Black history is our history. In 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada, following a motion introduced by the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, Jean Augustine.

The theme for Black History Month 2022 is February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day. As we look ahead to another year, we celebrate and honour the many achievements of diverse Black communities and their contributions to our region, province and country. It is important in our celebrations that we continue to acknowledge and challenge inequities that perpetuate anti-Black racism in society. As a campus community, we are called to address racism in all its forms.

The Black Student Success Network (BSSN), in partnership with the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OEDI), invites you to join in learning, reflection and celebration that fosters meaningful change as we continue to build a college environment with respect and understanding.

The campus community is invited to join in the upcoming programming in honour of Black History Month:

Glass Walls: Higher Education and the Black Experience Keynote Speaker: Eternity Martis

In her debut memoir, They Said This Would be Fun, Eternity Martis explores the intersections of race and gender in navigating spaces of higher education. Eternity is an award-winning, Toronto-based journalist, best-selling author and editor whose work has been featured in The Huffington Post, VICE, Chatelaine, Maclean’s, Flare, Salon, CBC, Hazlitt, The Walrus, Refinery29 and many more.

When: Wednesday, February 23 from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Where: Online

Please register in advance to participate.

Reclaiming Black Joy
This event is open to all students who identify as members of the Black community.

This session is designed to provide a space for Black-identified students to engage with one another and build community in a supportive virtual environment. Throughout this interactive session, participants will experience activities and discussion to encourage open dialogue that brings joy and strength to their lived experiences as Black/African Canadians. All participants who register for this event before Friday, February 18 will be entered into a draw for a chance to win a surprise prize pack!

When: Thursday, February 24 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Online

Please register in advance to participate.

The BSSN and OEDI continue to collaborate with community partners to curate community-centred spaces to engage in critical dialogue to address the impacts of racial discrimination through interactive activities.

DC students and employees wishing to learn more about Black History Month are encouraged to access the resources available through the Campus Library:

• Black History Month 2022: Print and e-book collection
• Anti-Black Racism and White Privilege: Print and e-book collection
• Criterion On-Demand: Video collection on Black History
• Kanopy: Video collection of Black voices and stories.

Note: Network login is required to access an e-book or video.

Additional resources:

• Government of Canada

Please be advised that beginning Tuesday, February 1, the designated entry point for the Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology (CSTT) at the Whitby campus will return to its original location at the north main entry doors. The central east entrance doors will no longer be accessible.

As a reminder, to further ensure the health and safety of our campus community, all those attending Durham College (DC) campuses, including employees, students and visitors, must complete the COVID-19 Pre-entry Screening Questionnaire.

We encourage all individuals to check our COVID-19 webpage regularly for updates including up-to-date information about coming to campus. If you have a question that hasn’t been answered on the COVID-19 webpage, please email dccares@durhamcollege.ca.

This message is being shared on behalf of Darlene Heslop, director, Campus Health and Wellness Centre. Please direct any questions to Kymberly Kvasnak, health promotions co-ordinator, campus Health and Wellness Centre.

Bell Let’s Talk Day is today, January 26 and Durham College’s (DC) Campus Health and Wellness Centre (CHWC) is joining in to help drive meaningful progress in mental health.

COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our lives, including mental health. However, tools are available to support ourselves and each other.

Since 2010, Canadians and people around the globe have joined in the world’s largest conversation around mental health on Bell Let’s Talk Day. Together we have taken big steps to reduce the stigma around these issues and inspire one another to take action and help create a Canada where everyone can access the support they need.

In a recent survey conducted by Nielsen Consumer Insights, 82 per cent of Canadians now say they are comfortable speaking with others about mental health, compared to only 42 per cent in 2012. By joining in and taking action, we are all helping to make a real difference.

The 2022 Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign highlights the ways that we can support ourselves and those we care about through actions like listening, being there and talking. Every Canadian can play a part in their communities, workplaces, schools and at home.

Some events and resources available today include:

• Instagram Live Session (@wellnessatdc), 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Join the CHWC mental health team to discuss supports on campus, self-care, stigma, and answer any of your questions!
• An Evening with Andre De Grasse, 7 to 9 p.m. – organized by the Durham College Student Association, join Andre De Grasse as he speaks on mental health and how to overcome adversities at any stage in life: whether you’re dealing with school pressure, or standing on the Olympic podium. Register for this free event online.
• Giveaway – Follow @wellnessatdc on Facebook and Instagram over this week and join in our social media Bell Let’s Talk campaign to “keep being there, keep talking.” When we post our Bell Let’s Talk Bubble, follow @wellnessatdc, like our Talk Bubble post, and share your own Talk Bubble with a message of hope to create positive change. We will randomly select one winner from the IG LIVE session and one Bubble Talk participant. Prize includes: a one-year subscription to Headspace, a coop pillow, weighted blanket, happy light, Bell Let’s Talk and CHWC swag! Draw closes at 8 a.m. on Thursday, January 27. You must be a DC student and 18 years or older to participate.
• Bell Let’s Talk Toolkit – Find resources, learn more about some of the organizations providing meaningful mental health supports and services throughout Canada in the Bell Let’s Talk toolkit to begin your own conversation about mental health at home, school or in the workplace.

Keep listening, talking and being there for ourselves and each other.

On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Bell donates 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for every applicable text, local or long distance call, tweet or TikTok video using #BellLetsTalk, every Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube view of the Bell Let’s Talk Day video, and every use of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat lens. All at no cost to participants beyond what they would normally pay their service provider for online or phone access.

Please join us this Bell Let’s Talk Day by showing your support for all those who live with mental illness and those taking action to help them.

This message is being shared on behalf of Dr. Elaine Popp, executive vice president, Academic.

Dear students,

Each year, you are asked to share feedback about your Durham College (DC) experience by completing our Student Experience Survey. Beginning Monday, January 31, you’ll have the opportunity to share your opinions and ensure your voice is heard through our 2022 survey.

Participation is voluntary, and students who complete the survey will have the opportunity to enter a draw for a chance to win one of 20 $100 Amazon gift cards.

Learn more about the upcoming Student Experience Survey in this video.

This week, Durham College (DC) will host its third annual Social Justice Week with three days of keynote speakers and an information fair exploring timely social issues including homelessness, disability advocacy, harm reduction, human trafficking, and mental health.

Events will take place virtually and include:

• Tuesday, January 25:
  • Geri Mariano: Perseverance Through the Pandemic
  • Elizabeth Pierce Speaking on Mental Health
• Wednesday, January 26:
  • Champions for Action Information Fair
  • Mark Wafer on Championing People with Disabilities
• Thursday, January 27:
  • Nicole Whitmore on Harm Reduction, Homelessness and Radical Inclusivity
  • Sarom Rho on International Students and Unique Impacts of the Pandemic

Learn more about the scheduled events and how to attend virtually.

Social justice is a concept rooted in the belief that everyone deserves equity in distribution of wealth, opportunities and privileges within a society.

Issues related to social justice intersect with nearly every field of study, industry and community with which DC is connected. Social Justice Week is truly an event for all members of our campus community and the greater Durham Region. 

Events are free.

This message is being shared on behalf of Christine Murphy, director, Career and Student Development. Please direct any questions to Jennifer Powell.

Today marks the first day of Durham College’s (DC) Gear Up to Get Hired events designed to help you transition smoothly from campus to career and to prepare you for our Virtual Job Fair, taking place on Thursday, February 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. There are more than 85 employers scheduled to attend the fair and looking forward to meeting you. To see the list of employers who are registered, click here.

From January 24 to February 2, you will have the opportunity to attend workshops and sessions that will cover how to create a personal pitch, resumé writing techniques, job fair success strategies, using LinkedIn and more. You can then put your skills to work at DC’s Virtual Job Fair on February 3. Learn more about the interactive platform here.

A registration email titled “Welcome to durhamcollege/CAREERlink” was sent to your dcmail.ca account on January 10. If you haven’t already registered, click on the link and click “Forgot Password” to restart the registration process.

Students who sign-up to attend the Virtual Job Fair will be entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card!

Hiring for part-time, full-time, contract summer and co-op positions, this Virtual Job Fair is a great way to get your foot in the door or gain experience networking.

A full list of events is available on the events calendar of Hired or follow @GetHiredDC on Instagram or #GetHiredDC on social media to get the latest updates.

Have a question? Please direct any inquiries to Career Development via email.

As Durham College prepares for increased in-person learning beginning Monday, January 31, detailed class schedules will be available via MyDC as of Monday, January 24 at 10 a.m. Student timetables will provide course-level information and identify which courses require in-person attendance, and which will continue to be offered remotely.

To give students additional time to review timetable changes and make decisions, the last day for full-time students to withdraw (domestic students less a $500 non-refundable deposit) or shift to part-time student status with a refund of semester fees has been extended to Tuesday, January 25. Students are encouraged to speak with their Student Advisor if they have specific questions.

Students should continue to follow their original schedule until Sunday, January 30 and are encouraged to print a copy prior to January 24.

This message is being shared on behalf of Nikki Samuel, director, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Please direct any questions to Shauna Moore, advisor, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Five years ago, on January 29, the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City was subject to a tragic, hateful, and Islamophobic crime which resulted in the deaths of six members of the community and the injury of many more.

Last year, the Federal Government designated January 29 as a National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia, to honour the victims and express solidarity with the survivors.

 The Green Square campaign

To mark this day, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) has created the Green Square campaign as a way to take collective action to disrupt anti-Muslim hate and remember those who lost their lives in the deadly mosque attack. The green square represents the green carpets of the Quebec City mosque, where the victims last stood to pray.

Taking place in the week leading up to the 29, there are many ways you can participate, including wearing a green square and using the hashtags #GreenSquareCampaign and #WeRememberJan29 on social media, to share why the Green Square campaign is important and what action you want to see to make Canada a safer place for all Canadians. A full list of ways you can get involved can be found online.

Reminder: Second session of DC’s deconstructing anti-Muslim hate workshop
As a reminder, the second virtual workshop on deconstructing anti-Muslim hate is taking place on Wednesday, January 19 from noon to 1 p.m. and will focus on the practical ways to respond to Islamophobia.

Hosted by Durham College’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the event is open to employees, students and the broader community, and is being facilitated by Aasiyah Khan, manager, Education Programs with the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

Session two registration is still open. Please sign-up to attend online. A link to join will be provided prior to the event.

Student supports
As we approach the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia it is important to be mindful that this time can be increasingly difficult for members of the DC community. A list of counselling services and/or supports for students is available online. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need assistance.

This message is being shared on behalf of Christine Murphy, director, Career and Student Development. Please direct any questions to Jennifer Powell.

Are you planning to attend the Virtual Job Fair on Thursday, February 3? Do you want to be prepared to meet with employers who are looking for students and soon-to-be grads for full and part-time work, summer jobs and contract roles? View the registered employers here. To learn more about the interactive platform, click here.

A registration email titled “Welcome to durhamcollege/CAREERlink” was sent to your dcmail.ca account on January 10. If you haven’t already registered, click on the link and click “Forgot Password” to restart the registration process.

Durham College is here to help you get ready to stand out. We’ve planned several webinars and virtual workshops to help you make a lasting impression, including resume preparation, preparing personal pitches, virtual interview tips and more.

Visit the Hired Portal for a complete list of Gear Up to Get Hired events and Job Fair updates. Check out the events calendar on the portal for a list of employers interested in hiring DC grads. The best part? Even if you can’t attend a live webinar, you will find the recording on the Hired Portal.

Please be advised that Durham College (DC) is monitoring the weather and remains open.

At this time, DC campuses remain open for in-person classes and services, as scheduled.

If you are coming to campus, please leave enough time to travel safely and use caution. As a reminder, there may be surfaces on campus that are extremely slippery, please take care walking through parking lots and on walkways.

Please note: school board bus cancellations does not mean that DC will close.

Important links:

• What does a campus closure mean to me?
• Inclement weather procedure
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation winter driving information
• Environment Canada weather forecasts for Ontario (select your town or city from the list)
• Durham Region Transit
• GO Transit