustainable building design, construction, and operation. LEED certification promotes energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
• LEED Building Design and Construction (BD+C): Brock applies LEED standards to new construction and major renovation projects through the Building Design and Construction certification pathway.
• Sustainable Building Guidelines: Brock maintains institutional planning, design, architecture, and energy guidelines that support the integration of sustainability considerations into campus development projects.
• Certified Sustainable Buildings: Several campus facilities have achieved LEED certification, including the Plaza Building, International Centre, and the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. These projects incorporate energy-efficient design, water conservation measures, waste reduction practices, and sustainable building materials.
• Adaptive Reuse and Heritage Preservation: The Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts demonstrates Brock’s commitment to sustainable development through the rehabilitation and reuse of a historic industrial building while incorporating modern energy and environmental performance standards.

Through LEED certification, sustainable design guidelines, energy planning, and responsible building practices, Brock University works to ensure that campus development supports environmental sustainability and long-term resource efficiency

Brock University supports sustainable urban development through the adaptive reuse and revitalization of previously developed sites. By redeveloping existing urban properties, Brock can help reduce land consumption, preserve green spaces, support downtown revitalization, and contribute to more sustainable communities. A recent major brownfield project was completed at Brock in 2015, when the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts opened its doors.