Brock University maintains active collaborations with local, national, and global health institutions, including hospitals, public health agencies, medical universities and schools, mental health organizations, and community health organizations. These partnerships support health research, healthcare delivery, quality improvement, professional education, experiential learning, workforce development, and improved health and well-being.

Examples include:

• Niagara Health Partnership: Brock University and Niagara Health maintain a formal partnership focused on improving population health and healthcare delivery through collaborative research, applied learning, student placements, and workforce development. The partnership has also supported initiatives such as the Interprofessional Education for Quality Improvement (I-EQUIP) program, which has partnered with Niagara Health since 2013 on more than 60 quality-improvement and research opportunities.
• Interprofessional Education for Quality Improvement (I-EQUIP): Collaborative initiative involving healthcare professionals, students, and healthcare organizations that has supported more than 60 quality improvement and research projects since 2013.
• Niagara Region Public Health and Emergency Services Partnership: Brock collaborates with Niagara Region Public Health and Emergency Services on public health research, education, student placements, and community health initiatives serving the Niagara region.
• Pathstone Mental Health: Brock collaborates with Pathstone Mental Health to support research and initiatives related to children’s and youth mental health and community well-being.
• Peds-TECH (Pediatric Telemedicine Connecting Hospitals): This collaboration between Brock University, Niagara Health, and McMaster Children’s Hospital grew out of I-EQUIP and supports pediatric healthcare through telemedicine, extending Brock’s health collaboration beyond the immediate Niagara community.
• NOSM University – National Partnership: Brock University’s Master of Public Health program partners with NOSM University through a formal pathway that allows students in NOSM University’s Master of Medical Studies program and Brock’s Master of Public Health program to enrol in selected graduate courses at the partner institution while remaining enrolled at their home university. This national collaboration expands interdisciplinary learning and supports the education of medical and public health professionals in Canada.
• American Canadian School of Medicine – Global Partnership: Brock University’s Master of Public Health program partners with the American Canadian School of Medicine in Dominica through an international MD-MPH pathway. Students complete the first year of their MD at the medical school, complete Brock’s online MPH program, and then return to complete their MD. The partnership combines clinical and public health education to prepare future physicians to address complex healthcare and population-health challenges.
• Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being / Bfit Centre: The Centre works with community partners to provide exercise, rehabilitation, healthy aging, and chronic disease-management programming that supports health and well-being in the Niagara community.
• LifeSpan Development Research: The Centre connects Brock researchers with community organizations and partners to advance research and knowledge mobilization addressing health and well-being across the lifespan.
• Brock Healthy Youth Project (BHYP): This community-engaged research initiative brings together researchers and community partners to advance understanding of adolescent health and development and support healthier outcomes for young people.

Together, these collaborations demonstrate Brock University’s engagement with health institutions at local, national, and global levels. Local partnerships strengthen healthcare delivery, public health, mental health, research, and experiential learning across Niagara, while Brock’s partnership with NOSM University expands health-professional education nationally and its partnership with the American Canadian School of Medicine extends this work internationally. Through these relationships, Brock contributes to healthcare and public health education, research, workforce development, and improved health and well-being in Canada and internationally.

Brock University delivers and supports a range of health outreach programmes and projects that improve health and well-being within local communities and beyond. These initiatives promote physical and mental health, healthy aging, accessibility, chronic disease prevention, inclusion, and improved access to health programming for underserved populations, including newcomers to Canada.

Examples include:

• Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being: Provides community-based health and exercise programmes including SeniorFit, Heart Strong, Power Cord, and Therapeutic Exercise for Amputees in Motion (T.E.A.M.), supporting healthy aging, rehabilitation, physical activity, and chronic disease management.
• Brock-Niagara Penguins: Provides recreational and competitive parasport programming for children and youth with physical disabilities, promoting physical activity, inclusion, skill development, and community participation.
• Newcomer Health Outreach and Diabetes Prevention: Brock researchers lead health outreach initiatives specifically supporting newcomers to Canada. A Canadian Institutes of Health Research-funded project is co-designing, piloting, and evaluating a mobile Type 2 diabetes awareness programme alongside newcomers, with the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Van designed to provide community-based diabetes screening and prevention services to newcomers in Hamilton and Calgary. Brock researchers also co-lead the $870,000 Public Health Agency of Canada-funded SCORE! (Strengthening Community Roots: Anchoring Newcomers in Wellness and Sustainability) project, which works with newcomer families to promote physical activity, healthy living, and the prevention of obesity and Type 2 diabetes through community-based activities and interventions.
• Brock Healthy Youth Project: Conducts community-engaged research and outreach focused on adolescent development, health behaviours, and factors affecting youth well-being, helping inform approaches that support healthier outcomes for young people.
• Lifespan Development Research Centre: Works with community organizations on research and knowledge-mobilization initiatives addressing health and well-being across childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and later life.
• Interprofessional Education for Quality Improvement (I-EQUIP): Connects Brock students and researchers with healthcare professionals through healthcare quality-improvement and research projects designed to improve patient care and health outcomes.
• Pathstone Mental Health Partnerships: Supports research and community initiatives related to child and youth mental health, wellness, and knowledge mobilization.
• Niagara Region Public Health and Emergency Services Partnership: Supports collaborative public health research, education, experiential learning, student placements, and community initiatives that contribute to health and well-being across Niagara.

Through these programmes and partnerships, Brock extends health-related knowledge, services, research, physical activity, disease-prevention initiatives, and wellness programming beyond the University. Its outreach serves the wider community while also addressing the needs of specific populations that may experience barriers to health and well-being, including people with disabilities, older adults, children and youth, and newcomers to Canada.

Brock University shares sport, recreation, and physical activity facilities with the wider community through a combination of free public recreation opportunities, designated public-use access, and paid community memberships, passes, programmes, and facility rentals. Community members can access campus-area trails at no cost, use tracks at Canada Games Park during designated public-use hours, and purchase access to specialized facilities operated through Brock Recreation.

Examples include:

• Canada Games Park and Walker Sports and Abilities Centre – Public Track Access: Located adjacent to Brock University’s main campus, Canada Games Park includes a 200-metre indoor track, 400-metre outdoor track, two NHL-sized ice pads, a large gymnasium, beach volleyball courts, a Sport Performance Centre, and other sport and recreation infrastructure. The indoor and outdoor tracks have designated public-use hours throughout the week, providing members of the wider community with opportunities for walking and running.
• Free Public Access to Campus Trails: Brock University is located within the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and provides students, employees, and members of the wider community with access to campus-area hiking trails, including connections with the Bruce Trail. Brock states that the community has access to these trails for use at its leisure. Organized events and large-group sport activities require prior approval.
• Walker Sports Complex – Paid Community Access: Members of the wider community can access Brock’s Walker Sports Complex through paid memberships and passes. Facilities include the Zone Fitness Centre, Eleanor Misener Aquatic Centre, 200-metre indoor track, gymnasia, studios, turf field, and outdoor tennis courts. Brock explicitly states that community members must purchase a membership to use the complex.
• Community Membership Options: Brock offers several levels of paid community access. As of May 2026, a Walker All Access Membership costs $67 per month for adult community members and $56 per month for seniors aged 65 and older. The membership includes the Zone Fitness Centre, pool, aquatic fitness classes, outdoor tennis courts, track, studios, turf field, gymnasia, and ExpressFit classes.
• Lower-Cost Facility Access: Community members who do not require full access can purchase facility-specific memberships. Courts and Track and Swim memberships are each $43 per month for adult community members and $38 per month for seniors, providing lower-cost access to selected sport and recreation facilities.
• Day and Swim Passes: Community members can also access facilities without purchasing a monthly membership. Brock offers a $12 full-access adult day pass and a $95 10-visit pass. Aquatic access is available for $4.75 for adults, $3.75 for children aged three to 14, and $16 for a family swim pass covering up to two adults and three children. Swimming access for infants aged zero to two is free. [brocku.ca]
• Eleanor Misener Aquatic Centre: Brock’s 50-metre pool is available to students, members, and the wider community for lane swimming, recreational swimming, swimming lessons, aquatic fitness, lifesaving instruction, and other programming. Community access is provided through paid swim memberships, individual and family swim passes, and programme registration.
• Community Sport and Recreation Programming: Brock Recreation offers community sport leagues, swimming lessons, aquatics programming, fitness activities, and other recreation opportunities for participants of different ages and abilities. Sport and recreation spaces are also available for community events and tournaments through facility bookings and rentals.

Through this combination of free, public-use, and paid access, Brock provides multiple ways for the wider community to benefit from university and university-associated sport and recreation infrastructure. Free access to campus-area trails and designated public-use access at Canada Games Park complement paid access to Brock’s specialized fitness, aquatic, court, field, and recreation facilities through memberships, passes, programmes, and rentals.

Students are provided access to free sexual and reproductive health-care services including information and education services. All registered Brock students can access comprehensive health services through the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre (SWAC). Recognizing the evolving health needs of its student population, Brock has implemented a range of services and programs designed to support student well-being across multiple dimensions.

Same-day services are available through SWAC, where students can consult with physicians about mental health concerns, alcohol and drug issues, immunizations and injections, sexually transmitted infection testing, birth control prescription renewals, and other health matters. The university offers extensive sexual health information covering contraceptives, STI testing, and free consultations with Nurse Practitioners who provide confidential, judgment-free care.

Brock demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusive health services by providing specialized resources for diverse student communities. The university operates a wellness clinic specifically designed for student sex workers, ensuring this population receives appropriate, stigma-free healthcare. Additionally, Brock offers dedicated 2SLGBTQ+ resources that address the unique health information and service needs of gender and sexually diverse students.

This comprehensive approach to sexual and reproductive health reflects Brock’s understanding that accessible, inclusive healthcare is fundamental to student success and well-being. By removing barriers to care and creating specialized services for marginalized populations, the university ensures all students can access the health information and services they need to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health throughout their academic journey.

Brock University is committed to supporting student mental health and well-being through accessible counselling, health services, peer support, wellness education, accessibility accommodations, and evidence-based health research. Through a combination of clinical services, prevention initiatives, and health promotion programs, Brock works to ensure students have access to the supports they need to thrive academically and personally.

Brock University maintains a comprehensive Smoking and Vaping Policy designed to protect the campus community from second-hand smoke and vapour, promote health and wellness, and regulate smoking and vaping across University property. The policy was originally effective in June 2005, was most recently amended in May 2023, and underwent its most recent review in August 2026.

The policy applies to Brock University employees, students, and visitors across University-owned, leased, or licensed property, as well as events hosted on Brock property. Its provisions include:

• Smoking and Vaping Restrictions: Smoking and vaping of tobacco, nicotine, and related products are prohibited across Brock University property except within specifically identified outdoor Designated Smoking Areas (DSAs).
• Smoke- and Vapour-Free Areas: Brock establishes outdoor smoke- and vapour-free areas where appropriate. At the main campus, Brock implemented an outdoor smoke-free academic corridor in 2019, with designated smoking areas located outside the corridor.
• Smoke-Free Campus Properties: Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts and Burlington Campus are smoke-free properties. Smoking and vaping are permitted only off these properties on municipal sidewalks.
• Recreational Cannabis: Smoking and vaping recreational cannabis are prohibited throughout campus, including within designated smoking areas and University vehicles.
• Designated Smoking Areas: Where smoking and vaping are permitted, DSAs must comply with legislative restrictions, including required distances from building entrances, operable windows, air intakes, loading docks, and combustible materials. DSA locations are formally reviewed on a recurring basis.
• Smoking and Vaping Cessation: Brock supports smoking and vaping reduction and cessation through education and information about resources available to students, faculty, and staff.
• University-Wide Compliance: The policy extends beyond students and employees to student organizations, tenants, licensees, contractors, and other users of University space.

Through its Smoking and Vaping Policy, designated smoking restrictions, smoke- and vapour-free areas, smoke-free campus properties, cessation support, and prohibition of recreational cannabis smoking and vaping, Brock takes a comprehensive approach to limiting exposure to second-hand smoke and vapour and promoting a healthier campus environment.