Mission
As a part of the Department of Brock Sport & Recreation, Brock Recreation provides innovative, engaging, and high-quality sport and recreation experiences for the Brock University community and beyond. The department aims to engage students through diverse opportunities that develop lifelong skills for growth and advancement.
Brock Sport & Recreation provides access to committed student leaders who are actively engaged in building a stronger community, striving for barrier-free and inclusive environments that promote a balanced lifestyle through programs and services that promote healthy living, skill development, life skills and fun.
Facility Descriptions
The Walker Sports Complex is the central hub of recreation, varsity athletics and community engagement at Brock. The facility supports fitness, youth programming, and major campus events for students, members and the broader community. The Welcome Desk and Central Equipment Room serve as the building’s information hubs and operational lifelines, supporting daily use and efficiency as thousands of users access the complex each year.
The Ian D. Beddis and Bob Davis Gymnasiums provide flexible, multi-purpose spaces that support intramurals, recreation programs, instructional classes and large institutional events such as Convocation and student exams. These adaptable gyms support flexible, multi-sport configurations, allowing multiple activities to occur simultaneously.
A three-lane, 200-meter indoor track with a rubber surface is suspended above the Beddis Gym, offering space for runners and walkers and views of the areas below. The second gym provides a versatile multipurpose layout used for instructional, recreational and programmed activities.
The Zone — Brock’s fitness center — features 15,000 square feet of equipment supporting cardio, strength and functional training for users of all abilities. Additional dedicated spaces include a dance studio, fitness studio and spin studio, offering a wide range of registered classes and open member use.
The Eleanor Misener Aquatic Center is the largest swimming facility in the Niagara Region and supports lap swimming, lessons and family swims. It includes a 50-meter pool with a hydraulic adjustable floor, one- and five-meter platforms, a swing rope, a whirlpool and a sauna.
Youth University operates adventure-based learning spaces, including a 30-foot challenge course, a five-sided climbing tower, a fully accessible 25-foot challenge course and a low ropes course with five elements.
Alumni Field, an outdoor turf space, is home to both recreational programming and varsity matches. Additional outdoor facilities include two adjacent grass fields, tennis and pickleball courts, a basketball court and plenty of trails surrounding the complex, further extending recreation opportunities and strengthening the Walker Sports Complex as a vibrant destination for campus and community users.
Programming Highlights
Brock Recreation supports student success and well-being by providing inclusive opportunities to stay active, manage stress, develop leadership skills and build meaningful connections on campus.
Through recreation, fitness, aquatics and experiential programming, students are encouraged to engage in healthy, balanced lifestyles that complement their academic experience. Fitness and wellness programming offers students accessible ways to support physical and mental health through a range of group classes, specialized experiences and personal training.
Personal training provides individualized guidance and accountability, supporting diverse goals from introductory fitness to long-term wellness. Aquatics programming supports both recreation and skill development, including swimming lessons, aquatic fitness and open swim opportunities. First Aid, CPR and lifeguard training offer nationally recognized certifications that enhance student employability while building leadership and safety awareness on campus and beyond.
Intramural sports and tournaments play a key role in student life, offering welcoming, low-barrier opportunities for competition, teamwork and stress relief. These programs strengthen social connections, encourage campus involvement and support overall student well-being.
Youth and school-based programs further enhance the student experience by creating leadership, mentorship, and employment opportunities. Through Youth University camps, school visits and overnight programs, Brock students gain hands-on experience delivering programs, developing communication skills and engaging with the wider community.
Community engagement is strengthened through shared access to programs and facilities. The Brock Niagara Penguins program provides adaptive sport opportunities for youth and young adults with physical disabilities, including swimming, wheelchair sports and para-athletics. Alongside memberships for alumni, faculty, staff and community members, these programs reinforce Brock’s commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and lifelong participation in sport and recreation.
Fun Facts
- More than 8,000 local elementary and secondary students visit campus each May and June through Youth University.
- The program is the university’s largest student employer, engaging approximately 250 staff and 70 volunteers, along with a co-op position for our marketing team annually.
- Leo LeBlanc Rowing Center features an eight-person rowing tank that supports simulated on-water training.
- The Canada Games Park is a $100-million multi-purpose legacy facility from the 2022 Canada Summer Games. Adjacent to the university’s main campus, the partner center is home to the 210,000-square-foot Walker Sports and Abilities Center with twin NHL-sized ice pads, an indoor 200-meter track and Canada’s largest sprung gymnasium floor.
More from Brock University
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrockRecreation
Instagram for Brock Recreation: www.instagram.com/brockrecreation/
Instagram for Community Programs: www.instagram.com/brockrec_communityprograms/
Website: brocku.ca/recreation/
