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.”

April 1, 2010

Event will showcase interactive class with students in India

OSHAWA, ON. – In an effort to take the delivery of high-quality education to the next level, Durham College will introduce its first-ever global classroom next Monday when it links up with a college classroom in India for a session of one of its General Education elective courses, Short History of the World. The unique initiative will create a twin class between students more than 11,000 kilometres apart.

Don Lovisa, president of Durham College, along with 55 students enrolled in the popular course and an additional 22 students from the college’s Film Culture Studies course, will be joined by 16 students from the prestigious Mahindra United World College in Maharashtra, India for a real-time class that will focus on the issues of human progress and the limits of the planet. The global classroom will be broadcast using state-of-the-art Cisco WebEx equipment.

Short History of the World, introduced in fall 2009 and taught by Lon Appleby, a professor in the School of Communication, Language & General Studies, is a general education elective course that examines how the modern world was shaped and the escalation of globalization, and what knowledge this can bring to students’ life choices. The curriculum also includes maintenance of a student-designed website and an engaging talk show feature.

The event will begin with a screening of the award-winning documentary, Manufactured Landscapes, based on the work of internationally acclaimed Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky and directed by Jennifer Baichwal, also from Canada. The documentary features Burtynsky’s photographs of landscapes of areas that have been transformed by human activity. Following the screening, the students will be joined via webcast by Burtynsky and Baichwal from their respective locations in Toronto and Alliston, Ontario.

The global classroom will eventually be a permanent fixture on Appleby’s website which will be launched in early May where globally-minded youth can share their work and thoughts on human history. Developed along with Chris Klimek, e-learning content developer at the college’s Innovation Centre, the website will host, record and post additional global classes in order to attract other colleges and universities to this innovative twin-class format.

The website will also encourage students from around the world to join these classes to contribute their own research papers, blogs, videos, graphic novels and other media worldwide.

When:
Monday, April 5 at 10 a.m.

Who:
Don Lovisa, president, Durham College;
Mary Blanchard, dean, School of Communication, Language & General Studies;
Lon Appleby, professor, School of Communication, Language & General Studies;
Edward Burtynsky, photographer;
Jennifer Baichwal, director, Manufactured Landscapes;
Students from Short History of the World and Film Culture Studies courses; and
Students and faculty from Mahindra United World College in Maharashtra, India.

Where:
Gordon Willey building, Room SW109
Durham College
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, Ontario

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

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.

More than 1200 students attended the 13th annual job fair held on campus in February including Toronto Police Service. The fair is co-ordinated by Hired Career Services to give students the chance to network with potential employers.

More than 1200 students from across campus recently attended the 13th annual job fair held at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre on February 13. The event, which saw students dress for success and ready to find their future employers, featured 40 local, provincial and national businesses including Hydro One Inc., Town Shoes, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Toronto Police Service. All were on hand to seek graduating and current students for prospective employment opportunities as well as internship and co-op placements.

“Durham College’s programs provide students with a greater understanding from the education perspective,” said Kristina Rigby, branch manager of Enterprise Rent- A-Car and graduate of the college’s Business Administration – Marketing program. “They work within the local marketplace to provide students with the hands-on experience they need to succeed.”

The job fair is co-ordinated by Hired Career Services (HCS) each year to give students the chance to network with potential employers in person while giving recruiters an opportunity to share their company’s advantages and benefits.

HCS assists students with finding placements and/or part-time jobs while in school and helps graduates find full-time employment after graduation. The department also helps students write resumes and employment letters, improve interview skills and set specific career goals. Services are free of charge for students while in school and free for one year post-graduation.

“The job fair is an important event where students can explore employment opportunities and expand their network of contacts,” said Monica Aggarwal, an employer outreach co-ordinator with HCS. “For graduating students looking for that first very important step into their career, this is an opportunity for them to put their best foot forward and meet their future employer.”

HCS also offers the Hired Portal, which provides students and graduates with job lists, internship and co-op placement opportunities and additional tools for obtaining a great job.

For more information on HCS, please visit https://hired.durhamcollege.ca/employers/overview.htm.

March 16, 2010

Provincial government initiative provides unique educational support systems; access to bursaries

OSHAWA, ON. – As part of the provincial government’s initiative to support students who are the first in their family to attend post-secondary education, Durham College has received $216,000 in funding from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

The initiative was first introduced into 35 post-secondary institutions across the province during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 academic years through a series of First Generation pilot projects valued at $7.33 million. The projects focused on outreach, pre- and post-admission support and end-to-end support.

This year the government is investing an additional $3 million into First Generation bursaries and $2.5 million into an eLearn Network designed to create better access to online education for first generation students.

“Thanks to this tremendous funding from the provincial government, Durham College is significantly increasing its ability to communicate the many benefits of post-secondary education and training to first generation students,” said Don Lovisa, president of Durham College. “In addition, access to new bursary monies will enable more students than ever before to take advantage of the high-quality educational experience that Durham College has to offer and begin a new path to post-secondary education for themselves and their families.”

The initial government funding enabled Durham College to develop a number of support services for first generation students including student and parent web pages; orientation events; and informative print resources such as A Year on Campus (the parent and family calendar) and First, a monthly newsletter featuring information about upcoming social events, important dates and more.

In addition, the college introduced a first generation student co-ordinator position to respond to the unique needs and requirements of first generation students helping to ensure a positive educational experience.

“We remain committed to ensuring our current and future first generation students have access to great supports, high-quality education and a vibrant student experience during their time with us,” said Margaret Greenley, vice-president, Student Affairs.

The college also developed an E-mentoring program for first generation students that offers a direct connection to the first generation student co-ordinator. The program provides students with a direct contact on campus and ensures that they are kept informed as they tackle their first year of college.

In addition, a new online learning program was developed with a focus on five modules: academic culture; basic technology supports; keys to success; subject-specific supports; and English as a Second Language (ESL) conversation partners. The five-module program provides first generation students with academic support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The funding introduced in 2010 will support the recently established First Generation bursaries which range in value from $1,500 to $3,000 and provide direct support to students who demonstrate financial need and meet eligibility requirements.

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About Durham College 
At Durham College, the student experience comes first, an approach it has taken for more than 40 years. Through a vast range of market-driven programs that are taught by exceptional professors with real-world experience, students develop the skills required to meet the ever-changing needs of employers and the job market. Moving forward, Durham College’s expansion plans will see its Whitby campus grow by 40,000 square feet. Phase 1 of the construction features an energy-neutral living laboratory for new technologies and education that will serve the growing needs of the emerging energy sector. Phase 2 will increase the size of the Skills Training Centre to create classroom and laboratory space to support new program development, and Phase 3 will be a Food Centre designed to house culinary arts programs; a food and agricultural component; a food processing centre and agriculture and science laboratories. Durham College has more than 7,000 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and more than 1,400 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.caor call 905.721.2000.

Media 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.

Kim MacPherson from the School of Career Development & Continuing Education runs a lemonade stand during the sixth annual Power of Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Day on March 10. MacPherson is also a breast cancer survivor.

On Wednesday, March 10, the campus community was tickled pink as it hosted the sixth annual Power of Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Day on campus.

The event, held each March, offered many fun events and activities to raise money for the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Gala of Hope’s Heather Griffith Breast Assessment Centre at Lakeridge Health Oshawa.

Participants received a passport that was stamped each time they made a monetary contribution at a participating activity and then received one ballot per stamp, giving them a chance to win prizes including gift baskets, athletic wear and college-branded gear.

Booths were sent up in Recognition Square and Vendor’s Alley in the Gordon Willey building and in the Founding Deans’ Atrium of the UOIT Science building to host several fundraising initiatives including bake sales, cake walks, games, a chance to buy raffle tickets and more.

A memory wall for participants to write messages or memories about individuals with breast cancer or breast cancer survivors was available as well as information booths with breast cancer literature.

Gala of Hope, the volunteer organization that funds the Heather Griffith Breast Assessment Centre at Lakeridge Health Oshawa, also sold T-shirts and lanyards to support breast cancer awareness with more and more students, faculty and staff wearing the clothing around campus as the day went on.

“I think this is a wonderful day and I am very impressed by the involvement of the staff and students here at Durham College,” said Betty Lea, chief executive officer and events and fundraising co-ordinator of the Gala of Hope. “It is really great to see so much support for such a great cause.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women with an estimated 22,700 women diagnosed in 2009. In addition, an estimated 180 men in Canada were also diagnosed. For more information on how you can help find a cure for breast cancer, please visit www.cbcf.org.

Larissa and Nathan, local high school students, edit their short video for the judges of the Regional Skills Competition held on February 23 and 26 at Durham College’s Oshawa campus.

Local secondary school students visited Durham College’s Oshawa campus last week to participate in a two-day Regional Skills Competition held by the School of Media, Art & Design on February 23 and 26.

The event hosted pairs of students from schools in Pickering and Oshawa, Ontario who competed in 2-D animation and television and video production categories on February 23 and photography, desktop publishing and graphic design categories on February 26.

Entered into the competition by their teachers, each pair had to follow a set of guidelines to create their final products. For the television and video production competition, students were asked to film a 30-second short commercial or public service announcement about bullying and how it affects high school students. They had to use specific types of cameras and edit their videos by inserting transitions and music.

In the 2-D animation competition, students were given a quote about the environment and asked to create a short 2-D cartoon using Adobe Flash using the quote. The students had five hours to complete their video or cartoon and show the judges.

“This competition was a great opportunity for us to put our skills to the test and hopefully come out on top,” said Nathan, a Grade 11 student. “We had such a great time filming around the campus!”

Students were also given access to the Mac labs to complete their projects and since most had never worked with a Mac, loved the experience.

“The Mac labs we got to use were really helpful as well,” added Larissa, a Grade 10 student and Nathan’s partner. “They helped us better develop the skills we already have.”

March 3, 2010

OSHAWA, ON –The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College will be stamping pink passports next week as they join in the fight against breast cancer during the sixth annual Power of Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Day on Wednesday, March 10.

Held at the college and university’s shared Oshawa campus, the day-long event will see faculty, staff and students dress themselves and their schools and faculties in pink and feature unique fundraising activities including this year’s passport for prizes. Participants will receive a passport that will be stamped each time they make a monetary contribution at a participating office or event display. Donors will receive a ballot per stamp, giving them a chance to win prizes including gift baskets, athletic wear and college- and university-branded gear.

Additional fundraising initiatives include bake sales, a toonie toll and a cookie-of-the-week club. Guests will also be able to view a portable Memory Wall dedicated to loved ones who have battled this disease, which will travel across the campus throughout the day.

Information kiosks outlining the numerous events happening on campus will be located in the Founding Deans’ Atrium of the UOIT Science building and near the main entrance of the Gordon Willey building. Don Lovisa, president of Durham College, and MaryLynn West-Moynes, vice-president of External Relations for UOIT, will also be decked out in pink and assisting at various events throughout the day.

Proceeds from this year’s campaign will be donated to the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Gala of Hope’s Heather Griffith Breast Assessment Centre at Lakeridge Health in Oshawa. Last year’s event raised more than $16,000.

When:
Wednesday, March 10
7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Photo opportunity:
Durham College and UOIT campus community participating in unique pink-themed fundraisers including bake sales, a toonie toll, breast cancer awareness displays and more.

Where:
Durham College and UOIT Oshawa campus
Founding Deans Atrium of UOIT Science building, and Recognition Square and South Wing hallway of Gordon Willey building
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, Ontario

Parking:
Enter off Simcoe Street North and proceed to Commencement Lot 1.

For more information:
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.

Students, faculty, staff and special guests recently enjoyed an art exhibit that showcased the work of Barb Suen, a Durham College Graphic Design professor, and members of the Ontario Chinese Artists Association. The exhibit was a collaborative effort between the School of Media, Art & Design, Your Student Association and TD Canada Trust.

The School of Media, Art & Design, Your Student Association and TD Canada Trust, recently hosted an art exhibition in the South Wing hallway of the Gordon Willey building to showcase the work of Barb Suen, a Durham College Graphic Design professor, and members of the Ontario Chinese Artists Association (OCAA).

Created to celebrate 40 years of great political relations between China and Canada, the exhibit

took place from February 1 to 20, displaying Suen’s work as well as 40 pieces created and donated by 37 artists from the OCAA.

“I believe our young people should be provided with every opportunity to be involved with experiences that will assist them in developing the skills that will make them the world’s future leaders,” said Suen. “May this be an opportunity to provide visual pleasure and cross-cultural understanding – Happy Chinese New Year.”

The OCAA was established in 1979 to provide a platform for artists’ communication and to promote local and international artistic events. It organizes over 30 art exhibitions each year for OCAA members, well-known Chinese artists visiting Canada and local artists. It currently has over 300 members.

The exhibit was held in conjunction with an event that took place at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto (CCCGT) on February 14 to celebrate Chinese New Year. It consisted of traditional Chinese dances, food to celebrate the year of the Tiger and a larger exhibition of paintings by Suen created under a 2008 Visual Artists grant from the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the government of Ontario. The exhibition was also supported by the Ontario Arts Council through a 2009 Exhibition Assistance grant.

Many interested students from Durham College, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Trent in Oshawa travelled to Toronto to see the spectacular cultural event along with Suen and other interested faculty members.

For more information about the OCAA, please visit www.ocaa.info and for more information about the CCCGT, please visitwww.cccgt.org.

Durham College’s request to the Region of Durham for $5 million in financial support toward the second and third phases of its Whitby campus expansion was approved by Regional Council on February 17. When complete the expansion will see more than $30 million invested in renewable energy, living lab environments and an expanded campus involving the food and agricultural communities.

Durham College received exciting news yesterday afternoon when its request to the Region of Durham for $5 million in financial support toward the second and third phases of its Whitby campus expansion was approved.

The news came following a Regional Council meeting that saw Council agree – with a very strong majority – to give the college $5 million over seven years with the first $500,000 to be given in 2010.

“I am thrilled with this great news and hope that the entire college family shares my excitement,” said Lovisa. “This funding will lend significant support to our commitment to training the workforce needed to build sustainable communities in this region and beyond.”

The funding will used to support the ongoing expansion and renovation of the Whitby campus, an expansion that when complete, will see more than $30 million invested in renewable energy, living lab environments and an expanded campus involving the food and agricultural community.

Phase 1, already completed, provides new classrooms and labs; a Research Incubation Centre; and a living laboratory approach that includes solar water heating and solar cell systems, geothermal technology, wind turbines and electrical and energy auditing.

Phase 2, currently under construction, will increase the shop area in the Skills Training Centre to accommodate new programs such as Power Engineering Technology, Sustainable Energy, Biomass Energy, Building Trades and Technology as well as programs focused on the skilled trades sector including Precision Machining, Metal Fabricator, Carpenter, Steamfitter, Construction Millwright and Tower Crane Operator.

In addition, Phase 2 will include two houses – one older home with dated technology and wiring and one newly constructed home with the latest energy efficient and environmentally friendly technology available – to give students a sense of the changes that continue to occur in the construction and building trades and how to utilize them effectively.

The third phase of the expansion, a Food Centre, will house culinary arts programs; a food and agricultural growing component; a food processing centre; and agriculture and science laboratories. New programs include Chef, Cook, Food Processing, Food Research and Hospitality and Tourism Management.

“Durham College is committed to a vision that will see new opportunities for students in areas that are critical to the local, provincial and national economies,” added Lovisa. “This funding is a strong vote of confidence in Durham College, the direction we are heading and the significant role we play in Durham Region.”

 

February 17, 2010

Local secondary school students to participate in separate challenges

OSHAWA, ON. – While Durham College students enjoy their winter break next week, the college’s Oshawa and Whitby campuses will host more than 60 students from secondary schools across Durham Region when the college holds skills competitions on Tuesday, February 23 and Friday, February 26.

Giving students an opportunity to display their talents in technological and automotive skills, the competitions are being held in partnership with the Durham District School Board (DDSB), beginning with the two-day Regional Skills Competition held by the School of Media, Art & Design (Oshawa campus) on February 23. The event will host competitors in 2- and 3-D animation and television and video production with participants then competing in photography, desktop publishing and graphic design categories on February 26.

The Automotive Skills Competition, hosted by the School of Applied Sciences, Apprenticeship, Skilled Trades &Technology, will take place on February 26 at the college’s Whitby campus in the Motor Vehicle shops located inside the Skills Training Centre. Participants will take part in auto repair challenges using a variety of vehicles including a GMC Denali, Buick Allure, Toyota Corolla and Dodge Caravan.

Both competitions will be judged by faculty members from Durham College and the DDSB with the top students in all categories receiving an assortment of prizes. Participating secondary schools include Eastdale Collegiate Vocational Institute in Oshawa, Ontario; Henry Street High School in Whitby, Ontario; and Pickering High School, in Pickering, Ontario.

During the events, students will get hands-on experience in their particular fields through the use of Durham College’s innovative classrooms, labs, shops, state-of-the-art technology and equipment. The students will also receive guidance, positive feedback and advice from the college’s exceptional faculty.

When:
Regional Skills Competition hosted by the School of Media, Art & Design:

• 2- and 3-D animation and television and video production categories: Tuesday, February 23 from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; and
• Photography, desktop publishing and graphic design categories: Friday, February 26 from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Automotive Skills Competition:

• February 26 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Who:
Faculty members from the DDSB;
Durham College faculty members; and
Secondary school students and teachers.

Where:
Regional Skills Competition:
Durham College Oshawa campus
Gordon Willey building, Room L114
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, Ontario

Automotive Skills Competition:
Durham College Whitby campus
Skills Training Centre, Motor Vehicle shops
1610 Champlain Avenue
Whitby, Ontario

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

Whitby: enter off Champlain Drive and proceed to the main parking lot.

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.