This case study report highlights legacy aspects of Brock University’s 2022 Canada Games Research Grants program. The program encouraged faculty and staff at Brock to pursue projects that would contribute to a transdisciplinary exploration of the Games using research, creativity, and innovation. The research, combined with teaching and experiential learning initiatives tied to the Games, set a novel model of how higher education institutions in a host community can leverage a large, community-hosted sporting event to build on-campus research capacity, and benefit the community at large. The report draws on several data sources: a pre-Games survey sent to grant recipients; a brief questionnaire sent post-Games from the research communications officer based in the Office of Research Services; and media coverage from The Brock News.

A total of approximately $200,000 was awarded to 30 research and creative works projects from 2020 to 2022, spanning a diverse range of subject matter related to the Canada Games.

Project data highlighted in the report includes:

  • Thirteen projects were involved in community collaborations, for a total of 32 organizations involved in 40 partnerships.
  • Positive impacts on Niagara residents and beyond included benefits such as: better injury prevention strategies for athletes; insight into the collaboration between local municipalities in hosting a region-wide event; economic benefits from showcases resulting from various art-related studies happening during the Games; increased access to news and historical data about the region; and updated databases including newly digitized Canada Games historical media and expanded library collections pertaining to Niagara region.
  • To illustrate the reach of the projects beyond sport, researchers were asked how their research aligned with the Living in Niagara quality of life Sectors. Most projects (13) fell within the Recreation and Sport sector, followed by Arts, Culture; Heritage (six), Community Belonging (six), Health; Wellness (six), Learning; Education (four), Economic Prosperity (two), Environment (two), and People Getting Started (one).

Published By: Niagara Community Observatory, Brock University
Publication Date: October, 2022

Click here to access Leveraging Research for Legacy – How a stakeholder can leverage a major sport event to create lasting legacy for its own community and beyond: The case study of Brock University’s Canada Games Research Grants program