College seeking community input to help shape year-long celebrations in 2017

Oshawa, Ont. — Durham College (DC) announced today that it has launched an official 50th anniversary website and online survey, kicking off the countdown to the college’s milestone birthday in 2017. With news, updates and event information, the website will serve as a hub for DC’s anniversary celebrations, where community members can stay informed, entertained and engaged.

“The theme of the 50th anniversary celebrations for both Durham College and Colleges Ontario is The Start of Something Amazing and that’s exactly what this website embodies,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “Designed to evolve as the year unfolds, the site will provide an opportunity for us to invite everyone — students, alumni, employees, retirees and members of the community — to share their memories of where we’ve been and their vision for where we’re going. In particular, it will provide the opportunity to hear how DC has positively influenced some of our most successful alumni via video footage from our President’s Panel.” 

The site features photo and video galleries, anniversary special event listings, as well as DC and Colleges Ontario facts. It also highlights the variety of ways visitors can stay connected, such as subscribing to anniversary-related email updates, sharing DC stories via social media using #DC50, and submitting favourite memories and video footage to the website.

“One way members of our community, in addition to our employees, students, alumni and more, can participate in our celebrations is by taking a few minutes to complete our 50th anniversary survey,” said Scott Blakey, chief administrative officer and co-chair, 50th Anniversary Committee, DC. “Their input and contributions, from favourite DC anecdotes to photos to artifacts, will shape our celebrations in the year ahead.”

Visitors should stop by the website frequently to stay up-to-date on the latest 50th anniversary news and events and help celebrate with the extended DC family.

One of the first colleges established under the Ontario college system, Durham College has come a long way since its founding in 1967. From 16 portable classrooms and 205 students to more than 30,000 students, campuses in Oshawa and Whitby and a learning site in Pickering, DC has been meeting the changing needs of students, industry and government for almost five decades.

On April 19, DC announced its receipt of $22 million in funding from the Ontario government toward the construction of the Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE) at the Oshawa campus, a legacy project tied to DC’s 50th anniversary. The CFCE will replace the college’s aging Simcoe building, which was originally built as a temporary structure and opened in 1969. The new three-storey facility will bring together local, Indigenous and global communities, providing a new home for several of the college’s innovative and ground-breaking programs. The 50th anniversary website also includes a link to where donations to the CFCE project can be made.

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About Durham College

At Durham College (DC), the student experience comes first. With campuses in Oshawa and Whitby and a learning site in Pickering, the college offers more than 12,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students access to more than 140 full-time and 16 apprenticeship programs in a number of different disciplines, enabling them to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

The Oshawa campus features the state-of-the-art Student Services building and the college will soon break ground on the Centre for Collaborative Education, a legacy project tied to DC’s 50th anniversary in 2017. The new facility will bring together local, Indigenous and global communities, providing a new home for several of the college’s most innovative and ground-breaking programs. The Whitby campus features the Centre for Food, including Bistro ’67, a full-service, teaching-inspired restaurant, and Pantry, a retail store featuring food prepared by students in the college’s culinary programs.

For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:

Melissa McLean
Communications and Marketing
T: 905.721.2000 ext. 2952
melissa.mclean@durhamcollege.ca

Field-to-fork learning centre continues to earn environmental accolades

Oshawa, Ont. – Durham College (DC) announced today that its Centre for Food (CFF), located at the Whitby campus, has been named a 3 Star Certified Green Restaurant®. The certification builds on the CFF’s previous 2 Star rating, which was awarded by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA), a non-profit organization that guides restaurants on becoming more environmentally sustainable, in 2014.

The rating applies to a total of nine CFF spaces, including Bistro ’67, the college’s full-service, teaching-inspired restaurant; Pantry, a unique retail store that brings student-created goods straight from the field to the culinary classroom and on to the community; the large quantities, culinary and culinary baking kitchens; the wine-tasting/mixology lab; the food distribution centre; the lecture demonstration theatre; and the banquet hall.

“This advancement from Durham College’s previous 2 Star rating, received only two years ago, is a credit to the incredible work of everyone at the CFF in conjunction with our Sustainability office as we work to integrate both field-to-fork and environmental sustainability into all aspects of the CFF’s operations,” said Kevin Baker, principal, Centre for Food. “It’s also a powerful demonstration of the college’s dedication to environmental leadership and I am proud of our commitment to teaching students by example how they can go on to incorporate sustainability into their careers, workplaces and personal lives post-graduation.”

The CFF received 177.03 GreenPoints™ in recognition of implementing 63 environmental steps across the categories of energy, water, waste, disposables, chemicals and pollution, food, and buildings and materials, marking a 40-per cent increase in points over the centre’s initial GRA certification. Points were awarded in recognition of numerous sustainable features including:

• A two-storey living wall herb garden
• On-site food production, use of local produce and offering of vegan and vegetarian main dishes
• A comprehensive recycling program that includes food waste in order to reduce the CFF’s carbon footprint
• A hydration station for filling reusable water bottles
• Use of compostable take-out containers
• Low-flow toilets, touchless sensor faucets and waterless urinal technology

“Our new 3 Star rating is a true reflection of what we’re doing with eco-focused facility improvements, practices and standards at the CFF,” said Michelle Darling, senior project manager, DC, who oversees the college’s Sustainability office. “We’ve made incredible progress in a short period of time, and achievements like this keep both employees and students motivated as we continue to green DC.”

Focused on the field-to-fork concept, which is based on the harvesting, storing, processing, packaging, sale and consumption of food – in particular the production of local food for local consumers, the CFF opened to students in September 2013. Supported by ambassador and celebrity chef Jamie Kennedy, it boasts numerous sustainable building features in addition to those identified by the GRA. These include a glass curtain wall to maximize natural light, a fully automated building controls management system, occupancy sensors and the use of safer hand soaps.

The CFF’s grounds feature an apple orchard, agricultural planting fields, gardens and greenhouses that support academic applied-learning and research while growing fruits, vegetables and other produce for use in its kitchens, laboratories and Bistro ’67. Production methods have low environmental impact, demonstrate water stewardship and result in reduced energy consumption.

The south side of the building includes a ramped garden feature with a pollinator garden for native birds, bees and butterflies and planning for a two-acre arboretum is underway. This will see the planting of more than 200 species of trees, shrubs, perennials and fruit-bearing plants, providing a teaching and learning environment for students, the local agri-food industry, community organizations and the general public.

DC faculty and students are also collaborating on unique, agri-focused applied research projects at the CFF, including the development of cold-frame technology, which harnesses the sun’s energy to support the growth of fresh, local produce year-round, and the improvement of drones’ data-collecting capabilities to help local farmers with crop management.

Able to accommodate 900 students, the CFF is home to the college’s Horticulture – Food and Farming, Horticulture Technician, Culinary Management, Culinary Skills, Advanced Baking and Pastry Arts, Event Management, Hospitality – Hotel and Tourism Operations Management, Hospitality Skills and Special Events Planning programs.

For more information on the college’s green certification ranking, please visit the GRA’s website.

For more information on the CFF please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/CFF.

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About Durham College

At Durham College (DC), the student experience comes first. With campuses in Oshawa and Whitby and a learning site in Pickering, the college offers more than 12,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students access to more than 140 full-time and 16 apprenticeship programs in a number of different disciplines, enabling them to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

The Oshawa campus features the state-of-the-art Student Services building and the college will soon break ground on the Centre for Collaborative Education, a legacy project tied to DC’s 50^th anniversary in 2017. The new facility will bring together local, Indigenous and global communities, providing a new home for several of the college’s most innovative and ground-breaking programs. The Whitby campus features the Centre for Food, including Bistro ’67, a full-service, teaching-inspired restaurant, and Pantry, a retail store featuring food prepared by students in the college’s culinary programs. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:

Melissa McLean
Communications and Marketing
T: 905.721.2000 ext. 2952
melissa.mclean@durhamcollege.ca

 

OSHAWA, ONTARIO – Long-standing campus partners Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) announced today a new Innovative Initiatives Fund that will support collaborative initiatives proposed by staff and faculty at both institutions.

The fund has a project budget of $300,000 ($150,000 from each institution) to be used in a pilot year (2016-2017), after which funding will be considered on a more permanent basis.

“DC and UOIT have enjoyed a productive partnership for over a decade,” said Don Lovisa, President, DC. “This fund represents how we can broaden that partnership to include innovations in academic initiatives, research and innovation, support for entrepreneurship and joint partnerships involving the community.”

“The underlying spirit of the successful projects should be that students benefit from collaboration and that the campus and its institutions become more than the sum of their parts,” said Tim McTiernan, President and Vice-Chancellor, UOIT.

A steering group of senior staff and faculty from each institution are developing decision-making criteria and rules related to joint project proposals. The funding can be used to leverage joint partnerships and matching funding, where available. Projects could begin as early as this fall.

The two institutions’ history of collaboration includes an array of seamless and flexible academic pathways programs for students. The university and college also share services, such as campus security and information technology, that enhance administrative efficiency.

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Media contacts:

Melissa McLean
Communications and Marketing
Durham College
905.721.2000 ext. 2952
melissa.mclean@durhamcollege.ca

Bryan Oliver
Communications and Marketing
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
905.721.8668 ext. 6709
bryan.oliver@uoit.ca

 

Durham College (DC) is pleased to welcome Debbie Johnston as the new associate dean, School of Business, IT & Management (BITM), effective Thursday, June 23.

Debbie brings 23 years of business management and post-secondary experience to DC. This includes seven years at Humber College (Humber) where she was director of Professional and Continuing Education at Humber’s Business School. In that role she was responsible for a team of approximately 75 part-time faculty delivering diploma and certificate courses and was a member of the administrative leadership team that spearheaded the creation and revitalization of programs and courses in order to meet emerging industry needs.

During her time at Humber, Debbie was also a full-time professor and program co-ordinator for the Business Administration and Business Management diploma programs.

Prior to her work in post-secondary education, Debbie held a number of progressively senior roles during more than 15 years at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), including vice-president, Workforce Excellence and Employee Investment. In this role, she developed and implemented a blended-learning strategy, and created an external communications strategy that contributed to the success of a new, self-directed approach to learning. During her time at CIBC she received four learning industry best-practice awards.

Debbie holds a master of Business Administration from Liverpool University and is a graduate of the Teaching Excellence Program at Humber. In addition, she is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association and the Institute for Performance and Learning.

Debbie’s vast experience in business management and education, in conjunction with her strong commitment to student success, makes her a valuable addition to Durham College and we are delighted that she has decided to join the DC family.

Extension will help generate economic growth and development in Durham Region and well beyond

The group’s leadership called the announcement a great day for everyone associated with dLAB and the broader Durham Region community. They noted dLAB was developed out of a provincial environmental assessment that identified GO expansion across Hwy. 401 as the preferred choice for attracting significant new jobs and residents to the Oshawa and Clarington cores and that these benefits are now closer than ever to becoming a reality. They recognized the provincial government for its commitment to helping create critically needed jobs and investment in the region through enhanced transit opportunities.

The extension, which was announced by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne in Bowmanville, will see the Lakeshore East rail corridor from Oshawa to Bowmanville extend further east by close to 20 kilometres. In addition, four new stations will be built, two in Oshawa, one in Courtice and one in Bowmanville. One new station, Thornton Corners, is scheduled for construction on the dLAB East property, and will serve as a critical hub for fostering a transit-centric employment and education hub. dLAB West and East (www.dlab.ws) will create thousands of new high-prestige jobs in the heart of Durham Region, offering a mix of commercial and other space that will attract leading employers and bring people to Durham Region from Toronto in the west, Northumberland to the east, and Peterborough in the northeast.

The announcement comes following the release in April 2016 of a third-party economic impact analysis for eastern expansion of the line. The analysis showed that a provincial choice to fund the extension would unlock both development and re-development opportunities of more than 60 sites and that would ultimately help Durham Region boost its current rate of 67 jobs per 100 employed residents, the lowest rate in the GTA. In addition, the project has the potential to generate $1.1 billion in transit-oriented, walkable urban development that would enable:

• The creation of 21,000 permanent new jobs;
• 6,000 person years in construction employment;
• 6,000 homes to be built within walking distance of a GO station;
• More than $70 million in annual savings for residents related to time, vehicle costs and improved road safety; and
• A significant reduction in the amount of CO₂ emissions by decreasing private vehicle use by 50 million kilometres a year.

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Media contacts:
Allison Rosnak
Durham College (on behalf of dLAB)
905.721.2000 ext. 2333 (office) or
allison.rosnak@durhamcollege.ca

Ajax, Ontario – The 19th annual Roger Anderson Charity Classic golf tournament was held on June 9 with sponsors, donors, volunteers and participants coming together to raise $327,000. Funds will be used to support students in financial need at Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, and child and youth programs at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Science.

One of Durham Region’s most popular and well-established fundraising events, the day started with Durham Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer Roger Anderson greeting the 230 golfers representing various local organizations. With high spirits from a great turnout, players and volunteers enjoyed a day filled with sunshine, laughter and, of course, plenty of time on the green.

“Supporting youth is crucial as we continue developing our communities,” said Anderson. “It’s wonderful to see golfers come out each year to raise money for an important cause while also having some fun on the course.”

For nearly two decades, the tournament has enabled community members to get involved and make a positive difference for students and youth across the region, while enjoying a fun day of golf with friends and colleagues.

The tournament has raised more than $5.8 million since its inception.

Three representatives from the benefiting organizations attended the cheque presentation, offering thanks on behalf of their communities for the hard work and dedication of the organizers and everyone involved who helped to make the tournament such a great success.

Tournament organizers give recognition and gratitude to all sponsors for their generous and continued support of the tournament.

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Media contacts:

Heather Bulman
Communications and Marketing, Durham College
905.721.2000 ext. 2197
heather.bulman@durhamcollege.ca

Annual golf tournament has raised more than $5.3 million for youth in Durham Region to date

Ajax, Ont. – Durham Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer Roger Anderson will welcome golf enthusiasts and community leaders to the 19th annual Roger Anderson Charity Classic (RACC) golf tournament on Thursday, June 9. The annual fundraising event, one of the most popular and well-established initiatives in Durham Region, is being held at Deer Creek Golf Club and Banquet Facility in Ajax.

 

The event directly benefits students in financial need at Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), as well as child and youth initiatives at Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health. Now in its 19th year, the RACC has raised more than $5.3 million since its inception including $371,000 at last year’s tournament.

 

Golfers will have the chance to win one of three cars provided by Fraser Ford in Oshawa, Ont. as well as an opportunity to bid on several exciting live and silent auction prizes including two Premium Passes for the Boots and Hearts Festival; a Ste. Anne’s spa package for four; DC and UOIT tuition packages and much more.

New for this year is the opportunity to win a VIP for the Day Foursome Package through pre-event online bidding. This exclusive tournament-day experience includes numerous luxuries such as personal beverage and food concierge for the day; priority payment for live and silent auctions; and an additional foursome voucher at Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility to be used at another time, for each player. 

When:
Thursday, June 9
9 a.m. – breakfast buffet and mingle
10:30 a.m. – board golf carts
10:45 a.m. – shotgun start
4:30 p.m. – reception 
5:30 p.m. – dinner and live and silent auctions

Where:
Deer Creek Golf and Banquet Facility
2700 Audley Road North
Ajax, Ontario

For more information contact:

Heather Bulman
Communications and Marketing, Durham College
905.721.2000 ext. 2197

One-day conference serves as springboard for development of innovative economy designed to advance Durham Region

Oshawa, Ont. – Eight of Durham Region’s largest employers came together with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) on Tuesday, May 10 for the region’s first-ever Idea Summit. The one-day conference, which was held at the Durham College (DC) Centre for Food, provided a platform for the development of a new strategy aimed at creating jobs and stimulating investment and innovation in the region.

360 Insights, AECOM, DC, General Motors of Canada, Lakeridge Health, Ontario Power Generation, Spark Innovation Centre, and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, were all in attendance along with the OCC and the leadership from chambers of commerce and boards of trade across Durham Region. The chief executive officers from each of the employers committed a combined 90 employees and partners to be part of the full-day discussion, which was full of energy, engagement and discussion about how to move the community forward.

A number of objectives were identified as priorities for the coming months, which will be guided by the steering group of CEOs to ensure momentum is sustained and results realized. Among the objectives is to establish a common and clear vision for Durham Region that is endorsed and supported by all levels of government, business and other organizations, and the broader community; ‘collision’ (or hackathon) events that bring different community partners together to discuss and find solutions for issues of importance to the community; and the establishment of a mentoring network of senior leaders for small- and medium-sized start-ups and entrepreneurs. The CEO steering group will identify individuals and groups to take leadership on specific actions, and will be looking to the broader community for support moving forward.

Although Durham Region benefits from a highly skilled and well-educated workforce and has some of the lowest industrial and commercial land prices in the Greater Toronto Area, the region lags its local counterparts in job creation. At present, statistics show there are only 67 jobs in the region for every 100 employable workers, compared to 86 in Halton Region, 91 in York Region, 100 in Peel and more than 124 in Toronto. The summit is the first step in what is expected to be an ongoing process designed to create the conditions necessary to increase job growth and investment in the area via a long-term dialogue that will provide recommendations to all levels of government on ways to improve Durham Region’s competitiveness and help attract investment opportunities.

To ensure diversity among attendees, each partner was asked to provide 12 representatives from within their organization, resulting in a strategic dialogue focused on the importance of innovation, economic and social diversification for the region and its surrounding areas.

The day began with a keynote address by John Baker, president and chief executive officer of Desire2Learn, a highly successful online learning systems software company, followed by facilitated sessions and a moderated panel discussion on growing innovation and entrepreneurship.  The panel discussion featured three successful Durham-based entrepreneurs: Jason Atkins from 360 Insights, Jeff Quipp of Search Engine People, and Russ Montague of Nerd Block and ShirtPunch.

“It is clear that Durham Region is in an early maturation stage of an innovative economy and therefore it is critical that our local business leaders come together to develop a new community vision to drive innovation, growth, productivity and workforce development,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC, speaking on behalf of the participating organizations. “Together we are proud to play a role in this community-wide effort, which will lead to positive change and innovation throughout the region.” 

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Media contact:

Bob Neufeld
DC Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 6219
robert.neufeld@durhamcollege.ca

$5 million Support for Students

Oshawa – Ontario Power Generation (OPG) will continue its support of post-secondary students in Durham Region by renewing a decade-long partnership with Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). The $5-million investment will support capital expenditures, educational programs, equipment, scholarships and bursaries for students at both institutions.

“We believe this partnership creates educational and research opportunities for students who go on to become leaders in our industry and our community,” says Jeffrey Lyash, OPG President and CEO. “OPG is proud to continue our partnership with Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.”

“We are offering students access to the highest level of curricula in technical areas specific to the current nuclear industry,” says Don Lovisa, Durham College, President. “This renewed funding commitment will enable us to enhance our equipment and facilities and provide our students with a learning environment designed to prepare them for immediate entry into the workforce.”

“This partnership provides support for students facing financial barriers,” says Tim McTiernan, UOIT, President. “OPG’s investment provides our students with much needed access to high-quality education. It also demonstrates our university’s significance as an educator of Canada’s energy leaders.”

The funding, to be provided in annual installments over the next five years, will help with the acquisition of training and mock-up equipment for both the college and university. The funding will also support the university’s nuclear-engineer-in-residence position with its Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science.

DC will continue to align its science, apprenticeship, skilled trades and technology programs to meet employment criteria outlined by OPG in order to produce qualified graduates that meet the entry requirements for operations and maintenance programs within the energy industry.

Under the terms of the partnership, the college and university will work together on the implementation of bridging programs between the two institutions. This will enable DC students to enter UOIT degree programs with advanced standing in order to produce graduates with a greater range of technical skills and knowledge.

The collaboration between the three organizations began in November 2005 to meet the need for ‘career-ready’ workers available for employment in the Canadian nuclear industry and provide training opportunities for OPG employees to build their skills through industry-related college and university programs.

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About OPG

OPG provides about half the power Ontario relies on. The electricity OPG produces is 99.7 per cent free of greenhouse gas and smog causing emissions.

About Durham College

At Durham College (DC), the student experience comes first. With campuses in Oshawa and Whitby and a learning site in Pickering, the college offers more than 12,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students access to more than 140 full-time and 16 apprenticeship programs in a number of different disciplines, enabling them to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

The Oshawa campus features the state-of-the-art Student Services building and the college will soon break ground on the Centre for Collaborative Education, a legacy project tied to DC’s 50^th anniversary in 2017. The new facility will bring together local, Indigenous and global communities, providing a new home for several of the college’s most innovative and ground-breaking programs. The Whitby campus features the Centre for Food, including Bistro ’67, a full-service, teaching-inspired restaurant, and Pantry, a retail store featuring food prepared by students in the college’s culinary programs. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

About UOIT

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) advances the discovery and application of knowledge through a technology-enriched learning environment and the delivery of innovative market-driven programs responsive to the needs of students and industry. With more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in more than 75 programs, UOIT promotes social engagement, fosters critical thinking and integrates outcomes-based learning experiences inside and outside the classroom. UOIT’s commitment to accelerating economic growth and social innovation is realized through faculty research collaborations with leading organizations such as Ontario Power Generation, IBM, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the Durham Regional Police Service. To find out more, visit uoit.ca.

For more information, media may contact:

Bob Neufeld Durham College 905.721.2000 ext. 6219 robert.neufeld@durhamcollege.ca

Bryan Oliver UOIT   905.721.8668 ext. 6710     bryan.oliver@uoit.ca

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