DC grad awarded by gallery for her creative photography

Durham College (DC) graduate Stephanie Foden has been recognized for finding art from behind the camera.

The 2011 graduate of Media Art and Design’s (MAD) Print and Broadcast Journalism program, has won the Emerging Photographer Award at this year’s Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG) Exposed photography exhibition and auction on November 12. The award prize is a solo exhibition at the Oshawa gallery during the Contact Photography Festival in May. She also won the Community Choice Award as voted on by attendees of RMG Exposed.   

Foden said the college’s programs, resources and staff enabled her to explore many facets of media work. “I had some wonderful profs in my first and second years, such as Brian Legree (Journalism) and Gerry Rose (retired, Journalism professor and program coordinator).” She especially credits her third-year broadcast professor, Anna Rodrigues, for inspiring her to progress as a professional. “She’s a very innovative teacher and is always looking for new media and different forms of storytelling,” said Foden.

“With an open mind, I explored each field of journalism. I easily took to photography more than anything else. The ability to rent equipment and explore this possible career option helped my decision.”

In her third year, she focused on photojournalism learning valuable skills such as blogging, social media and how to integrate different forms of media into her storytelling. “I also learned more about being a documentarian and long-form storytelling, which I enjoy more than anything,” explained Foden, adding that she also enjoyed her college field placement at Canadian Geographic in Ottawa. “They had me working on incredible stories for both the magazine and multimedia for their website. After the internship they sent me on assignment and it was an amazing way to start my career off.”

Following graduation, she was hired as the managing editor of Downtown Oshawa News (DON). DON was developed by Rodrigues with funding from DC’s research and innovation funds as a project-based learning experience for journalism students.

Foden is currently planning her solo exhibition for the RMG in the spring, and is working on a personal project in Brazil. “I hope to continue to progress as a photojournalist, both working on personal work and assignments.”

Her RMG awards are an example of the valuable community relationship the gallery and the college have. “As a former associate dean of MAD and this year’s Chair of RMG Exposed, I was particularly pleased with Stephanie’s award-winning work,” said Charlotte Hale.

DC has been a sponsor of the RMG Exposed event for seven years. Students in the Fine Arts – Advanced program in the School of Media, Art & Design are given memberships and use the gallery for research and exhibitions throughout the year. Students also connect with local young artists, writers, photographers and musicians at RMG Fridays, in which live music, interactive art and social networking occur each month.


Grad credits DC for preparing her for a new career at Global News

Recent graduate Katie Scott is applying what she learned in the Broadcasting – Radio and Contemporary Media program at Durham College (DC) to her new career as a national online journalist covering entertainment and lifestyle stories at Globalnews.ca.

“My Durham College education prepared me for my current role at Global News by teaching me the skills I needed in order to land an internship and stand out from the crowd,” said the 2016 graduate. (The program was formerly Broadcasting for Contemporary Media.)

“My DC education taught me a lot about meeting deadlines in the broadcasting industry. I was also able to explore every aspect of broadcasting before deciding which part of the industry I wanted to work in,” she said.

“I love entertainment and I was very happy that a lot of my projects at DC encouraged me to report on my favourite celebrities. I also felt that having a radio show on Riot Radio, called Spill The Tea, was an amazing experience and allowed me to teach others about the entertainment industry while debating hip-hop topics with my two co-hosts,” she said.

Scott added that she loves the diversity of her work at Global News, where she did her field placement as part of the college’s program. “In my work, an average week consists of pitching and writing stories about anything that is happening in the entertainment industry or viral videos. I come into work every morning and I discuss the trending stories for the day with my editor and we discuss what topics are worth covering. We also work with the online video team to create video content for the stories we publish, sometimes doing voice-overs.”

As a part of Corus Entertainment, her stories are also available on SoCast radio outlet websites and Facebook pages, such as those belonging to Q107 and Fresh FM.

Scott says that she has already learned so much from her editors as she continues to hone her skills. But it was her start at DC that put her on a pathway to success in her new career. “I would love to come to speak to DC students about what I do. In fact, one of my teachers from the program, Anna Rodrigues, has asked me to come in and speak to interns getting ready for their field placements next semester.”

Phil Raby, professor and program co-ordinator of DC’s Broadcasting – Radio and Contemporary Media (BRCM), said, “Our BRCM is one of the few two-year diploma programs in Canada that teaches not only traditional radio and television production, but also a variety of content creation skills for new and emerging online media.” He added, “Passionate and driven students like Katie, who make the most of that training, wind up with a diverse set of skills and knowledge that make them very desirable prospects for a wide variety of forward-thinking employers like Corus Entertainment.”


Durham College breaks ground for its new Centre for Collaborative Education

Members of the Durham College (DC) community, including retirees, alumni, students, employees, elected officials, and industry and community partners, gathered on November 25 to celebrate the official groundbreaking for DC’s new Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE).

The event marked the start of a new chapter at DC while also honouring its past. The CFCE, a legacy project tied to DC’s 50th anniversary in 2017, will replace the aging Simcoe building, which has long been at the heart of the college’s Oshawa campus.

“When I reflect on how our small community college has evolved over the past 50 years into a leading post-secondary institution serving communities locally, nationally and even worldwide, I can’t help but wonder what the next 50 years will bring,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC.

Lovisa added that while there are many exciting changes ahead for DC, one thing will remain constant – the college will always maintain its commitment to ensuring the student experience comes first.

“Staying true to our mission will be vital to ensuring our students achieve success, and together we can elevate a thriving Durham community for the prosperity of future generations,” he said.

The groundbreaking commenced with a blessing offered by Kim Wheatley, an Anishinaabe Traditional Grandmother, to honour the territory of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation on which the college sits and was followed by hot beverages for all and a toast from Lovisa to DC’s past, present and future.

The event also included a piece of the Simcoe building being removed that will be incorporated into the new CFCE, a symbolic integration of the old with the new.

A crossroad of education, services, supports and community, the CFCE will serve as a unique academic and cultural access point for students that brings together local, Indigenous and global community groups along with members of key business sectors.

DC thanks everyone who was able to attend the CFCE ground breaking celebration and who have contributed to the college over the past 50 years. Together we are building something amazing.


DC students’ field-to-fork “Five-Mile Burger” is tops at Taste Canada competition

A burger, and the story behind it, won the day for Durham College (DC) students at a national competition this month.

Culinary Management students Victoria Rinsma and Jonathan Soligo, and Advanced Baking and Pastry Arts student Kristin Atwood competed against their peers from other colleges in the Taste Canada Cooks the Books competition at the 2016 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto on November 12.

With competitors tasked with preparing dishes provided by Taste Canada cookbook authors, the DC team took on Barry C. Parsons’ recipe for a peanut butter sriracha bacon cheeseburger from his cookbook Rock Recipes 2. Not only was their recipe creative and delicious, but the story behind the dish provided the extra dash of local flair the students needed to win the title of Best New Student Chefs.

“Since starting at DC, I have really found a love and passion for locally-sourced food as well as growing your own ingredients. So being able to promote and showcase those things at the competition was great,” said Rinsma.

“We applied our field-to-fork philosophy in making the burger, as we do with everything at DC’s W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF),” said proud coach Peter Lee, professor and program coordinator of the Culinary Programs at the CFF in Whitby.

In their presentation of the burger to competition judges, the DC students described where each locally-sourced ingredient came from, inspiring Parsons to dub it “the Five-Mile Burger”.

Many of the key ingredients such as onions, peppers, zucchini and the student-prepared relish came from the CFF gardens. The star ingredient, a triple-A sirloin, came from the CFF’s Advanced Butchery lab. The bacon was made pancetta-style and double-smoked by the students to make the pan-seared burger double delicious. No ordinary bun would do for this creation. So a recipe from DC’s Advanced Baking and Pastry Arts post-graduate program for a special brioche bun served as the proverbial icing on the cake.

The competition also required students to create a signature garnish featuring canola oil in honour of event sponsor the Canola Council of Canada. In keeping with DC’s field-to-fork vision, the team also made beer-battered onion rings with an onion from the CFF garden and a blonde ale beer from Whitby’s own Brock Street Brewing Company. The rings were cooked in canola oil and served with spicy sesame aioli sauce made from canola as well.

If the description of the students’ burger and onion rings is making you hungry, Lee says Bistro ’67, DC’s full-service teaching-inspired restaurant inside the CFF, may feature it on the menu in the new year. So start lining up now! 


DC wins Whitby Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Award

Durham College (DC) announced today that it has won a prestigious Whitby Chamber of Commerce 2016 Business Achievement Award in the category of Business Achievement (50+ employees). The awards were presented on November 17 at a gala held at the Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility.

“On behalf of everyone at DC, I’d like to thank the Whitby Chamber of Commerce for this 2016 Business Achievement Award, which recognizes the college as a valued member of the business community and contributor to the growth of Whitby and Durham Region,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “To be acknowledged by our peers in this way is a testament to the tireless work of our employees to enhance the business community through initiatives such as partnerships, program expansion, research and innovation, and creating a healthy workplace.”

The Peter Perry & Business Achievement Awards are held each year to recognize the success and outstanding contributions of companies and individuals within the Whitby Chamber of Commerce membership. Winners are honoured for their excellence in one or more of the following areas of operation: enhancement to the broader business community; business development and company growth; strategic alliances and partnerships; community relations; product or service advancement; brand profile and reputation; marketing/branding innovation; and healthy workplace.

Over the past six years, DC has invested more than $45 million at the Whitby campus to further its evolution into a community hub focused on innovative learning, skilled trades and applied research, highlights of which include:

  • The addition of new skilled trades programs, including Mechanical Technician – Elevating Devices that will launch in January 2017.
  • The ongoing development of cold-frame technology by faculty and student researchers, making it possible to grow fresh, local produce year-round by harnessing the sun’s energy and redirecting it to support growth on cold days. Cold-frame technology uses framed boxes built from cedar wood that have special insulation and triple polycarbonate glass on top. Filled with sand, the boxes direct heat collected from the sun to stimulate growth.
  • The W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF). The CFF is focused on the sustainable field-to-fork concept, as supported by its ambassador, celebrity chef Jamie Kennedy. Home to a range of complementary programs in baking, culinary, food and farming, horticulture, hospitality, and event management, the CFF boasts numerous sustainable features and extensive grounds that include an apple orchard, agricultural planting fields, gardens, hoop house and greenhouses that support applied learning and research while growing produce for use in the CFF’s kitchens and laboratories, as well as Bistro ’67 and Pantry.

In addition, DC has established a strong relationship with Habitat for Humanity, a partnership that enables students from the college’s Construction Carpentry – Sustainable program to gain hands-on experience outside of the classroom while providing a way for DC to give back to our community with students and employees assisting with the construction of four homes for families in need.

DC was also a driving force behind the inaugural Idea Summit, held at the CFF in May 2016. The event brought together business leaders and employees from some of Durham Region’s largest employers, who discussed how to promote the region and the development of a set of recommendations to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation. The summit saw the creation of several task forces that are currently working to develop recommendations on how governments at all levels can support the region and its highly-educated and motivated work force.

“DC remains a strong, vibrant presence in Durham Region, and Whitby in particular, where the expansion of our campus has mirrored the community’s growth,” added Lovisa. “This growth and leadership has resulted in more opportunities than ever for our students, and supports the social and economic health of our communities. We look forward to continuing to work with the Whitby business community, including the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, to advance initiatives for the betterment of our community.”


DC Alumni Association pledges $250,000 to Centre for Collaborative Education

Durham College (DC) announced today a $250,000 commitment from the DC Alumni Association to support the Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE) at the college’s Oshawa campus.

“This pledge is a true testament to the commitment DC alumni have to their alma mater,” said Chris Vale, president, DC Alumni Association. “I am proud of the Alumni Association’s decision to support the continued growth of the college. In particular, it underlines our belief in the importance of the Centre for Collaborative Education. We could not be prouder to be helping to build a facility where students, employees and the broader community can come together in ways that extend beyond the scope of traditional education.”

The donation, announced on November 10 at an Alumni Association networking event, is being made over a period of five years. This significant contribution serves to set the pace for the college’s Building Something Amazing fundraising campaign, which will see the college aim to raise $5 million over two years toward the construction of the CFCE. In addition to the association’s commitment to the CFCE, it has also supported the college via several other initiatives over the years including ongoing donations to scholarship and bursary programs, the Building for Our Future and Growing for Our Future capital campaigns and the annual campus holiday food drive.

“On behalf of everyone at Durham College, I extend my sincere thanks to the DC Alumni Association for this wonderful support of our new Centre for Collaborative Education,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “This generous pledge is in keeping with the loyalty and commitment the Alumni Association has demonstrated to the college time and time again. As a key member of the DC family, we are delighted to have its support as we work together toward building something amazing.”

A legacy project tied to DC’s 50th anniversary in 2017, the CFCE will be a multi-level, 75,000-square-foot-facility that will serve as an educational access point for students while bringing together local, Indigenous and global community groups and members of key business sectors. It will provide a new home for several of the college’s most innovative and ground-breaking programs including:

  • The School-College-Work Initiative and the affiliated Centre for Success program, a partnership between DC and the Durham District, Kawartha Pine Ridge District, Durham Catholic District, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District, and Trillium Lakelands District school boards, that assist in-risk students by helping them find their way to college.  
  • The Aboriginal and Student Diversity Centres.
  • Entrepreneurial, Innovation and Creative spaces including the Spark Centre, which will expand applied research opportunities for students, faculty and small- and medium-sized businesses.
  • Global, Open and Collaborative spaces that will enable faculty, students and the broader community to use technology in creative ways to gain unprecedented access to students, educators, thought leaders, subject matter experts and other visionaries from more than 40 countries around the world.
  • Health science facilities including state-of-the art classrooms and labs and a spa focused on massage therapy, cosmetology and aesthetics.
  • Foundation programs designed to prepare students for the continuation of post-secondary education at college or university.
  • Significant collaborative learning and social spaces for students, faculty, staff and community.

Durham College names the Centre for Food after W. Galen Weston

Durham College (DC) announced today that it has named the Centre for Food (CFF) at the Whitby campus after Mr. W. Galen Weston in recognition of a $1-million grant being made to the college by the W. Garfield Weston Foundation (the Foundation). One of Canada’s most prominent business executives, Mr. W. Galen Weston is a leader in food innovation who has been at the forefront of change in the food retailing and baking industries for more than five decades. From bagging groceries in the supermarket to Executive Chairman of George Weston Limited, he has remained committed to the continued advancement of the food industry through teaching and learning.

Focused on the field-to-fork concept, the CFF opened to students in September 2013. Home to a range of complementary programs, the Centre boasts numerous sustainable features and extensive grounds including an apple orchard, agricultural planting fields and a ramped garden feature with a pollinator garden and two-acre arboretum, providing a teaching and learning environment for students, the local agri-food industry, community organizations and the general public. In addition, the grounds include an unheated hoop house, gardens and greenhouses that support applied learning and research while growing produce for use in the Centre’s kitchens and laboratories. The CFF also features Bistro ’67, a full-service, teaching-inspired restaurant, and Pantry, a unique retail store for student-created goods, which are both open to the public. 

“Durham College is honoured to receive this significant gift from the W. Garfield Weston Foundation,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “On behalf of the college, in particular the hundreds of students studying in our CFF programs, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the W. Garfield Weston Foundation for its generosity. Mr. W. Galen Weston is one of Canada’s most accomplished businessmen and philanthropists and well renowned for his leadership in the food processing and distribution industries. The Weston family has long supported the field-to-fork concept and we are extremely proud to have his name linked permanently to the CFF.”

The second significant contribution made by the Foundation in the last two years, this gift is being used to establish $100,000 worth of scholarships and bursaries for students studying in a two-year field-to-fork program; develop new research and testing programs related to food product development and food processing studies; and to purchase equipment to support new research programs related to agriculture and agri-food products.

“I have spent my entire life working in the food business and have seen it evolve dramatically since my younger days working in the bakery with my father. I am proud to be supporting the innovative programs offered in the Centre for Food,” said W. Galen Weston. “These young people are the future leaders of our industry.”

“Ontario’s food and beverage manufacturing sector is the third largest in North America with manufacturing revenues of more than $35 billion and the agri-food industry is the leader for goods production in Durham Region,” added Lovisa. “This gift will enable DC to further its commitment to bring the field-to-fork philosophy to life, harness the vibrant relationships in our region’s food industry, and provide a lasting legacy that will benefit our students and the region now and in the years ahead.”


Durham College honours graduates at 2016 Fall Convocation

While the fall season meant the beginning of school for many Durham College (DC) students, it has also brought an exciting culmination of post-secondary pursuits for others. Those achievements were celebrated on October 27 at the college’s annual fall convocation, commemorating the graduation of 1,159 students from 109 programs.

The event also honoured students who earned a place on the highly regarded President’s Honour Roll as well as recipients of scholarship and leadership awards.

Graduates from the Centre for Food and the schools of Business, IT & Management; Continuing Education; Health & Community Services; Interdisciplinary Studies; Justice & Emergency Services; Media, Art & Design; Science & Engineering Technology; and Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology were awarded their diplomas and certificates in front of hundreds of family and friends.

In his address to graduates, DC President Don Lovisa encouraged students not to buy into the negative perceptions of their generation often perpetuated by the media.

“Some of you are part of the generation that’s been loosely termed as ‘millennials’ or ‘Generation Y’ and for a lot of media commentators, it’s become a handy stereotype to say that this generation has a sense of entitlement when it comes to their work and personal lives,” said Lovisa. “My advice to you is simple. Don’t accept that. Don’t accept for a minute that your generation, and those who follow you, are any less prepared, any less capable and any less willing to work than previous generations. I know this to be true because of my work at DC, and when I look at you here today, I see individuals who are ready to take on the important issues of the world and make a positive difference.”

DC also bestowed its prestigious Faculty Emeritus award to retired professor William (Bill) Marlow in recognition of his outstanding contributions and exemplary service to the college community. During his more than 30 years with the college, Marlow brought his expertise and good humour to several positions including professor and co-ordinator for the Computer Programmer Analyst program, field placement co-ordinator, and acting dean of the School of Business, IT & Management. He also served as a faculty member of DC’s Academic Council where he helped select the software and best practices that have supported the college’s evolution into a modern post-secondary institution.

With the fall convocation, Durham College now boasts more than 76,000 alumni over its 49-year history.


Golden Again! DC wins their 18th OCAA women’s softball title

Durham College won their unprecedented 18th Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) women’s softball title last weekend with an 11-6 victory over the St. Clair Saints in the gold medal game.

A week prior, Durham’s spot at the championship was in jeopardy as they sat in fifth place with eight games remaining in the regular season. The Lords reeled off seven wins over that time to qualify for the championship, where they went 3-0 outscoring their opponents 28-7 en route to the gold medal victory.

“Our bats came alive,” said head coach Jim Nemish. “The coaching staff told the girls that their pitching and defence was where we wanted it to be but they just needed to believe in themselves at the plate. Everyone started hitting and it became contagious. I am so proud of the way we rallied.”

Durham earned a berth in the gold medal game with a 10-3 win over Fanshawe and an 8-4 victory over St. Clair. The Saints beat Fanshawe 7-1 on Saturday morning to get back into gold medal contention.

In the top of the first inning in the finals, St. Clair loaded the bases with none out. Durham managed to get two fly outs and a ground out to keep the Saints off the board.

“That was a real turning point,” said Nemish. “The game could have easily gone the other way but we managed to stay composed and escape the inning.”

Ashley Black (Waterloo, Ont.), who was the Lords hottest pitcher down the stretch, threw the complete game managing to shut down the Saints offence in the first four innings. Following the tournament she was named a championship all-star. Rebecca Ropp (Milverton, Ont.) was 3-for-4 in the championship game with two runs and four RBIs. She was named championship MVP.

Durham finishes the year with a 24-11 overall record, giving Nemish 471 career victories in 28 years on the bench.

For more information please visit durhamlords.com.


DC to host the inaugural National College Baseball Invitational

Durham College will host the top intercollegiate baseball teams in the country at the 2016 Canadian College Baseball National Championship from Thursday, October 27 to Saturday, October 29.
 
Six teams will participate in the championship that features 13 games over three days.
 
“We are very excited to host a national college baseball championship for the first time,” said Durham College athletic director Ken Babcock. “Baseball is growing throughout the country and we felt it was necessary to host a national championship at the collegiate level. With a national championship on the line, teams will be going all out on the field making for some thrilling action for fans to appreciate.”
 
The teams vying for the national championship will include the St. Clair Saints (Windsor, Ont.), John Abbott Islanders (Montreal, Que.), Fanshawe Falcons (London, Ont.), Holland Hurricanes (Charlottetown, P.E.I.), Humber Hawks (Toronto, Ont.), and the host Durham Lords (Oshawa, Ont.).
 
“Durham College and Ritson Field will be excellent venues to host this year’s national championship,” said Durham Lords head baseball coach Sam Dempster. “The program has a rich history that is second to none and I’m certain that nationals will be a success for all of the participants involved.”
 
First pitch for the championship will take place at 1 p.m. as the Lords match-up against the St. Clair Saints at Kinsmen Civic Memorial Stadium. Action will run through the weekend with the national title game set for Saturday, October 29 at 5 p.m.
 
The Lords have hosted award-winning and highly regarded national championships in the past including men’s volleyball (1990 and 2003), women’s volleyball (1990), men’s soccer (1999), women’s soccer (1999), men’s and women’s golf (2001 and 2002), baseball (2009), men’s basketball (2011), golf (2012) and women’s softball (2015).

For more information visit www.durhamlords.com.