page_title: Brock University
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Brock University / History
caption_attribution_description: English: One of two portraits of Isaac Brock included in the 1908 book "The Story of Isaac Brock" by Walter R. Nursey.
context_page_description: Brock University is a public research university in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. It is the only university in Canada in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, at the centre of Canada's Niagara Peninsula on the Niagara Escarpment. The university bears the name of Maj.-General Sir Isaac Brock, who was responsible for defending Upper Canada against the United States during the War of 1812.
  Brock offers a wide range of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including professional degrees. Brock was ranked third among Canadian universities in the undergraduate category for research publication output and impact indicators in 2008. Brock University is the only school in Canada and internationally to offer the MICA program. Brock University's Department of Health Sciences offers the only undergraduate degree in Public Health in Canada. At the graduate level, Brock offers 49 programs, including nine PhD programs.
  Brock's co-op program is Canada's fifth-largest, and the third largest in Ontario as of 2011.
  Graduates enjoy one of the highest employment rates of all Ontario universities at 97.2 percent.
context_section_description: In 1963 the Brock University Founders' Committee, chaired by Arthur Schmon, offered Dr. James A. Gibson the invitation to become the founding president.
  Brock University was established by the passage of the Brock University Act by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1964. When the university first opened in September 1964, classes were held at the St. Paul Street United Church in downtown St. Catharines for 13 weeks until the Glenridge Campus was completely renovated.
  Brock's Glenridge campus was officially opened on October 19, 1964 with Gibson as the university's founding president. In 1996 Brock University honoured Gibson by naming the university library in his honour.
  Richard L. Hearn was appointed the university's inaugural chancellor in 1967.
  Brock University is named after Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, who commanded the British and Canadian forces during the War of 1812. Although the British and Canadian forces went on to win, Brock lost his life during the Battle of Queenston Heights in 1812, fought 20 km (12 mi) from the present-day site of the campus. His last words are said to have been Surgite! (Latin for "push on") — now used as the university's motto. For his contribution to Canada, Brock was voted the 28th Greatest Canadian in a 2004 poll, conducted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  Gervan Fearon became the school's president on August 1, 2017. The university's current chancellor is actress Shirley Cheechoo.
caption: Sir Isaac Brock
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