How Open House can shape your Durham College experience

For those who attend, Durham College (DC) Open House can be a life-changing experience.

The event, which invites guests to explore the DC campus and connect with faculty and staff, is often the first opportunity prospective students have to see their visions of a post-secondary future come to life.

What’s more, the connections made at Open House can have a defining impact on a student’s time at DC.

That was certainly the case for Tracey Van Ooyen, a 2026 graduate of DC’s Office Administration – Health Services program. Her visit to Spring Open House in April of 2023 did more than convince her that the program was right for her. It also introduced her to a classmate who became one of her closest friends. And her encounter with student life coordinator Janis Li was equally impactful.

“Janis is the reason I got so involved at Durham College. Just by going to Open House and speaking to her, I learned so much,” said Van Ooyen, who came to the event as a mature student who was unsure how she would fit in with her younger peers.

Li pointed her to a number of helpful services, from the Access and Support Centre to Student Academic Learning Services, and stressed the importance of connecting with them early on. But it was the opportunity to help others as part of the DC Crew Leadership Program that would come to define her time at DC.

“The student leadership program teaches you a lot of things. You get to learn a lot about yourself and the way you lead others, and you learn how to work with people. That’s all really beneficial when you’re heading out into the workforce,” she said.

It’s the chance to learn about all of the services that DC offers to students that makes a visit to Open House so worthwhile, according to the DC alumna.

Are you attending DC’s Fall Open House on Saturday, November 7? Van Ooyen has some advice that will help you get the most out of your trip:

Visit as many displays and booths as possible.
Talk to staff, student representatives, and volunteers.
Ask questions and find out what each service or group offers.
Explore opportunities beyond your program.
Learn about student support services early.
Be open to unexpected discoveries and new connections.

“I highly recommend Open House,” she said. “It shows you that Durham College has a lot to offer.”