May 3, 2010

Festivities kick off with panel presentation from nurses involved in humanitarian work

OSHAWA, ON – Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) will join the rest of the country in honouring the dedication and commitment of nurses next week as National Nursing Week takes place from Monday, May 10 to Sunday, May 16. The theme of this year’s event is Nursing: you can’t live without it!

In addition to paying tribute to the nursing profession, both institutions will host a number of on-campus initiatives from May 10 to May 14 to showcase the students, faculty and high-tech equipment involved in the collaborative Durham College/UOIT Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program as well as the college’s Practical Nursing program and the university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Post RPN program.

Highlights include a panel presentation on May 10 featuring nurses who have participated in humanitarian nursing missions sharing their experiences with nursing students and members of the public. Activities then continue on Thursday, May 13 when guests will be invited to observe and participate in simulation demonstrations at the campus’s state-of-the-art Simulation Lab.

The tribute then wraps up on Friday, May 14 with Nursing Career Day when faculty welcome 120 Grade 9 and 10 students from secondary schools across Durham Region. Students will experience first-hand what the college and university have to offer and what a career in nursing can provide.

Inspired by legendary nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale and the designation of her birthday as International Nurses Day (Wednesday, May 12), National Nursing Week was launched in 1985 by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) in conjunction with the federal government. 2010 has also been designated as the International Year of the Nurse.

Highlighted events:

May 10, 7 p.m.: Panel presentation: Humanitarian Nursing;
May 13, 9 a.m. to noon: Simulation demonstrations; and
May 14, 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.: Nursing Career Day.

Where:

Joint Durham College and UOIT campus
Panel presentation: Room 1140, UOIT Science building
Simulation demonstrations and Nursing Career Day: Room SW206, Durham College/UOIT Simulation Lab, Gordon Willey building
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, Ontario

Parking:

Enter off Simcoe Street North and proceed to Commencement Parking Lot.

For more information:

Michelle Roebuck
Communications, Marketing and External Relations, Durham College 
905.721.2000 ext. 2197
michelle.roebuck@durhamcollege.ca

Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing, UOIT
905.721.8668 ext. 2513
melissa.levy@uoit.ca

 

Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations.

April 28, 2010

Two-day workshop will focus on film, animation and music

OSHAWA, ON. – Budding film enthusiasts, animation gurus and music video producers will have a chance to demonstrate their artistic passions first-hand next week when more than 240 secondary school students from across Durham Region arrive at the college’s Oshawa campus for a two-day spring workshop hosted by the School of Media, Art & Design (MAD).

The event, being run in conjunction with the Building Future Connections program which is part of the provincial government’s School-College-Work Initiative to provide students with a clear pathway from high school to college, will take place over two days with workshops on topics including film composition, animation sequencing and music video. Students will also see what first-, second- and third-year MAD students are currently learning in the classroom through a screening of the college’s animation and game reels.

When:
Tuesday, May 4 and Wednesday, May 5 from 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Who:
Don Lovisa, president, Durham College;
Judy Robinson, vice-president, Academic, Durham College;
Greg Murphy, dean and Charlotte Hale, associate dean, School of MAD; and
More than 240 secondary school students from across Durham Region. 

Where:
Durham College Oshawa campus, Gordon Willey building
Room C113, Room B238 and Mac labs
2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario

Schedule of events:
8:45 to 9 a.m. – students arrive on campus in Room C113;
9 to 9:20 a.m. – welcome and screening of animation and game reels;
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. – students break into groups of 30 and attend workshops focused on film composition, animation sequencing, film and animation collaboration and music video;
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – student lunch;
12:30 to 2:30 p.m. – students break into groups of 30 and attend workshops focused on film composition, animation sequencing, film and animation collaboration and music video; and
2:30 to 2:45 p.m. – wrap-up. 

Parking:
Enter off Simcoe Street and proceed to Commencement parking lot. 

For more information, please contact:
Allison Rosnak
Communications, Marketing and External Relations
Durham College
905.721.2000 ext. 2333
allison.rosnak@durhamcollege.ca

Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations.

Lorelei Hepburn, a 1994 graduate of Durham College’s Environmental Technology program, faces the members of the Dragons’ Den to pitch her product, the Nemaglobe. Hepburn will appear on the show’s sixth season.

Durham College alumna Lorelei Hepburn, a 1994 graduate of the Environmental Technology program, will be appearing on the popular CBC television show, Dragons’ Den, as part of its sixth season.

The show’s premise is to let budding businesspeople pitch their ideas for new business concepts and products and earn funding from a panel of Canadian business experts. Hepburn’s pitch was originally slated to appear during the show’s fifth season, but was kept until the sixth instead.

She approached the Dragons with the Nemaglobe, a spherical container with a bug-busting surprise. “It’s a natural worm that goes after white grubs in moss,” said Hepburn. “What makes it unique is that the packaging is completely biodegradable. It’s a natural way to control grubs and when you finish you have no packaging.”

Hepburn is no stranger to green products. While attending Durham College she founded The Environmental Factor, a lawn care company specializing in pesticide- and chemical-free products. The Environmental Factor has since spread beyond Ontario to New Brunswick and British Columbia and recently set down roots across the border in Buffalo.

Despite her lawn care expertise Hepburn described her visit to the Dragons’ Den as nerve-wracking.

“The Dragons are very smart and very entertaining, but you have to know your business,” she said. “You can go out and sell to customers, talk about your products and win awards, but these are your peers. I had to make sure every fact and figure was correct.”

Hepburn was named an Alumni of Distinction in 2001 and is currently a member of the college’s Environmental Technology program advisory committee.

For more information on her product and the Environmental Factor, please visit www.environmentalfactor.com.

Durham College students chat with a class in Maharashtra, India via webcam in the college’s first global classroom. The two classes had a joint lecture on the Canadian documentary Manufactured Landscapes.

Durham College made history on April 5 when it hosted its first global classroom, sharing a lecture with a class at the Mahindra United World College in Maharashtra, India.

The two classes watched the award-winning Canadian documentary Manufactured Landscapes then linked up over webcam to speak with photographer Edward Burtynsky and director Jennifer Baichwal, the creators of the film. The lecture took a Q and A format as students took turns commenting on what they had seen.

Despite the connection between four geographically distant locations – India; Burtynsky in Toronto; Baichwal in Alliston, Ontario; and Oshawa – the talk was largely glitch-free as the four locations transmitted video and audio to one another.

Durham College President Don Lovisa spoke before the lecture, stepping in front of the webcam to greet students more than 11,000 kilometres away.

“I welcome the students of Mumbai to Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, and congratulate Lon on his first global classroom,” said Lovisa. “We have the net generation here so this is normal for them, but for most of us this is new and exciting.”

The session was led by Lon Appleby, a professor in the School of Communication, Language & General Studies and teacher of the Short History of the World elective course. Appleby was pleased with the class and only disappointed the conversation was cut short due to class hours.

“We spent a lot of time testing different systems to make sure we had the right one,” said Appleby. “I had a great technical team behind me solving problems. We launched this, we connected, we had a good discussion that was getting even better and nothing broke down. What can I say?”

Athletic therapist Jessica Salt shows off her Olympic mittens. Salt worked behind the lines during the 2010 Paralympics as a physical therapist for sledge hockey players.

Durham College athletic therapist Jessica Salt has returned from the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics, and despite long hours and plenty of paperwork she loved her time in British Columbia.

“It was amazing,” said Salt. “It was really fun, the atmosphere was great. A once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’d do it again for sure.”

Salt served as a therapist for the men on the eight sledge hockey teams. Sledge hockey, designed with disabilities from the waist down in mind, has players vying for goals while manoeuvring on sledges with two shortened hockey sticks affixed with spikes to help them grip the ice.

Despite the differences, however, Salt found sledge hockey no less rigorous than hockey.

“These guys are extremely tough,” she said. “They’re amazing athletes. I could not get over their core abdominal strength. Able bodied or not, the athletes are the same. There’s absolutely no difference in the level of ability in Paralympians compared to Olympians.”

Salt was part of a team of six physicians and six therapists in addition to each team’s own medical staff, to support the teams if they needed help with treatment and emergency response.

And, for the most part, everything ran smoothly. “We had a couple of fractures of hands and arms, some shoulder injuries and some lacerations that required stitches, but from an emergency standpoint it was very good.”

Though she’s tended to Paralympians, Salt sees no difference in their level of determination as compared to the male and female athletes of Durham College.

“This is a place where we see athletes who want to get better and excel at their support,” said Salt. “It’s a great population to work with in general. Athletes want to get better whether they’re an Olympian, a Paralympian or a varsity athlete at the college level – the motivation is the same.”

The Dream Inspired Charity Gala benefiting Epilepsy Durham Region drew out numerous campus notables including several from the executive level. From left to right: Anthony Boland, vice-president, Campus Life, The Student Association; Amy England, president, The SA; Don Lovisa, president, Durham College; and Dr. Ronald Bordessa, president, UOIT.

The Student Association (SA) joined in the cause to raise epilepsy awareness on March 25 when it hosted the Dream Inspired Charity Gala to benefit Epilepsy Durham Region.

The gala, which also celebrated the graduating class of 2010, was held at Oshawa’s Tosca Banquet and Conference Centre to give graduating students an opportunity to mark the completion of their final year of study while raising awareness of epilepsy and drawing in money to fund research for the disease.

“The feedback has been very positive and I believe that our friends at Epilepsy Durham Region were excited with what we brought to the table,” said Will Ellis, Student Centre manager and one of the evening’s masterminds. “We were able to make a student event support our community. The night was magical.”

The event, which began with a speech by the Honourable James Flaherty, minister of Finance and MP for Whitby-Oshawa, attracted more than 150 attendees including Christine Elliott, MPP for Whitby-Oshawa; Don Lovisa, president of Durham College; and Dr. Ronald Bordessa, president of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).

Guests were treated to cocktails and an art auction with pieces donated from across Durham Region. Dinner followed, culminating in a live auction hosted by John Gray, mayor of Oshawa, and Kasia Bodurka, co-host of Rogers Daytime. The proceeds are being used to improve Epilepsy Durham Region’s resource library, an up-to-date collection of epilepsy information that is available to the public.

“The effort in making this a successful evening is greatly appreciated by Epilepsy Durham Region,” said Deanna MacDonald, community outreach associate, Epilepsy Durham Region. “We would like to send a special thank you to the graduating students of Durham College, UOIT and Trent for sharing their special evening with us. We congratulate these students and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”

To learn more about Epilepsy Durham Region please visit www.epilepsydurham.com.

Durham College President Don Lovisa greets potential students in the Oshawa campus Galleria at the college’s spring open house. The event provided program information and tours to more than 3,000 students and their families.

Though Saturday is normally a day of relaxation, Durham College was abuzz with activity last weekend, hosting over a thousand potential students and their families during its March 27 spring open house.

With more than 3,000 people in attendance, the open house jammed the halls of the Oshawa and Whitby campuses with information on the various programs from the college’s seven schools. Students and general public attended information sessions and chatted with faculty about Durham’s courses.

Guests also toured the two campuses, led by student volunteers through the various facilities, with 2,700 people visiting the Oshawa campus and 360 touring the Whitby campus.

Moreen Tapper, associate registrar, found visitor response to be almost universally positive, saying the day’s success had much to do with complete participation.

“It was not just a recruitment event,” said Tapper. “We had representation from the service, program and executive areas. It gave us the ability to showcase the entire college and everybody participated. I’d say it was an event well done.”

She added that having the open house on a Saturday greatly increased attendance, allowing family members who are usually busy during weeknights to come out and see the college with their children.

New to the open house this year was a chance for visitors to meet Don Lovisa, president of Durham College, Judy Robinson, vice-president, Academic and Norm Fenton, dean of the School of Applied Sciences, Apprenticeship, Skilled Trades & Technology.

“This event gives potential students and their families an opportunity to interact with the executive level and get a sense of the mission and vision of the college,” added Tapper. “It also allows the executives to hear first-hand the concerns, questions and areas of interest for the applicants. It really sets the tone of us being a welcoming institution right from the top all the way down.”

April 9, 2010

Annual walk-run event to support local youth

OSHAWA, ON. – Members of the media are invited to join staff, faculty and students at the Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) as they lace up their running shoes to take part in the fourth annual Campus Charity Walk and Run for the Eastview Boys and Girls Club on Thursday, April 15.

For a $20 entry fee, participants will walk or run through a scenic five-kilometre course around the schools’ shared Oshawa, Ontario campus in support of the club and its special role in the community. Participants are also encouraged to raise additional funds for the Oshawa-based club.

Durham College and UOIT faculty, staff and students are proud to support numerous organizations, groups and events throughout the year, contributing to the building of stronger communities across Durham Region. The Eastview Boys and Girls Club provides a safe, supportive place where children and youth in Durham Region can experience new opportunities; overcome barriers; build positive relationships; and develop confidence and skills for life.

When:
Thursday, April 15
2:30 p.m. rain or shine

Where:
Durham College/UOIT
Pavilion [located on the south side of the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (CRWC)]
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, Ontario

Parking:
Enter from Conlin Road and proceed to the parking lot at the south side of the CRWC.

For more information, please contact:
Michelle Roebuck
Communications, Marketing and External Relations
Durham College

michelle.roebuck@durhamcollege.ca

 

Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations.

Durham College students join dignitaries at the Whitby campus on April 8. Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Brad Duguid (back row, seventh from left) came to Whitby to announce funding for 184 new renewable energy projects in Ontario.

Durham College’s Whitby campus hosted an historic announcement April 8 when Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Brad Duguid revealed the government will fund 184 new renewable energy projects.

Joined by Joe Dickson, MPP of Ajax-Pickering, Rick Johnson, MPP of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock and Colin Andersen, CEO of Ontario Power Authority, the minister detailed plans to expand Ontario’s clean energy grid with solar, wind and water sources. These new projects are intended to help rid Ontario of coal-fired electricity generation by 2014.

The projects, expected to generate almost 2,500 megawatts of renewable energy for Ontario, fall under the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program. The program grants contracts to proposed renewable energy projects.

“These projects are the latest accomplishments of the Green Energy Act which is making Ontario a place of destination for green energy development, manufacturing, and expertise,” said Duguid. “The investments generated by FIT will not only create green jobs, but will also build a coal-free legacy for future generations.”

Durham College President Don Lovisa led the event, introducing the dignitaries in the college’s Skills Training Centre. He then took them on a tour to view the campus’s rooftop solar panels and wind turbines.

This announcement is in line with Durham College’s clean energy initiatives. The Whitby campus itself was a fitting staging ground for Duguid’s speech, as it is home to the college’s Renewable Energy Technician and Energy Audit programs which were launched in September 2009.

The Whitby campus has also been fitted with numerous facilities designed to teach students about clean energy, including energy auditing systems, computer simulation labs and an Incubation Centre for testing new products as part of the first phase of a $30-million, three-phase expansion. Phase 2 of the expansion will allow the college to introduce new programs in areas focused on sustainability while Phase 3 will focus on the culinary arts.

“The provincial government’s FIT program has proven to be an excellent opportunity for Durham College to demonstrate to our students through a living lab environment how we can produce clean energy at our Whitby campus and then make it available for the grid,” said Lovisa. “The first-hand demonstration of this unique program also reinforces for our students the increasing opportunities for careers in the clean-energy sector.”

To see full details of the announcement, please visit the Government of Ontario’s website.

Star athletes Eric Smith (left) and Katie Watts (right) show off their Athlete of the Year awards. They were two of many athletes honoured at the March 26 ceremony.

Durham College’s varsity athletic program celebrated its own on March 26 at the 40^th annual athletic banquet. More than 200 attendees were present at Oshawa’s Trillium Trails to honour Durham’s finest athletes from the 2009-2010 season.

Top accolades went to men’s basketball player Eric Smith as Male Athlete of the Year, while women’s soccer and basketball player Katie Watts won Female Athlete of the Year. The women’s soccer squad took home the Team of the Year award.

Other award winners included Freshman Athletes of the Year Sebastian Dignoti (men’s soccer) and Kayleigh Kraemer (golf). Men’s basketball player Courtney Small won the Bonnie Ginter-Brown Leadership Award alongside women’s volleyball player Mandi Doris.

The night also hit a bittersweet note as athletes bade farewell to Gord Williamson, Durham’s long-standing men’s volleyball coach. Williamson retired after this year’s Ontario College Athletics Association (OCAA) tournament, leaving with a record of 223 wins and 102 losses over his 23 years of coaching collegiate volleyball, 13 of which were spent leading the Lords.

Ken Babcock, Durham College’s athletic director, had nothing but praise for the evening and his athletes.

“It’s one of those inspirational moments for any athletic director,” said Babcock. “I’m so proud of our students and our coaches in all they do. It’s remarkable the amount we achieve for the size of our school.”

Babcock is also optimistic about Durham’s athletic future after 40 years of excellence.

“I’m looking forward to number 41,” he said. “The coaches are hard at it recruiting already and we’re all excited about what’s in store for our students and programs. And we’re hosting the 2011 Canadian Colleges Athletic Association men’s basketball championships next year, so the spotlight will be on our college nationally.”