Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
ALUMNI INSIDER Vol. 4, No. 2, Winter 2019
Interest in new Gerontology program soars PLUS + Brock alumni inducted into Hall of Fame + Nursing students exposed to homelessness
EXPERIENCE. ALUMNI DAYS AT BROCK.
Spend a day reconnecting through in-class and out-of-class activities, including panel discussions, presentations and networking socials. Share your experiences with students as a valued graduate of your Department.
Recreation and Leisure Studies – Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 Sport Management – Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020 Health Sciences – Monday, March 9, 2020
(includes alumni from Medical Sciences, Public Health, Child Health, Community Health)
Kinesiology – March 2020 (date to be announced) For more information on upcoming events or to register visit:
brocku.ca/alumni 2
Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
FEATURES
DEAN’S MESSAGE
Faculty News page 4
Alumni Awards page 7
New Gerontology masters program page 8
Alumni News page 10
Veterans and brain injury page 11
Nursing students and homelessness page 12
Indigenous reconciliation exercise page 13
Student Spotlight
Greetings, On behalf of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, I wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season. The past year has been a significant one of firsts for our Faculty. Through strong community partnerships, we hosted numerous successful events, including the Re-imagining Health Symposium and the Centre for Sport Capacity’s Women in Sport and Leadership Forum. More details about both can be found in the Faculty News on page 6. One accomplishment we are particularly proud of is the launch of our new Master of Applied Gerontology program, featured on page 8. To ensure we play a positive role in the lives of aging Canadians, this unique program is designed to meet the needs of the Niagara community, as well as North America’s aging population. This eighth edition of the Alumni Insider also highlights ways students are benefiting from experiential education, our faculty research and some of our outstanding alumni. Stay safe and have a great new year.
– Peter Tiidus Dean, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
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ALUMNI INSIDER brocku.ca/applied-health-sciences EDITOR: Colleen Patterson COPY EDITOR: Michelle Pressé DESIGN AND LAYOUT: Coderre Design CONTRIBUTORS: Dan Dakin, Doug Hunt, Stephen Leithwood, Cathy Majtenyi, Cole McClean, Rebecca Holmes, Justin Steepe, Colleen Patterson, Michelle Pressé, Jocelyn Titone Special thanks to: Michael Orthner, Saskatchewan Roughriders, City of St. Catharines, National Basketball Association, Royal Rose Place, Jarlette Health Services, Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons
We welcome your input. Send letters to the editor, articles or ideas to FAHSComms@brocku.ca Send correspondence to: Alumni Insider FAHS Marketing and Communications STH 434, Brock University 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1 For advertising inquires, call 905 688 5550 x5342 Alumni Insider
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FACULTY NEWS Recreation and Leisure Studies alum receives Distinguished Graduate Award
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ohn MacDonald, the very first graduate of Brock University’s Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies degree program, received the 2019 Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Distinguished Graduate Award. MacDonald (RECL ’82) is known for working diligently to enrich the quality of life for Niagara Falls residents and has a strong reputation for embracing community development approaches to recreation service provision. He has had a major impact on the field of recreation in Niagara, leading the Parks and Recreation Division for the City of Niagara Falls for over 15 years. Not only a great communicator and strategic thinker, MacDonald also has a political acuity that led to his eventual promotion to the City of Niagara Falls chief administrative officer, a position he held until he retired in 2008. Since retiring, MacDonald has remained active in leadership roles by serving as the national director of the Anglican Network in Canada, being involved on various community boards and fundraising organizations, and is currently serving a five-year term as a member of the Niagara Health Board of Directors. MacDonald received the award for his achievements Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Alumni Recognition Reception at Brock.
From left, Brock University Alumni Association President Erin Mathany (BSM ’05), John MacDonald (RECL ’82), recipient of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Distinguished Graduate Award, and Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Dean Peter Tiidus.
Healthy Living panel provided lessons from research
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PhD candidate in Health Biosciences Nigel Kurgan was among the panelists who presented at the Staying Healthy Across Your Lifespan – Tips and lessons from research event which took place Friday, Nov. 29 at Brock University.
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highly-anticipated Brock University panel took place Friday, Nov. 29 in the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre with almost 60 attendees. Co-hosted by Brock’s Centre for Lifespan Development Research, the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and Centre for Bone and Muscle Health, Staying Healthy Across Your Lifespan – Tips and lessons from research helped educate and enlighten the public around the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Brock professors and researchers Nota Klentrou, Michael Holmes and Wendy Ward, along with a panel of student researchers, used their own research to explain key issues and evidence-based recommendations for healthy living, with a focus on workplace health habits, bone
health and nutrition, and exercise/sport training. “The aim of this event was to build linkages with the community with the focus on promoting physical activity across the lifespan,” says Klentrou, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. “Translating advances in exercise science research into the promotion of fitness, performance and health outcomes is in line with the Faculty’s mission to help Canadians improve the health of individuals, families, communities and organizations.” The panel of student researchers included PhD candidates in Health Biosciences Nigel Kurgan, Michael McAlpine and Brandon McKinlay, and MSc candidate in Kinesiology Kailynn Mannella.
FACULTY NEWS Brock tops national list for health sciences publications
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national company that tracks Canada’s research and development performance has given Brock University high marks for the amount its researchers and scholars publish. Brock ranked first out of 17 universities across Canada in its category for the number of health sciences publications — 544 — produced from 2013 to 2017, according to Research Infosource’s latest report, released Nov. 7. Publications include articles, notes and reviews published in peer-reviewed scientific international journals. “Research publishing is a cornerstone of the academic endeavour,” says Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource. “Hats off to the Brock research community.” Tim Kenyon, Vice-President, Research at Brock, says publication numbers are one of several metrics that indicate research impact. “Research Infosource’s latest report reflects Brock’s high level of research productivity and intensiveness thanks to the dedication of our researchers and scholars,” he says. “The insights and discoveries arising from our research are reaching people outside of our walls and are making a difference in so many ways.”
FAHS team wins United Way Trivia Night
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team of Kinesiology and Recreation and Leisure Studies professors and their family members won first place at Brock’s 10th annual Trivia Night for United Way Friday, Nov. 8. United Way Niagara, which aims to raise $5.25 million in 2019, supports more than 129,000 people each year through the 111 local programs and special initiatives it funds across the Niagara region. About half of the funds raised for United Way supported programs come from employee payroll contribution campaigns like Brock’s. “The United Way is a great way to truly have local impact in a community where there’s plenty of need,” said Sandy Howe, Brock’s United Way Committee Co-Chair. Among the fundraising events, Brock’s 10th annual Trivia Night attracted a record 255 players and 15 student volunteers, and raised more than $3,500 towards the
University’s $170,000 campaign goal for United Way Niagara. “Through the United Way, this provides us all with an opportunity to make significant contributions to individuals who at times need help, our assistance, but most of all, our support,” said Brock President Gervan Fearon, who sits on United Way Niagara’s Board of Directors. “This is a wonderful opportunity to be able to make a contribution to the lives and the betterment of so many individuals across the entire region.” One in three people in Niagara will use a United Way funded program in their lifetime. Contributions from the Brock community support initiatives that aim to move people out of poverty, encourage children and youth to reach their full potential, and enhance the quality of life of adults with disabilities and those in crisis.
The winning team, pictured from left, include Pete Sharpe; Susan Sullivan; Erin Sharpe, Associate Professor, Recreation and Leisure Studies; Phil Sullivan, Chair, Department of Kinesiology; Kim Gammage, Associate Professor, Kinesiology; Colleen Whyte, Associate Professor, Recreation and Leisure Studies; Rene Vandenboom, Professor, Kinesiology; and Tim Fletcher, Associate Professor, Kinesiology. Alumni Insider
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FACULTY NEWS Centre for Sport Capacity hosted Women in Sport and Leadership Forum
More than 100 people attended the 2019 Women in Sport and Leadership Forum hosted by Brock University’s Centre for Sport Capacity Thursday, Nov. 21.
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rock University’s Centre for Sport Capacity (CSC) hosted its first Women in Sport and Leadership Forum Thursday, Nov. 21. The full-day event kicked off with keynote speaker Katrina Galas, Founder of In Common Consulting, and brought together more than 100 sport leaders from the Niagara region and beyond, including local sport clubs and provincial and national sport organizations. “The focus this year was on gender equity and finding ways to help women and girls sport advocates implement initiatives across the spectrum of participation, coaching, officiating and leadership,” said
CSC Director and Associate Professor of Sport Management Julie Stevens. “We are excited so many community members joined us.” The day included panels and workshops hosted by researchers from Brock, Laurentian and Ryerson University, as well as industry leaders from the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) and Ontario Basketball. The CSC is a multidisciplinary research centre at Brock that facilitates research, student engagement, community outreach and practical support to sport organizations.
Future of health care was focus of Re-imagining Health Symposium
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first-of-its kind event at Brock University brought together health-focused researchers, practitioners, educators, health industry leaders and policy makers to discuss the future of health care. Brock, Niagara Health and Niagara Region Public Health and Emergency Medical Services collaborated with support from the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) to host the Re-imagining Health Symposium which took place at Brock Wednesday, Oct. 16 and Thursday, Oct. 17. “More than 35 experts highlighted current evidence-based health-care practices with
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the goal of providing tangible skills for those in attendance to take back to their workplaces,” says Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Dean Peter Tiidus. “This event also provided a space for individuals who often work in similar areas, but rarely get the chance to be in the same room as their colleagues, to connect and expand their networks.” The symposium included capacitybuilding workshops focusing on topics such as knowledge translation, healthy communities, data in health care and new medical technologies.
Acting Medical Officer of Health for Niagara Region Dr. M. Mustafa Hirji provides the opening key note address at the Re-imagining Health Symposium at Brock Wednesday, Oct. 16.
ALUMNI AWARDS Badgers inducted into St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame
From left, Brock graduates and Olympians Ron ‘Swede’ Burak (rowing) and Tonya Verbeek (wrestling) had their names added to the David S. Howes St. Catharines Sports Wall of Fame at the Meridian Centre on Nov. 20. Photo by the City of St. Catharines.
Brock alumna inducted into Canadian Disability Hall of Fame
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racy Schmitt was born a four-way amputee, but “Unstoppable Tracy,” as she’s known, has never let that prevent her from living a high-energy, adventure-filled life. In recognition of the extraordinary contributions Schmitt (BRLS ’95) has made to enriching the quality of life for people with physical disabilities, she was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame at a ceremony held Nov. 6 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Founded by the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons, the event celebrated individuals in three categories: Builder, Achiever and Athlete. The inductees are individuals who truly have made a difference – those who have opened doors for people with disabilities in the areas of sport, education, employment or housing. Among her accomplishments, Unstoppable Tracy has sailed competitively in both Paralympic trials and World Cup Series regattas, captained an 110-foot-tall ship in the Eastern Atlantic and won a bronze medal in alpine para-skiing at the Ontario ParaSport Games.
By STEPHEN LEITHWOOD
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pair of highly-decorated Brock Badgers were inducted into the St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 20. Olympians Tonya Verbeek (wrestling) and Ron ‘Swede’ Burak (rowing) were among five inductees at the ceremony to have their names added to the David S. Howes St. Catharines Sports Wall of Fame at the Meridian Centre. The event celebrates athletes and builders who have competed at the top of their sports or significantly contributed to the development of sport in St. Catharines. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, candidates must have been born or raised in St. Catharines or lived in the city during their sporting career. Verbeek (BRLS ’00, BEd ’03, MEd ’06) is the most successful Canadian wrestler of all-time. She is a three-time Olympian and three-time freestyle wrestling 55-kilogram medalist. At Brock, she majored in Recreation and Leisure Studies, Preservice Education J/I, and Education (GeneralIntegrated Studies), respectively. She captured an Olympic silver medal in the 55kg weight class in Athens in 2004, making her Canada’s first-ever Olympic medalist in women’s wrestling. At the 2008 Beijing Games, Verbeek won a bronze medal in the same weight class and then secured silver at 2012 London. Burak (BSM ’04) competed for Canada at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montréal and helped Canada win gold at the Pan Am Games in Mexico City in 1975. He was a member of the national team from 1971 to 1977, and returned for a period between 1983-84. ‘Swede,’ who joined Brock in 2003 to study Sport Management, currently serves as the lightweight women’s coach.
From left, Former Mayor of Toronto and Chair, Canadian Disability Hall of Fame Selection Board, Honourable David Crombie; Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer and Global Regulatory Affairs CIBC Risk Management Andrea Nalyzyty; Retired Senator and Chair, Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons Honourable Vim Kochhar; and Tracy Schmitt (BRLS ‘95). Photo courtesy of The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons.
Alumni Insider
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Interest soars as Brock launches Gerontology master’s program
Fourth-year Recreation and Leisure Studies student Lauren Smith works with a resident at Jarlette Health Services Royal Rose Place in Welland as part of a Therapeutic Recreation internship.
By COLLEEN PATTERSON
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hile governments, health care and social service agencies continuously adapt to deal with an aging population (in the next decade, nearly one in four people will be 65 or older), Brock University is launching a new Master of Applied Gerontology program for students to play a positive role in the lives of aging Canadians. Offered through the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, the one-year graduate program will launch in January. It will tap
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into the expertise of faculty members in four Brock departments: Health Sciences, Nursing, Kinesiology and Recreation and Leisure Studies. “There is a misconception that gerontology, the study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive and biological aspects of aging, isn’t an interesting career path for this generation,” says Master of Applied Gerontology Graduate Program Director Lynn McCleary. “The reality is that students really want this opportunity and have been making inquiries for months about the status of the program.”
Brock received approval for funding from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Friday, Sept. 13. “Brock’s new Master of Applied Gerontology program is unique in Ontario due to the applied nature and health focus of the program’s interdisciplinary curriculum and practicum,” says Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Dean Peter Tiidus. “This program was developed through a formal consultation with stakeholders, businesses and agencies that provide health and social services to older adults. As a result, a new pool of
“There is a misconception that gerontology isn’t an interesting career path for this generation. The reality is that students really want this opportunity.” – Lynn McCleary, Master of Applied Gerontology Graduate Program Director
highly skilled graduates with gerontological competences will soon enter the workforce.” The purpose of the formal engagement process, which entailed conducting needs assessments for both urban and rural communities, was to ensure Brock’s program responds to the relevant needs of the Niagara community, while also being representative of North America’s aging population.
“There are definite gaps and challenges in health and social services for older adults,” McCleary says. “Growing gerontology at Brock will ensure our students are wellpositioned to meet these challenges and improve the lives of older adults. They will graduate with advanced skills in planning and providing health services, recreation services, health promotion and more.” One of the champions for the expansion of gerontology at Brock was Douglas Rapelje, a leader in seniors care across Niagara, Canada and internationally who received an honorary doctorate from the University in 2013. “I don’t think this announcement could be better timed when you look at the increasing numbers of Canada’s aging population,” Rapelje says. “In March, Ontario announced that it will provide 15,000 new long-term care beds and expand home care over the next five years. As a result, a whole stream of education is required to train future gerontology graduates.”
According to Statistics Canada, more than six million Canadians were aged 65 or older in 2014, representing almost 16 per cent of the population. By 2030, that number is expected to jump to more than 9.5 million, accounting for 23 per cent of the population. “This is another example of Brock moving into a new and important area,” Rapelje says. “In the past, it was the Goodman School of Business and the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute. Now it’s healthcare, and specifically gerontology. “It is very exciting that students who are interested in aging can now go to Brock or stay there to obtain a specialized degree that will enable them to be our future leaders in the field of aging and enhance the quality of life for a growing older population in our country,” he says. The full-time, one-year Master of Applied Gerontology program will include a 300hour practicum course.
A student volunteer assists members of the Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being check their blood pressure as part of the Heart Strong program. The biological aspects of aging is one of the areas of focus of the new Master of Applied Gerontology program. Alumni Insider
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ALUMNI NEWS Brock alum heads 2020 Grey Cup Committee
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Brock University alumnus Mike Edwards (BSM ’05) was named executive director of the 2020 Grey Cup Committee Monday, July 15. Photo courtesy of Michael Orthner/Saskatchewan Roughriders.
rock University alumnus Mike Edwards (BSM ’05) knows that celebrating the Roughriders in Saskatchewan is nearly as important to the province’s football fans as being Canadian. On Monday, July 15, the Saskatchewan Roughriders announced that the Sport Management graduate had been named executive director of the 2020 Grey Cup Committee. In this role, the Barrie native will be responsible for leading staff support of the Grey Cup 2020 Volunteer Festival Committee, which hosts five days of family-friendly cultural, sport and interactive activities, as well as the Operations Committee, responsible for overseeing and executing the 108th Grey Cup game day. The Grey Cup is the single-biggest sporting day in Canada and is one of Canadian television’s largest annual sporting events. “Saskatchewan has a reputation for hosting some of the most successful and most exciting Grey Cup events the Canadian Football League (CFL) has seen,” he said. “This wouldn’t be possible without the best volunteer base in Canada. We aim to continue that legacy in 2020 by engaging existing CFL fans and making new fans of all ages.” The CFL’s 108th Grey Cup will be played Nov. 22, 2020 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
Brock grad named Raptors assistant coach By MICHELLE PRESSÉ
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wenty years after walking Brock’s campus as a first-year Sport Management student, Jon Goodwillie was at the forefront of a national celebration. On June 13, the Toronto Raptors made history by winning Game 6 of the NBA Finals, marking the first time a Canadian team won the championship. On Monday, Sept. 9, Goodwillie (BSM ’03), was named an assistant coach on Nick Nurse’s staff. Goodwillie, who is in his 15th season with the Raptors, joined the organization as a video and administrative intern in 2005 before moving up to an assistant video co-ordinator in 2006. He became head video co-ordinator in 2011. The Raptors historic victory over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals prompted a surging interest in basketball among Canadians. For Goodwillie, his passion for basketball was the result of growing up as a “big sports nut type of kid.” “I would read the sports section of the newspaper and played a lot of different sports when I was a kid,” says Goodwillie. Goodwillie was an assistant coach on Nurse’s staff with Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. He was also the head coach of the Raptors NBA Summer League team in Las Vegas, leading it to a 2-3 record.
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Brock graduate Jon Goodwillie (BSM ‘03) stays focused during a heated game against the New York Knicks during the 2019 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by NBA Photos.
Brock project aims to improve long-term care for veterans and brain injury patients
By DAN DAKIN
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wo Brock University faculty members from seemingly unrelated disciplines have collaborated on a project aimed at improving the relations of those involved in long-term care. Associate Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies Colleen Whyte, and Professor of Dramatic Arts Joe Norris, were at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto Wednesday, Oct. 2 for the premiere of Understanding person-centred care: Finding dignity within the shadows. Two years ago, Sunnybrook Professional Practice and Education Leader Leanne Hughes came to Whyte with a research idea about how to help staff and family deal with the challenges associated with two specific groups in long-term care: veterans living with dementia and patients recovering from traumatic brain injuries. “I’ve known Leanne for 15 years and we’ve done research together in the past,” Whyte
“What we’re looking at are person-centred approaches.” – Leanne Hughes, Sunnybrook Professional Practice and Education Leader
said. “She came to me and said: This is an issue we have. How do you think we could look at researching it?’” “What we’re looking at are person-centred approaches,” said Hughes, referring to a growing emphasis in health care that invites patients and family members to be involved in decision-making and strategizing ways to care for individual patients from a widerange of services. It’s a more collaborative care model than a traditional top-down medical approach to care. In the fall of 2018, Whyte led research that included focus groups of those working in long-term care at the Toronto hospital
such as doctors and hospital staff, as well as families of those in care. “We interviewed people who are doing this every day,” Whyte said. “This research is about taking the principles of personcentred care and trying to see how they are translated on a daily basis, when all partners experience unexpected challenges.” With the focus group data in hand, Whyte then turned to Norris, Chair of Brock’s Department of Dramatic Arts, who worked with the student-run Mirror Theatre to translate the conversations into dramatic action, known as ethnodrama and applied theatre. “We took the focus group transcripts, read them, analyzed them and created dramatic scenes,” said Norris. “The purpose is to evoke conversations.” The result is a 20-part video series, each dealing with a different component of the long-term care experience. They range from something as simple as the challenge of what to pack when a family member is moved into a new living situation to what to do when a patient whose mind no longer has much of a filter says something that crosses a line. “It’s all about answering the question of, ‘How do we treat each other with respect in stressful situations?’” Norris said. With the video series now complete, the next stage of the project is to create workshops for staff and families. “It gives staff some insight and helps them think, ‘If I’m in this situation, let me strategize and be thoughtful about what options I have,’” Hughes said. “It will equip new staff with possibilities and allow existing staff to be reflective about their approaches.” Hughes said when the final videos were shown to those working with veterans suffering from dementia and patients dealing with brain injuries, the staff were impressed with how accurate they were in reflecting the situations they deal with. Alumni Insider
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Unique simulation exposes Nursing students to homeless reality By COLLEEN PATTERSON
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ationally, as homelessness issues continue to rise, there is a growing need for outreach nurses trained to provide a suitable alternative to those who cannot access traditional health care. For the second consecutive year, Associate Professor of Nursing Karyn Taplay and a team of 12 fourth-year Nursing students created a simulated tent city to help students engage with the homeless population in a safe and simulated manner. The experiential learning exercise took place Nov. 4 near the Glenridge Quarry Naturalization Site parking lot, not far from a real tent city further into the park. Student volunteers role-played the lives of people who are chronically homeless or streetentrenched. “The scenarios included patients of different ages and genders struggling with addictions, alcoholism, disabilities and injuries,” explained Taplay. “For example, there was a disabled elderly woman who had difficulty accessing resources; a new immigrant struggling with a language barrier and a pregnant sex-trade worker addicted to cocaine. Each patient had their own personal history, heath needs and barriers.” To ensure authenticity, the scenarios were vetted by Niagara Region Public Health outreach nurse Stacey Allegro.
Karyn Taplay
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From left, Brock Nursing students Carly Mueller and Ainsley Wagner sit at the Glenridge Quarry Naturalization Site as part of a homeless simulation.
“The students were shown a number of different life-like scenarios that they may one day face in outreach,” Allegro said. “This allowed them to see how different nursing is on the street compared to a more clinical environment like a hospital. The simulation also showed them that thinking outside the box is a necessary skill for this kind of nursing.” In total, 11 different scenarios were set up for the event which began at 5 p.m. and lasted several hours to give students an idea of what it is like to assess a patient and administer care outdoors, in the cold and in dimly lit conditions. The volunteers dressed in dishevelled clothing and makeup and had simulated wounds and injuries. “You really have to be a one-person show with everything that you can do,” said fourth-year Nursing student Abby MacNaught. “This simulation may seem like an unusual approach to learning, but this type of outreach nursing is not often taught in a real-life way at university. At Brock, we are very fortunate to have access to so many experiential opportunities.”
“The students were shown a number of different life-like scenarios that they may one day face in outreach.” – Stacey Allegro, Niagara Region Public Health outreach nurse
In addition to helping educate 30 future nurses, the simulation also benefited Niagara’s homeless population. Supplies collected for use during the simulation, such as toiletries, sweaters, blankets and coats were donated to Start Me Up Niagara’s Out of the Cold Program which supports those in need of a hot meal and overnight shelter during the winter season. Earlier this year, Taplay was recognized with the Council of Ontario University Programs in Nursing Award for Excellence in Teaching. Her work with students to create a thought-provoking scenario to impart the experience of caring for homeless people was highlighted as one of her achievements.
Students in the Health in Canadian Society course took part in an experiential education exercise, which saw participants standing on blankets that were continuously folded to represent the loss of land that took place between the arrival of Europeans and present day.
Students gain health knowledge at Indigenous reconciliation exercise By DOUGLAS HUNT
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enturies of systemic abuse faced by Indigenous peoples were examined in an eye-opening experiential exercise that drew Brock University students out of their classrooms and left many in tears Wednesday, Oct. 9. As they came face-to-face with the horrors of Canada’s colonial past and treatment of Indigenous peoples, Public Health and Biomedical Sciences students at Brock participated in an experiential reconciliation exercise designed to educate on the legacy of abuse, neglect and resistance. The Health in Canadian Society course in the Department of Health Sciences aims to explore how various societal factors influence health and well-being at individual and population levels. For Assistant Professor Valerie Michaelson, accomplishing this goal meant partnering with Indigenous community members to provide her students with an awareness of the severity and complexity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis health issues in Canada, as well as the resilience of those communities and individuals. “You can’t have reconciliation without truth, and the truth is really hard to hear,” said Michaelson. “Many of us have benefitted from this system that has marginalized so many other people.”
The 90-minute KAIROS Blanket Exercise saw participants standing on blankets that were continuously folded to represent the loss of land that took place between the arrival of Europeans and present day. Parts of the activity were also designed to simulate losing a child to the residential school system and encountering many of the other abuses forced upon Indigenous peoples from the 15th century until the present. Medical Sciences student Veronica Zajic said she encountered unexpected emotions as the narrative of the exercise progressed. “I felt so sad when I saw everyone being separated, losing their land and experiencing so many other injustices,” she said of the simulation’s removal and dispersal of most participants from the blankets that symbolized their traditional nations. “It was devastating. But we were also told at the end to not carry the burden of the past with us, and to instead work on what we know how to change within the framework of what we had learned.” For Zajic, who aspires to work as a medical professional, that change comes in bettering the way Canada’s health system cares for Indigenous peoples. “Awareness is key,” she said. “We don’t do enough for the health-care needs of Indigenous people, and exercises like this
one help us begin to bridge the gaps and better understand their needs.” Sandra Wong, Aboriginal Academic Support Program Co-ordinator/Instructor, said the exercise delivers a powerful narrative that provides insight into many of the contemporary issues experienced by Indigenous people. “The historical issues we explore offer insight into why we have so many health challenges in our communities,” she said. Wong said the class’s experience highlighted the importance of working together to provide the best possible education for those taking part. “We have to promote whatever type of learning needs to be done for our people,” she said. Though the exercise is now complete, Michaelson, in continued partnership with Brock University Aboriginal Student Services, plans to continue to draw on its content to allow students more time to process their thoughts. “It’s the first piece in a multi-week module about decolonization, reconciliation and health,” she said. “When you see the lights come on in students’ minds as they hear the truth for the first time, it’s incredibly powerful. We want to allow them time to fully reflect on what they have learned.” Alumni Insider
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Nursing students raise money for Alzheimer’s
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From left, Nursing students and Coffee Break fundraiser contributors Mukai Mutambara, Isaac Mussie, Lisa Mochrie, Paige Judson, Nadia Potapov, Alexis Devries, Jenny Rivera and Cindy Perley.
rock University Nursing students hosted their annual Coffee Break in Market Hall Thursday, Nov. 21 to help to raise funds for the Alzheimer Society of Niagara. The annual event at Brock is part of a national initiative to raise funds and awareness in support of the Society’s programs. “I’m hoping the Coffee Break helped raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and encourages people to become more sensitive to individuals and families managing this brain disorder,” says thirdyear Nursing student Nadia Potapov, who was the lead organizer of this year’s event. Brock faculty, staff and students donated more $628 with funds raised staying in Niagara to help support local programs and services. “I believe, through donations and fundraising, we can find a cure, as well as better ways to manage Alzheimer’s,” Potapov says. “As an aspiring registered nurse, the opportunity to connect with the Brock community to raise awareness about prevention, early diagnosis and education aligns with my future career goals of helping people.”
The team at the Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being pursues innovative, multi-disciplinary research and provides supervised community exercise programs to improve health and quality-of-life in older adults, cardiac patients, individuals with spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis.
Public programs available
Heart Strong
SeniorFit Fitness today for tomorrow
Power Cord
Visit our facilities: 130 Lockhart Drive St. Catharines For more information, visit brocku.ca/health-well-being
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Find out more at
brocku.ca/alumni
Brock offers a large selection of graduate programs, including master’s, doctoral and diploma programs. Join us on our beautiful campus as we work together to push boundaries, pursue cutting-edge research and prepare you for the next step in your career.
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Visit our website. Submit your message. Make a difference.
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Faculty of Applied Health Sciences