Welcome to the Brock University Students’ Union clubs page. Here at BUSU we have over 100 unique and amazing clubs!
Please view the Clubs Directory for a complete list of clubs. Feel free to email the club directly or send them message on social media to get involved.
If you think we are missing something as a club, feel free to create it! There's information below on how to start your own club! If you have any questions email the Clubs Coordinator at [email protected]
Follow us on Instagram for the latest updates from BUSU clubs @brockbusuclubs
Starting a New Club
Starting a new club is a fun and exciting process! See instructions down below as well as additional items listed under Resources and Information.
Looking to start a club? The next ratification period is Fall 2022
Contact the Clubs Manager
The Clubs Manager should be your first contact for questions about creating a club, the steps involved and potential partners around Brock. They will provide you with important ratification details such as ratification periods.
Attend the Information Session
Each semester BUSU will hold an information session for anyone interested in starting a club. At the information session you will be given all the paperwork required. Check out the BUSU events page for the next information session date.
Club Training
We will then provide the club team with clubs training, this includes event planning, risk management, marketing and much more. The Clubs Portal found Experience BU is where you can access most of the perks of being a BUSU ratified club. This includes room bookings, table bookings, funding requests and print requests. See Resources and Information down below for more details.
Fill out the Clubs Online Ratification Form
This includes a club constitution, indemnity forms, and signing officers forms. BUSU also requires clubs contact information and description for our Clubs Directory.
Ratification Submission is Reviewed by BUSU
BUSU staff will review all ratification submission.
Notice of Approval
Congratulations, you are now a BUSU ratified club! BUSU's clubs team will be in contact to talk about next steps. This includes helping you arrange your first meeting and setting you up with an ExperienceBU page.
Perks of Running a Club
There are many perks to running a club including:
- Free poster printing
- Access to funding
- Free event space
- And more!
All undergraduate students pay into a Clubs Levy which provides funds available for all clubs to access.
For information on how to request funding, see below or email [email protected]. Some items commonly funded are t-shirts/SWAG, conference fees, event supplies, etc.
Funding Information
1. Submit Club Funding Request form
- BUSU Club Funding request form can be found on the Experience BU Clubs Portal.
- The first thing needed is some information, projected budget, number of students involved, the who, what, when, why and how
- The BUSU Clubs Department can guide you through the budget process and request
2. Attach Completed Budget & Presentation
- Be sure to account for club expenses, revenue, donations etc.
3. Presentation Template
- Download this PowerPoint template
- This template is short, to the point and most effective to present to the Clubs Policy Committee, Brock University Student Administrative Council (BUSAC) or the Board of Director’s.
- Once submission has been received you will be notified by a member of the BUSU Clubs Department regarding your upcoming Clubs Policy Committee presentation meeting.
4. First Presentation – Clubs Policy Committee
- All presentations must come before the Clubs Policy Committee (CPC) before they are seen by other student bodies.
- The CPC can approve all requests at the committee level.
- CPC meets weekly
5. Notification of Approval
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- If your funding is approved a member of the BUSU Clubs Department will be informed and will let you know the process to access the funding
- BUSU clubs works on a reimbursement system for club purchases
All clubs are entitled to 250 free poster prints a year. Connect with the BUSU Clubs Graphic Designer for digital club content and/or graphic design at [email protected].
Visit the Clubs Portal on ExperienceBU to access the following forms:
- Poster Printing Request Form
- Poster Design Request Form
- Logo Request Form
*Must have access to the Clubs Portal on ExperienceBU to use the forms. Email [email protected] for more details.
All posters must be stamped for approval at the Student Success Commons in TH129 before posting on the bulletin boards. Click here to see a list of bulletin boards and campus promotions rules.
Isaac's Booking for Fall/Winter 2022-23: TBD
Please fill out the Request Isaac's Bar & Grill form on the Clubs Portal page on ExperienceBU. Don't have access to the Clubs Portal? Fill out the Request for Access Form.
Please do not email Isaac's directly for booking.
All space bookings must fall outside regular hours of operation.
Operating Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 11 am - 7 pm
Friday: 11 am - 5 pm
Weekends: Closed
When hosting events off-campus, you must have proof of booking prior to submitting your event through SERMA. Please allow 10-21 days for SERMA approval for all meetings and events.
Looking for a space that is not listed here? Email [email protected] for suggestions or do some research around the St. Catharines area!
Suitcase in Point
Local theatre company located in downtown St. Catharines. Great for larger event space, dance rooms, rehearsals, and events!
Address: 36 James St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 5B8 (located on the 3rd floor)
Contact Info: James [email protected] or Deanna [email protected]
Fees: Yes – booking required 3 weeks in advance (click here for pricing – subject to changes)
Capacity Limits: Yes – contact for details
Special Notes: No elevators available
Score Pizza
New local pizza shop located downtown St. Catharines. Great for small events and meetings!
Address: 211 St Paul St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 3M6
Contact Info: Stuart [email protected]
Fees: No – food purchase is required with pre-booking
Capacity Limits: 20
Special Notes: 15% off discount for student groups of 10 or more
Booking Availability Schedule:
Mon & Tues: 12 – 9 pm
Thurs: 2 – 4 pm
Weekends: subject to availability
Fine and Grind Café
Local coffee shop located downtown St. Catharines. Great for small events and meetings!
Address: 37 James St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 5B4
Contact Info: Robert fine [email protected]
Fees: No – food purchase is required with pre-booking
Capacity Limits: Yes – contact for details
Special Notes: Great space for clubs surrounding anime and games
Mahtay Café
Local coffee shop located downtown St. Catharines. Great for small events and meetings! Common events: socials, music, and games
Address: 241 St Paul St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 3M7
Contact Info: Graham or Prutha [email protected]
Fees: Yes – food purchase is required with pre-booking (contact for details)
Capacity Limits: Yes – contact for details
Special Notes: Community Room available for booking
Foundry Lofts
Student living located minutes from Brock University. Amenities available: gaming room, lounges, dance studio and movie theatre
Address: 3490 Schmon Parkway, Building 1, Suite 1B, Thorold, ON L2V 0C4
Contact Info: Melissa [email protected]
Fees: No – Fill out this form for pre-booking: Lofts Booking Form
Capacity Limits: Yes – contact for details
Special Notes: Community Room available for booking
Four Points by Sheraton St. Catharines Niagara Suites
Local hotel next to Foundry Lofts. Perfect for meetings and larger events.
Address: 3530 Schmon Pkwy, Thorold, ON L2V 4Y6
Contact Info: Carlos [email protected]
Fees: Yes
Capacity Limits: Yes – contact for details
Step Youth Resource Centre
Located in downtown St. Catharines, a friendly welcoming space for youth ages 14-24. Great for crafting, small events, meetings, and games.
Address: 83 Church St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 3C7 (located at the back of St. George’s Anglican Church) – 5 minute walk from the bus terminal
Contact Info: Carrie [email protected] Katherine [email protected]
Fees: No – contact for pre-booking 3 weeks in advance
Capacity Limits: Yes – contact for details
Resources: Step Poster and How to Find Us
Silver Spire United Church
Located in downtown St. Catharines. Great for small events and meetings.
Address: 366 St Paul St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 3N2
Contact Info: [email protected]
Fees: No – contact for pre-booking 3 weeks in advance
Capacity Limits: Yes – contact for details
Special Notes: Various rooms available – health room, auditorium, library, etc.
Resources: How to Find Us
Walker Complex
Fill out this form to book Walker Complex spaces. This includes fitness studios and dance studios.
Room Bookings
Looking to book a room on campus? Room bookings are available on the Clubs Portal on ExperienceBU. Please book and secure a room before submitting to SERMA. Please submit all event and meetings through SERMA 10-21 days in advance.
Specialty Spaces
Looking to host a special event in Pond Inlet, Sean O'Sullivan or D. Howes? Email [email protected] for inquiries.
Tabling
Tabling for Fall/Winter 2022-23: TBD
Resources and Information
- Club Strategic Planning - start to decide on the events and programs you would like to run during the upcoming year. BUSU's office is open all year round and we would love to help! Start to think of what you will need from BUSU for the year (funding, supplies, etc.)
- O-Week Clubs Fair - the main club event of the year. Your opportunity to advertise your club to the 4,000 first year students. Provide volunteers for move in day in order to secure yourself a table. Sign up for move in day begins early August.
- Club President Meeting - All club presidents are required to attend an information session in the middle of October. We will review what to expect for the upcoming year. If a club is going to request funding, budgets are due at this meeting
- Student Leadership Summit - club executives can attend the Student Leadership Summit for free (BUSU will cover the cost - limited tickets available)
- Information Session for anyone interested in starting a club for the winter term
- Exams/Holiday Break
- Frost Week Clubs Fair - an additional mini clubs fair to help new clubs advertise
- Executive Elections Open - each year clubs are required to elect their Executive members for the upcoming year. For more information on club elections, please see the Bylaw500
- Executive Elections Close
- Clubs Summit - Full day summit for all newly elected club executives. Attendance is mandatory
- Clubs Banquet - End of year celebration and awards show! "Guaranteed to be a blast!" -Istafa Sufi, Former Brock Eco President
See below for the policies and guides surrounding clubs. All clubs must uphold the policies and rules outlined by BUSU.
Please see below resources that are available to your club to use for planning and guidance.
- Clubs Year at a Glance
- Goal Setting
- Steps to Partnership
- Social Media Handbook
- Club Transition Document
- Ratification Made Easy
Looking to update your club information? Please fill out the Clubs Directory Update form.
All clubs must risk manage (SERMA) their meetings and events through ExperienceBU. See below for event planning and SERMA resources. Please submit all SERMA requests 10-21 days prior to your event occurring.
Ratification for Fall 2022: TBD
Click here to fill out the online ratification form. Only one submission per club.
Ratification Made Easy for New and Existing Clubs
Club Ratification
Review the 2022-2023 Clubs Handbook and Clubs 500 Policy yearly to stay up to date on policies, rules and guidelines
- All clubs must meet the minimum criteria to be a ratified or re-ratified club:
- Have a minimum of 3 executives (president, vice president and treasurer)
- A minimum of 10 members (including the 3 executives)
- 80% of club membership must be current Brock University students
- Executive members must be undergraduate students
- Adhere to the rules and regulations in the Clubs 500 Policy
Documents Needed for Ratification
- Membership list
- Club email and social media pages
- Executive names and Brock emails
- Club guide
- Clubs Summit training quiz (only 1 submission per club)
- And more!
Club Elections only occur in the month of February. See below for resources for election season.
Resources and Important Documents
- Presidents Meeting: Election Seminar Recording
- Presidents Meeting: Election Seminar Slides
- ExperienceBU Election Instructions
- Simply Voting Form
- Club Executive Transition Template
Why are elections important?
Club elections are held to ensure that members are democratically elected to positions that are required to operate the club. Correctly running an election allows the members to vote in the students they believe are best suited to the role, which can result in the club operating more professionally and remaining active and engaging on campus.
Elections are also important for longevity of the club. Having an annual election will ensure that your club will be able to grow and prosper after you finish your time at Brock.
FAQs
How do I apply to run?
Each club has a different application process. All clubs should provide clear guidelines to their members on where and how to apply to run.
We recommend, hosting information sessions during the month of February to allow your members to learn about what is required to run in the club election.
Why should I run?
Holding an executive position is a great way to develop soft skills and leadership skills for the future. It can also make a great addition to your resume!
We recommend running for a position in a club that you have been a part of for at least one semester as your previous experience could help you in your position.
Should we run an online election or in person?
Due to the covid-19 pandemic and in accordance with the Brock University health and safety guidelines, all elections must be held online. Clubs are encouraged to promote elections and campaigns through their social media (Instagram, Facebook, emails, etc.). All club elections should remain open for a minimum of 48 hours to give all members a chance to cast their vote.
How will we elect the new executives?
Clubs have the option to choose to use one of two voting systems:
Using these platforms allows for fair and anonymous voting to take place. The positions that are mandatory to be elected are: President, Vice President and Treasurer/Secretary, all other positions can be determined by the executive team on an as needed basis.
Elections receipts are required to be kept on file and can be requested by the Clubs Manger at any given moment.
What are the rules around elections?
The all rules are outlined in the Clubs 500 policy
Elections Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Post/tell club members about open positions and their requirements
- Be clear about the responsibilities of the positions
- Set clear deadlines for applications, campaigning, and election periods
- Send out instructions to club members (how to apply, where to apply, and how to vote, etc.)
- Be present for your members: monitor direct messages and emails for any questions they may have
- Once your election concludes, you can start training your newly elected executives
Don’t:
- Do not delay it, start as soon as possible (give enough time for applications and voting). If you want to run elections through Simply Voting, fill out the form above asap as it takes 1-2 business days to set up the platform
- Don’t run an election in person (due to COVID-19)
- Don’t make elections public; all election votes should be anonymous
- Don’t recruit new members at the last minute for the sake of voting
Important Notes
- All elections need to be conducted on ExperienceBU or Simply Voting through BUSU. If your club is large, it is recommended you hold elections through simply voting.
- Why? It is easier for clubs to submit candidates into simply voting, BUSU will send all members the voting link.
- All elections need to be open for a minimum of 48 hours
- The mandatory positions to be elected are President, Vice president and Secretary/Treasurer. All other positions can be determined by the club executives as needed (ex: Events Coordinator).
- According to the Clubs 500 policy, ONLY active members are allowed to participate in elections
The Clubs Portal has all the resources you will need to run your club smoothly.
As a member of a BUSU Ratified Club, you can request access to the Clubs Portal - where you will find resources and forms such as funding, room and table booking requests.
To gain access to the Clubs Portal and resources exclusively for club members, such as room and table bookings - please complete the Clubs Portal Access Request form on our ExperienceBU page.
Clubs FAQ
How can I join a club?
- New members are always welcome! You can find the list of the BUSU clubs on our Clubs Directory
- Once you find a club you are interested in joining you can reach out to them via email or their social media and ask to join
- You can also join a club by requesting to join them through ExperienceBU
Can I start a club?
- Starting a club is a great way to get involved with clubs on campus and fill gaps in the clubs community.
- Here's how to get started:
- BUSU clubs also provides students with the opportunity to start new organizations. Assistance in preparing this process can be obtained from the Clubs Coordinator
- For more information review the 2021-2022 Clubs Handbook and Clubs 500 Policy
- Some basic criteria:
- All clubs must have a minimum of 10 members to be ratified
- All clubs must be inclusive (see the Clubs 500 Policy) to learn more about which actions are not to be tolerated within clubs
- 80% of club membership must be current Brock University students
- Executive members must be undergraduate students.
How do I find out about what events clubs are hosting?
- There are several different ways to find out about the events clubs are hosting:
- Follow @busuclubs on Instagram and watch our weekly rundowns where we highlight different upcoming club events
- Follow different clubs social media pages (you can find a clubs socials on the Clubs Directory
What support or resources do clubs have?
- We have an entire section on our ExperienceBU Clubs Portal page that contains forms and documents that are made to guide club operations. Some of these resources include the club's handbook, funding services, web hosting services and more. The clubs manager and coordinator can also help to answer questions for guidance.
When am I required to make an event submission?
- All clubs are required to be approved for any event that your club is involved in and is therefore required to submit an events form. Whether you are hosting a meeting or fundraiser please make sure an event submission is filled out on ExperienceBU. All events must be summited 10-21 days in advance to go through the Student Events Risk Management and Approvals (SERMA) process.
How can I get more information about getting involved?
- Contact the Clubs Coordinator to get started!
Graphic Design FAQ
What services does the Clubs Graphic Designer offer?
- The Clubs Graphic Designer is there to aid you and your club in all things marketing and graphic design. Our graphic designer offers services such as logo designs, event poster designs, Facebook and Twitter designs, marketing plans, and re-branding ideas. Our graphic designer can be reached at [email protected].
How long does it take for my poster/logo/banner request to be completed?
- Since our Clubs Graphic Designer is working with our 100+ clubs as well as managing the BUSU Club’s social media, please give at least 7-10 days for your request to be completed
Can we still print banners and make buttons?
- Due to the COVID-19restrictions, all banner printing and button creating will be put on hold until further notice
Where should I submit my requests?
- All requests to go through Experience BU to ensure that requests do not get lost and are kept organized. We do this to ensure the best service for our clubs.
- You can request for the following:
- Club design (poster, logos)
- Club printing
Can you post our club event on your Instagram page?
- We keep our main feed strictly for ease of access to BUSU Clubs information
- When tagged, we can repost on our story! Be sure to tag us @brockbusuclubs
How do I get my posters approved for posting around the school?
- Please the rules and regulations around Campus Promotions
How many posters can I print?
- All clubs are entitled to 250 free poster prints a year. Visit the Poster Printing Request Form on ExperienceBU Clubs Portal for more details
How do I get my posters printed?
- Please fill out the Poster Printing Request Form on ExperienceBU Clubs Portal
- Posters should be sent at least 7-10 days before needed
Club Events
Clubs Summit Training
To prepare for the 2022-2023 school year, newly elected club executives will attend mandatory clubs training at the Clubs Summit.
Clubs Summit Recordings and Resources
Meet the Team