Dr. David Brock and Atkinson Niagara College installed as team up Brock's fourth for tourism President See page 4 See page 2 A quarterly publication for graduates and friends of Brock University Surgite! /sur-gi-tay/ Latin for "Push on!" Th e inspiring last wor ds of J14aj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock Family Matters also attracted eld at Brock at the end of the interest of businesses and orga­ October this year was nizations throughout southern On­ H the first-ever iagara tario. Corporate sponsors included Parenting Conference. Called Fami­ Family Matters Canadian Tire Acceptance Linlited, ly Matters. the conference was or­ The St. Catharines Standard, and ganized almost entirely by ·······A· r····a··R··o·c· K••••• the Canadian Federation of Univer­ volunteers and was the brainchild sity Women (St. Catharines Branch). of Anne Webster, a speech patholo­ More than 30 exhibitors set up dis- gist, who is currently devoting her­ g plays to showcase their products self full-time to the job of parenting. g) and services to participants. "A wealth of good information ~ Brock's Dean of Social Sci­ on raising children is available but ~ ences, Professor William Webster, is not always readily accessible," ~ began the day's proceedings by re- says Webster. "I thought a confer­ -o ~ iterating the assertion of the Family ence like this would be helpful in ~ Matters organizing committee that bringing together parents and other parenting is a profession. "J ust as caregivers with the many experts in other professionals attend confer­ this and other communities." ences in order to learn and to share Attracting more than 200 par­ and to improve their understand­ ents, the conference featured a ing, so too, parents need their own number of high-profile presenters, conference on parenting in order to including Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, learn and share and improve." author· of Raising Your Spirited Participants seemed to agree Child, and Terry LaCorte, the devel­ with this approach and there have oper of an educational family board been numerous inquiries about game about money management. when the next Family Matters con­ Brock faculty, staff and alumni lead ference will be held. While no dates many of the more than 15 work­ have been set, organizers have shop sessions which addressed a promised to keep Surgite! posted. range of issues. including: fostering Brock faculty, staff, alumni and self-confidence in kids; supporting friends interested in helping out them in organized sporting activi­ with the next Family Matters are in­ ties; overcoming sibling rivalry; and vited to call Margaret Bernat at using the on-line world as a family Helped by two young assistants , Terry LaCorte leads an interactive workshop for parents about raising (905) 688-5550 extension 3740. •!• experience. financially respons ible children . lgnitin the I o v e 0 learning +Inside+ alienation during high school led students and fostering an environ­ parents throughout North Ameri­ Forum her to the brink of dropping out. "I ment of acceptance in the class­ ca. The first edition sold out in just didn't feel that the teachers cared room, the book has been a few short months. Maclean's: The good, about whether I succeeded or extremely well received by While another book may be in the bad and the ugly failed ," says Sims. who credits her educators and the works, Ms.Sims is currently PAGE 2 mother's encouragement with giv­ spending much of her time travel­ ing her the will to continue. ling to the many speaking en­ After high school, she com­ gagements and motiva­ Features pleted her undergraduate degree tional seminars she coor­ Homecoming: at Concordia, followed by studies dinates for teachers. Tllis in Special Education at York. Ms. spring will find her a fre­ a time for happy Sims spent the next 15 years quent visitor to Niagara as memories teaching, later enrolling in the host of a new radio show PAGE 3 Bl'Ock's graduate program in called "Awakening Your Bril­ Educational Administration. liance" on CHSC 1220. Convocation '97 Her new book Awakening Bril­ About her years at Brock, liance: How to Inspire Chil­ Ms. Sims is extremely positive. PAGE4 dren to Become Successful "The professors I encountered Learners is based on the re­ here really tried to create a sup­ Alumnews ..........5 When speaking with educa­ search she conducted to portive learning environment and Brock Briefs . ... 7 tional consultant Pamela Sims complete her thesis. to co nnect with the students. It Including: Networking on (M .Ed, '92) it is hard to imagine Emphasizing the im­ was definitely my best schooling Parliament Hill and that she ever had difficulties in portance of building con­ experience." Naming of new CCOVI high school. While a very good stu­ fidence and self-esteem building dent in her early years, feelings of in both teachers and Brock University POSTMASTER St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2S 3Al MAIL~POSTE REQUEST FOR RETURN Cauda Post Cofpora'*'/Socl616 candl1111 des posies (905) 688-5550, ext. 3245 PostaQtPa!d Portpayt Blk Nbre 8800278-99 L8E 2RO Restaurant and chair of the ia­ gara Economic and Tourism Corproration. "Partnerships, cost­ Chancellor ck University sharing, and co-operative efforts Dr. Robert Welch, OC, QC are extremely important in the tourism industry. They allow indi­ Chair, Board of Trustees vidual operators to work in teams Dr. Ken Fowler ~-iagara College to create appealing package expe­ President riences for a much \vider range of Dr. David Atkinson customers than they could other­ Teaming up to meet industry needs wise t'each as individuals. By work­ ing together, Brock University and iagara College are setting an im­ a facility efficiently or to coordinate tensive consultation with industry, portant example for program par­ ltMMI quality food and beverage services. the program took just a-year-and-a­ ticipants. In our industry, we can't Executive Director Given their location in the Cultural competence is required to half to come to fruition. In the afford to think small. Our business External Relations heart of Niagara, it seems appropri­ attract and serve increasing num­ process of researching and creating is sharing our culture." Grant Dobson ate that Brock University and Nia­ bet·s of international visitors, as is the co urses themselves, officials The first component of the gara College would both be involved an understanding of the niche mar­ from the two educational institu­ Tourism Management Professional Editor in the development and delivery of keting opportunities available tions ct'eated a [ramework for other Certificate Program, The Tourism Andrea Hannen hospitality and tourism industry through the use of new communica­ cooperative efforts. Says Marti Jw·­ Environment: 2000 and Beyond, Design & Layout training programs. 1iagm·a hosts tions technologies. " The individual main, program co-designer from i­ began on January 5 and challenges Heather Fox more than 12 million visitors each also needs the capacity to think agara College, "we were developing participants to examine emerging year and the region's annual tourism strategically and to develop and ex­ the protocols and processes needed trends in the industry, and how Printing revenues are estimated at approxi­ ecute long-mnge plans explains Pro­ by the two institutions to work to­ they might use communications Lincoln Graphics mately one billion dollars. While fessor Reid. "These have become gether in the future." and marketing strategies, human many Brock students rely on the the essential skills." In fact, many members of the resource management practices, seasonal positions generated by the Professor Reid knows of what Niagara business community are and other tools to capitalize upon industry, increasing numbers of she speaks, she has been involved just as excited by the prospect of the these changes. Other components gt•aduates are looking to tourism as in tourism marketing for more than region's two major educational in­ of the program include: Staff Man­ of both employers and employees. a career choice. 20 years and holds a Ph.D. in Parks, stitutions working together as they agement for Hospitality Service Ex­ "We recognized that we had to offer It is estimated that in ia­ Recreation and Tourism Manage­ are about the launch of the Tourism cellence; Financial Management in the program in the off-peak season, gara's tourism-related accomoda­ ment from South Carolina's Clem­ Professional. Management Certifi­ Tourism and Hospitality; Advanced but our consultations with the in­ tions, transportation, attractions, son University. Her consulting cate Program itself. As industry de­ Managerial Communications for dustry also shaped how we have and food and beverage sectors, clients have included the Depart­ mand for highly specialized Tourism; Tourism Mal'keting Strate­ chosen to detiver the material," ex­ more than 800 individuals are em­ ment of Canadian Heritage, the Bar­ academic and professional cow'Ses gies and Tactics; Dynamics of plains Dr. Reid. "Each course is just ployed in management and super­ bados Hotel Association, and the increases, educational institutions Strategic 1burism Planning; and Ad­ five days long, but relates the latest visory positions. Niagara Falls Canada Visitor and are having to become increasingly vanced independent Management management theories to specific "Recent years have seen in­ Convention Bureau. She is also Co­ entrepreneurial in the ways they ac­ Studies. Each course component is hospitality and tourism settings. creased international competition, designet' of the new Tourism Man­ quire program development re­ five days in length and all are of­ Our goal is to give participants emerging consumer markets in agement Professional Certificate sources such as experts, facilities, fered in the off-peak season. Partic­ knowledge that they can put into eastern Europe and Asia, and new Program offered jointly by Brock equipment, and market information. ipants may opt to take individual practice the day they return to information mediums necessitating niversity and Niagara College.