The topic is Experience, the rest is up to you – contest open to Ontario residents over age 15

Oshawa, Ont. – Durham College today announced an exciting new Experience video contest launched via Experience DC, the most progressive marketing campaign in the college’s history. Open to any resident from across Ontario who is over the age of 15, entrants to the Experience video contest will enter to win one of three $1,000-cash prizes by submitting a 15-second video via Instagram, with the creators of the top three videos that secure the most votes awarded the cash prizes and bragging rights.

“We’ve been sharing our experiences with people since Experience DC launched in September and it has been so much fun giving people a glimpse into our lives as students of Durham College,” said Matisse Hamel-Nelis, a second-year Public Relations student and member of Team Experience. “I can’t wait to see how people interpret the contest tagline and I’m excited for others, whether here on campus, within the local community, or across the province, to start sharing their experiences with us.”

With the contest officially launched by Team Experience, who shared the news with visitors to the college’s Open House on November 15 via face-to-face interaction and online demonstrations, video entries will be accepted via Instagram until Thursday, January 15. Contestants are invited to visit www.durhamcollege.ca/win to view Experience videos posted by members of Team Experience and find inspiration for their entries.

“Experience DC is all about making connections and showing the world the heart of Durham College – our people – in a very authentic way,” said Carol Beam, executive director, Communications and Marketing, DC. “Our new Experience video contest will further bring that message to life as people submit their own experiences, sharing them on social media to gain votes and make new connections in the spirit of friendly competition.”

The Experience video contest falls perfectly in line with the college’s multi-platform Experience DC campaign, which is bringing the college experience to prospective and current students, parents, teachers and the community via an amazing and unique group of 14 students representing a wide cross-section of programs, personal interests and personalities. They are each offering a unique perspective of what a year in the life of a DC college student is really like through a specially designed website, personal interaction and other social media platforms including blogs, videos, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Team Experience is comprised of:

• Adriana Reyes (Business Administration – Marketing) from Lima, Peru.
• Christian Schortemeyer (Business Administration – Marketing) from Burlington, Ontario.
• Connor Burns (Business Administration – Accounting) from Bowmanville, Ontario.
• Gregory Hammond (Computer Programmer) from Ajax, Ontario.
• Heather Bulman (Public Relations) from Peterborough, Ontario.
• Jake Moss (Advertising and Marketing Communications) from Oshawa, Ontario.
• James Domingo (Computer Systems Technician) from Brooklin, Ontario.
• Josephine Spitale (Paralegal) from Toronto, Ontario.
• Kayley Cheung (Public Relations) from Uxbridge, Ontario.
• Kerri-Ann Williams (Biomedical Engineering Technology) from Kingston, Jamaica.
• Kristen Gomes (Broadcasting for Contemporary Media) from Toronto, Ontario.
• Hamel-Nelis from Oshawa, Ontario.
• Rebecca Haslam (Special Events Planning) from Whitby, Ontario.
• Sean Noseworthy (Biomedical Engineering Technology) from Burlington, Ontario.

Experience DC was created, developed and executed by the college’s Communications and Marketing department to uniquely support the college’s recruitment strategy, enhance reputation and build the DC brand including attracting the attention of the Durham Region, Peterborough/the Kawarthas and Markham/Vaughan markets with robust campaign marketing initiatives in all three areas.

The campaign is supported by a multi-layered advertising strategy, which is aimed at getting the college’s target markets to visit the website and interact with one or more Experience DC students. Members of Team Experience are featured on hundreds of websites including social media, Cineplex theatres, transit buses and shelters, newspapers, shopping malls, radio and more.

To enter the contest or vote on your favourite video visit www.durhamcollege.ca/win.

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About Durham College

At Durham College, the student experience comes first. In September 2014, the college welcomed more than 30,000 students to campus including more than 11,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students as well as part-time and continuing education students and online learners. The college offers a wide range of market-driven programs in a number of different disciplines including culinary, hospitality, tourism, horticulture, business, information technology, media, art, design, general arts, science, skilled trades, justice, emergency services, health and engineering technology, enabling students to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

A three-phase expansion of the college’s Whitby campus was completed in 2013 when the 36,000-square-foot Centre for Food opened on the northwest corner of campus. Accommodating approximately 900 additional students studying in culinary, hospitality, event management, food science, and agricultural and horticultural programs, the CFF features Bistro ’67, a new, 70-seat, full-service, green-certified teaching-inspired restaurant and Pantry, a  retail store featuring fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals created by students in the college’s culinary programs.

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

Media contact:

Lisa Power
Durham College
905.721.2000 ext. 2952
lisa.power@durhamcollege.ca

 

Funding will enable college to continue ongoing applied research related to wireless gaming technology

Oshawa, Ont. – The Durham College (DC) Office of Research Services and Innovation (ORSI) today announced that it has received $20,000 in additional funding from Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) to support its ongoing applied research work with IFTech Inventing Future Technology Inc. (IFTech), an Oshawa-based start-up company that specializes in wearable technology related to immersive gaming and virtual world simulation.

Received via OCE’s Voucher for Innovation and Productivity (VIP), which allows eligible companies to gain access to expertise and resources from colleges, universities and research hospitals to support commercialization, innovation, productivity, e-business and research and development, the funding will see DC faculty and student researchers continue their work on IFTech’s multi-sensory stimulation device – As Real As It Gets (ARAIG).

“ORSI, along with the college’s talented faculty and students, is pleased to be able to continue our exciting work with IFTech as we support the ongoing research and development of ARAIG,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, director, ORSI. “We have made great applied research progress since June – including offering students from our School of Science & Engineering Technology the opportunity to gain hands-on research and work experience – and we look forward to working together to bring ARAIG to market in the coming months.”

The college has been working with IFTech since June when it received an initial $20,000 in funding via an OCE VIP toward the introduction of an applied research project designed to support IFTech’s growth and expansion into the wearable technology marketplace with a focus on bringing ARAIG to a manufacture-ready, commercial product.

“OCE is proud to support IFTech and the incredible work they are doing with Durham College,” said Dr. Tom Corr, president and chief executive officer, OCE. “I had a chance to see their impressive technology up close and personal at our Discovery conference this year and I think it has terrific potential in a variety of applications.”

A wireless gaming suit, ARAIG immerses individuals into the reality of a gaming world by interacting with users to increase their immersion based on situations and/or interactions occurring within a range of media environments. The media environment, activities and interaction taking place in a virtual world translate into tangible sensory stimulations that affect the user’s interaction with the environment, resulting in the user being more aware of the virtual world through his or her heightened sensitivity.

The new funding will allow the college to conduct applied research specific to the creation of the wireless communications protocol of ARAIG – a component critical to the commercialization of the device. Under the project, the college will develop a wireless communication system between ARAIG’s sensors. Once completed, IFTech will own a universal wireless communication protocol that will allow it to use ARAIG for any application in any market appropriate to its sensory technology.

It will also allow IFTech to benefit from skills and expertise provided by the college’s faculty and student researchers including access to technical input, know-how and applied scientific research and development knowledge.

“Innovation is not just about an idea as there are thousands of innovative ideas that do not make it to market,” said Michael Stanfield, founder and co-chief executive offer, IFTech. “Theory, research, applied science, finance, market and business are required pillars to support the success of new innovations and we are very excited to be working with Durham College on this project. The college has proven to be a great fit with IFTech with its high-tech facilities, knowledgeable and experienced project leads and students that are adept at handling our applied research needs. We look forward to a continued working relationship with Durham College as our company grows.”

In addition to its relationship with the college, IFTech has also been working with innovation experts from Spark Centre, an innovation centre in Durham Region, to advance its commercialization plans over the past two years. The organization has provided a wide array of free start-up services including executive coaching, interim executives, strategy, market validation, sales readiness, operation excellence, legal and corporate design and distribution and manufacturing and, along with DC, is helping IFTech reach its commercialization goal.

“IFTech is currently co-located with Spark Centre, which creates a day-to-day, interactive working model that accelerates the start-up curve and commercialization timeline,” said Dennis Croft, executive director, Spark Centre. “IFTech is now poised to make a huge impact on the market with a fully immersive game suit. The sheer thrill of being involved and wearing the prototype suit was incredible and I can’t wait for the near production!”

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About Durham College

At Durham College, the student experience comes first. In September 2014, the college welcomed more than 30,000 students to campus including more than 11,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students as well as part-time and continuing education students and online learners. The college offers a wide range of market-driven programs in a number of different disciplines including culinary, hospitality, tourism, horticulture, business, information technology, media, art, design, general arts, science, skilled trades, justice, emergency services, health and engineering technology, enabling students to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

A three-phase expansion of the college’s Whitby campus was completed in 2013 when the 36,000-square-foot Centre for Food opened on the northwest corner of campus. Accommodating approximately 900 additional students studying in culinary, hospitality, event management, food science, and agricultural and horticultural programs, the CFF features Bistro ’67, a new, 70-seat, full-service, green-certified teaching-inspired restaurant and Pantry, a  retail store featuring fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals created by students in the college’s culinary programs.

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

About IFTech

IFTech is a high-tech innovator in wearable technology leading the next generation of immersive gaming and virtual world simulation. IFTech’s wearable technology is focused on providing real world simulation applications for the user. IFTech’s product ARAIG, ‘As Real As It Gets’ is a multi-sensory stimulation device, a suit worn by the user that totally immerses them into the reality of their gaming world. It stimulates the senses with localized directional feedback, provides physics to the body, and leaves the mobility of the user unfettered. ARAIG is a product that provides a new level of immersion for its users that is revolutionizing how games and virtual simulations are experienced.  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter https://twitter.com/ARAIG. Join the community as we bring about the most immersive gaming product to ever hit the market space. Located in Oshawa, Ontario, IFTech can be reached at 289.298.2853.

About Spark Centre

As a member of the ONE Network and an official recognized Ontario Regional Innovation Centre (RIC), Spark Centre helps innovative companies Start, Grow and Succeed.  The Centre, located just east of Toronto, focuses primarily on Durham Region and Northumberland County, with additional support to Peterborough and Halliburton areas, resulting in a population reach just over 850,000. www.sparkcentre.org

About Ontario Centres of Excellence Inc. (OCE)

OCE drives the commercialization of cutting-edge research across key market sectors to build the economy of tomorrow and secure Ontario’s global competitiveness. In doing this, OCE fosters the training and development of the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs and is a key partner with Ontario’s industry, universities, colleges, research hospitals, investors and government ministries. A champion of leading-edge technologies, best practices and research, OCE invests in sectors such as advanced health, information and communications technology, digital media, advanced materials and manufacturing, agri-food, aerospace, transportation, energy, and the environment including water and mining. OCE is a key partner in delivering Ontario’s Innovation Agenda as a member of the province’s Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE). Funded by the Government of Ontario, the ONE is made up of regional and sector-focused organizations and helps Ontario-based entrepreneurs and industry rapidly grow their company and create jobs. For more information visit www.onebusiness.ca

Media contact:
Lisa Power
Durham College
905.721.2000 ext. 2952
lisa.power@durhamcollege.ca

Whitby, Ont. – Durham College (DC) today announced that Glenda Neatt, a second-year Culinary Management student, has won the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) Culinary Competition.

The event, which took place at Cirillo’s Culinary Academy in Toronto on November 5, saw Neatt win for her Gazpacho Martini Sorbet recipe, which consists of gazpacho with a splash of vodka churned into sorbet and garnished with roasted red pepper tuile (a thin, crisp wafer), sweet tomato chip and a greenhouse ‘olive’ cut from a cucumber and stuffed with red pepper. Her entry impressed the judges as it uses all varieties of Ontario greenhouse vegetables, showcasing their diversity in a dish that could be served as an appetizer or dessert.

“It is clear that Glenda is a dedicated student with a natural talent for culinary creations who refined her recipe until she got it just right,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “Her wonderful achievement is a testament to the quality of teaching provided by the faculty at our Centre for Food (CFF) and we are very proud of her accomplishment.”

The first stage of the competition saw entries from culinary students across the province narrowed down to four finalists. After competing against students from Centennial and Humber colleges, Neatt won a KitchenAid food processor and hand mixer as well as a $500-cash prize. In addition, she showcased her winning entry on CHCH TV’s Morning Live show on November 7.

“It was great to be able to take part in the OGVG culinary competition,” said Neatt. “I am thrilled to have been able to work with wonderful Ontario greenhouse vegetables and explore creative ways to use them in culinary arts. The competition was a lot of fun and I am grateful for the help and support that I received from Chef David Hawey, professor and co-ordinator of the college’s culinary programs.”

In addition to Neatt’s recipe taking centre stage at the OGVG competition, it will be featured as a special menu item for a limited time at DC’s Bistro ’67, a 70-seat, full-service, green-certified, teaching-inspired restaurant housed at the CFF.

“Glenda is the third medal winner from the CFF in our first year of operation and we are thrilled with her success,” said Hawey. “Our students are some of the best and brightest in our community and we are confident the CFF will continue to produce award-winning culinary talent. Congratulations to Glenda on this wonderful achievement.”

With this win, Neatt joins the likes of DC graduate Sarah Lavergne, who won gold in both the culinary arts and cooking categories at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition and Skills Canada National Competition, respectively, last spring while she was a student of the college’s Culinary Skills program. In addition, Culinary Management students Marisa Latin and Michael Stowell-Smith also took home gold at the Winterloo Student Ice Carving Competition in Waterloo last winter.

Supported by celebrity chef Jamie Kennedy, the CFF accommodates approximately 900 students studying in the college’s culinary, hospitality, event management, tourism, food science, agricultural and horticultural programs. In addition to being home to Bistro’67 it houses Pantry, a unique retail store that sells student-created fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals prepared in house.

For more information on the Culinary Management program, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/CMGT.

About Durham College

At Durham College, the student experience comes first. In September 2014, the college welcomed more than 30,000 students to campus including more than 11,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students as well as part-time and continuing education students and online learners. The college offers a wide range of market-driven programs in a number of different disciplines including culinary, hospitality, tourism, horticulture, business, information technology, media, art, design, general arts, science, skilled trades, justice, emergency services, health and engineering technology, enabling students to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

A three-phase expansion of the college’s Whitby campus was completed in 2013 when the 36,000-square-foot Centre for Food opened on the northwest corner of campus. Accommodating approximately 900 additional students studying in culinary, hospitality, event management, food science, and agricultural and horticultural programs, the CFF features Bistro ’67, a new, 70-seat, full-service, green-certified teaching-inspired restaurant and Pantry, a retail store featuring fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals created by students in the college’s culinary programs.

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

Media contact:
Lisa Power
Durham College
905.721.2000 ext. 2952
lisa.power@durhamcollege.ca

Oshawa, Ont. – Media are invited to join students at Durham College on Wednesday, November  5 when they will have an opportunity to hear from David Milgaard, advocate for the wrongly convicted, at the college’s Oshawa campus.

The presentation, being organized by the School of Interdisciplinary Studies & Employment Services as part of the college’s ongoing effort to bring speakers to campus related directly to program curriculum, will see Milgaard share his story about serving 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

Arrested at age 16 and sentenced to life in prison for murder at age 17, Milgaard became involved with social justice issues during his time in prison, bringing grassroots people into the prison to speak with prisoners and fighting prison administrators to do so. In 1992, after a relentless campaign fought by his mother, Milgaard was released from prison. In 1997, DNA finally cleared his name.

Please note:  no interview opportunities will be available.

When:
November 5
10 a.m.

Where:
DC Oshawa campus
Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, Gym 1

Parking:
Enter off Simcoe Street North and proceed to the Founders 2/3 lot

For more information, contact:
Lisa Power
Communications and Marketing
T: 905.721.2000 ext. 2952
C: 905.259.8483

Oshawa, Ont. – Family, friends and faculty will join more than 950 students from more than 110 programs as they celebrate their graduation at Durham College’s fall convocation on Thursday, October 30. The ceremony will also recognize the success of 420 students who have earned a place on the highly regarded President’s Honour Roll as a result of their hard work and the dedication of the college’s faculty.

The annual event will honour students from the schools of Business, IT & Management; Centre for Food; Continuing Education; Health & Community Services; Interdisciplinary Studies & Employment Services; Justice & Emergency Services; Media, Art & Design; Science & Engineering Technology; and Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology as they are awarded their diplomas and certificates.

The college will also acknowledge three students as they receive the Durham College Student Leadership Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to campus life, and the commitment and exemplary leadership they demonstrated during their time at the college. In order to receive this award, students must accumulate a pre-determined amount of leadership points through the college’s Co-Curricular Recognition program by participating in activities that enhance student life; engage students; and encourage involvement.

The college’s fall convocation ceremony brings the total number of alumni to 67,000 strong.

When:
Thursday, October 30
6:30 p.m.

Where:
General Motors Centre
99 Athol St. E.
Oshawa, Ont.

For more information, contact:
Lisa Power
Communications and Marketing
T: 905.721.2000 ext. 2952
C: 905.259.8483

 

College’s latest state-of-the-art learning facility named second-best Canadian design-build project for 2014

Whitby, Ont. – Durham College (DC) announced today that its Centre for Food (CFF) has won second place in the prestigious Canadian Design-Build Institute (CDBI) Awards of Excellence, making it the second-best design-build project in all of Canada for 2014. The college received the award during the CDBI National Conference held in Victoria, British Columbia from October 15 to 17.

CDBI, the national voice of design-build practitioners in Canada, presents the awards annually to recognize excellence in Canada’s design-build industry and acknowledge design-build teams whose projects contribute to the growth and stature of the design-build profession.

Inspired by the college’s commitment to bring field-to-fork education and practice to the Durham Region, the vision brings locally-sourced, quality produce from field to table at the 36,000-sq.-ft. CFF that officially opened in October 2013. Accommodating approximately 900 students studying in culinary, hospitality, event management, food science and agriculture and horticulture programs, it houses Bistro ’67, a 70-seat, full-service, green-certified teaching-inspired restaurant and Pantry, a unique retail food store that brings student-created goods straight from the culinary classroom to the community.

The CFF was brought from concept to reality by a team that included DC; Garritano Bros Limited and Gow Hastings Architects.

“Durham College is honoured to be awarded second place in such a prestigious competition,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “From concept to execution, the CFF is a blend of creativity and innovation in both the design and build aspects of the facility. It truly demonstrates our vision of the field-to-fork concept in a post-secondary setting, as well as our efforts in sustainability and social responsibility.”

From both a construction and design perspective highlights of the CFF include:

• A main atrium that draws users into the heart of the building with a two-storey living wall, serving as a central meeting place and venue for events and celebrations.
• Interior windows that provide glimpses into the labs, encouraging exploration and establishing a dynamic energy within the building.
• Steel and glass foldable partitions on either side of the atrium that allow a wine tasting lab and bake lab the flexibility to open up onto the central atrium to accommodate larger events.
• An audio visual system inside Bistro’67 that allows  diners to see their food being prepared and fins in the exterior glazed wall  that provide seating niches within this double-height space.
• Kitchen labs that offer interactive teaching platforms to enable students to observe and practice their skills in real time and state-of-the-art systems and equipment that allow students to learn how to prepare all kinds of cuisine.
• Culinary labs that open up to the main atrium in order to serve large functions and display the activities within on a daily basis. This includes high-performance surface materials in working spaces including stainless steel, hygienic wall coverings, safety flooring and ceramic tile.

“Each year the Canadian Design-Build Institute recognizes the best design-build projects in all of Canada,” said Steve Garritano, vice-president, Sales, Garritano. “As the design-builder for Durham College’s Centre for Food, I find it to be an exceptional privilege and honour to have been considered amongst the best in all of Canada for this award.”

Project submissions were evaluated primarily on the success achieved in attaining the owner/user’s project goals, as well as their success in implementing design-build best practices, with special emphasis placed on the design team’s use of innovation. The term innovation included the use of new systems; methods and processes that were cost effective; speedy; and safe while using technology to execute projects. The design quality of each project was also reviewed with aesthetics, functionality and life cycle being key considerations. Award recipients demonstrate the highest standards and principles in the design-build industry and the business community in pursuit of excellence.

“We feel very privileged to be the recipients of a CDBI Award of Excellence for the Durham College Centre for Food,” said Philip Hastings, partner at Gow Hastings Architects. “It was a pleasure to work alongside Durham College and Garritano Brothers Ltd. to develop a new approach to culinary education and translate the process of making a meal from field-to-fork into a living and breathing building. We are excited to see this building merge and grow within the surrounding agricultural landscape and local economy and serve as a showcase for sustainable technologies and innovation.”

In addition to receiving the CDBI Award of Excellence, the college also launched Field to Fork: Sowing the Seeds of our Community, a crowdfunding campaign, in support of the CFF in August 2014. The campaign is designed to support the landscaping required at the centre including the planting of trees, shrubs, fruits, vegetables and arboretum; the purchase of garden tools; a walking path; new soil; and more. To find out more, please visit http://fieldtofork.durhamcollege.ca.

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About Durham College

At Durham College, the student experience comes first. In September 2014, the college welcomed more than 30,000 students to campus including more than 11,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students as well as part-time and continuing education students and online learners. The college offers a wide range of market-driven programs in a number of different disciplines including culinary, hospitality, tourism, horticulture, business, information technology, media, art, design, general arts, science, skilled trades, justice, emergency services, health and engineering technology, enabling students to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

A three-phase expansion of the college’s Whitby campus was completed in 2013 when the 36,000-square-foot Centre for Food opened on the northwest corner of campus. Accommodating approximately 900 additional students studying in culinary, hospitality, event management, food science, and agricultural and horticultural programs, the CFF features Bistro ’67, a new, 70-seat, full-service, green-certified teaching-inspired restaurant and Pantry, a retail store featuring fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals created by students in the college’s culinary programs.

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

Media contact:
Cosette Kazarian
Durham College
905.721.2000 ext. 3611
cosette.kazarian@durhamcollege.ca

– Durham College (DC) is once again helping local high school students picture their future.

On Wednesday, October 15, students at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School (MJPCSS) in Oshawa will take part in an event called the Picture Your Future tour, which will use green-screen technology to take their photos in various career settings such as firefighting, broadcasting, game development, nursing and much more.

In addition, students who attend the College Information Program (CIP), which provides an opportunity to meet with representatives from more than 20 Ontario colleges to find out more about their programs and services and is being held at DC on Thursday, October 16, will also have an opportunity to participate in the tour.

“This is a great chance to get students thinking about their future careers,” said Paul Bishop, executive director, Strategic Enrolment Services at DC. “We are encouraging students to learn more about college and the careers available to college graduates.” 

Designed to promote the many career opportunities available to young people through a college education, the Picture Your Future tour, run by Colleges Ontario, the advocacy organization for the Ontario’s 24 public colleges, will stop at MJPCSS (316 Conant St., Oshawa) on October 15 at 11:40 a.m. and during the CIP at DC’s Oshawa campus (2000 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa) on October 16 at 5 p.m. 

Taking place from September to November, the tour is visiting all regions of the province as part of the Ontario colleges’ long-term marketing effort to encourage students to learn about the full range of post-secondary programs available today and help them choose the path that best suits their strengths and career goals. This is the second time it has run in Ontario, following a successful run last fall.

Students will be able to download their photo to a mobile device for sharing through Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest while receiving information about the more than 600 programs available at Ontario colleges. This includes learning key facts about colleges including recent data that shows more than 83 per cent of college graduates find work within six months of graduation.

“College education is helping growing numbers of young people find long-term success,” added Bishop.  “We enjoy this opportunity to provide more information about colleges to students in an entertaining way.”

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About Durham College

At Durham College, the student experience comes first. In September 2014, the college welcomed more than 30,000 students to campus including more than 11,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students as well as part-time and continuing education students and online learners. The college offers a wide range of market-driven programs in a number of different disciplines including culinary, hospitality, tourism, horticulture, business, information technology, media, art, design, general arts, science, skilled trades, justice, emergency services, health and engineering technology, enabling students to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

A three-phase expansion of the college’s Whitby campus was completed in 2013 when the 36,000-square-foot Centre for Food opened on the northwest corner of campus. Accommodating approximately 900 additional students studying in culinary, hospitality, event management, food science, and agricultural and horticultural programs, the CFF features Bistro ’67, a new, 70-seat, full-service, green-certified teaching-inspired restaurant and Pantry, a retail store featuring fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals created by students in the college’s culinary programs.

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

Media contact:
Cosette Kazarian
Durham College
905.721.2000 ext. 3611
cosette.kazarian@durhamcollege.ca

Durham College, College of the North Atlantic and Memorial University of Newfoundland announce partnership to develop new automotive program in Guyana

Oshawa, Ont. – Durham College (DC) in partnership with College of the North Atlantic (CNA) and the Fisheries and Marine Institute of the Memorial University of Newfoundland, announced today that the three organizations, in conjunction with Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), are working with the Government Technical Institute (GTI), a vocational institute in Georgetown, Guyana that provides technical skills development in a number of disciplines, to help it develop a new Automotive Electronics Technician program.

Led by the International office at DC, facilitated by CICan and funded by the Canadian government through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), the project is a three-year endeavour worth $550,000. It is part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Employment for Education (EFE) program (C-EFE), part of CICan’s overall EFE initiative, a $20-million program sponsored by DFATD, which aims to ensure a network of Canadian colleges and institutes is able to contribute to the reduction of poverty in developing countries in an effective and sustainable way.

“Our involvement in this EFE project opens up numerous opportunities for Durham College faculty and staff to gain international experience and share their expertise with colleagues outside of Canada,” said Fiona Richards, executive director of International Education at Durham College. “It also provides the opportunity for the college to engage globally in areas where it has proven to be a leader regionally and among colleges across Canada.”

Working with faculty and administrators at GTI, the three institutions are working together to develop a program responsive to the needs of Guyana’s auto industry, which has seen a significant increase in the number of cars on the road with new electronic systems.

The new program will use competency-based education practices where students learn by mastering skills as opposed to more abstract learning with students becoming competent in one skill before moving on to the next. Following a learner-focused education model that can be individualized to recognize the prior learning or experience of students, the program will also have the common threads of environmental sustainability and gender equity running through it, which are part of the foundation for all C-EFE projects.

“The implementation of an Automotive Electronics Technician program is a true partnership, aligning with the goals of the Government Technical Institute in Georgetown,” said Ann Marie Vaughan, president and chief executive officer of the CNA. “Our goal is to enhance the program offering capability of the Guyanese institute and utilize the diverse experiences of College of the North Atlantic, the Marine Institute and Durham College in program development and implementation to promote a skilled workforce for the country.”

Upon completion, the program will be recognized by the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies, which co-ordinates technical and vocational education and training in the region. This means students who gain certification via the program in Guyana will have their credentials recognized across the Caribbean. In addition, the colleges will also work with Excelsior Community College in Kingston, Jamaica to share lessons learned and good practices.

To date there have been three inception trips to Guyana by DC administrators to establish the terms of the project and develop a project implementation plan. This includes the Guyana Industry Linkages Forum, which took place in Guyana on October 1 and saw C-EFE and Guyana’s Ministry of Education and Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training host industry leaders and educators as they discussed how Guyana’s technical institutes can best prepare graduates for employment.

With recent studies of the education system in the Caribbean region showing that employers have difficulty in attracting and retaining a skilled, adaptable and flexible workforce; which they attribute to a lack of workforce preparedness, basic skills and an understanding of expected workplace behaviour and work ethics, the C-EFE program is designed to create a larger, more competitive, more productive and gender-equitable workforce in the CARICOM region. C-EFE is working with 12 CARICOM countries: Antigua and Barbuda; the Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Haiti; Jamaica; Montserrat; Saint Lucia; St. Kitts and Nevis; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Suriname; and Trinidad and Tobago. 

CICan is the national and international voice of Canada’s publicly-funded colleges and institutes, with 1.5 million learners of all ages and backgrounds at campuses serving over 3,000 urban, rural and remote communities.

For more information on CICAN and the C-EFE program, please visit its website.

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About Durham College

At Durham College, the student experience comes first. In September 2014, the college welcomed more than 30,000 students to campus including more than 11,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students as well as part-time and continuing education students and online learners. The college offers a wide range of market-driven programs in a number of different disciplines including culinary, hospitality, tourism, horticulture, business, information technology, media, art, design, general arts, science, skilled trades, justice, emergency services, health and engineering technology, enabling students to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

A three-phase expansion of the college’s Whitby campus was completed in 2013 when the 36,000-square-foot Centre for Food opened on the northwest corner of campus. Accommodating approximately 900 additional students studying in culinary, hospitality, event management, food science, and agricultural and horticultural programs, the CFF features Bistro ’67, a new, 70-seat, full-service, green-certified teaching-inspired restaurant and Pantry, a retail store featuring fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals created by students in the college’s culinary programs.

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

About CICan 

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is the national and international voice of Canada’s publicly supported colleges, cégeps, institutes and polytechnics. The association works with industry and social sectors to train 1.5 million learners of all ages and backgrounds at campuses serving over 3,000 urban, rural and remote communities. Colleges and Institutes Canada presently operates in 29 countries via 13 offices around the world.

Media contacts:
Cosette Kazarian
Durham College 
905.721.2000 ext. 3611
cosette.kazarian@durhamcollege.ca

New technology result of Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) grant awarded to college in April

Oshawa, ON. – Durham College (DC) today announced the introduction of the new Fortus^® 360mc rapid prototyper that was recently installed inside the Integrated Manufacturing Centre (IMC) at the college’s Oshawa campus. The installation of the new machine is the result of a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) $150,000 Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) grant that was awarded to the college in April via NSERC’s College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program.

Designed for users with demanding applications for high accuracy prototyping and direct digital manufacturing, the new equipment will offer the college access to a new way of providing applied research support to local businesses and industry while further anchoring its position at the forefront of the advanced manufacturing industry.

“We are very excited to offer this new technology to businesses in the community that would like to engage in applied research with Durham College,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, director, Office of Research Services and Innovation (ORSI), DC. “In addition to offering a significant advantage in terms of quickly developing and refining prototypes at a low cost – allowing our industry partners to move into commercialization faster – our students will be given the opportunity to learn this cutting edge technology, an important skill they will take into the workplace upon graduation.”

Students studying in the college’s Mechanical Engineering Technician and Mechanical Engineering Technology programs will have the opportunity to gain hands-on, practical experience in rapid prototyping operations while working closely with industry during research projects. This will provide them with additional skill sets including creative designing, business process optimization and maximizing cost effectiveness.

Powered by Fused Deposition Modeling™ (FDM) technology, which is the industry’s leading additive manufacturing technology and the only one that uses production-grade thermoplastics enabling the most durable parts, the Fortus^® 360mc is the latest piece of equipment to be installed in the IMC, a world-class, industrial-grade, automated facility that houses major equipment for automatic identification (bar code and radio frequency), industrial networks, material handling and industrial robotics. Manufactured by Stratasys, the Fortus 360mc was acquired from industry partner Cimetrix Solutions.

The ARTI grant is designed to support the purchase of equipment and installations to foster and enhance the ability of colleges to undertake applied research, innovation and training in collaboration with local companies through NSERC’s CCI Program, which supports applied research that facilitates commercialization, as well as technology transfer, adaptation and adoption of new technologies.

ORSI provides an important link to the community through its support and advancement of institutional effectiveness and contribution to the economic performance of the region, using a collaborative culture of engagement that is student-centred and community-focused. ORSI is comprised of three teams – Applied Research; Institutional Research and Planning; and Program Development and Quality Assurance.

NSERC is a Canadian government agency that provides grants for research in the natural sciences and engineering. The council promotes discovery by funding research conducted by post-secondary professors and students and fosters innovation by encouraging Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research and training.

With headquarters in Oshawa, Ont., Cimetrix has been helping commercial and academic clients for more than 20 years and is recognized as an authority in the field of additive manufacturing applications. Cimetrix will continue to play a key role in the implementation of the new equipment at the IMC, with ongoing education and support to researchers.

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About Durham College

At Durham College, the student experience comes first. In September 2014, the college welcomed more than 30,000 students to campus including more than 11,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students as well as part-time and continuing education students and online learners. The college offers a wide range of market-driven programs in a number of different disciplines including culinary, hospitality, tourism, horticulture, business, information technology, media, art, design, general arts, science, skilled trades, justice, emergency services, health and engineering technology, enabling students to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

A three-phase expansion of the college’s Whitby campus was completed in 2013 when the 36,000-square-foot Centre for Food opened on the northwest corner of campus. Accommodating approximately 900 additional students studying in culinary, hospitality, event management, food science, and agricultural and horticultural programs, the CFF features Bistro ’67, a new, 70-seat, full-service, green-certified teaching-inspired restaurant and Pantry, a  retail store featuring fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals created by students in the college’s culinary programs.

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

Media contact:
Lisa Power
Durham College
T: 905.721.2000 ext. 2952
E: lisa.power@durhamcollege.ca

One of only three colleges in province to experience growth with enrolment increase of 2.5 per cent

Oshawa, Ont. – Durham College (DC) today announced that it has welcomed more than 11,100 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students to its Oshawa and Whitby campuses and Pickering Learning Site since classes for the 2014-2015 academic year officially began on September 2. With the college one of only three in Ontario to experience growth this year, the number marks an overall enrolment increase of more than 2.5 per cent over fall 2013 including more than 5,600 new students, and a new college high of 459 international students from more than 32 countries around the globe.

“As we reach the end of the first month of the academic year it’s evident from our enrolment numbers that more students than ever before, including those from abroad, have discovered that at Durham College, the student experience truly does come first,” said Judy Robinson, vice-president, Academic. “From being one of only three colleges in the province to see growth this year – a direct result of our commitment to fostering student success through high-quality academic programs designed to meet the needs of today’s employers –  to the introduction of new programs in areas including health, justice and engineering; our commitment to providing students with opportunities to gain real-world work experience; academic pathways; and more, we continue to be dedicated to working with our community and business partners to ensure we are offering programs in high-demand areas that will enable to students to serve critical industry needs post-graduation.”

New programs at the college this year include Activation Coordination in Gerontology (graduate certificate), Law Clerk Advanced (fast track) and Mechanical Engineering Technician – Non-Destructive (compressed, fast track), all offered at the Oshawa campus, and Event Management (graduate certificate) and Hospitality Skills, which are offered at the Centre for Food (CFF) at the Whitby campus.

In addition to increasing the number of students on campus and rolling out new programs, September marked other important milestones for the college including the launch of Experience DC, the most progressive marketing campaign in the college’s history. The campaign illustrates the college experience via a unique group of students representing a wide cross-section of programs, personal interests and personalities, through a specially designed website, personal interaction and social media platforms. It was created and to uniquely support the college’s recruitment strategy, enhance reputation and build the DC brand including attracting the attention of the Durham Region, Peterborough/the Kawarthas and Markham/Vaughan markets with robust campaign marketing initiatives in all three areas.

DC also recently launched its first-ever crowdfunding campaign, Field to Fork: Sowing the Seeds of our Community. Inspired by the college’s commitment to bring field to fork, the vision of bringing locally sourced, quality produce from field to table, to Durham Region, the online campaign aims to garner support from the community for the completion of the landscaping and planting needed at the CFF. Supported by ambassador and celebrity chef Jamie Kennedy, the CFF can accommodate approximately 900 students studying in programs based on the field-to-fork concept.

In total, the college offers more than 140 full-time programs through its nine academic schools, along with more than 450 pathway opportunities with universities in Ontario, Canada and around the world.

For more information and details on any of the college’s programs, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/programs.

About Durham College

At Durham College, the student experience comes first. In September 2014, the college welcomed more than 30,000 students to campus including more than 11,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students as well as part-time and continuing education students and online learners. The college offers a wide range of market-driven programs in a number of different disciplines including culinary, hospitality, tourism, horticulture, business, information technology, media, art, design, general arts, science, skilled trades, justice, emergency services, health and engineering technology, enabling students to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

A three-phase expansion of the college’s Whitby campus was completed in 2013 when the 36,000-square-foot Centre for Food opened on the northwest corner of campus. Accommodating approximately 900 additional students studying in culinary, hospitality, event management, food science, and agricultural and horticultural programs, the CFF features Bistro ’67, a new, 70-seat, full-service, green-certified teaching-inspired restaurant and Pantry, a  retail store featuring fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals created by students in the college’s culinary programs.

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

Media contact:
Lisa Power
Durham College
T: 905.721.2000 ext. 2952
E: lisa.power@durhamcollege.ca