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Faculty Member, DC alumna comes full circle at Justice Games

The annual Justice Games at Durham College (DC) are a celebration of resilience, community, and personal transformation. This year’s event was a special one for Mackenzie Naccarato, a DC alumna who now teaches Communications in the Faculty of Social and Community Services (SCS).

The Games bring together students from Police Foundations, Firefighter – Pre-service, Education and Training, Paramedic and other SCS programs. This year’s theme, “Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers,” reflected not only the physical challenges of the day but also the social and personal hurdles many students have overcome to pursue careers in public service.

As a former Protection, Security and Investigation student, Naccarato once competed in the Justice Games herself—an experience that helped her build confidence, professional networks, and even land a role with the Canada Border Services Agency after graduation. Now, as a Faculty Member, she finds herself guiding the next generation through those same career-shaping experiences.

“Reflecting on my own journey, it has truly come full circle,” Naccarato shared. “Being part of this event alongside those who inspired me reaffirms my passion for education at Durham College. It’s my dream job!”

By taking part in the event, current DC students demonstrated not only their physical prowess but also their leadership, teamwork, and connection to the broader community. Naccarato was particularly proud of her Police Foundations students for embodying the commitment and professionalism expected of future first responders.

“I am continually inspired by the dedication these students embody as they prepare to become police officers and community service professionals,” she said.

Community partners were present at the event, from police and EMS to fire services and security, giving students the chance to meet potential employers and build lasting connections.

For Naccarato, the day was full of meaningful personal moments, from working with mentor and head of the Justice Games committee Jason Vassell to sharing it with her husband, a fellow DC alum and Ontario Provincial Police officer.

“Durham College gave us both the foundation for rewarding careers in public service,” she reflected. “It’s incredible to now stand here, together, as mentors to today’s students.”

The Justice Games are a cornerstone of DC’s mission to blend education with real-world readiness. As Naccarato’s story shows, events like these aren’t just about competition—they’re about transformation, connection, and community. Through mentorship and opportunity, they’re helping shape the leaders of tomorrow—just as they once did for her.

Teaching the next generation of scientists

Faculty profile – Sanja Lukic

At Durham College, students learn from accomplished professors who bring their extensive, real-world experience to the classroom. In this series, we put the spotlight on our passionate faculty members who are committed to helping students lead the way.

Sanja Lukic’s journey in science and teaching has taken her all the way from Serbia to our Durham College (DC) campus. With a Master of Environmental Science from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Belgrade, she worked in both government and private laboratories before the desire to share her knowledge led her to a career in teaching.

To mark International Day for Women and Girls in Science on February 11, she spoke to us about her love for science, her passion for teaching, and more.

What is your role at DC?

I am a professor in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Information Technology, in the Environmental Technology and Chemical Laboratory Technician programs. I teach a number of courses, including Environmental Regulations, Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Chemical Lab Technician, Sample Management, General Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry labs.

When did you discover your love for science?

As a five-year old, I got to hold a snake when a family friend found it by the nearby river. This sparked my interest in biology and soon evolved into my passion for science.

Why is equality in science so important?

Equality in science is important because there are many young minds with a lot to offer to the field of science and they should all be given a fair opportunity to do so. It is in our best interest as scientists to welcome all people to provide their unique perspectives, opinions, and questions. The more we open the doors to this industry, the further it will advance and grow.

Why should young girls and women pursue a career in science?

The field of science is wide, with the nature of it being to explore and ask questions. When you open your mind to science, you are opening the door to many exciting and inspiring jobs in the fields of clean water, the chemistry of nutrition, food safety, sustainability, education, environmental and human health.

How is DC at the forefront of post-secondary science education?

Durham College is an excellent place for women and girls to study science. DC offers relevant science-based programs for in-demand areas of the industry. Our faculty is full of excellent educators who bring an abundance of industry knowledge and experience. Students get the opportunity to learn both in the classroom, and to gain hands-on skills in a laboratory setting. This combination is something that we are very proud to have at DC and I believe provides a unique learning experience. In addition, we offer a variety of events throughout the year to expose students to the real world, including: guest speaker classes, program-specific field trips, project collaboration with industry representatives, as well as volunteering opportunities in community events such as Empower Her, Science Rendezvous, and more.

Do you keep in touch with your students who have graduated?

I’ve actually created a LinkedIn group for my students, so I keep in touch with alumni as well as current students. It’s a platform that provides networking opportunities for them. I also invite alumni of the program to the classroom to share their stories about the successes they have achieved, and the current students get to hear about it all.

What do you enjoy most about teaching at DC?

I enjoy facilitating a learning environment that is accepting and that creates a sense of belonging. Being a lifelong learner, I strive to understand what it takes to create an environment conducive to student improvement in areas such as teamwork, ethics, and social commitment. In addition, my main goal as a teacher and an educator is to support students on their road to a successful career. As an educator, my proudest moments have been seeing my students learn and grow over the years. Seeing them have career-defining achievements and milestones brings me a great sense of pride.

Teaching, gaming and streaming keep DC professor busy

Faculty spotlight – Michael Cameron

At Durham College, students learn from accomplished professors who bring their extensive, real-world experience to the classroom. In this series, we put the spotlight on our passionate faculty members who are committed to helping students lead the way.

Michael Cameron is right at home in front of an audience.

When he’s not commanding the attention of Durham College (DC) students in the classroom, the Computer Systems Technician professor can be found holding court online as ‘GamerDad’, a video game streamer with over 500,000 followers on Twitch, TikTok and other platforms. As a streamer, he regularly entertains hundreds of viewers while playing popular games like League of Legends, Sea of Thieves and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

With video games becoming more popular every year, his two audiences are overlapping more and more.

“People yell GamerDad across the courtyard, they’re getting photos,” he said. “I’ll be in class the first week, and I’ll see a kid just looking and smiling at me. They’re looking at their phone and looking at me and they’re like, wait a minute!”

His journey into streaming actually began when his students introduced him to Twitch a decade ago. Combining his passion for gaming with his gift for communication (honed over years of teaching and a stint in stand-up comedy), he was soon reaching a wide audience.

Though a very small number of streamers achieve worldwide fame and fortune, Cameron is perfectly happy with the audience he’s built.

“I am uniquely blessed and grateful because a lot of people try to make streaming their full-time job, and it’s just a fun hobby for me,” he said. “I have a great job. I’m reminded every fall how much I like it.”

A career in education was a natural choice for Cameron as he comes from a family of teachers, and he has taught everything from college to kindergarten. But his expansive resume extends well beyond teaching. He has served in the Canadian Armed Forces, written a syndicated gaming column for multiple publications, produced television and provided IT consultation.

After a decade of teaching at DC, the campus has come to feel like home.

“DC is the first place where I got a vibe that they actually cared about their employees and students,” he said.

That’s one of the reasons he went above and beyond in spearheading the creation of DC’s Esports Gaming Arena. He pitched the idea to DC leadership, who were impressed by his passion.

“I showed them the numbers,” said Cameron. “About 70% of the students at the college are playing some form of video game. Gaming brings a lot of the kids together.”

Filled with the latest gaming technology and titles, the arena breathed new life into the Student Centre and facilitated the launch of DC’s own Esports varsity team. Cameron also designed an Esports Business Management program, but the pandemic threw a wrench in the plans. The program is no longer offered and the Arena lay dormant for a while, but its doors are open once again and students aren’t the only ones taking advantage of it. It’s also accessible to DC alumni and employees, and anyone can drop in and watch the action.

“I like to go over there and just watch kids play. I would have loved something like that when I was younger,” he said.

Cameron has reduced his schedule recently to prioritize his physical and mental health and spend more time with his family, and he credits DC with allowing him to do so.

His wife passed away in 2022, but she was always supportive of his passion for gaming.

“People would ask her, what do you think about him gaming? And she’d go, well I know where he is and he could have much worse hobbies.”

He has also forged connections through gaming, from long-time friends he still plays with to his daughter and the students he meets at DC. While streaming, he’ll often dispense advice and wisdom on a variety of topics, from relationships to jobhunting.

“The interesting thing about people on Twitch and students in class is that they can tell when you care,” he said. Whatever the size of his audience, he never takes them for granted.

“I know what 100 people look like in a room. I’ve taught that many. That’s a lot of people taking their time to hang out and chat. I’m getting a good vibe from them, and vice versa.”

Professor leading the way for women in science

Faculty spotlight – Christine Hand

At Durham College, students learn from accomplished professors who bring their extensive, real-world experience to the classroom. In this series, we put the spotlight on our passionate faculty members who are committed to helping students lead the way.

Christine Hand is an accomplished scientist with a PhD in Chemistry. After a successful career as a chemistry specialist, she pivoted to teaching at Durham College (DC). For the last nine years, she’s been sharing her expertise with students in the Faculty of Science, Engineering & Information Technology.

In recognition of International Day for Women and Girls in Science on February 11, she spoke to us about her passion for chemistry, teaching the next generation of scientists, the importance of equality and more.

What is your role at DC?

I’m the program coordinator for Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Science. When I first started, I was teaching chromatography, pharmaceutics and pharmacology. Then I shifted to basically just teaching analytical instrumentation chromatography, and showing how you can test compounds and solutions.

When did you discover your love for science?

I would say in high school, in Grade 11. I had a teacher, Mrs. Miller, and she taught chemistry. I was always really fascinated with chemistry, and trying to picture these molecules and what they’re doing and how they’re behaving. I’d even look up stuff and come in and ask her about it. Then in my first year of university, the course that I took in chemistry was very in depth and I just loved it. It was really interesting to me.

Why should young girls and women pursue a career in science?

Society will always need people who are curious and who want to investigate. Science doesn’t have to be a narrow lane. There are so many different pathways that you can take. And it gives you such an appreciation for how the world works. It unlocks all this magical mystery of what is happening in the world.

How is DC leading the way in science?

We have a lot of pathways to other post-secondary institutions. They are taking our programs and allowing students to transfer into bachelor’s programs, which means they recognize the quality. We have a lot of students who have gone on to do quite well in science, in government or industrial or commercial roles. They’ve gone on to get very good jobs. Our grads are typically well thought of.

Are women well represented in DC’s science programs?

I’m proud of the fact that DC has so many women in science. We have a lot of women in the science department who are role models and who put in the effort to encourage other women, and all students, to go into science. We’re definitely modeling strong female representation.

Why is equality in science so important?

When we have a monoculture, people tend to think the same way, and science is all about discovery. If you don’t have people challenging ideas, and you don’t have people being curious, then you’re never going to discover anything. We need to have diversity of all kinds in order to challenge those long held beliefs.  

Do you still see a gender gap in science?

We’ve made a lot of strides. There are so many more women in science now than when I started undergrad in 1997, but there are still some programs that have lower numbers of women. I was really lucky that my high school science teachers were women as well, so it never occurred to me that I couldn’t do it. I always had it modeled for me, so it never seemed out of reach. I think that’s important because if you don’t see it, you don’t know it’s achievable.

What is your advice for young women entering science?

In my experience, if you want to find supportive people, you’ll find them. Sometimes you have to look for them, and sometimes you have to cultivate them. But there are always people there who are willing to support you. It’s really just like life; pick your friends correctly, and the people who are going to drag you down, just don’t bother with them.

What do you enjoy most about teaching at DC?

I just try to share my experience and inspire everybody to be in science. I just want people to share my passion for science or to at least cause them to be curious or interested in something. When I hear students say that they got excited about something or they want more information for their personal knowledge, that’s one of the best things.

From ghouls to glitter: DC prof creates show-stopping makeup effects at Canada’s Wonderland

A Durham College (DC) faculty member is bringing big scares to Halloween, creating bone-chilling makeup effects for zombies, ghouls and creepy clowns for the annual Halloween Haunt event at Canada’s Wonderland.

Rachael Authors is the program coordinator for the Cosmetics Techniques and Management and Esthetician – Spa Management programs at DC. She’s also professional makeup artist who teaches her craft and every year her creativity flows at the Wonderland Halloween where she does special effects makeup for the performers who deliver pop-up scares and create a spooky scene for visitors.

“I love working on the team, the creativity involved, seeing the public enjoy our work is pretty fun,” said Authors. “I’d say it can be pretty scary at times.”

Over the past 16 seasons, Halloween Haunt has grown tremendously and so has Authors. She started as a junior makeup artist and is now a teacher in her field with two DC grads working with her at the Wonderland event.

This year she prepped the “monsters” for spots on Breakfast Television and CP24.

“I’ve done different things in makeup, in beauty and I’ve worked with big retail companies and cosmetic brands but I love characters and special effects and airbrushing so Haunt has been a special journey,” she said. “It’s fun to be part of a big event that is so well known in the city now. It’s an awesome time and I love Halloween.”

Authors holds two bachelor’s degrees — in life sciences and occupational health and safety — and also has a master’s degree in occupational therapy (OT) and a diploma in beauty and special effects makeup.

Her work at DC as a faculty member and program coordinator benefits from both her educational background and her work experience in film, television, retail and during special events like Haunt.

Special effects makeup is now part of the Cosmetic Techniques program with an introductory course.

“That’s what I love about the program, it gives students a taste – a little bit of everything to get them inspired and then they can go off and decide which area they want to go into.”

Once Halloween passes Authors isn’t quite done at Wonderland. She’ll go from ghouls to glitter as WinterFest ramps up during the holiday season.

Distinguished journalist preparing students for a rewarding career

Faculty spotlight – Alvin Ntibinyane

At Durham College, students learn from accomplished professors who bring their extensive, real-world experience to the classroom. In this series, we put the spotlight on our passionate faculty members who are committed to helping students lead the way.

From his earliest days growing up in Botswana, Durham College (DC) professor Alvin Ntibinyane knew he wanted to be a journalist.

“I grew up in a household where both my parents were consumers of news and newspapers,” he explained. “As early as Grade 4 or 5, my interest was in journalism and becoming a news reporter, and that’s what I became.”

Launching his career as a reporter in 2004 at the Botswana Guardian and Midweek Sun newspapers, he covered every kind of news there is, from politics, sports and entertainment to courts, crime and city council meetings. By 2011, his hard work landed him the role of bureau chief, where he continued to write and edit while mentoring a team of junior reporters.

A fellowship in South Africa at the Centre for Investigative Journalism followed, along with a stint as editor of Mmegi, the largest privately owned newspaper in Botswana. In 2015 he founded the INK Centre for Investigative Journalism. A non-profit organization, it trains journalists and advocates for the rights of investigative reporters.

His pursuit of his master’s degree in journalism brought him to Canada, where he studied at the University of Regina. After graduation, he stayed on at the school as a sessional lecturer. Last year he joined the DC family as a professor in the Journalism – Mass Media program, where he continues to guide and mentor the next generation of reporters.

“It has been quite rewarding and fulfilling for me,” he said of his transition to teaching at DC. “The joy of seeing students progressing and grasping something is quite amazing. We have students that are very, very committed.”

Those students will soon be entering a profession that is in a constant state of flux, with newspapers shuttering and jobs contracting. But Ntibinyane is adamant that there will always be a need for journalists and the news they share, even if the method for delivering it is rapidly changing.

“Journalism is very important. People still want the news, but maybe they don’t want the news in the newspaper,” he said. “We should be preparing students for other platforms.”

Tomorrow’s reporters will also face a rising anti-journalist sentiment in society. Journalists have always faced criticism and resentment from those in power and members of the public, but the internet and social media has amplified it.

In the face of these challenges, it’s more important than ever to provide new journalists with the best training possible.

“One thing that we need to do as professors is to really stick to what journalism is all about. Journalism is about pursuing the truth. You have to be accurate. You have to be fair. You have to be very balanced in the way you do things.”

Students must also be prepared to manage their mental health as they navigate their careers, and Ntibinyane is passionate about incorporating that idea into his lessons.

“Most schools and professors don’t prepare students for what will happen to them,” he said, noting that journalists will likely face criticism for their reporting. “We have to prepare them for that. We have to add mental health components to our courses, and that’s what I’ve been doing, particularly with second-year students.”

A career in journalism comes with significant challenges, and there’s no telling what the future holds. But for Ntibinyane, there’s no place he’d rather be.

“This is a noble profession. It’s not the most paying profession, but in my view, it is the most rewarding profession,” he said.

“We are the voice of the voiceless. If you really want to become a journalist, you should love the people. You should love telling their stories.”

If you want to pursue a career in journalism, learn more about our Journalism – Mass Media program.