Durham College’s (DC) community partners and donors make a tremendous difference in students’ lives by helping DC to continue to develop modern learning spaces, offer dynamic hands-on experiences and remove barriers to access through bursaries and scholarships.

On April 18, DC President Dr. Elaine Popp thanked the college’s partners at the annual President’s Breakfast where attendees had the opportunity to see some of the talent and creativity on campus through a student showcase.

“Your generosity allows students to learn, grow and thrive at DC as they gain the knowledge and skills needed to excel in a rapidly changing world,” Dr. Popp told attendees. “Your support affirms our work and validates our reputation as a leader in post-secondary education and we are proud to align with your vision and goals for the future of our community.”

Donor support means students get hands on-training in cutting-edge spaces like the recently opened Vahaverbeke Family EV Training Centre, the Ontario Power Generation Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology, and The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture, a hub of excellence in urban agriculture, research and teaching.

Linda Flynn, Associate Vice-President, Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, works closely with DC’s donor community and she expressed her appreciation.

“The President’s Breakfast is an opportunity for us to celebrate you, our donors, and to express our deep gratitude for your continued commitment to Durham College and our students,” said Flynn. “Your contributions have a significant impact on our students’ lives through the opportunities they are able to access, experiences they participate in and ultimately the lives they are able to lead.”

DCSA Chairwoman and CEO Megan Bent highlighted the importance of support for student awards including scholarships and bursaries.

“These awards are more than just financial support; they are opportunities for students to pursue their dreams and aspirations without the burden of financial constraints,” she said. “By you investing in our programs, you are investing in the future of our society.”

DC Paralegal Program graduate Drew Samuels is a donor as well as the Vice President of the college’s Alumni Association and a part-time faculty member. Samuels explained that he wanted to direct his time, donations and efforts towards supporting the best student experience possible.

“I want all students, domestic and international, to have the most fulfilling and enriching experience during their studies,” he said. “I hope my contributions become infectious for the next group of students who will then become alumni who will then become active donors.”

Find out more about why giving matters at DC and our donors who support student excellence.

Thanks to generous support from Durham College (DC) employees, alumni and students, DC’s Food Insecurity Bursary helped more than a thousand students who needed extra help navigating the escalating costs of living.

This past holiday season, the bursary supported 1,150 students – a 150 per cent increase over last year.

Originally established as a holiday food drive, the Food Insecurity Bursary provides immediate assistance to students navigating unforeseen financial challenges and with rising grocery costs, the need this year was greater than ever. Funds to support the bursary are raised annually through donations and the DC portion of the annual campus Candy Cane Sale.

“The generosity of our donors is vital to our students’ success and empowers us to help meet their unexpected and urgent needs,” said Linda Flynn, Associate Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni Relations for DC.

DC employees and alumni as well as the Durham College Alumni Association (DCAA), Durham College Student Association (DCSA) and the International Education Office all worked together to raise almost $200,000, a 144 per cent increase compared to 2022.

“The DCSA is deeply committed to addressing the critical issue of food insecurity among students. We are proud to contribute $54,000 to the DC Food Insecurity Bursary to support students,” said Megan Bent, DCSA Chairperson. “This initiative aligns with our ongoing efforts at the DCSA Support Hub and reflects the compassionate leadership of our student board. We are honoured to support this vital cause, ensuring that our students receive the assistance they need to thrive in their academic and personal lives.”

“The support from the Durham College Student Association to the Food Insecurity Bursary is significant, not only in size, but in intention,” added Flynn. “It is a great demonstration of students supporting students and reaffirms the strong sense of community at DC.”

$750,000 donation supports electric vehicle education and innovation

Durham College’s (DC) new, state-of-the-art electric vehicle (EV) lab has been named the Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre, in recognition of the generous support of philanthropists Edmond and Sylvia Vanhaverbeke.

The family’s most recent donation of $750,000 – bringing their total giving to DC to $1 million – demonstrates their commitment to supporting higher education and innovation. The new name was unveiled at a ceremony at DC’s Whitby campus on February 8.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Vanhaverbeke family and The Edmond and Sylvia Vanhaverbeke Foundation for their unwavering support,” said DC president Don Lovisa. “Community support is essential to our success and this gift is a testament to the Vanhaverbeke family’s trust in Durham College and our commitment to hands-on learning and innovative skilled trades programs. This gift will help us create opportunities to lead the way in advancing EV and sustainable technology in the auto sector.”

The Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre is part of a 9,060-square-foot expansion and revitalization of the main building at DC’s Whitby campus. The centre educates motive power technicians on EVs with programs centred on hands-on, experiential learning.

“Our family is grateful to be a part of such an important program at Durham College,” said Edmond Vanhaverbeke. “The growing EV market will play a vital role toward reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions and it is exciting to be a part of that. Plus, we have Durham College alumni in our family and see the value of having a dynamic post-secondary institution within Durham Region educating in the cutting-edge trades that drive our economy locally and beyond.”

Durham College (DC) celebrated the grand opening of the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture’s Ajax Urban Farm today – a modern agricultural green space that’s leading the way in food literacy and security in Durham Region and beyond.

Managed by DC’s Faculty of Hospitality and Horticultural Science, the Barrett Centre’s Ajax Urban Farm is a community-based living lab where DC students gain hands-on learning experiences through the farm’s mission to build a more resilient, inclusive, collaborative and diverse food system in our community. This initiative is made possible thanks to the Barrett Family Foundation and through partnerships with the Town of Ajax and the Regional Municipality of Durham.

“The Barrett Centre’s Ajax Urban Farm is truly leading the way by adding to Durham Region’s agricultural strategy in developing a strong locally sourced food supply for years to come,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “Our community is directly benefiting from the resources developed here by our expert faculty and experiential learning student-led projects.”

The location for the urban farm was announced just a year ago and since then the Barrett Centre team has made great progress and the community has felt an immediate impact.

 Beyond beautiful gardens and orchards, the site features an apiary, hoop houses and a Food Literacy Zone which educates the public on nutrition. A recent addition was an accessible hydroponic indoor farm, which provides fresh produce year-round and is the first of its kind at a Canadian post-secondary institution and the second in all of Canada to be AODA compliant. A significant component of the Barrett Centre’s Ajax Urban Farm is its online community portal – a digital resource hub dedicated to empowering, supporting and educating the public on urban agriculture and food literacy.

“The online portal is an extension of the work done on the farm and connects the Barrett Centre with the community in new ways,” says Kelly O’Brien, associate dean, Faculty of Hospitality & Horticultural Science. “It provides an opportunity for everyone in our community to access resources, have discussions and even ask our expert faculty-specific questions about urban agriculture. From stories on our blog to recipes and educational activities – there really is something for everyone.”

The Barrett Centre’s Ajax urban farm is inspiring people to make a difference in their community and is truly making an impact. With urban farming becoming more and more popular, it inspires not only the community but DC Horticulture Food and Farming students and graduates like Paul Fritzsch to take action.

“Shortly after beginning my education at DC, I soon found myself gravitating towards finding solutions for solving food insecurity,” said Fritzsch. “I worked with fellow students on a partnership project with Colliers Canada and also launched my own business Urban Farm Solutions which has grown and donated over 250 kilograms of food to Community Care Durham on behalf of Colliers and their tenants.”

Subscribe to the Barrett Centre’s Ajax Urban Farm newsletter to stay up-to-date on recent projects or email the farm to book a visit or tour.

Eight Durham College (DC) students launched innovative urban agriculture projects this year, thanks to $5,000 in funding each from the RBC Urban Agriculture Work Integrated Learning Program.

The new grant program is a partnership between RBC and DC’s Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture and aims to raise awareness of this critically important field which encompasses any farming or food production done in an urban area, such as aquaponics, aeroponics, rooftop farms and community gardens.

Students from a wide range of DC’s programs submitted ideas, bringing their unique expertise and experience to promote urban agriculture. Some project examples include:

• The expansion of the DC Farmer’s Market, led by Horticulture – Food and Farming student Natalie Cox.
• A community seedling program that provides seeds to promote planting in urban spaces, from Graphic Design student Labiba Raisa.
• A micro-garden system allowing clients to build their ideal 12’x12′ garden, led by Horticulture – Technician student Matthew McCready.

“With food insecurity a growing concern around the world, it’s more important than ever to develop alternative methods of food production,” said Brenna Bizley, partnership manager, Barrett Centre. “The RBC Urban Agriculture Work Integrated Learning Program is an amazing opportunity for Durham College students and graduates to develop, launch, or scale a project or business related to urban agriculture and make positive contributions to the community. We are grateful for RBC’s support and vision.”

“What an amazing opportunity for students to learn about urban agricultural skills alongside industry experts,” said Andrew Staniforth, RBC Vice-President, Business Financial Services Agriculture. “The RBC Urban Agriculture Work Integrated Learning Program will help students develop the critical sought-after skills and experience needed for jobs of the future and at the same time help address food insecurity in our communities.”

The projects are underway and the students must submit their final report by October 1.

Durham College (DC) has purchased new, state-of-the-art equipment to provide even more opportunities for innovative and hands-on learning thanks to the proceeds from the employee Pay Day Lottery.

Each month, DC employees have the option of buying up to six tickets ($5 each) in the lottery. The lucky winner gets half of the money collected, while the other half goes to the Student Experience Fund.

The Office of Development and Alumni Affairs has unveiled the equipment purchased with last year’s lottery proceeds, which includes:

• Five emergency childbirth simulators for instructors and students in our nursing and paramedic programs.
• A thermal imaging camera to aid in live fire training for firefighting students.
• Two teaching robots for students in our automation and robotics courses and science programs. With many applications, these robots will be featured at events both on- and off-campus.
• A micro-volume spectrophotometer for DNA and RNA quantification, to be used by students in microbiology-related courses within a variety of programs.

“The generosity of our DC family never ceases to amaze me,” said Linda Flynn, associate vice-president, Development and Alumni Affairs. “For just a few dollars every month, our employees make a tangible difference in our college by fostering an environment that encourages growth, innovation, and excellence. With their support, we are enhancing the learning experience and benefiting countless students for years to come.”

DC employees can register for the Pay Day Lottery online via ICE. 

Durham College (DC) celebrated the grand opening of two new modern and collaborative learning spaces – PROTO and an Electrical Vehicle (EV) Lab – on Wednesday.

Together, these new state-of-the-art spaces span 9,060 sq. ft inside DC’s Whitby campus’ main building. PROTO provides clients, industry partners, student engineers and skilled trades faculty members and students an opportunity to collaborate and develop creative solutions and prototypes to address industry challenges. The EV Lab – which makes DC one of only a few Ontario colleges with a dedicated EV learning space – equips students with the specialized skills required in the evolving automotive industry. 

“PROTO and the EV Lab are propelling Durham College forward as a leader in innovation and transformative education,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College.  “The opening of these new spaces further demonstrates our commitment to driving change, generating big ideas and continuously adapting to meet the needs of our evolving industries.”

DC’s Whitby campus has developed exponentially over the past 30 years, becoming a skilled trades and automotive industry hub driven by student and faculty collaboration and partnerships with the local community.

“Our government is proud to support Durham College’s cutting-edge electric vehicle lab and PROTO, which will equip students with the hands-on experience and skills they need to secure in-demand jobs in the automotive industry,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “Through collaboration with companies to solve real-world problems, students will be prepared for the workforce when they graduate, while at the same time strengthening our province’s position as a global leader in the manufacturing of electric vehicles and their batteries.”

With new spaces like PROTO and the EV Lab, students will gain unique opportunities through hands-on learning to enhance their expertise, strengthen their employability and help form meaningful connections with industry and community partners.

“Adapting and growing with industry demands and educating students just like me on the newest technologies and industry practices is what Durham College is known for,” said Electrical Techniques graduate and Canerector Scholar, Kathryn Fullerton, who spoke at the grand opening. “These new spaces will prepare students for the workforce and ensure they have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful.”

Access to educational resources will help tackle food insecurity, inspire sustainable practices

Community education and engagement is the focus of a new food security and sustainability initiative launched by Durham College’s Barrett Centre for Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture (Barrett Centre), in partnership with the Town of Ajax through their new corporate giving program, the Ajax Partnership Fund.

The Barrett Centre’s new Food Literacy Innovation Zone aims to address challenges in food security and supply chains through the lens of urban agriculture by educating local community members about nutrition, gaining access to food and incorporating local and healthy food into their lifestyle.

“Food insecurity and supply chain constraints can lead to a lack of nutritious food that is accessible to the community, especially those who may be unable to locate a variety of food close to home,” said Brenna Bizley, partnership manager at the Barrett Centre. “Having educational materials in conjunction with the Barrett Centre Ajax Urban Farm will have an exponential impact on the community as people learn about the impact of food on their health and the importance of growing locally.”

The Zone, which is now under construction, will be based out of the Barrett Centre Ajax Urban Farm in North Ajax. At the farm, three garden models will be designed – a pollinator garden, home garden and balcony garden – and will act as a template to inspire community members to grow their own food at home. There will also be knowledge sharing through resources and materials to support and enhance food literacy via direct community engagements and the Barrett Centre Community Portal, coming in fall 2023.

“Ajax Council and the Town of Ajax are proud to support the Barrett Centre’s new Food Literacy Innovation Zone through the Ajax Partnership Fund. Thank you to Durham College for partnering with the Town to be able to offer these important resources to our community. This investment reinforces Ajax’s commitment to being a municipal leader in green and sustainable practices to ensure a healthier Ajax for all,” said Mayor Shaun Collier.

 To recognize the farm’s launch and the partners who have supported the Barrett Centre projects to date, DC and the Town of Ajax will host an Open House event in October 2023, where community members will have the chance to explore the farm and Food Literacy Innovation Zone.