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.

The 2023 Regional Chair’s Classic in Memory of Roger Anderson was a great success. 

On Thursday, June 8 at Deer Creek Golf and Country Club in Ajax, close to 200 golfers and generous sponsors joined Regional Chair John Henry for the 25^th tournament in support of students in financial need at Durham College and Ontario Tech University, as well as patient-focused programs at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.

With $260,000 raised this year, the total amount of funds raised since the tournament’s inception is now more than $7.6 million.

“In Durham Region, we believe that education and mental health programs should be accessible to all. Roger Anderson believed that too,” said Regional Chair John Henry. “By coming together on the golf course for this great event, we have raised money for our students in need and for Ontario Shores Centre’s invaluable youth programs, while honouring Roger’s memory.”

Don Lovisa, president, Durham College; James Barnett, vice-president, Advancement, Ontario Tech University; and Colin O’Regan, board member, Ontario Shores Foundation joined Henry and Roger Anderson’s son Warren for the cheque presentation to share their gratitude on behalf of their respective institutions.

Next year’s event is set for Thursday, June 13, 2024.

Applications are now open for the DoorDash #BlackFoodEnergy Culinary Scholarship. 

Durham College (DC) is proud to partner with DoorDash to launch the DoorDash #BlackFoodEnergy Culinary Scholarship. Two scholarships – valued at $20,000 each, divided between two years – will support domestic and international Black students in DC’s Culinary Management diploma program, gain the skills and experience needed to pursue a career in the culinary field.

“We are grateful for this partnership with DoorDash and the generous supports for Black students in the culinary program,” said Kelly O’Brien, Associate Dean, Faculty of Hospitality & Horticultural Science, DC. “With these scholarships, we will continue to lead the way by developing skilled and experienced culinary students who will take on rewarding careers and further representation of Black individuals in the food industry.”

These scholarships are an extension of the DoorDash #Blackfoodenergy program that supports, amplifies and celebrates Black chefs and Black-owned/led restaurants across Canada.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Durham College to introduce the first #BlackFoodEnergy Culinary Scholarships, designed to give the next generation of chefs and entrepreneurs a head start on their path to success,” said Shilpa Arora, General Manager, DoorDash Canada. “#BlackFoodEnergy helps level the playing field for Black chefs and restaurant owners in our communities with increased access to support and opportunities, like the Culinary Scholarships.”

Applications are now open and close on Monday, July 31. Learn more about the DoorDash #BlackFoodEnergy Culinary Scholarship and how to apply, online.

Durham College (DC) celebrated the opening of its Centre for Innovation and Research (CIR) on Thursday, a collaborative, state-of-the-art space designed to fuel creative thinking, networking and synergistic partnerships between DC and the community.

“This innovative new space helps us continue driving change and adapt to meet the needs of our evolving educational, technological and community landscape,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “The opportunities in research, innovation and experiential learning are truly endless.”

The CIR is home to the college’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) and four of six applied research centres, including the AI Hub, Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation, Mixed Reality Capture Studio and the Social Impact Hub, as well as the Institutional Research Team and the Experiential Learning Hub.

“Over the past year, we’ve received and invested over $5 million that have allowed us to build a state-of-the-art cybersecurity research lab, engage in collaborative research with other Canadian colleges to address the economic and social impacts of the pandemic, and help many small and medium-sized businesses grow and innovate,” added Lovisa.

Rick Menassa, a member of DC’s AI Hub Technical Advisory Committee and CEO of Health Espresso and ICARE Home Health, spoke during the grand opening about the quality of student talent developed at DC thanks to experiential learning offered at DC.

“We consistently hire DC graduates who are ready to fill positions right away. They deliver with excellence, which is a testament to the strategic leadership planning, faculty adaptivity to the changing market needs and types of learning provided at the college,” said Menassa. “DC graduates are equipped with the hands-on skills they need in the workforce, which is why at Health Espresso, two of our three team leaders and 25% of our development team are DC graduates. They go out there and make things better, and the CIR is a place to make that happen.”

DC is committed to experiential learning for students and the CIR will provide students unique hands-on learning opportunities that boost their confidence, skillset and future employability.

First-year DC journalism student, Andrew Neary, has participated in two Experiential Learning Hub projects, including a Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada entrepreneurial podcast called Founders Drive, which recently took home first place at the Enactus Canada regional competition, as well as a virtual reality project that’s part of a Mitacs research internship.

“Being part of the Founders Drive CEWIL Canada project made my college experience better than I could have hoped and allowed me to apply my personal experiences, skills, and interests to my work,” he said at the opening. “To have the chance to create something with the skills I’m developing, learn from industry partners, and develop a sense of community and teamwork is unmatched.”