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From Diploma to Degree: How Thomas Loveys Found His Fit in Fitness and Kinesiology

For Thomas Loveys, the Fitness and Health Promotion (FIT) program at Durham College (DC) was more than a stepping stone — it was a transformative experience that reshaped his academic journey and career goals.

“I had a great experience in FIT,” said Loveys. “The program helped shape me into the person I am today. I learned just how beneficial exercise can be and how to better incorporate it into my life and the lives of others.”

The two-year diploma program equipped Loveys with hands-on experience, industry insight, and the confidence to thrive in a university setting. It also helped him find his voice.

“FIT really brought me out of my shell,” he recalled. “There were so many in-class activities where you’d practice movements with classmates or even build your communication skills with exercises like motivational interviewing. It was the social part of the program that had the biggest impact on me.”

Supportive faculty, practical volunteer opportunities — including VO2 max testing with Pre-Fire students — and a close-knit community made the experience even more meaningful.

“The professors were always kind and went the extra mile to make sure we understood the material,” he said. “It created a warm and welcoming vibe where I felt like I could grow.”

Graduating in June 2023 with highest distinction, Loveys took full advantage of the bridging pathway from DC’s FIT program to Ontario Tech University’s Kinesiology degree. The transition, he says, was seamless — and incredibly valuable.

“Thanks to my time at DC, I came into Kinesiology with a strong foundation. I already knew my study habits and had basic knowledge of complex topics. That made a huge difference,” Loveys explained. “The most valuable part of the pathway was being able to work as a personal trainer while studying. I was able to land a job early in university doing something I love — and making money at the same time.”

To students considering the same route, Thomas is clear: start with the Fitness and Health promotion program.

“You gain a ton of practical skills that you wouldn’t get from university alone,” he said. “Two years is enough time to mature and really appreciate your education. And FIT will also help you decide if Kinesiology is really for you. Courses such as exercise physiology and fitness assessment are quite similar to what you would experience in Kinesiology, so if you enjoy those courses and want to learn more, this pathway is for you.”

Looking back on his time at DC, it’s the community that stands out most.

“Whether it was in the gym, cafeteria, or walking to class, you could talk to anyone,” he said. “There was always something going on. My years at DC were some of the best of my life, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”

If you are passionate about health and fitness and ready to turn that passion into a career, the Fitness and Health Promotion program is your first step toward professional success. Students are prepared for certification with nationally recognized organizations like the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), the Ontario Fitness Council, and others. These credentials are highly respected across Canada and open doors to a wide range of career opportunities in fitness, wellness, and health promotion and gives students a competitive edge and the confidence to succeed in the bridge program and after graduation.

Fitness and Health Promotion student says field placement taught her skills that can’t be learned in the classroom

As she graduates this spring, Melissa Lenis is ready to launch her career in wellness with a confidence boost from a successful field placement where she built connections and applied what she learned in the classroom.

Lenis spent time exploring her options before choosing a career path. She began her journey at DC in Police Foundations in 2014 before switching to 911 Emergency and Call Centre Communications in 2018 where she earned a diploma. Ultimately, she decided she wanted to work in wellness and is now graduating with a diploma in Fitness and Health Promotion.

“I’ve always loved coming to DC,” she said. “I live in Whitby so it’s close to home, you get a bus pass, campus is easy to navigate, the programs and Gen Eds are interesting and the health benefits are great. As a mature student having dental, therapy or chiropractic services mostly covered is a big deal as it’s expensive without any assistance.”

She said she attended a DC Open House in 2022 to meet faculty in the Fitness and Health Promotion program and impactful conversations led to her applying right away.

“I could tell they were passionate about what they do at DC, and knew this was a perfect program for me.”

Lenis said her program has prepared her for a career in many ways. A highlight was her job placement at a long-term care home.

“I had no experience working with seniors let alone with a variety of physical and cognitive limitations, but I wanted a challenge. I have a lot of experience in gyms and with fitness for the general population, but this was a great opportunity to try something I’ve never done before.”

Through her placement she gained experience with group exercise classes, one-on-one exercise based on care plans, physical assessments for residents and documenting.

“I’ve loved placement and made many connections with the residents, their families, my supervisor and my peers, and I’m continuing to volunteer as I don’t want to leave the residents,” she said, adding that she felt pride in seeing the long-term care residents making progress.

“Having placement in a program, you get to learn many skills that can’t be learned in a classroom. In class we were taught about exercise prescription for the elderly population, but getting to apply the information learned as well as adapting to new situations with each resident — everyone is a unique individual with a plan tailored to them — made me feel incredibly prepared for a future career in fitness and wellness.”

Looking towards the future, Lenis said she wants to launch a wellness business coaching women to eat intuitively and to nourish their body and mind.

“The fitness industry is heavily influenced by diet culture which leads to body image shame, food restrictions, labelling food as ‘good’ and ‘bad’, over exercising to burn off calories after eating what is deemed as a big meal and a million other disconnecting behaviours,” she explains. “I want women to not feel shame in what they eat or how they look, and to move their body every day in a way that is enjoyable to them.”

Her advice for anyone considering her program is to pursue it.

Creating purpose from passion: Rochelle Palmer’s mission to empower women through fitness and health

In a world where health, wellness, and fitness are becoming increasingly top-of-mind, Durham College’s (DC) Fitness and Health Promotion program stands out as a perfect opportunity for individuals like Rochelle Palmer. Rochelle’s journey, from completing the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program at DC to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the health and fitness industry and now, a new founder, showcases the true power of following your heart through education.

Rochelle’s story and commitment to helping others lead healthier lives began in 2018 when she embarked on her own fitness journey while taking DC’s ECE program. She discovered Herbalife, a company whose products not only helped her lose post-pregnancy weight, but also ignited her passion for health and wellness.

“I realized that my journey and experience could help other people get healthy,” says Rochelle. “I was connecting with moms all over the world who were building their confidence and feeling good.”

Although her new passion to help women emerged halfway through the ECE program, Palmer continued her studies and graduated to set an example for her children. Her experience helping others with their health goals transformed her own life as it paved the way for her future education.

After four successful years with Herbalife, Rochelle felt a desire to expand her knowledge further. Despite feeling hesitant at first, she decided to pursue another diploma.

“Going back to school kind of felt like taking a step backwards, and that’s also when my postpartum depression started,” she explains. After enrolling in DC’s Fitness and Health Promotion program, she felt a sense of comfort and support during a challenging time.  “It seemed like a good option because I knew that I would learn a lot and be able to apply this knowledge once I started to feel better.”

During her time at DC, Rochelle’s entrepreneurial spirit has flourished. Her idea for her business, EmpowHer, had been on her mind since 2019 after being inspired by her clients’ requests for fitness training and group classes. So, she decided to take action and begin planning to make it a reality. Her idea for EmpowHer was validated and celebrated last month when Rochelle won first prize during a DC pitch competition, hosted by the college’s entrepreneurial resource hub, FastStart.

“My journey has literally led me to this moment and the FastStart program,” she says.

Rochelle’s goals for her business are ambitious yet rooted in her commitment to community and female empowerment. She envisions her business as a fusion of health and fitness, offering nutritious meal options alongside fun and inclusive fitness programs. A unique aspect of her vision is having on-site counseling services, providing women with a safe space to prioritize their mental and emotional well-being.

“I’d also like to have daycare in the building as mothers miss events all the time due to lack of support,” she says. “My long-term goal is to open multiple locations in different communities.”

Rochelle is planning to launch her business in summer 2025, after graduating.

Reflecting on her experience at DC so far, Rochelle encourages aspiring entrepreneurs and fitness enthusiasts to consider DC’s Fitness and Health Promotion program.

“I think anyone who has the desire to use fitness to help others should take this program,” she says. “Coming in, I thought it would be all about exercising, but it turns out this program digs deeper and teaches you the skills you need to run a health and fitness business, too. There are so many layers to this program, I think everyone could benefit from it.”

Are you ready to turn your passion for fitness into a rewarding career? DC’s Fitness and Health Promotion program might just be the perfect fit for you. From communication skills to wellness principles, you’ll learn what it takes to succeed in this popular industry.

Gaining on-the-job skills before graduation sets DC students up for success

Future fitness professional and Durham College Fitness and Health Promotion student, Josh Malbon, is getting on-the-job experience before he even graduates from college.

He is one of a number of students participating in a collaborative project* with students in the Firefighter – Pre-Service Education and Training program who are measuring the vital physiological responses of future firefighters as they perform real-life fire simulations to help learn how to improve their health, safety and performance.

“Working with students in the firefighter program is strengthening my ability to connect and communicate with clients in a professional setting,” said Malbon. “And the chance to work with a special population and learn specific procedures and protocols related to occupational testing is a huge benefit.”

Providing opportunities like this for students to participate in hands-on learning – also known as experiential learning or work-integrated learning – is a focus and priority for Durham College. Whether it is field placement, applied research, apprenticeship or co-op, they all have the shared objective to strengthen the skills students learn in the classroom by applying them to real-life settings.

And the result is undeniable that it gives students the skills employers are looking for and helps set them apart from the competition at graduation.

For Russell Waring, a third-year Computer Programming and Analysis student at DC, the opportunity was a co-op experience with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation that he says has helped boost his employability in the competitive field of information technology in advance of his graduation this spring.

“The Experiential Learning office supported me throughout the entire co-op experience,” said Waring. “Without the opportunities provided by DC’s work-integrated learning, I would not be graduating with the experience and confidence that I have today.”

Hands-on learning opportunities can also be student-led. In the Faculty of Media, Art & Design (MAD), a collaborative project lets students test out entrepreneurship and gain first-hand business experience.

Project Founders Drive*, a series of podcasts launched by DC’s Enactus Team, is helping student entrepreneurs realize their dreams and materialize business opportunities. With 18 jobs created for students across six MAD programs, the project has helped young professionals start seven businesses and exposed 780 people to entrepreneurship, not to mention the experience gained by the team.

No matter the form of learning, it’s all about gaining valuable experience while completing your studies to be job-ready on graduation day. And DC is here to help you get there.

To learn more about hands-on learning at DC, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/experiential-learning.

*These projects are funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovation Work-Integrated Learning program and Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada’s Innovation Hub.