Brock University: A Community-Centric Gem Among Hamilton-Niagara’s Premier Employers

Brock University has been recognized as one of Hamilton-Niagara’s Top Employers for 2025.

This marks the seventh occasion that Brock has been acknowledged in the yearly competition, which is coordinated by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. This initiative honors Hamilton-Niagara organizations that excel in providing exceptional workplaces. Brock has gained recognition every year it has participated.

The winners for 2025 were revealed in a featured magazine published on Thursday, Jan. 16 by The Hamilton Spectator and on Eluta.ca

Brock’s President and Vice-Chancellor Lesley Rigg expressed that the University’s dedicated faculty, staff, and librarians significantly contribute to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment that provides a world-class educational experience and fosters transformative change both on campus and beyond.

“From the moment I stepped onto campus, I recognized that Brock was extraordinary, and this honor further affirms our reputation as an exceptional place of employment,” she remarked. “The strong and nurturing community atmosphere at the University empowers staff to support each other in achieving shared objectives focused on fostering student success and research excellence.”

Employers were assessed against other entities in their sector on eight benchmarks: workplace; work environment and social; health, financial, and familial benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance evaluation; training and professional development; and community participation.

Janice Facey, Manager of Pension and Benefits, greets new employees to the University during a recent orientation session.

Factors that contributed to Brock’s selection include its adaptable work options and generous paid leave; tuition support for employees and their family members; an array of Brock-led leadership and career development initiatives; a comprehensive benefits and pension scheme, including maternity leave support; and assistance for employee health and wellness with a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Amanda Villella, Acting Associate Vice-President, People and Culture, stated that Brock is dedicated to nurturing a campus culture where staff feel respected, supported, and valued as they make significant contributions to advancing the University’s strategic aims. Additionally, she noted, supporting employees in fulfilling their own career aspirations and encouraging growth within their roles is equally vital.

“We aim for employees to look forward to coming to Brock every day and feel empowered to thrive both personally and professionally,” she stated. “Acknowledging the distinctive needs of faculty and staff across the University, and providing opportunities to leverage their varied experiences, perspectives, and skills to address communal challenges, fosters an environment where employees are motivated to excel and make a meaningful impact.”

Villella highlighted the collaborative efforts of employees to significantly contribute to decolonization and indigenization initiatives on campus as an illustration of how the Brock community excels in collective endeavors to achieve shared goals. The expansion of dedicated spaces on campus offering specialized support and resources, along with the adoption of the University’s equity census, she added, underscores Brock’s commitment to growth and catering to the evolving needs of employees and students.

Brock University provides distinct career opportunities in teaching, research, administration, student support services, and leadership. Present career opportunities can be found at brocku.ca/careers