Surgite Magazine - Vol. 15, No. 1 - Winter 2023

U I d existe

Dr. Lesley Rigg

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Brock’s successes a community effort

Ihardly need to tell you what an exceptional community exists at Brock. As a graduate or friend of the University, you well know how special this place is. And while I was certainly aware of Brock’s reputation prior to my arrival here (in fact, it’s one of the things that attracted me), I admit that I wasn’t fully prepared for the outpouring of welcome and support by alumni, faculty, students, staff and the larger Niagara community.

This institution’s top reputation is the result of the many successes and accomplishments of its alumni, who improve the social, cultural and economic vibrancy of communities across this country.

Brock is a wonderful place filled with people making breakthroughs large and small each and every day. And I am absolutely delighted to be joining this community at such an exciting time in its history.

Brock has accomplished a great deal in its nearly 60 years, quickly becoming one of Canada’s top comprehensive universities. And momentum is growing: Brock continues to climb in Maclean’s magazine’s reputational rankings (moving to 27th from 29th in the nation, an improvement of 11 spots in the past three years); our sports science programs are currently ranked in the Top 100 in the world; and in November, nearly three dozen Brock researchers appeared on Stanford University’s list of the world’s top two per cent of scientists with the most citations.

These successes are a direct result of the talented, passionate, dedicated people who call Brock home, who keep pushing the boundaries of teaching and research excellence, who go above and beyond to ensure a student experience like no other, and who welcome newcomers — like me — with open arms.

This is indeed an exciting time to be at Brock, and I can’t wait to see what we’re able to accomplish next.

LESLEY RIGG President and Vice-Chancellor, Brock University

VOL. 15, NO. 1, WINTER 2023

EDITOR

Maryanne St. Denis

PUBLISHER

Gord Arbeau

ART DIRECTOR

Jenny Tilbrook

DESIGNER

Kev Greene

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

Carol McIntosh

CONTRIBUTORS

Amanda Bishop Daniel Cutajar

Kaitlyn Daw Douglas Hunt Charles Kim Stephen Leithwood Kaitlyn Little Cathy Majtenyi Colleen Patterson Maryanne St. Denis Matt Terry Jocelyn Titone

GENERAL INQUIRIES

Brock Alumni Relations maintains a database of contact information for each graduate in accordance with all legislative requirements protecting privacy. We do not sell, trade or give away our mailing lists. If you do not wish to receive the magazine, or if you prefer to subscribe to our digital edition of Surgite, please fill out the form at brocku.ca/alumni

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BEYOND PRINT

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Surgite/sur-gi-tay/Latin for “Push on”

The inspiring last words of Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

crossTheClassesof2020and2021returnedtocampusinOctoberto legacythestageinfrontoftheirlovedonesduringBrockUniversity’s

Convocation celebrations. More than 1,600 graduates alumniattendedthetwo-daylegacyevent,whichprovidedanopportunityfor tocelebratetheirachievementsoncampusafterbeingunabletodosoearlierinthepandemic.

5

tips for selfcompassion

Brock grad shares tips on improving well-being

BY AMANDA BISHOP

Yana Berardini (MA ’15, PhD ’21) has a passion for improving the lives of young people — and she believes we can learn a lot from them.

The Research Analyst and Fidelity Lead at the Students’ Commission of Canada recently completed her PhD in Brock’s Department of Child and Youth Studies. Her dissertation focused on young caregivers who support their families due to language barriers, disability, illness and other concerns, and the notion of self-compassion — whether they care for themselves as much as they do for others.

Research has shown that “mental health is hugely associated with self-compassion,” says Berardini. “The more self-compassion you have, the better the outcomes.”

She wondered if and how young caregivers could engage in self-compassion, so, under the supervision of Associate Professor Heather Chalmers, she applied Kristen Neff’s pioneering work on self-compassion in adults to her research on young caregivers.

Of self-compassion’s three main features — self-kindness over judgment, being mindful to avoid overidentifying with emotions and finding reassurance in shared experiences — Berardini found that the young carers benefitted a great deal from their connection to others like them.

It’s a benefit she sees echoed by people’s reliance on maintaining connection during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“Knowing that we are all in this together and that we are not alone in experiencing what is happening can have a huge impact on well-being,” she says.

Although there are differences across ages, genders and cultures, Berardini says that most of us have the capacity to understand self-compassion and work on mindfulness. Here, she offers advice for developing self-compassion.

Open up to self-compassion

Many people are not aware that self-compassion can help improve their subjective well-being. The awareness piece is a big first step in moving from self-care, a behavioural mechanism, to self-compassion and the ability to engage with your own experiences.

Nurture self-kindness

Learn to be non-judgmental, especially when experiencing difficult situations. Self-kindness is the opposite of self-judgment and is associated with higher self-compassion. Try verbal affirmations.

Develop mindfulness and connect with your body

Make a mind-body connection to become aware of how emotions affect you in order to stop overidentifying with them. Recognize your emotional state rather than brushing off negative experiences or bottling up feelings. Feel emotions as they run through your body and recognize them as a present state, nothing more or less.

Focus on common humanity

We often isolate when thinking negatively about ourselves, but outcomes are much better when we understand that there are others going through the same things. Remember that in the early days of the pandemic, the world united around our shared experiences of isolation. Individual challenges varied, but we had common concerns related to health, finances, academics and work.

Practise effective self-care

If you feel alone or stuck, reach out. Connect with others, read books, watch videos, speak with a counsellor or do something else to support self-compassion by making self-care a priority. Start small, focus on the fact you are not alone and find an approach that works for you.

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new world President 7 to a openededucation The door for

BY MARYANNE ST. DENIS

Rigg was used to seeing the world in a unique way — from more than 30,000 feet in the air. The former flight attendant and licensed pilot took in terrains from around the globe while soaring through the skies, but it wasn’t until her feet were firmly planted on the ground that her passion truly took off.

“Even though I had travelled the world, I didn’t appreciate the world,” says the respected researcher and administrator, who in November became Brock University’s seventh President.

In hopes of broadening her horizons, Rigg said goodbye to her life above the clouds and instead became the first in her family to go to university, determined to learn more about the lands she had come to admire from afar.

She would go on to become a successful forest ecologist and biogeographer, recognized for both her research and work in the classroom. She previously served as Vice-President, Research at Western University and brings more than 25 years of academic and research experience to her leadership role at Brock.

“What university did for me is open up doors I didn’t even know existed,” she says. “It introduced me to a whole new world of opportunity and exploration, and started me on my career path.”

Although university is where Rigg found her footing in the world of geography, her connection to nature has been apparent since childhood.

Born in the U.K., she moved to Canada at age two, but returned each summer to explore the forests of southwest England alongside her grandmother, a pastry chef by trade and forager by passion.

“We’d go forage for berries and mushrooms. A meal would set us on an entire day’s worth of activities, and those activities were always outside,” Rigg recalls. “I think my grandmother taught me my connection to the natural world, to the land and the environment. I still forage to this day.”

That time with nature has left Rigg with an ongoing sense of belonging in the outdoors, despite growing up in the bustling metropolis that is Toronto.

“The natural environment has always been where I want to spend my time,” she says, adding that approach has helped her to quickly feel connected to Brock and its scenic campus on the Niagara Escarpment.

“Having the ability and privilege to walk out the door into a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it makes me tingle; I get goosebumps thinking about it,” says Rigg, who took to the trails soon after her arrival at the University. “It’s wonderful to be a part of a community that not only cherishes its natural environment, but also celebrates it and has identified it as something special in the world.”

Rigg’s drive to explore has been nurtured through her decades-long connection to aviation. Before she could drive a car, she could fly a plane.

She joined air cadets as a preteen and soon became a warrant officer of 618 Squadron in Toronto, leading a group of more than 100 cadets — most of them young men.

The empowering experience helped to lay the foundation for her future leadership style, as she learned how to work in a team, how to be a respected leader and what it means to have people look to you for guidance.

— Lesley Rigg

At the time, Rigg aspired to become a military pilot, but in the early ’80s, women didn’t transfer directly into pilot training.

Instead, she took a job at what is now Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, where she was recruited as a flight attendant for Saudi Arabian Airlines. She moved to the Middle East, working for a year and building inspiration for her next chapter.

“They offered me a full-time job but looking out the window of a 747 at 36,000 feet flying over the Sahara, the Middle East and other parts of the world, it made me fall in love with what I saw beneath me,” Rigg says. “I was motivated to understand the land, the landscape and the environment I was looking at and living in.”

University and the education

I received there, the impact it had on me was life-changing.

" "

It pushed her to continue her education, pursuing her undergraduate degree in geography and environmental studies at York University before moving on to earn her master’s from the University of Colorado and PhD from Australia’s University of Melbourne.

“Education completely changed my ability to live up to my potential,” she says. “University and the education I received there, the impact it had on me was life-changing.”

During her undergraduate studies, Rigg got her first taste of leading a classroom — and fell in love. Just as she did in the forest and in the skies, she felt at home.

“I had no idea I would love teaching,” she says, “but it sparked motivation in me to continue my career in academia early on.”

Rigg is a firm believer that people can start a new journey — professional or otherwise — at any time in life.

“I’m proof that there are multiple routes to a career path,” she says. “I didn’t go straight from high school to university to becoming an academic to becoming University President. There are so many ways to get to the same endpoint.”

Rigg credits her mother, who raised her on her own, for providing a supportive environment that allowed her to believe near anything is possible when pursuing your passion.

“But you have to work for it,” she says.

It’s a value Rigg and husband David Goldblum, who will join the University next summer as a professor in the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, have tried to instill in their own children, both of whom are currently in the midst of their own post-secondary journeys.

Having a strong support system is key, Rigg says, especially during moments that require a leap to move on to the next life chapter.

“The less you think of that next step as a risk, the more likely you are to try it. And it’s not risky if you feel supported,” Rigg says. “Every step of the way, I felt support from my family, colleagues, friends and from other leaders. Knowing you have people you can talk to makes a world of difference.”

Part of that supportive network is the bond between a university and its alumni, which she’s come to learn is incredibly strong at Brock.

When Rigg’s appointment as President was announced, her email inbox was flooded with messages from people she knows and those she doesn’t, all sharing their connections to Brock and how proud they are to be a part of the University’s family.

Many encouraged her to take good care of the institution they love so dearly.

In her 25 years in the post-secondary world, Rigg says she has never heard from so many alumni from around the globe — all of whom speak so highly of their alma mater and what it continues to mean to them so many years after graduation.

“I received amazing stories from alumni,” she says. “I was overwhelmed by the pride people expressed in being a Brock grad. I cannot wait to work with and meet more of this community as President.”

"

"

Education completely changed my ability to live up to my potential.

Brock President Lesley Rigg (front left) has been getting to know the University community since beginning in her role Nov. 1.

— Lesley Rigg

uture I

t was a moment that Brock University President and Vice-Chancellor Lesley Rigg will never forget — one that helped change the course of her career.

Then a faculty member at Northern Illinois University, she attended a group meeting aimed at supporting women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), where three female administrators were invited to speak about their roles.

As the discussion got underway, Rigg realized there were leadership opportunities in academia that hadn’t yet crossed her mind.

“All of a sudden, I realized I could be an administrator,” she says, recognizing the impact that simple interaction has had.

When Rigg joined Brock in November, she was thrilled to learn about the successful Women in Leadership group that has been flourishing on campus, providing support to students, faculty and staff who identify as women and

helping them to achieve and succeed in their careers.

The group regularly welcomes members of Brock’s senior administration, which includes a strong contingent of women, and other inspiring women leaders from across campus and beyond to share insight into the opportunities and challenges they’ve experienced on their leadership journeys.

“When we think about the large proportion of Brock’s student body that identify as women, it’s really important for that cohort to understand that leadership is something they can aspire to,” Rigg says. “When you see multiple women in leadership positions, it can be very motivating. It opens your eyes to a whole new landscape of opportunity.”

Brock the ‘key’ for awardwinning pianist

BY KAITLYN DAW

For two decades, Brock University alumna Christina Le Rose (BA ’07, BEd ’10) has dedicated her career and community work to inspiring, enriching and transforming the lives of others through music and education.

As an award-winning classical pianist and educator, Le Rose has performed extensively throughout North America and Europe and has taught at the university, secondary and elementary school levels.

She credits her journey at Brock for laying the groundwork for her success.

“Growing up in a family with limited educational opportunities, I was taught that a post-secondary education was the key to success,” Le Rose said. “For me, Brock University was that key.”

Christina Le Rose (BA ’07, BEd ’10), recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Le Rose had ambitions to pursue a double major in Music and French with a minor in Italian. While she said other institutions deemed her dreams too difficult to achieve, Brock presented her with opportunities to explore her potential. By age 29, Le Rose earned four university degrees and received more than 60 scholarships and awards.

While her career has taken her around the world, her roots are still firmly planted in Niagara, where she remains an avid supporter of her community. She has given hundreds of free performances in the region and throughout Canada, and donated proceeds from benefit concerts to charitable organizations.

During Brock’s annual Homecoming celebrations, Le Rose was one of several graduates recognized for their professional achievements and societal contributions as part of the University’s alumni awards program. She received the 2022 Brock University Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award.

“I am incredibly honoured and humbled to be recognized for my work in music. However, what motivates me is not the accolades but a genuine desire to realize my highest potential,” she said. “I always try to live by Brock’s motto — ‘surgite!’ — and push on with commitment, discipline and perseverance in pursuit of my professional goals.”

Nominations for the 2023 alumni awards are open until Jan. 31. Visit brocku.ca/alumni/awards for more information.

2022 Brock University Alumni Award recipients

BUAA Distinguished Alumni Award

Christina Le Rose (BA ’07, BEd ’10)

An international award-winning solo pianist and educator.

BUAA Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Asad Jalib (BBA ’21)

An up-and-coming entrepreneur and co-founder of the largest soil marketplace in Canada.

BUAA Community Engagement Award

Jeremy Ferdman (BA ’09)

An award-winning actor, producer, educator and co-founder of a not-for-profit theatrical platform dedicated to supporting artists’ creativity and mental well-being.

BUAA David Betzner Award

Christopher Yendt (BA ’15, BEd ’15, BEd ’20, MEd ’21)

A four-time graduate and passionate advocate for current and future students of Brock University.

Alumni Co-op Employer Award

Darryl Moyers (BBA ’11) and Tyler Stark (BBA ’11)

Since 2016, Moyers & Stark Consulting has regularly recruited talent from Brock’s co-op programs, many of whom have found full-time employment with the firm or its clients upon graduation.

Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Distinguished Graduate Award

Scott McRoberts (BSM ’02)

A leader in athletics and recreation helping to instil an integrated vision of student and community engagement and athletic excellence.

Faculty of Education Distinguished Graduate Award

Brendan Browne (PhD ’13)

Director and CEO of the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the largest publicly funded Catholic school board in the world, leading 90,000 students and 14,000 teachers and staff across nearly 200 schools.

Goodman School of Business Distinguished Graduate Award

Rhonda Klosler (BBA ’93)

An accomplished leader, relationship builder and regional champion for culture, diversity and inclusion.

Faculty of Humanities Distinguished Graduate Award

Jordin Hall (BA ’10)

A talented leading actor in the performing arts.

Faculty of Mathematics and Science Distinguished Graduate Award

Paul Hubley (BSc ’91)

A Principal and Senior Geoscientist dedicated to improving professional practices.

Faculty of Social Sciences Distinguished Graduate Award

Karen Brown (BA ’91)

An educator and leader devoted to building safe, healthy and equitable learning environments for students and teachers.

HAND-HEART

Help through the hardest times

BY COLLEEN PATTERSON

She knew it wasn’t going to be easy. After all, Mahoganie Hines (BScN ’16) was preparing to take care of people during what, for many, is the most difficult time in their lives.

But that only motivated the Brock University Nursing graduate to ensure she was providing the best care possible.

When Hines came to Brock, her sole intention was to work in palliative care.

She wasn’t without experience, having already worked as an unregulated care provider for patients experiencing dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

“I learned early on the importance of advocating for advance-care planning and knowing what the person on the other side of the bed is going through,” says Hines, who is now the Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultant for Hospice Niagara.

During her studies, she hoped to take on experiential learning opportunities in hospice and palliative care, but they were limited at the time. Nursing Clinical-Practicum Co-ordinator Sandra Micsinszki (MEd ’02), however, was determined to find Hines the right fit.

“Sandra really made such an effort to help me find placements to meet the specialized education I was seeking,” Hines says.

With experience from her placements under her belt, Hines began working at Hospice Niagara after graduation.

She now regularly provides in-service training to Brock Nursing, Med Plus and Master of Applied Gerontology students.

Hines emphasizes the importance of more education on dying, death and symptom management for health professionals and applauds the incorporation of end-of-life care simulations into more courses.

“Excellent palliative care should wrap around the patient and their given and chosen family from diagnosis into bereavement,” she says. “Really excellent care begins from the time of a life-limiting diagnosis, because that is when grieving starts.”

Fellow Brock Nursing graduate Tara Lundy (BScN ’21) shares a similar passion for supporting others in what may be their darkest days.

Now a Registered Nurse, Lundy splits her time between working in the Niagara Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Centre and on a master’s research study that seeks to explore the health and wellness of community-based workers who support women survivors of intimate partner violence.

Lundy began her educational journey by earning a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology, but it wasn’t long before she realized it was leading her down a path missing one key element: people.

“I really loved it, but the prospect of being in a lab looking under microscopes wasn’t for me,” she says. “I wanted a profession that provides opportunities to help people at their most vulnerable times.”

HANDS-HOLDING-CHILD wave-pulse comment-medical

Mahoganie Hines (BScN ’16) regularly provides in-service training to Brock Nursing, Med Plus and Master of Applied Gerontology students.

“Excellent palliative care should wrap around the patient and their given and chosen family from diagnosis into bereavement.”

— Mahoganie Hines —

Since graduating from Brock, Tara Lundy (BScN ’21) splits her time between working in the Niagara Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Centre and on a master’s research study.

After gaining experience in and graduating from Brock’s Nursing program, Lundy was drawn to the prospect of forensic nursing. She went on to become a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner by completing additional specialized education and clinical preparation courses that allow her to care for patients who have experienced sexual assault or abuse.

Lundy became aware of the ubiquitous nature of violence in communities by volunteering with a women’s shelter.

“The client-centred nature of this type of care really ignited a passion for me,” she says. “I’m really proud of the responsiveness, support and advocacy our teams provide, and I want more students to know about this type of nursing, both for the career possibilities and for those who may need to access services.”

Through her research, Lundy hopes to identify and further develop strategies that will allow community-based front-line workers to continue to provide compassionate care during an individual’s deeply challenging time.

As Hines and Lundy have demonstrated, Brock’s Nursing program has the potential to have a life-changing impact not only on its students, but also on their future patients, says Micsinszki, who has been with the department since its inception.

A nurse herself, Micsinszki arrived at Brock from Hamilton Health Sciences, where she worked as a student placement co-ordinator for nursing students and those in other disciplines, and provided new staff orientation.

“Being able to bring my lived experiences to Brock helped to lay the foundation for the University’s clinical placements and preceptorships,” she says. “It has allowed me to engage in a collaborative effort, building and making changes accordingly with the Chair, faculty, staff and administrators.”

The Department of Nursing has experienced unprecedented growth, doubling in size over the past two years. In May 2021, the first students in Brock’s concurrent Bachelor of Nursing/Master of Nursing accelerated program, which is the first of its kind in Canada, began their time at the University. This past September, Brock welcomed 228 incoming Bachelor of Science in Nursing students — its largest-ever cohort.

Micsinszki, who was honoured for 20 years of service excellence with Brock Nursing in September, points out that the department’s growth is reflected not only in its intake numbers, but also in its community relationships.

“For us, growth takes into consideration the breadth of clinical offerings and institutes policies and procedures to meet changes in the hospital system and care settings — all while making sure students have the necessary pre-clinical safety training, requirements and certifications,” she says.

While needs are constantly changing, the department and its students are always up for the challenge in hopes of having a meaningful impact on community care, Micsinszki says.

Sandra Micsinszki (MEd ’02) was honoured for 20 years of service excellence with Brock Nursing in September.

Equipped for success

BY CATHY MAJTENYI

A3D laser scanner that brings ancient shipwrecks to life. A one-of-a-kind virtual reality lab to study wine consumer behaviour. A generator that produces liquid nitrogen from the air.

Brock University researchers use a vast array of cutting-edge machines and facilities in their work that help the University to stand out in the world of research.

The Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute’s Wine Consumer Research Laboratory, known as the R3CL, offers researchers the opportunity to use virtual, augmented and physical reality to simulate sights, sounds and smells in a variety of settings, such as a wine tasting bar or liquor store.

Through their experiments, researchers aim to provide knowledge and tools for the wine industry to increase market share for Canadian wines.

Brock’s Containment Level 3 facility is the only one of its kind at a Canadian university equipped with an insectary, allowing researchers to study insect-transmitted viruses such as Zika and West Nile.

The Brock-Niagara Validation, Prototyping and Manufacturing Institute contains a unique configuration of high-level technologies that provide industry partners with ‘one-stop shopping’ to meet their research and development needs. This includes materials testing and analysis, mass spectrometry, determining genetic biomarkers and cell processes, and advanced microscopy.

“It’s exciting to see how state-of-the-art equipment and facilities bring our researchers’ breakthroughs and innovations to life,” says Vice-President, Research Tim Kenyon. “We are grateful to our funders for investing in the tools that increase Brock’s research intensiveness and impact.”

Institutions that provide the bulk of support for Brock to purchase research equipment include Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, and Ontario's Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Faro Focus S70 3D laser scanner

A portable, high-accuracy, short-range system designed for scanning complex architectural objects and structures, the Faro Focus S70 3D laser scanner captures surface detail as a series of dense clouds and points in three dimensions. The resulting high-resolution 3D models form the basis of archaeological research and heritage preservation initiatives. Brock researchers are using this laser scanner to study ancient, historic and contemporary boats along the coast of Sicily in Italy as part of the Marzamemi Maritime Heritage Project.

Department of Chemistry Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Technologist

Razvan Simionescu loads liquid nitrogen, produced by Brock’s liquid nitrogen generator (right), into an NMR machine.

Liquid nitrogen generator & nuclear magnetic resonance machines

Classics and Archaeology master’s student Liz Hoffer uses the Faro Focus S70 3D laser scanner, which is designed for scanning complex architectural objects and structures.

The liquid nitrogen generator extracts nitrogen gas from the air in the room. A helium gas compressor super cools a copper head that condenses the nitrogen gas, enabling the liquid nitrogen — about 800 litres per week — to flow into a storage vessel. Liquid nitrogen is used in many science labs and is crucial for cooling the magnets on Brock’s nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) machines, which allow researchers to see how atoms are bound to form molecules. NMR machines share the same principles as the betterknown magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used in hospitals. Each of Brock’s three spectrometers — machines used to study how matter absorbs and emits radio frequency radiation — have a strong superconductive magnet that needs to be kept at -269°C using liquid helium and liquid nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen needs to be refilled on a weekly basis, which is why Brock is among only a few universities in Canada that produce their own supply.

Health Biosciences

PhD student Kailynn Mannella (left) and her supervisor, Associate Professor of Kinesiology Michael Holmes, use Brock’s Wristbot to study how forearm muscles control the wrist against resistance, during sudden disturbances and when fatigued.

Typhoon laser-scanner platform

Billed to be the ‘gold standard’ for reliable data quality, the Typhoon laser-scanner platform enables targeted and large-scale analysis on proteins, lipids and small molecules. It supports a range of imaging methods, such as gels and blots, and sample types, such as tissue slides and membranes. The highly sensitive imaging system allows researchers to study how molecules operate and to identify biomarkers that indicate disease, infection or environmental exposure. Almost two dozen researchers from three Brock Faculties, and the Office of the Vice-President, Research, pooled their resources to purchase the machine.

Wristbot

The Wristbot, a robotic exoskeleton, allows assistance or resistance to be provided to the user in all the directions that a human wrist moves. With the only Wristbot in Canada, Brock researchers are studying how forearm muscles control the wrist against resistance, during sudden disturbances and when fatigued. The robot is also being used as a rehabilitation tool for individuals with neurological disorders that affect forearm and wrist function. With virtual reality-like graphics, the Wristbot makes exercises interactive and allows for individualized rehabilitation programs.

Applied Health Sciences PhD student Katrina Carbonara places two-dimensional gels into Brock's Typhoon machine.

Niagara model to help shape future Canada Games

BY DOUGLAS HUNT

The medals have been awarded. The athletes have returned to their homes across the country. And the roar of the crowd has come and gone.

But the impact of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games — and its connection to Brock University — continues to be felt.

Canada Games fever ran wild in Niagara this past August when the two-week affair brought close to 5,000 top-tier athletes to compete, all while spectators watched them lay it all on the line. Events were held throughout the region, including at Brock’s main campus, where the Athletes’ Village and several key venues were located.

While the rugby sevens, aquatics and cycling competitions were held at existing Brock facilities, much of the action took place just steps from campus at the newly built Canada Games Park. The land for the stateof-the-art sport facility, once a portion of Brock’s Zone 2 parking lot, was provided by the University in support of the historic community event.

The University was well represented both prior to and during the Games, with more than 900 Brock students, employees, alumni and retirees volunteering more than 34,000 hours of their time with various Games events and initiatives.

Brock also made a commitment to engage and mobilize students, faculty and staff through academic initiatives that aligned with the Games in various ways.

Under the leadership of Sport Management Professor Julie Stevens, Brock’s Special Advisor to the President — Canada Games, committees were formed to encourage engagement related to new curricular, research and community outreach programs tied into the multi-

The leadership role allowed Stevens to further explore the service philosophy she has embraced as an academic.

“I am passionate about innovation and building capacity that will help others succeed. The most fulfilling part was collaborating with faculty and staff from across campus, working alongside people in ways much different than I have done through my faculty role,” she said. “With their support, we created a new academic legacy model for future Canada Games and for future Brock

Included in the collaborative effort was $200,000 in Canada Games Research Grants that saw academics incorporate the Games into their research by documenting and studying its impact on the University and region. Among the many projects were those focused on prioritizing the mental health of athletes, connecting the Games with local young people through art and monitoring social media during a major sporting event.

In the classroom, $60,000 in teaching

The Criterium cycling competition was one of several Canada Games events held on Brock University’s main campus.

Canada Games Park

grants saw instructors from five Faculties explore Games topics in their courses, such as the history of sport in Niagara, connecting sport events to sustainable development initiatives and observing and analyzing operations of a major sport event.

Through the Major Games Field Course led by Associate Professor of Sport Management Laura Cousens, more than 80 Brock students took part in pre-event planning and held roles during the Games in spectator experience, social media, marketing and volunteer recruitment.

Brock’s community engagement efforts also led to the creation of a formalized student volunteer club. Since 2019, the Brock University Volunteer Association has matched more than 100 students with 61 organizations for volunteer opportunities linked to and outside of the Games.

Stevens said the collaboration that came with each area of Brock’s academic involvement was indicative of the way the entire region embraced the Games.

“I met and worked with many volunteers before and during the Games, and their enthusiasm made me realize the essential

role sport plays in building a sense of belonging in Niagara,” she said. “I really want to continue the Games’ momentum into the future, and our academic efforts will ensure that happens.”

While the event has made its mark in Brock’s history, Stevens believes the University has also left a lasting impact on the Games.

“The Canada Games Council’s Transfer-of-Knowledge program is focused on the premise that partnerships with communities and post-secondary institutions will maximize the benefits of the Games for athletes and host communities,” she said. “Brock’s academic legacy strategy was designed to achieve this goal through the development of a model that would align with the University’s strategic academic plan and cultivate opportunities for Games-related research, community partnerships and experiential learning opportunities for students.

“Through all of these initiatives, I believe Brock fulfilled the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games vision to ‘transform, inspire and unify.’”

Stay at Brock

Nine hundred Brock students, employees, retirees and alumni volunteered in the lead up to and during the Games.

Sport Management Professor Julie Stevens (right) was honoured to present medals during the 2022 Canada Summer Games.

Singing away the winter blues

BY CHARLES KIM

Mallory Warkentin (BA ’10) believes in the age-old saying that music heals the soul.

Knowing the impact a melody can have on mind and body, the certified music therapist and Brock University Music graduate hopes to inspire more people to embrace the power of music.

Warkentin has helped a wide range of patients achieve different goals and improve their mental and physical well-being since launching her practice and becoming the first full-time registered music therapist with Niagara Region.

Whether used as a way to beat the winter blues or to address life events, music therapy can have many applications.

“Music affects our moods more than we realize,” Warkentin says, adding what one listens to can “add or take away from what we are dealing with at any given time.”

Everyone has their own relationship with music, with songs evoking different emotions for different people. This, paired with the physical response the body has to tempo, makes selecting what is on your playlist that much more important, she says.

“If I play music at a certain beat per minute, there is a direct reflection in your body,” Warkentin says. “At 60 beats per minute, a slower beat, your breathing will slow down and your heart rate will start to slow too.”

When you’re feeling down, breaking into song can help, she says.

“Singing is so therapeutic. It can lift your mood. You almost begin to forget or move on from what was on your mind initially,” Warkentin says. “Mantras are amazing as well. Telling yourself, ‘I am brave, I am capable’ and adding a little bit of music behind it is really effective. It develops into a little ear bug that you can’t get out of your head.”

Working with a certified and accredited music therapist can be helpful to anyone who is seeking or is already in therapy, Warkentin says.

“Music therapy can always find a way in, whether with existing therapy or as an intro to therapy,” she says. “As a certified music therapist, you must be a registered psychotherapist, so we understand the talking side of therapy. If music helps you process, it’s definitely worth exploring.”

Brock alumna and certified music therapist Mallory Warkentin (BA ’10) says music is the perfect remedy for chasing away the winter blues.

Then Now

Brock University’s campus footprint has changed throughout the years, but its student-athletes continue to hit the ground running. The main entrance to the University has changed significantly since Brock track team members Marg Stride (BPhEd ’77, BEd ’77), Bryan Stride (BPhEd ’76, BEd ’77) and Kathy Prosser (BPhEd ’77) trained out front in 1976. The Rankin Family Pavilion, where current Brock students and cross-country runners Adeline Steiger, Joseph Dick and Robyn Adamo are shown getting their steps in, was completed in late 2019.

IceDogs owner talks lasting Badger bond

BY STEPHEN LEITHWOOD

Before Darren DeDobbelaer’s (BA ’91) days as a successful entrepreneur and owner of three hockey teams, he was a student at Brock University.

The Business and Sociology graduate has gone on to build a name and life for himself in Brantford alongside his wife and two children. Now, more than 30 years later, he’s returned to Niagara after purchasing the region’s major junior hockey franchise: the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

The return to the region has come with a walk down memory lane, jogging memories of his Badger days.

“I loved my time at Brock. The campus is beautiful and back in the 1980s, the old student pub, Alphie’s Trough, was the greatest place to be with Pat Hewitt, the one-man band,” he said. “It was a nice, intimate campus that was close to home. I really enjoyed it and look back on that time with a sentimental smile. I had four great years there.”

DeDobbelaer made headlines July 6 when the OHL announced the transfer of ownership of the IceDogs franchise from Bill and Denise Burke to him as a majority owner, and Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky as a minority stakeholder.

"I'm really excited about being back in junior hockey and have always loved it,” Gretzky said in a statement at the time. “To be partnered with a fellow friend from Brantford is so exciting for all of us and we can't wait to get started."

The IceDogs franchise has included several notable names among the past owners, coaches and hockey personalities since it was founded as the Mississauga IceDogs in 1996. They include Don Cherry, the late Eugene Melnyk, Rick Vaive, Steve Ludzik, Mike Kelly and former Brock men’s hockey coach Marty Williamson.

The club’s alumni who currently play in the NHL include Dougie Hamilton, Alex Pietrangelo, Vince Dunn, Ryan Strome and Carter Verhaeghe.

But what dazzled DeDobbelaer most about the hockey club was its fan base.

Last season, despite finishing last in the league with a record of 22-42-3-1, the IceDogs were one of the top clubs in average attendance.

Brock grad Darren DeDobbelaer (BA ’91) gained ownership of the Niagara IceDogs hockey club in July.

“The team was in last place and they were putting more than 4,000 people in the stands. In their last game of the year, they had a sellout crowd,” DeDobbelaer said. “A lot of regions and cities only support a winner, so we truly have the greatest fan base out there.”

DeDobbelaer also owns the Brantford 99ers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Brantford Bandits of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

His affinity for the game of hockey has been a lifelong passion. Raised by his parents, Frank and Shirley, who were tobacco farmers in the small Norfolk Country town of Langton, Ont., DeDobbelaer learned the value of hard work at a young age.

“I grew up in a hockey family and because we were farmers, I didn’t know that summer sports existed. Summers were for working,

but in the winter, it was all about hockey,” DeDobbelaer said.

He started coaching minor hockey when he stopped playing competitively at age 20 before entering the junior hockey circuit in 1999.

“I’m 53 years old. I can honestly say that for 49 consecutive years, I’ve either been playing, coaching or managing hockey,” he said. “It’s always been a part of my life.”

Off the ice, DeDobbelaer was inspired to follow in his father’s footsteps in business.

Despite summers filled with 16-hour days, Frank DeDobbelaer refused to take winters off. He started his own real estate brokerage in Langton, which he grew to 15 salespeople.

Following his graduation from Brock, DeDobbelaer applied what he learned from his father in the insurance world and grew his own brokerage before selling it in 2010.

In addition to instilling a strong work ethic, DeDobbelaer said his parents taught him the value and strength of family, which is why it was important his wife, Michele, a retired nurse, be a part of the IceDogs ownership group.

The couple, who recently celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary, have two children who also love sports: Camryn, who competes in equestrian, and Eric, who plays Division 1 NCAA hockey for the University of Massachusetts.

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“I’m 53 years old. I can honestly say that for 49 consecutive years, I’ve either been playing, coaching or managing hockey. It’s always been a part of my life.”

— Darren DeDobbelaer —

Alumni initiative supports Badger entrepreneurs and students

BY KAITLYN DAW

What started out as a pandemic recovery effort has evolved into an ongoing initiative with alumni helping other Badgers at its core.

When the world came to a sudden halt in 2020, members of the Brock University Alumni Association’s (BUAA) Outreach and Sponsorship Committee (OSC) were determined to reimagine how their mandate could support students and alumni most impacted by the pandemic and financial hardships that followed. This marked the early beginnings of the volunteer-driven Badgers to Badgers program.

By offering discounts and gift certificates for alumni-owned businesses, Badgers to Badgers has supported more

than 40 students and alumni businesses, such as restaurants, artists and retail, since the pilot launched in 2021.

“The pandemic impacted us all in different ways and we saw an opportunity to support alumni business owners and students in need during a difficult time,” says Chris Ventura (BA ’12, MEd ’17), BUAA Vice-President and Badgers to Badgers founder.

Throughout the year, the OSC reviews the alumni business directory to identify potential businesses to support through this initiative.

Brock graduates who own and operate a business can apply for the alumni business directory at brocku.ca/alumni/business-directory

Happy Holidays

Fred Davies (BA ’84) and Conrad Davies (BBA ’14) of Breakwall Brewery in Port Colborne were among the first alumni businesses to participate in the Badgers to Badgers pilot program.

Where are

Class of 1970s

Appia Energy Corp. has appointed Gary Delaney (MSc ’76) as an advisor and consultant to its board of directors.

Class of 1980s

John Haeni (BA ’75, MA ’82) has retired as the District School Board of Niagara’s Athletic Co-ordinator, ending his 55-year career in education.

Class of 1990s

Tara Anderson (BAcc ’94) was named the new Auditor General for the City of Toronto.

Dian Marie Bridge (BA ’99) was appointed as the new Artistic Director of the Black Theatre Workshop in Montreal.

Construction services company EllisDon Corporation announced Brian Kilburn (BAcc ’99) as its new Chief Financial Officer.

Class of 2000s

Toronto-based Electra Battery Materials Corporation announced the appointment of Craig Cunningham (BAcc ’07) as its Chief Financial Officer.

Michael Lacroix (BBA ’04) is the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Collingwood General and Marine Hospital. Scott Murray (BA ’08) has been honoured with the RBC Global Citizen Award for his work as Toronto Branch Director with RBC Dominion Securities.

Three-time Olympic medallist

Tonya Verbeek (BRLS ’00, BEd ’03, MEd’ 06) has joined the University of Iowa women’s wrestling coaching staff.

Class of 2010s

Adam King (BSM ’16, MA ’19) was named the new Marketing Director of the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League.

Jason Ribeiro (MEd ’15) was named President of the newly-formed Calgary Surge of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

Sandhill Wines in Kelowna, B.C., announced the appointment of Stephanie Van Dyk (BSc ’17) as its lead winemaker.

Linguistics (Teach English

Alumni inspired to name child after alma mater

BY JOCELYN TITONE

Two years into their relationship, Steven (BSM ’15) and Carly Sazant (BA ’16, BEd ’16) knew they wanted to have children — and that if they had a son, they would name him after a place that had a significant impact on their lives.

The Brock University sweethearts started dating four months into their first year of studies: Steven, a Sport Management major, and Carly, an aspiring teacher studying Child and Youth Studies in the Concurrent Teacher Education program.

After initially meeting the summer before coming to Brock in 2011, the two ended up living in the same court in Village Residence and quickly became friends.

“I’d ask Steven to go to the gym together or get lunch because I was too nervous to tell him I liked him,” Carly said.

Mutual feelings grew, and by January, they were officially dating.

The couple’s relationship held strong throughout their studies, even during two extended periods of separation: once when Steven went on a 10-month international exchange and again when he finished classes and moved to Toronto while Carly stayed at Brock to finish her final year.

“I think it was thanks to a foundation of trust between us and how much we loved each other,” said Steven.

After marrying in August 2020, the couple fulfilled their dream of becoming parents in May 2022 when their son Archer Brock Sazant was born.

“We toyed with using Brock as a first or middle name, but knew we wanted to use the name somehow,” said Carly. “We thought it would be sentimental and meaningful — we met at Brock and loved our time there. We call him Brock sometimes, even though it’s his middle name.”

The couple adjusted easily to parenthood, and thanks to a combination of parental leaves and Steven’s remote work, they have spent a lot of quality time together.

The happy parents are enjoying the baby phase, but Steven is especially looking forward to when Archer is a bit older.

“Playing sports together is a dream of mine,” he said. “As soon as he’s able to grip a toy golf club, it’s going right into his hands. I want him to be a star.”

Brock alumni Carly and Steven Sazant named their son Archer Brock in recognition of their alma mater.

Ned Goodman, Brock’s seventh Chancellor, will be remembered for his lasting impact at the University and beyond.

The honorary doctorate recipient and long-time Brock supporter passed away in August.

A respected international businessman and philanthropist, Goodman was known for his significant contributions to both Canada’s mining industry and capital markets, but it was his commitment to lifelong learning and education that will influence future generations of professionals in both fields.

In 2012, the Goodman School of Business was named in recognition of a transformative gift by the Goodman Family Foundation, which provided key capital to transform the school’s physical space and introduce new opportunities for students and researchers.

“Dr. Goodman gave us his name, reputation and the resources to make us who we are today,” said Interim Dean Barry Wright. “The Goodman School’s values of passion, perseverance and professionalism can be directly attributed to his approach to both business and life.”

Although Goodman’s career began in the geological sector, he refocused in 1960, earning his MBA and Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and co-founding Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd., which offered pension funds and private client investment advice.

A leader in the re-emergence of Canada’s gold-mining industry in the 1980s, Goodman helped build several successful mining companies, including International Corona and Kinross Gold. As founder and CEO of Dundee Corporation, he is also considered one of the leading architects of Canada’s investment management industry.

Remembering Ned Goodman

BY KAITLYN LITTLE

Goodman also founded and gave his name to the Goodman Institute of Investment Management at Concordia University in Montreal and the Goodman School of Mines at Laurentian University in Sudbury.

In 2012, he was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame and in 2016, he was appointed to the Order of Canada – the country’s highest civilian honour.

Ten years after the Goodman family’s investment into Brock, the early returns are evident. The Goodman School, now ranked by Maclean’s magazine as one of Canada’s Top 20 business schools, is the only Canadian school in the International Partnership of Business Schools network and has received international accolades for its contributions both locally and abroad.

Ned Goodman gives a speech after receiving an honorary doctorate during Brock's Fall Convocation ceremony on Oct. 17, 2015.

“The Goodman School’s values of passion, perseverance and professionalism can be directly attributed to his approach to both business and life.”

— Barry Wright