“The Steel Blade Classic is an opportunity to bring the Brock and Niagara communities together, celebrate our student-athletes and showcase the incredible pride and support that surrounds Brock University,” said Melissa Krist, Executive Director, Brock Sports and Recreation. “We’re grateful to everyone who continues to make this event such a special tradition.”

The Steel Blade Classic dates back to 1999, when the annual one-game showdown between Brock and Niagara University was launched at Thorold Arena. The event has since grown into one of Brock’s most anticipated sporting traditions, bringing generations of Badgers together to celebrate the University and its student-athletes.

Friday night’s return to the ice saw Brock defeat Guelph 5-1.

Brock men’s hockey captain Nathan Fox, a fourth-year Sport Management student from Okotoks, Alta., hoists the Steel Blade trophy surrounded by teammates following the Badgers’ 5-1 victory at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines on Friday, Sept. 18.

Guelph opened the scoring before Cole Cooksey, a first-year Brock Business student from Toronto, scored his first of two goals to tie the game. Alexis Cournoyer, Ryan Johnstone and captain Nathan Fox also found the back of the net to lift the Badgers to victory.

The evening was a true celebration of sport, with Brock Badgers teams from beyond the ice being honoured during the game’s intermissions.

Fans cheered as the Brock women’s volleyball team, which captured the first national medal in program history with a bronze-medal finish at the 2026 U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship, were celebrated on the ice.

The Badgers’ wrestling programs were also lauded for their successes this past season, with the women’s team capturing its 24th overall and 11th consecutive Ontario University Athletics (OUA) title, and the men’s team claiming its 27th OUA championship, ninth straight, along with its 23rd U SPORTS national title.

The night also highlighted Brock’s commitment to supporting students beyond varsity sports, with the Brock University Students’ Association (BUSU) and the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) recognizing a Food First donation of $679 made on behalf of the University.

The Steel Blade trophy itself carries a long history. Donated by the Werner family, the trophy features an 1803 non-commissioned officer’s hanger, a type of sword carried by artillery units during the War of 1812.

Following the game, Krist and Martin Werner presented the trophy to the Badgers, continuing a tradition his father, Ed Werner, helped establish more than two decades ago in support of Brock hockey.

The first-year Critical Criminology student joined hundreds of other Brock students in Jubilee Court to slip and slide her way through her first Homecoming Grape Stomp on Friday, Sept. 18.

“It seemed like a great way to build community, and I think it’s fun,” Jodway said, adding she wanted to be part of the long-standing tradition.

Nico San Pedro first participated in the beloved Brock event as an undergraduate student, returning now in his first year of the Master of Business Administration program. This time, he knew what to expect — especially when it came to the sensation of squishing grapes with his bare feet.

“Now I know what it feels like, so I’m prepared for it,” he said.

Rookie stompers Tatsuya Mandai and Mito Ishiguro came dressed for the occasion. The English as a Subsequent Language students were both dressed in white. While Mandai opted for a full body suit — including a hood — Ishiguro stood out in his tank top, shorts and latex horse head to add an extra bit of whimsy to the occasion.

President Lesley Rigg kicked off the event with welcoming remarks for the estimated 300 Badgers who were eager to start stomping the metric tonne of Concord grapes from Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery that had been harvested earlier in the day.

Manager of Student Leadership and Engagement Carolyn Hough said she was happy with both the turnout and the beautiful weather.

“Students love to show up; it’s a Brock bucket list item. It’s chaos and everyone loves it,” she said. “It’s the perfect welcome to fall and welcome to campus.”

Grape Stomp signalled the start of Brock’s Homecoming celebrations, with a full lineup of events taking place over the weekend including the Steel Blade Classic hockey game at the Meridian Centre on Friday evening.

Meeting monthly during the academic year, the group is open to any Brock staff or faculty member interested in connecting with colleagues around this work, whether EDID is central to their role, one part of a broader portfolio or an area they are interested in integrating more intentionally into their work.

The Community of Practice supports ongoing professional learning and helps build EDID capacity across the University by creating opportunities for participants to develop and exchange knowledge, learn from the expertise and experiences of others, and build connections across Faculties and departments.

In-person attendance is encouraged for the two-hour sessions to support discussion, collaboration and connection. A hybrid option will be available for accessibility. Sessions will have a plan and structure shared in advance while remaining responsive to the interests and needs of participants.

The first gathering this fall will focus on community building and collaboratively identifying priorities for the year. From there, sessions may include peer discussion and problem solving, resource sharing, guest facilitators and other opportunities for learning and collaboration based on the interests and needs of the group.

“The Community of Practice is an opportunity to bring together people from across Brock who are invested in bringing an equity and human rights lens to their work, whether or not that’s formally reflected in their job description,” says Gita Madan, Associate Director, Human Rights Response and Community Care. “We want to create a space where colleagues can learn from one another, work through challenges together, share resources and strengthen their practice through connection with others doing this work across the University.”

Staff and faculty interested in participating or learning more can contact Gita Madan, Associate Director of Human Rights Response and Community Care, at gmadan@brocku.ca

Also covered in the media this week was the role Brock students played in hosting a prom for long-term care residents, Homecoming Grape Stomp, the Steel Blade Classic, and recognition for a Brock researcher.

Building an AI future in Saskatchewan: Professor of Political Science Blayne Haggart was featured in CBC News sharing insights into Canada’s expanding AI landscape. He also spoke with Adam Hunter on The Morning Edition about Saskatchewan’s data centre expansion.

Can Niagara Falls be Canada’s Vegas: Professor of Geography and Tourism Studies David Fennell spoke with the Toronto Star about plans to double tourism to the Cataract City.

Grading in the age of AI: Associate Professor of Educational Studies Rahul Kumar was featured in the Toronto Star discussing new approaches to grading as student use of generative AI surges.

PISA scores in the Maritimes: Distinguished Professor of Educational Studies Louis Volante spoke with CBC News in New Brunswick and  CBC Radio One in PEI about how Canada’s Maritime provinces performed in recent reading, math and science skills testing among 15-year-old students.

Conservatives drop anti-union measures from official policy: Professor of Labour Studies Larry Savage shared insights with the Toronto Star about the removal of right-to-work legislation from the Conservative party’s official policy book.

The benefits of napping: Professor of Psychology Kimberly Cote spoke with Straight Arrow News about the positive effects napping can have on cognitive performance.

Prom brings together long-term care residents, Brock University students: CTV’s The Social, CBC News and Niagara this Week highlighted the work of student volunteers who helped put on a prom for long-term care residents in St. Catharines as part of Brock Cares Day of Service.

Incivility, bullying expert recognized for extensive research contributions: The recent recognition of Assistant Professor of Child and Youth Studies Natalie Spadafora from University at Buffalo’s Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention was featured in Education News Canada.

Brock’s messiest tradition returns to campus: As Brock’s Homecoming Grape Stomp was set to return for another year, the NOTL Local, Pelham Today and Giant FM shared information about the event.

Steel Blade Classic: The NOTL Local helped to spread the word about the Steel Blade Classic in the lead up to Brock’s Homecoming celebrations.

Master of Arts in Applied Health Sciences (Sport Management) thesis defence

Tyler Rohleder, a Master of ​Arts in Applied Health Sciences candidate, will defend the thesis “Physical Disability Inclusion, Rights, and Representation in the North American Professional Sports Industry” on Monday, Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in STH 452.

The examination committee includes Chris Chard, Chair; Curtis Fogel, Supervisor; Josh Pate, External Examiner (Lees-McRae College); and Taylor McKee and Maureen Connolly, Committee Members.

Master of Science in Statistics thesis defence

Chrishtina Tharushi Fernandopulle, a Master of Science in Statistics candidate, will defend the thesis “Structure Learning in Bayesian Networks: From Personality Modeling to Scalable Algorithms” on Monday, Sept. 21 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in PLZ 601C.

The examination committee includes Melanie Pilkington, Chair; Jingjing Wu, External Examiner (University of Calgary); Xiaojian Xu, Supervisor;  and Pouria Ramazi, Supervisory Committee Member.

Master of Arts in Critical Sociology thesis defence 

Olivia Schmidt, a Master of Arts in Critical Sociology candidate, will defend the thesis “Borders as Mirrors: Student Experiences at Niagara’s U.S./Canada Land Borders” on Monday, Sept. 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. in PLZ 600F.

The examination committee includes Dawn Zinga, Chair; Julie Ham, Supervisor; Sarah Turnbull, External Examiner (University of Waterloo); Andrea Doucet, Graduate Program Director; and Hijin Park, Committee Member.

Master of ​ Science in Applied Health Sciences (Health Sciences) thesis defence

Ottavio Alessandro Oliverio, a Master of Science in Applied Health Sciences candidate, will defend the thesis “Adolescent thriving in the face of risk: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2022/23 Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study” on Monday, Sept. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. in STH 361.

The examination committee includes Michelle Vine, Chair; Will Pickett and Mo Shokoohi, Supervisors; Diane Mack, External Examiner (Brock University); and Terry Wade, Committee Member.

Master of Arts in Child and Youth Studies thesis defence  

Mikey Lewis, a Master of Arts in Child and Youth Studies candidate, will defend the thesis “Encountering 2SLGBTQ+ Teens’ Creativity, Sociality, and Temporality in an Anti-Queer Alberta” on Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 9 to 11 a.m. in PLZ 600F.

The examination committee includes Dawn Zinga, Chair; Hannah Dyer, Supervisor; Pauli Gardner, External Examiner (Brock University); Naomi Andrews, Graduate Program Director; and Shauna Pomerantz and Chelsea Jones, Committee Members.

Master of Science in Computer Science thesis defence

Mohammad Istiaq Uddin, a Master of Science in Computer Science candidate, will defend the thesis “Hamiltonian Cycle Reconfiguration in Even Staircase Grid Graphs” on Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in MCD 400.

The examination committee includes Naser Ezzati-Jivan, Chair; Sheridan Houghten, External Examiner (Brock University); Rahnuma Islam Nishat, Supervisor; and Ke Qiu, Supervisory Committee Member.

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry thesis defence

Julio Treviño Silva, a Doctoral candidate in the Department of Chemistry, will defend the thesis “Fluorosilicones: A Route Towards Superhydrophobicit” on Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 1 to 4 p.m. in PLZ 600F.

The examination committee includes Val Fajardo, Chair; Andrew Vreugdenhil, External Examiner (Trent University); Amir Mofidi, Internal Examiner; Paul Zelisko, Supervisor; and Melanie Pilkington and Travis Dudding, Supervisory Committee Members.

Master of ​ Science in Applied Health Sciences (Kinesiology) thesis defence

Mikayla McEwan, a Master of Science in Applied Health Sciences candidate, will defend the thesis “Like, follows, and feelings: Exploring the role of social media use in shaping university student-athletes’ psychosocial experiences and well-being” on Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in STH 361.

The examination committee includes Nathan Hall, Chair; Corliss Bean, Supervisor; Nicole Forrester, External Examiner (Toronto Metropolitan University); and Phil Sullivan and Diane Mack, Committee Members.

Master of ​ Science in Applied Health Sciences (Kinesiology) thesis defence

Emma Shea, a Master of Science in Applied Health Sciences candidate, will defend the thesis “Shattered Strings: Unveiling Emotionally Abusive Coaching Experiences Among Elite Female Tennis Players” on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from noon to 3 p.m. in WC 204.

The examination committee includes Danny Rosenberg, Chair; Phil Sullivan, Supervisor; Ashley Stirling, External Examiner (University of Toronto); and Erin Sharpe and Corliss Bean, Committee Members.

Master of Arts in Child and Youth Studies thesis defence   

Karyssa Enick, a Master of Arts in Child and Youth Studies candidate, will defend the thesis “Growing Up with Smartphones: University Students’ Understandings of Smartphones as Everyday Tools, Identity Formation, and Social Connections” on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in PLZ 600F.

The examination committee includes a Chair (TBA); Shauna Pomerantz, Supervisor; Madison Moore, External Examiner (Trent University); Naomi Andrews, Graduate Program Director; and Dawn Zinga and Fiona Blaikie, Committee Members.

Master of Science in Chemistry thesis defence

Jimit Patel, a Master of Science in Chemistry candidate, will defend the thesis “Computational Analysis of Donor- and Acceptor-Side Redox Tuning in Far-red-light Acclimated Photosystem I” on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 2 to 5 p.m. in PLZ 601C.

The examination committee includes Melanie Pilkington, Chair; Ryan J. MacDonell, External Examiner (Dalhousie University); Divya Matta, Supervisor; and Jeffrey Atkinson and Jasneet Kaur, Supervisory Committee Members.

Master of ​ Science in Applied Health Sciences (Health Sciences) thesis defences

Dana Alagha, a Master of Science in Applied Health Sciences candidate, will defend the thesis “Exploring Affordability, Accessibility, and Health Outcomes among Non-Diabetic Patients Using Anti-Obesity Injections: A Qualitative Study in Hamilton and the Niagara Region” on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in STH 361.

The examination committee includes Brent Faught, Chair; Asif Khowaja, Supervisor; Jarold Cosby, External Examiner (Brock University); and Miya Narushima and Val Fajardo, Committee Members.

Master of Science in Computer Science thesis defence

Kazi Nishat Anwar, a Master of Science in Computer Science candidate, will defend the thesis “Adaptive Force-Directed Graph Drawing: Structure-Aware Methods and Reinforcement Learning-Based Parameter Control” on Friday, Sept. 25 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in PLZ 410.

The examination committee includes Melanie Pilkington, Chair; Yifeng Li, External Examiner (Brock University); Rahnuma Islam Nishat, Supervisor; and Sheridan Houghten, Supervisory Committee Member.

Master of Arts in Social Justice and Equity Studies thesis defence   

Hurakhsh Hazheer, a Master of Arts in Social Justice and Equity Studies candidate, will defend the thesis “Muslim immigrant women’s experiences navigating spaces to access healthcare information and services in Niagara” on Friday, Sept. 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. in PLZ 600F.

The examination committee includes Charlis Raineki, Chair; Joanne Crawford, Supervisor; Kristin Sziarto, External Examiner (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee); Trent Newmeyer, Graduate Program Director; and Ebru Ustundag and Julie Ham, Committee Members.

The research, co-led by Brock University Assistant Professor of Political Science Danielle McNabb and University of Guelph Associate Professor of Political Science Kate Puddister, presents the first large-scale empirical analysis of how Canadian courts sentence police officers convicted of breaching the public’s trust.

The study examines the concept of breach of trust, how the Canadian criminal court system responds to police officers as offenders and how sentencing fits within the wider ecosystem of police accountability and oversight.

“Breach of trust, which is a criminal offence in Canada, recognizes there are certain types of officials who are in positions of trust and who hold a lot of power, so we expect these individuals to be held to a higher standard and held to account when they abuse the authority society has granted them,” McNabb says.

Drawing on 93 sentencing decisions involving more than 100 officers between 1990 and 2024, the study finds that judges consistently treat police criminality seriously — emphasizing denunciation and deterrence in 92 per cent of cases — yet the researchers argue this individualized approach can’t address the deeper, systemic drivers of police misconduct.

The authors are calling for two concrete reforms. The first is a Criminal Code amendment creating a specific aggravating factor for offences committed by police officers, formalizing what courts already do informally and ensuring consistent treatment across jurisdictions.

In criminal law, aggravating factors require judges to consider imposing a harsher sentence where certain circumstances are present. For instance, in Canada, if a crime was motivated by hate or involved intimate partner violence, judges must consider imposing a serious sanction.

McNabb says police criminality poses a similar, important problem for society. Therefore, an officer-specific aggravating factor would require judges — in all criminal cases involving a police officer offender — to consider imposing a serious sentence.

“This would encourage courts to consider the wider, systemic and institutional context of police criminality. It would also help to ensure that sentences are always aimed at repairing the public trust that is diminished when police officers commit crime,” McNabb says.

The second reform is greater public transparency around case outcomes — from investigation through sentencing — so both the public and police themselves can evaluate how accountability actually functions.

The researchers caution these reforms are partial fixes. Sentencing an individual officer, however severely, cannot touch departmental culture, the “blue wall of silence” or the disproportionate rates of police violence experienced by Black, Indigenous and other racialized communities. As the authors put it: courts can address the rotten apples, but not the rotten barrels or orchards.

The study includes a wealth of information about police criminality, including:

• The top three offences committed by officers were assault, theft and misuse of police property, with the most common form of misuse being accessing police databases for stalking victims or other crimes.
• Approximately 84 per cent of offences were committed by on-duty officers.
• The most frequent sentences were probation (48 per cent of the cases), incarceration for less than two years (26.7 per cent) and a conditional discharge or conditional sentence order (both at 18.8 per cent).

These and other findings are detailed in the study, “Breaching the Public Trust and Sentencing Canadian Police Officers: Addressing Rotten Apples, but not Rotten Barrels or Orchards,” published in the journal Police Quarterly.

Brock University Assistant Professor of Political Science Danielle McNabb has co-written a research study exploring how Canadian courts respond when police break the law.

As a university student, Stephen Cheung was determined to figure out how to cycle faster.

That goal led him from his original path, studying oceanography, to a career exploring how the human body responds to extreme conditions.

In recognition of his contributions as a researcher, leader and mentor, the Professor of Kinesiology and environmental physiology expert recently received Brock’s Distinguished Professor designation. The lifetime appointment is the University’s highest honorary academic designation.

A prolific researcher, Cheung has published 165 scientific articles and was ranked among the top two per cent of international scientists with the most citations by Stanford University in 2025. He served as Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Environmental Ergonomics from 2007 to 2017 and received Brock’s 2017 Distinguished Research and Creative Activity Award, the 2023 Michael Plyley Graduate Mentorship Award and the 2023 Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Research Excellence Award.

He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the International Conference on Environmental Ergonomics and the Editor of the International Journal of Sports Physiology & Performance.

But for Cheung, recognition is not a finish line. It is another reason to keep asking questions.

“I never look at any of these awards as ‘I have made it,’” he said. “This is just that extra bit of motivation, extra catalyst to really say, ‘I can do more.’”

Driving his research is a fascination with the body’s ability to adapt.

Leading the Environmental Ergonomics Lab (EEL), Cheung examines how environmental stress like heat, cold and altitude affect human physiology and performance, combining fundamental questions about how the body works with applications aimed at making work and recreation in extreme settings safer. The lab’s research has supported work with military personnel, miners, search-and-rescue teams, elite athletes and clothing manufacturers.

“The big thing I’ve learned is that that the human body is incredibly adaptable, and that we can do a lot more than what we assume is possible in challenging environments,” he said.

Calling himself a “specialized generalist,” Cheung follows ideas that capture his interest, moving across many areas of physiology as new questions emerge.

“I am happily chasing one idea to another within the overall field of environmental physiology,” he said. “This also allows me to work with a much bigger pool of collaborators and to learn new things from them.”

Cheung applies that same philosophy to his role as a mentor, encouraging students to bring their own interests and ideas to the lab.

“Students are not there to be clones of me or to do my work for me,” he said. “They bring their own ideas and talents, and I want to foster them.”

Cheung compares his role as a mentor to that of a mountaineering guide: providing the support and resources students need to pursue ambitions they can glimpse but may not yet believe are possible while fostering a lab culture that encourages initiative.

“You’re never the finished product,” he said. “You can always learn and take that opportunity to try to improve.”

Cheung’s impact extends beyond academic spaces. His interest in knowledge mobilization has reached media all through North America and included almost 25 years of writing about cycling science, including 2 books. He has also served as the Sport Science and Training editor for PezCyclingNews and as Chief Sport Scientist and part owner of a cycling data analytics company.

“If you don’t communicate your research,” he said. “If you don’t get it out there to the right audience, to the people who can actually benefit from it, what impact have you made?”

Brock University partnered with Linhaven for the Sept. 12 event, providing a DJ who curated the soundtrack for the evening, a cut flower for every resident in attendance and student volunteers who helped to make the event a success.

The celebration also coincided with Brock Cares Day of Service, the University’s biggest annual day of community volunteering.

When Emily Poole, the third-year Concurrent Teacher Education student heard about the prom, it immediately caught her interest.  A repeat Brock Cares Day of Service participant, Poole signed up as a site leader this year and was excited to spend the day at the prom for older adults.

“I’ve always enjoyed bringing people together, and Brock Cares Day of Service is always the perfect opportunity to contribute to the Niagara community in a meaningful way with a group of like-minded students,” said Poole.

The prom proved to be a fun and engaging opportunity to give back for 25 student volunteers who were able to help create an enjoyable day for the older adults in attendance.

“Seeing a diverse group of people connect over one event and create lasting memories is something I will always carry with me. I noticed after the event all the volunteers continued to discuss how meaningful and memorable the experience was,” Poole said.

Avery Downton was tasked with handing out flowers to residents at the prom. With several different colours for them to choose from, the first-year Concurrent Teacher Education student said her favourite part of the event was hearing the residents’ stories about why those certain colours.

“I had a couple of friends choose a yellow rose and a pink rose to trade flowers with each other and celebrate their friendship. I also had several husbands come up to me and ask for a flower to surprise their wives, which was really sweet,” she said.

More than 60 residents from Niagara Region long-term care homes and their family members attended. While the majority were from Linhaven, more than a dozen joined them from D.H. Rapelje Lodge in Welland, Northland Pointe in Port Colborne and Woodlands of Sunset in Pelham.

Bringing together students and older adults, the intergenerational experience brought a lot of joy to long-term care residents, said Heather Wild, Program Manager at Linhaven.

“There were endless smiles, lots of dancing, wonderful reminiscing, meaningful conversations and new friendships formed along the way. These special connections between generations remind us of the joy that comes from learning, sharing and simply spending time together,” she said.

Linhaven already has plans to partner with Brock student volunteers again later this fall, with events set for Thanksgiving and Halloween.

“We are grateful for the many community partners who host our students as part of our Brock Cares program,” said Kristen Smith, Manager Off Campus and Community Experience. “This is a great way for students to connect with community-minded peers, as well as University staff and faculty as they start the year.”

Partnering with 18 organizations across the region, 150 students volunteered as part of Brock Cares Day of Service. They were able to choose from opportunities at 28 sites, ranging from community clean-ups and a park revitalization to food bank donation sorting and event set up at Niagara Polo or the Big Move Cancer Ride.

Students also made harm reduction kits for Positive Living Niagara, did donation outreach for Canadian Blood Services and helped Brock roll out the Welcome Wagon.

Smith said these opportunities help students gain a better understanding of the needs that exist in the Niagara region and the work being done by community organizations to address them.

This marked the start of Student Life and Success’ Brock Cares programming for the year. Upcoming events include a Volunteer Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 22 and monthly Brock Cares events for students to volunteer as a group to support community partner projects.

Next week, the Brock University Earth Sciences master’s student will host a public event to officially open rain gardens developed through a community-based research project and unveil an art installation meant to continue community conversations.

The outdoor ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 10 to 11 a.m. on the west side of the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC), 250 St. Paul St.

Rain gardens offer a green approach to reducing urban flooding issues — a challenge Niagara knows all too well in recent years. The shallow, vegetated depressions are designed to capture stormwater runoff, giving water more time and space to infiltrate into the soil rather than immediately entering the storm sewer system.

Through Taylor’s master’s research and a wealth of community support, rain gardens have been developed on City of St. Catharines property, including the PAC, as well as at Silver Spire Church, also downtown.

Paired with the PAC rain garden will be Potential, an outdoor art installation created by Taylor in collaboration with volunteers from Brock’s Department of Earth Sciences Landscape Hydrology and Restoration Group, Niagara Green Herons and Taylor’s husband, Dorian Cannon. The art installation uses a recovered root ball and a painted soil profile to uncover the hidden layers beneath the surface of a rain garden.

“The artwork is more than a visual addition to the project,” Taylor says. “It is an important component, a public touchpoint, for us.”

A QR code on the installation will direct visitors to information about the rain garden project and a short survey intended to help the research team understand public awareness and perceptions of rain gardens.

The public-facing element reflects the broader approach Taylor has taken to her Earth Sciences master’s research, which grew from her work at the St. Catharines Downtown Association (SCDA) and was fuelled by a desire to connect community priorities with applied science.

She’s examining how different soil conditions affect water movement using rain gardens.

“This project is a fantastic example of how academic research can directly support municipal and community goals,” says Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences Kelly Biagi, Taylor’s research supervisor. “By combining environmental science with public engagement, Lindsay’s work shows how hands-on green infrastructure initiatives can help our cities better understand and manage urban stormwater while connecting people to the science right in their own downtown.”

Taylor says the project has reinforced the value of taking research beyond the University and applying it to questions communities are already asking about stormwater, flooding and urban green space.

“There are big infrastructure and policy conversations happening around how our cities manage water, but there are also opportunities to ask what we can learn by working at the scale of a garden, a building or a downtown block,” she says. “For me, that connection between research and the community is really important.”

In addition to Brock researchers, students and the University’s Facilities Management and the Machine Shop teams, the project has also been supported by the City of St. Catharines, 1st St. Catharines Girl Guides, Meridian Centre, Niagara Artists Centre, Niagara College, Niagara Community Foundation, Niagara Green Herons, Off Campus Niagara, Silver Spire Church, SCDA, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and Walker Industries.

Ten of these outstanding graduates will receive Brock University Alumni Association Awards on Sunday, Sept. 20 during Brock’s 2026 Homecoming celebrations, honouring achievements that range from public service and community leadership to contributions in the fields of health care, education, research and the arts.

Director of Alumni Relations Kim Post says Homecoming is a reminder that students’ connection to Brock doesn’t end at Convocation.

“There is something incredibly special about welcoming our graduates back to Brock. This weekend, we celebrate that connection and the incredible ways our alumni are making an impact in their communities and around the world. Their stories are an inspiration for current and future Badgers,” she says.

The 2026 award recipients include:

Distinguished Alumni Award — Diana Huson (BA ’11, MA ’13, MBA ’17)

Three-time Brock graduate Diana Huson has served as a municipal politician, senior executive and advocate for women in leadership and government.

Outstanding Young Alumni Award — David Lao, CPA (BAcc ’16)

CPA David Lao is modernizing Canada’s federal public service through work in finance and technology. The young Brock graduate has also championed Indigenous participation in federal procurement and contributes his expertise to health care and community organizations.

David Betzner Award — David MacKenzie (BA ’74)

For nearly six decades, David MacKenzie has given his time, talent and leadership to Brock and Niagara’s arts community through his theatre career, preserving the University’s history and creating the 50th Anniversary Alumni Association’s Tartan.

Community Engagement Award — Michael Kirkopoulos (BSc ’00)

As Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Lincoln, Michael Kirkopoulos was instrumental in bringing the University and the community closer together by establishing the Brock Lincoln Living Lab, which gave experiential learning opportunities to students across various fields in local government.

Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Distinguished Graduate Award — Joseph Rotella (BPhEd ’89)

For more than 15 years, Joseph Rotella has combined clinical practice with teaching future health professionals. The Brock Physical and Health Education graduate has taught rehabilitation sciences at McMaster University, Sheridan College and the Canadian College of Osteopathy.

Faculty of Education Distinguished Graduate Award — Dr. Narine Dat Sookram (ADEC ’14, BEd ’21)

For Dr. Narine Dat Sookram, education extends well beyond the classroom. The two-time Brock graduate has used his work in social services, mental health, research, mentorship and community advocacy to share knowledge, challenge barriers and create opportunities for others.

Faculty of Humanities Graduate Award — Krystal Brant (BA ’06)

Mohawk social worker, educator and counsellor Krystal Brant has built a career advancing Indigenous student success, cultural safety and systems change across education, health care and community organizations.

Faculty of Mathematics and Science Distinguished Graduate Award — Dr. Rebecca Menzies (BSc ’05)

Dr. Rebecca Menzies graduated from Brock at the top of both her Physics and Biological Sciences then became a maternal fetal medicine specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital. Today, her research focuses on preventing preterm birth and her work as an educator earned her a University of Toronto Teaching Excellence Award in 2026.

Faculty of Social Sciences Distinguished Graduate Award — Shannon Braun (BA ’15)

Psychology graduate Shannon Braun has built her career focusing on human resources, workplace safety and employee relations in the non-profit sector. Her work has earned her recognition as one of Canadian Occupational Safety’s Top Safety Leaders Under 35 and one of Niagara’s 40 Under Forty.

Goodman School of Business Distinguished Graduate Award — Jim Jessop (MBA ’15)

Fire Chief and General Manager Jim Jessop leads Toronto Fire Services, Canada’s largest fire service. With 30 years of experience in emergency services, he oversees approximately 3,500 employees serving more than three million Toronto residents.