In March 2019, DC joined the Ivy League when Ashley Marshall, a professor with the School of Interdisciplinary Studies , and Allison Hector-Alexander, director of the Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion and Transitions , presented at the Black Portraitures colloquium on African American culture hosted by Harvard University’s Hutchins Center for African and African American Research

Based on Marshall’s project on Critical Race Theory, namely anti-black racism, she was invited to present alongside leaders in the field of critical race studies and subsequently asked her mentor, Hector-Alexander, to join her as a conference panelist.

Marshall and Hector-Alexander shared their experiences as women of Jamaican and Dominican Republic descent including presenting their ideas about racial representation as an integral part of the learning environment. With a focus on the need for post-secondary institutions to emphasize how formative culture is for students, including how students and educators can benefit from increased engagement, Marshall explored the role of teachers in grooming her into the communications professional she is today with Hector-Alexander discussing the volume of work still required to make campuses more inclusive.

The conference also enabled Marshall and Hector-Alexander to bring innovative ideas back to DC to further exemplify how the college cares about its faculty and students by supporting anti-racism, anti-oppression and anti-brutality, both inside and outside the classroom.

During 2018-2019, four DC employees selected by Uniterra to represent the college as part of the Leave for Change program completed their mandates . The program enables DC employees to transform vacation time into professional and personal development opportunities with Dale Burt, a professor with the Mediation – Alternative Dispute Resolution Graduate Certificate program with the School of Justice & Emergency Services , Cosette Kazarian, an intranet specialist with the Communications and Marketing department, Kim Sharpe, a program assistant with the School of Continuing Education and Rebecca Milburn, principal, Whitby campus, School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology and Centre for Food , spending three to four weeks in developing countries.

During their time abroad, employees are paired with professionals from non-governmental organizations in their host countries and contribute their skills and expertise to a development project.

To date, Burt has worked with Danang University in Danang, Vietnam as a teaching methodology advisor; Kazarian spent four weeks in Colombo, Sri Lanka where she worked with the University of Vocational Technology, helping to enhance their communications and marketing vehicles/materials; Sharpe travelled to Kathmandu, Nepal where she worked with the National Youth Federation of Nepal to train their members; and Milburn worked as an advisor for the Centro de servicio para la capacitación y desarrollo (CAPLAB) in Lima, Peru as well as a workshop facilitator for several local CETPROs and Institutes, providing training focused on professional career development and improving the economic and social well-being of youth. Three more employees are scheduled to participate in the program during 2019-2020.

In December 2018, Devon Turcotte, a career development outreach co-ordinator with the college’s Career Development office, published an article on the national blog for CERIC, an organization decided to advancing career development in Canada. The article focused on how to talk to children about determining their career path .

In spring 2018, DC employees once again came together to raise funds in support of United Way (UW) Durham Region and the many UW health and social services agencies serving our community's most vulnerable individuals and families. More than $20,000 was raised through several different fundraising methods held across the campus.

During 2018-2019, the DC community proudly continued its tradition of volunteering with St. Vincent's Kitchen, a non-profit organization that has been providing meals to lower-income and homeless patrons in Oshawa for more than 25 years. With selected employees giving their time on the first Thursday of every month, more than 1,500 hours were donated to assist with tasks ranging from peeling potatoes and cutting dinner rolls to cooking, serving meals and doing dishes.

In April 2018, DC was named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the second consecutive year. The designation recognizes employers who create remarkable workplaces that minimize the environmental impact of their operations and, in the process, attract a new generation of talented employees and customers.

The college’s focus on sustainability is formalized in its current Business, Strategic, and Campus Master plans and includes multiple programs involving employees and students in environmental stewardship. For example, the Living Green initiative, which consists of 20 to 30 employees, is working to enhance the sustainability of campus operations and planning, administration, curriculum, research, innovation and stakeholder engagement. Students also contribute creative ideas and solutions aimed at advancing campus sustainability initiatives through the Student Green Team.

Additional examples of the college’s commitment to environmental stewardship include environmental management programs, green events and transportation-focused initiatives that further DC’s commitment to sustainability. The college’s building footprint also includes a number of green features such as a 350-panel photovoltaic rooftop solar array, a geothermal heating and cooling system, a centralized building automation system that monitors multiple campus buildings and Bistro ’67 ’s Green Restaurant certification. Additionally, the grounds at the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food feature outdoor fruit, vegetable and herb gardens, native plantings and pollinator gardens.

In July 2018, DC announced a commitment from 360insights to help build a local community of entrepreneurs and world-class students via a significant donation to the college’s Building Something Amazing capital campaign. .

The funds were used to help complete construction of the new Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE), and specifically, the 360insights Entrepreneurship Centre, which opened in Fall 2018.

Named in honour of the company’s generosity, the 360insights Entrepreneurship Centre is home to FastStartDC, a program that helps students and youth develop valid business ideas and plans to take their products and services to market quickly and successfully. The Building Something Amazing capital campaign was launched in September 2017 to raise $5 million to complete construction of the CFCE.

In January 2019, the AI Hub announced a partnership with MobileXCo, a marketing services and analytics company , focused on using AI and machine learning to help automate MobileXCo’s Tether™, a web-based experience marketing platform. During a time when consumers are driven by experiences and brands are looking to connect with clients in interactive and memorable ways, Tether™ helps companies close the gap between promotion-type marketing activities and understanding how those activities contribute to sales by linking campaign participation and engagement to point-of-sale transactions.

The four-phase project is aiming to automate as much of the receipt data extraction, organization and analysis as possible, resulting in a more streamlined and less labour-intensive solution that inherently delivers incremental, data-based value. DC faculty and student-research assistants from the Computer Programming Analyst and Data Analytics for Business Decision Making programs are working directly with MobileXCo, enabling them to learn about advanced AI technologies and gain hands-on industry experience in developing real, functional solutions for clients.

In Fall 2018, DC announced the launch of several new programs for September 2019. This includes the Artificial Intelligence Analysis, Design and Implementation (graduate certificate) , aimed at tackling the acute shortage of skilled artificial intelligence (AI) professionals in Canada, the most significant barrier to AI implementation today , and Carpentry and Renovation Technician (diploma) , which is designed to give graduates a strong knowledge and understanding of structural renovations, sustainable construction theory and energy-wise construction techniques, as well as foundational business theories and strategies to complement their technical training.

In August 2018, DC launched the new RISE (Reach, Include, Support and Elevate) program through the Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion and Transitions. Replacing the First-Generation initiative and part of the Ontario Post-Secondary Access & Inclusion Program, RISE aims to ensure equal opportunity exists for all Ontario residents to pursue a post-secondary education. The program and its community partners, including school boards and agencies, supports current or potential students who need assistance overcoming the barriers preventing them from considering, accessing or pursuing post-secondary education. In addition, RISE offers one-on-one coaching to ensure a smooth academic and social transition to the post-secondary environment and facilitates and promotes academic success by providing dynamic programming and making referrals to additional college and community services as required.

In July 2018, DC announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Molecular Science Corp. (MSC) that focuses on student experiential learning placements and collaboration on research initiatives related to the medical and recreational cannabis industry.

The first post-secondary institution to establish an MOU with MSC, under the terms of the agreement, MSC will provide DC with scientific research context and methodologies as the college expands its new cannabis-related courses and programs including the new Cannabis Industry Specialization certificate program and two-day Medical Cannabis Fundamentals for Business Professionals course .

In addition, MSC is supporting the college as an advisor on equipment acquisition and the provision of guest speakers to address post-secondary and professional development-level students, and a senior MSC representative has joined DC’s cannabis industry Program Advisory Committee.

In turn, DC is providing MSC with access to cannabis-related educational materials and expertise and access to students to fulfil internships and resources for MSC’s mobile lab platform.

The partnership represents the third major collaboration between the college and leading organizations in the cannabis industry with agreements also in place with GrowWise Health Limited and Ample Organics .

In August 2018, DC congratulated research partner Partake Brewing (Partake) for being recognized by a panel of international judges at the 2018 World Beer Awards , which selects the best in internationally recognized styles, awarding and promoting the world’s best beers to consumers and trade across the globe.

Partake’s pale ale which is based on a recipe that DC’s Centre for Craft Brewing Innovation (CCBI) helped to develop, was named the best low-alcohol pale beer . The collaboration between Partake and DC’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) began in October 2016 with a $25,000 Engage grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). The grant enabled ORSIE researchers and the CCBI’s brew master to use the CCBI brew lab and line to work with Partake on the development of the winning recipe.

The recognition comes on the heels of several achievements for Partake with the growing craft brewer recently securing a deal on CBC’s Dragon’s Den based on a recipe for an India Pale, also developed in partnership with the CCBI.

The CCBI, located at the Whitby campus, officially launched in spring 2018 and consists of a pilot brew line and brew lab purchased with a $150,000 NSERC Applied Research Tools and Instruments grant. It offers craft brewers access to expertise and state-of-the-art technology, as well as micro-analytical and research services.

In May 2018, Ryan Cullen, field co-ordinator for the Horticulture – Food and Farming program who is also a program alumnus, was named the John Dobson Enactus Fellow of the Year at the 2018 Enactus Canada National Exposition , an annual forum to address social issues through entrepreneurial action. The honour recognizes the outstanding contributions of faculty members as mentors to students involved in the Enactus teams at their respective colleges.

The Enactus Durham College team also showcased its Grassroots project during the exposition including its outdoor education food facility, which is creating an accessible food and farming hub in Durham Region in partnership with St. Mary High School in Pickering.

In February 2019, 18 DC students and alumni from the Paramedic program   volunteered as first aid providers for the Durham Region 2019 Ontario Parasport Games .

Hosted by the Region of Durham, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the games welcomed more than 500 athletes, coaches, guides, and support personnel with athletes competing in 11 parasports at eight different venues across the region.

In addition to experiences such as this, DC’s Paramedic students are exposed to ongoing clinical and field placement opportunities during their time at the college, which enables them to become highly skilled first responders and compassionate caregivers who meet community members’ emergent and non-emergent health needs.

In June 2018, DC awarded its seventh honorary credential to Kent Farndale during spring convocation. The honorary credential is given to individuals who make an outstanding contribution in several areas to support the advancement of the college, Durham Region and beyond. Farndale was awarded a diploma in Community Development for her passion for volunteerism and civic advancement, which has been a driving force behind many local developments and initiatives.

Farndale’s history of civic involvement began when she successfully campaigned to retain and restore Port Perry Town Hall. This was followed by extensive philanthropic endeavours including the fostering of partnerships between countless organizations that contribute to the education, health and culture of Durham Region including a fundraising campaign to build the R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre at Lakeridge Health Oshawa, the My Health, My Hospital campaign and championing the expansion of the Community Memorial Hospital in Port Perry.

A keen supporter of DC, Farndale, and her now late husband, established the Douglas and Kent Farndale Culinary Award in 2012 and contributed to the capital campaign to build the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food.

In March 2019, DC hosted more than 1,000 of the province’s brightest young minds, along with their mentors, family, friends and fellow robot enthusiasts, at the FIRST® Robotics Competition Ontario District Durham College event.

2019 marked the fifth year the college has hosted the competition, which gives high school students an opportunity to demonstrate their technological and engineering skills by operating complex, 140-pound robots that they design and build in only six weeks. Students have fun while gaining real-world engineering experience, developing leadership skills and learning to work as a team under pressure and tight timelines.

Winners of the event moved on to the FIRST® Ontario Provincial Championship in early April where they competed for a spot at the World Championships held in Detroit, Michigan.

In May 2018, DC hosted The Cypher: Black Male Empowerment Conference for the second year in a row with more than 300 students from grades 8 to 10 learning about empowerment, mental health and eliminating barriers to success while experiencing a post-secondary learning environment.

A Durham District School Board initiative, the conference aims to provide Durham Region students with an opportunity to learn about future academic pathways, employment opportunities and positive transitions. The agenda also included workshops about planning for the future and developing new skills, numerous activities, networking opportunities and discussions with teachers, community leaders and mentors about the supports required for a bright and healthy future.

In June 2018, DC celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day by raising the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nations flag at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses. A celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ culture and heritage, the day offered students and employees an opportunity to become better acquainted with the cultural diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, discover the unique accomplishments of Indigenous Peoples in fields as varied as agriculture, the environment and the arts, and celebrate their significant contribution to Canadian society. In response to the Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action, DC has also developed an Indigenization Council comprised of key members of the college who have established working groups to Indigenize the college as a collective.

In January 2019, DC announced a $1 million donation from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation to fund the expansion of the college’s farming operations at the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF).

The success of the Horticulture Technician and Horticulture – Food and Farming programs over the last two years has resulted in a doubling of enrolment and a greater demand for fresh foods from the field. The donation is supporting the construction of a post-harvest and storage facility, a greenhouse expansion and the implementation of container farming, all of which will increase and better process the CFF’s food production, allow for experimentation of newer agriculture practices, and provide students with new experiential learning opportunities.

In May 2018, DC, in conjunction with the City of Oshawa, the Canadian Urban Institute, Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area, Ontario Tech University, and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, celebrated the first year of TeachingCity with the opening of the TeachingCity Hub

Located in the downtown Oshawa core, the hub is a dedicated space for facilitating TeachingCity projects with DC and the City’s education and research partners, including students and employees. It also provides opportunities for TeachingCity partners to share access to facilities, resources and equipment, and includes office, classroom and open lab space. An open-concept area is being used for TeachingCity partnership meetings, collaborative learning opportunities and co-design.

In June 2018, DC embarked on its third mission to Kenya as part of the Kenya Education for Employment Program (KEFEP), a five-year project facilitated by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and funded by Global Affairs Canada. Nine DC students and employees attended the KEFEP partner forum hosted by CICan in Nairobi, Kenya, which brought together Kenyan and Canadian institutional partners; organizations and institutions from Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe; and Technical and Vocational Education and Training stakeholders. Following the forum, Joanne Spicer, DC’s global learning facilitator and a professor in the Victimology graduate certificate program, led gender-mainstreaming workshops with partner institutions from across Kenya.

In October 2018, DC signed two General Agreements of Cooperation with Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (THN) in Germany. The agreements are designed to provide opportunities for international collaboration and stimulate educational, professional and intercultural activities and projects among students and faculty within FAU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, THN’s School of Engineering and DC’s School of Science & Engineering Technology . Specifically, DC is working with FAU and THN to explore exchange opportunities for students, staff and faculty; facilitate curriculum exchange for distance learning and training programs; and identify opportunities for conducting applied research in industrial and community development, and teaching and learning.

In November 2018, the DC International office, in collaboration with Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), premiered the Kenya Education for Employment Program (KEFEP) documentary, which was produced by four DC students and two professors.

The crew, made up of Journalism – Mass Media Professor Danielle Harder and Video Production Professor Jennifer Bedford, in conjunction with four students from the School of Media, Art & Design , spent three weeks in Kenya interviewing CICan-KEFEP partners and stakeholders as part of a two-phase documentary on the progress of the KEFEP project from beginning to end. More than 120 guests from the college and local community, including the principal secretary from Kenya’s State Department of Vocational and Technical Education and the deputy high commissioner of Kenya to Canada, gathered in the Global Class at the Centre for Collaborative Education for the screening of the film. In addition to the screening, the premiere featured a photo exhibit, interactive KEFEP stations produced by first and second-year Journalism – Mass Media students and a #DCinKenya crew question and answer panel session.

In February 2019, DC hosted an International Development Week, a national initiative that seeks to inspire Canadians, in particular youth, to learn more about and contribute actively to global issues and initiatives. The theme of the week was Together for Equality, and featured events that focused on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015.

Activities included a non-profit marketplace in The Pit, which gave students the opportunity to connect with local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs); a screening of the movie I Am, a documentary discussing global challenges and how to address them; and a discussion with DC graduates living and working overseas that was facilitated in the college’s Global Class. The week culminated with a screening of the Kenya Education for Employment Program (KEFEP) documentary, and a panel discussion detailing the 52 interviews that were held with KEFEP partners, stakeholders and beneficiaries and the challenges associated with collecting 40 hours of footage in a foreign country.

In October 2018, 10 culinary students and two professors from the college’s W. Galen Weston Centre for Food travelled to Peru for an experiential learning opportunity that included learning about and practicing Peruvian cuisine. This fall, the faculty-led classroom will once again take place in Peru with eight students and two faculty members.

In addition, between January and March 2019, a professor and a student participated in a teaching and learning experience in Spain with additional institutional partnerships and opportunities for faculty-led classrooms, international exchanges, summer programs and international field placements for Fall 2019 also in progress with partners in Peru, Chile, Brazil, Spain, Russia and Rwanda.

In January 2019, the International office launched the Co-Pilots program , a free intercultural engagement program that pairs students from two different cultural backgrounds together to navigate cultural events and activities, learn from another and form new friendships. Aimed at addressing one of the primary goals of DC’s Internationalization and Global Engagement Plan – to promote opportunities for collaboration involving international and domestic students inside and outside the classroom – the program saw 10 co-pilots enroll for Winter 2019 with 17 new students enrolled for September 2019. Students who complete all of the program’s requirements receive a certificate of completion and co-curricular credit for developing new intercultural skills.

In addition to the Co-Pilots program, an international student volunteer program was launched during 2018-2019 with 40 international students assisting at several on-campus events including International Orientation, International Development Week, and Lunar New Year and Holi celebrations.

Following the 2017 launch of a new Pharmaceutical and Food Science Technology program with the college’s international partner Hau Giang Community College (HGCC) in Vietnam, DC staff and faculty have continued to support HGCC with the development of student service action plans and additional curriculum resources. During 2018-2019, HGCC, in collaboration with DC, implemented improvements to its student application process, expanded social media connections, established a greening strategy across campus and incorporated gender equity into its programming. As DC approaches the final year of this five-year project, HGCC continues to look for ways to transfer the college’s best practices to other program areas and practices college wide.