June 25, 2008

Second gold medal win for Machinist student Mike Van Leeuwen

OSHAWA, Ont. – Mike Van Leeuwen, a third-year general Machinist apprentice, proved once again that Durham College students are the best when measured against their peers, winning a gold medal at the National Skills Competition on May 26 to 28, his second significant victory in a month.

After taking the provincial title only a few weeks earlier, the Bradford, Ontario resident won the national gold medal for his superior machining skills, which he showcased while assembling a balloon pump. He joined over 500 secondary and post-secondary school students from across Canada competing in more than 40 trade and technology events at Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta. Competition categories included transportation, construction, information, manufacturing, service and employment.

“Participating in both competitions was an amazing experience,” said Van Leeuwen. “I have learned from a group of excellent teachers who have shared their professional experience with me and my classmates. Through my experiences I have realized that the education I have received at Durham College has prepared me for a future career as a machinist.”

Selected gold medal winners at the national-level may have positions on Team Canada to represent the nation at the World Skills Calgary 2009 competition. At this time, precision machining has not been included in the competition categories.

Van Leeuwen won gold at the Provincial Skills Canada Competition on May 5 at Conestoga College’s Guelph campus. Two other Durham College students also won medals there, with Britney Kayne taking bronze for hairstyling, and Grant Henderson winning the bronze for electrical. Durham College was the top medal winner at the provincial level.

“We are immensely proud of the students who competed in all levels of this competition,” said Marj Rempel, dean of the School of Applied Sciences, Apprenticeship, Skilled Trades & Technology. “This is another shining example of how Durham College is providing students with the skills and hands-on experience necessary to be employed upon graduation. All three of these award-winning students have proven they have a bright and rewarding future ahead, one that will support our provincial government’s desire to continue developing a skilled trades workforce that meets Ontario’s future needs.”

This is the first national gold for Durham College since students began participating in the Skills Canada Competition three years ago.

About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 full-time market- driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of 95.6 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:

Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2513
melissa.levy@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.

June 13, 2008

Six outstanding alumni also to be recognized at convocation ceremonies

OSHAWA, Ont. – Family, friends, faculty, staff and guests will all be on hand Thursday, June 19 as Durham College honours the success of close to 1,600 graduates at its annual spring convocation. Three ceremonies will recognize the graduates’ accomplishments as they join the workforce as career-focused individuals with the market-ready skills needed to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world.

During the ceremonies being held throughout the day, Durham College will also honour six outstanding alumni with the college’s 2008 Alumnus of Distinction Award. This year’s recipients are Gary Heagle (in the category of Technology), Kristi Honey (Recent Graduate), Bob Malcolmson (Business), Patricia O’Connor (Health Sciences), Stephen Reynolds (Community Services) and Janice Tanton (Creative Arts/Design).

Heagle, a graduate of the Electronic Technology program in 1980, has been employed with Bell Canada as a customer systems engineer for 20 years. He has also been instrumental in the college’s pursuit of provincial and national accreditation for its engineering programs through his roles as a program advisory committee member and an Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists college liaison.

Since graduating from the two-year Business program in 2004, Honey has completed her Bachelor of Management (Business) and Master’s of Business Administration degrees, while establishing and becoming president of two successful companies. She is also recognized around the world for the training she provides in Microsoft Dynamic Training Skills.

Malcolmson was a student during the college’s first year of operation and graduated from the Business Administration/Accounting program in 1970. After working with the Thomson Newspaper Corporation for 20 years, Malcolmson went on to join the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce as the chief financial officer and general manager, where he has, among other achievements, increased membership by 60 per cent.

After graduating from the Nursing program in 1976, O’Connor became the province’s first female paramedic and was part of the first air ambulance team in Ontario. For the past 20 years, O’Connor has been providing care to patients receiving treatment in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and is a founding member of the Canadian Association of Aero-medical Transport, which provides services in Canada.

Reynolds graduated from the Sports and Entertainment Administration program in 1974. He has been working with the City of Pickering for more than 30 years, most currently as its division head for the Culture and Recreation department, where he is responsible for the development of recreational and cultural opportunities for the community.

Since her graduation from the Graphic Design program in 1985, Tanton has had her artwork sold and featured in more than 800 galleries across North America and has licensed her images to a collector plate distributor and clothing stores. Tanton is currently the program manager for Aboriginal Leadership and Management at The Banff Centre where she recently designed a teepee for the centre’s 75^th anniversary.

The Alumnus of Distinction award is presented annually to Durham College graduates who have achieved success in their careers and have made extraordinary contributions to their communities, society as a whole and the college. With this year’s recipients, this honour has been awarded to 62 of the college’s more than 42,000 graduates.

When:
Thursday, June 19, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Graduates from the schools of Emergency Services; Justice; and Applied Sciences, Apprenticeship, Skilled Trades & Technology.
Gary Heagle to be honoured with an Alumnus of Distinction Award.
1:30 p.m.
Graduates from the schools of Communication Arts; Design; Health and Community Services; and Career Development and Continuing Education.
Patricia O’Connor and Janice Tanton to be honoured with Alumna of Distinction Awards.
5:30 p.m.
Graduates from the schools of Integrated Studies; Business; and Information Technology.
Kristi Honey, Bob Malcolmson and Stephen Reynolds to be honoured with an Alumnus of Distinction. Awards

Where:
General Motors Centre
99 Athol Street East
Oshawa, Ontario

For more information contact:
Michelle Good
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2197
905.213.2375 (during convocation)
michelle.good@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.

June 6, 2008

Money will provide financial assistance to students at Durham College, UOIT and the Abilities Centre Durham

OSHAWA, Ont. – More than 240 enthusiastic golfers joined Durham Regional Chair Roger Anderson on June 5 for the 12th annual Durham Region Chairman’s Charity Classic, helping to raise $412,000 and extend a legacy of giving to community organizations.

It was a great day of golf and fellowship at the Deer Creek Golf Club and Banquet Facility in Ajax, Ontario. The generosity of golfers, sponsors, donors and volunteers resulted in an outstanding fundraising total, which will provide assistance to students in financial need at Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and be used towards the construction of the Abilities Centre Durham. The classic has raised nearly $3.4 million over its lifetime.

Representatives from the three benefiting organizations were on hand for a cheque presentation, unanimous in their gratitude for Anderson’s ongoing and enthusiastic support of young people in the region.

This year’s sold-out event included three Fraser Ford hole-in-one holes, a $1-million shootout and a putting contest. Auction items included a hockey box at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, a home theatre package and a round trip for four to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Media contact:
MJ Jaffray
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2333
mjjaffray@dc-uoit.ca

About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of close to 95 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT’s 5,000 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario’s first laptop-based university, the university offers a diverse array of challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its faculties of Business and Information Technology; Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies; Education; Energy Systems and Nuclear Science; Engineering and Applied Science; Health Sciences; and Science. UOIT’s commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including five Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

 

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.

June 2, 2008

OSHAWA, Ont. – Devoted golfers, those new to the game, and community champions will all come together on Thursday, June 5 to make a huge difference in the lives of people across Durham Region, as the annual Durham Region Chairman’s Charity Classic golf tournament returns to the Deer Creek Golf Club and Banquet Facility.

The 12th annual event will extend a phenomenal legacy of giving to community organizations, as proceeds from this year’s classic go to assisting students in need of financial assistance at Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), along with construction of the world-class Abilities Centre Durham.

Hosted by Region of Durham Chairman Roger Anderson, the tournament is one of the most successful annual fundraising initiatives in Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area. It has raised nearly $3 million over its lifetime, including $452,000 in 2007.

This year’s sold-out event includes three Fraser Ford hole-in-one holes, a $1-million shootout, a putting contest and more. Auction items include a hockey box at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, a home theatre package and a round-trip for four to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

When:
Thursday, June 5, 2008
10 a.m. – Arrival, brunch and networking
11:15 a.m. – Board golf carts
11:30 a.m. – Shotgun start
5 p.m. – Cocktail reception, with dinner to follow

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

For more information:
Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2513
melissa.levy@dc-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.

May 16, 2008

OSHAWA, Ont. – The Board of Governors of Durham College is pleased to announce Don Lovisa, Vice-President, Academic has been appointed interim college president effective immediately. Mr. Lovisa replaces outgoing President Leah Myers who resigned from the college on May 16.

Mr. Lovisa joined Durham College in August 2007. Previously he was dean of the School of Business, Hospitality and Media Arts at Confederation College in Thunder Bay. Mr. Lovisa began his career 21 years ago as a small business advisor for Confederation College. He holds a master’s degree in International Management, a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a diploma in Adult Education.

“The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing president Leah Myers for her work over the past two years,” said Dr. Phillip ‘Rocky’ Simmons, board chair. “During her tenure at the college, Leah spearheaded a new five-year strategic plan and revised and refreshed the college’s operational and administrative policies. We wish Leah success in her future endeavours.”

Durham College, which recently celebrated its 40^th anniversary, plays an important role in post-secondary education and is an integral part of the community.

“We are pleased to share the college’s Oshawa campus with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and look forward to working closely with our university friends to create opportunities for all students,” said Dr. Simmons. “The Board of Governors knows it can count on the support and commitment of our students, staff, alumni and of the communities we serve as we move forward.”

– 30 –

About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of close to 95 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:
Donna McFarlane
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2952
donna.mcfarlane@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.

May 9, 2008

Students to explore nursing profession, career opportunities and education programs

OSHAWA, Ont. – Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), in a joint venture with Lakeridge Health, Rouge Valley Health System, the Durham District School Board and the Durham Region Local Training Board, will welcome over 100 high school students and teachers to campus next week as they explore educational pathways and specialization options for the health-care industry at a joint nursing career fair.

Students and teachers from 18 local high schools will attend four break-out sessions led by faculty members from the college and university on topics including mental health, geriatrics, acute care and community nursing. In addition, they will hear a keynote presentation by Anitta Robertson, director of Special Projects for the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.

Sessions will feature simultaneous presentations of each of the four topics, with students and teachers divided into four groups that will move from presentation to presentation on a rotating basis. Students will also learn more about how Durham College and UOIT’s leading-edge nursing programs provide the theoretical and hands-on training required to succeed in this important and challenging field.

When:

Thursday, May 15, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Who:

• Faculty members from the UOIT Faculty of Health Sciences and Durham College School of Health and Community Services;
• Randy Fallis, director, Corporate Human Resources Services, Lakeridge Health and Rouge Valley Health System;
• Rose Retsinas, employability skills facilitator, Durham District School Board;
• Rick Lea, executive director, Durham Region Local Training Board; and
• Anitta Robertson, director of Special Projects, Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.

Where:

Durham College and UOIT
Gordon Willey building
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, Ontario

Break-out sessions – rooms SW206, SW207, SW213 and SW214

For more information and a full agenda contact:

Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2513
melissa.levy@dc-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.

May 6, 2008

Grades 7 and 8 students to visit campus for interactive workshops

OSHAWA, Ont. – Even though final decisions about their post-secondary education are still a few years away, Durham College is gearing up to offer 600 Durham Region grades 7 and 8 students the opportunity to start forging their pathways to success through Building Future Connections.

From offering students opportunities to analyze a personal DNA sample and discover how much caffeine is in their energy drinks, to a chance to take part in a Criminal Scavenger Hunt, Building Future Connections is filled with 45-minute, interactive workshops that are designed to capture the imagination as the young students explore some of the many exciting, market-driven careers that come with pursuing a college education.

Grades 7 and 8 represent an ideal timeframe to help young minds build the connection between elementary school and college, as students prepare for their secondary school years when the career decision-making process begins in earnest. Building Future Connections is part of the provincial government’s School-College-Work initiative (SCWI) to provide students with clear pathways from secondary schools to college programs.

Building Future Connections workshops include:

• Criminal Scavenger Hunt – Sponsored by the schools of Justice and Emergency Services, the scavenger hunt offers students an opportunity to learn more about police work and real-life investigation as they follow clues left behind by imaginary criminals. Students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills as they work in teams to unravel the clues, take notes and use search warrants;
• What it Takes to be a Health-Care Professional – The School of Health and Community Services invites students to learn about some of the exciting challenges and amazing opportunities that await them in a nursing career. Students will explore a simulated practice setting in Durham College’s state-of-the-art lab environment, where they’ll also interact with sim family members who talk to them, have heartbeats, and even breathe like a real person;
• Building a Solar Car – Students will learn about the mechanics behind solar-powered vehicles and will work in teams to build model-sized, solar-powered cars to take back to their home schools; and
• What Turns on the LED? – This energy conservation-oriented session introduces participants to photocells and how they are used to control an LED indicator circuit.

When:
Wednesdays, May 7 and 14
9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where:
Durham College Oshawa campus
2000 Simcoe Street North
Gymnasiums 4 and 5 (original gymnasium)
Oshawa

Parking:
Enter off Conlin Road and proceed to the lot at the south side of the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (entrance is on the west side of the centre).

Media contact:
M.J. Jaffray
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2333
mj.jaffray@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.

April 28, 2008

Durham College will receive almost $400,000 as part of the recent provincial government announcement of $60 million in funding for Ontario colleges over the next three years.

Durham College will receive $382,370 this year, with additional instalments to be made over the next two years. The funding can be used for computers or software for classroom use, books or digital materials for libraries, and equipment or machinery for lab instruction.

“We are truly pleased by today’s announcement and the provincial government’s continued investment in a thriving and vibrant Ontario college system,” said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. “Here at Durham College we know that in order for our students to succeed in the work force upon graduation, they require access to the equipment and technology in use by today’s employers.”

To read the full press release, please click here.

April 9, 2008

Student, employer, graduate satisfaction rates up over 2007

OSHAWA, Ont. – Durham College welcomed the release today of the annual provincial Key Performance Indicator (KPI) results as another affirmation that its commitment to an outstanding post-secondary experience is resonating with students and employers.

In particular, the results show that Durham College graduates continue to have a distinct edge in the job market, as 90.7 per cent reported finding employment within six months of graduation.

The college’s results show an overall trend upwards, with growth in a majority of the benchmark areas examined as part of the surveys, which have been mandated annually by the provincial government since 1998. Colleges are required to collect and report performance data in the areas of graduate satisfaction, student satisfaction, employer satisfaction, graduate employment and graduation rate.

“The student experience comes first at Durham College and part of our commitment to living that mission every day is receiving feedback and then using it to help us improve all the programs and services that we provide,” said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. “We are extremely pleased to see that our results are continuing to improve overall. I’m especially pleased by our graduate employment rate as it is another reminder that colleges are providing the knowledge, skills and training that ensures students find jobs in today’s rapidly changing workplace.”

Durham’s graduate employment rate of 90.7 per cent is up from 90.2 per cent in 2007 and is ahead of the provincial average of 90.5. Not only are Durham College graduates finding work, but they’re making an impression with employers. In fact, 95.6 per cent of employers surveyed reported they were very satisfied or satisfied with hiring a Durham College graduate, up from 94.8 per cent in 2007 and above the provincial average of 93.1 per cent.

Student satisfaction results also grew over 2007, with 70.8 per cent of Durham College students responding that they were very satisfied or satisfied with the quality of services, up three percentage points from 67.8 per cent and almost in line with the provincial average of 70.9 per cent.

When it came to the quality of facilities and resources, 71.9 per cent were very satisfied or satisfied, up from 69.5 per cent and ahead of the province at 71.3 per cent. In particular, students appear to be extremely pleased with the college’s 90,000-square-foot expansion to the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, which opened in June 2007. When asked about the quality of the recreation/athletics facilities, 81 per cent reported they were very satisfied or satisfied, a staggering 70-per cent increase from the 48 per cent in 2007.

Other Durham College results from this year’s report include:

Category	2008	2007	Province
Graduate satisfaction	81.5	81.4	82.8
Student satisfaction	77.4	75.7	77.9
– Knowledge and skills	86.9	86.0	87.5
– Quality of learning experiences	80.0	79.5	81.8
Graduation rate	67.4	68.1	64.9

Based on KPI results over the past few years, Durham College has continued to introduce a number of new initiatives designed to enhance the student experience. For instance, in 2007 the college increased space for group study, with an additional 10,000 square feet added for student use; expanded its Health Centre to offer wellness services such as a full-service pharmacy, sexual health centre, and chiropractic and massage therapy; and a Student Food Services Committee was established to provide feedback.

“Over the coming weeks we will look at this year’s results and celebrate our successes and determine where we can get even stronger,” said Myers. “The KPI report is an important part of our overall focus on continuous improvement and meeting the needs of all our students so that they can graduate with the skills necessary to meet the demands of today’s employers.”

To view the full results, please visit the Colleges Ontario website.

April 2, 2008

Staff and students support local youth through annual walk-run event

OSHAWA, Ont. – Staff, faculty and students at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College are lacing up their running shoes once again to take part in the Second Annual Campus Charity Walk and Run for the Eastview Boys and Girls Club on Wednesday, April 9.

For a $20 entry fee, participants will walk or run a scenic five-kilometre course around the schools’ Oshawa, Ontario campus in support of the club and its special role in the community. This year, organizers have added some friendly competition with a team challenge that will see UOIT varsity athletes competing with Durham College teams for the most participants and the chance to win a trophy and $100 cash prize.

UOIT and Durham College faculty, staff and students are proud to support a number of organizations, groups and events throughout the year, contributing to the making of stronger communities across Durham Region. More than 1,100 members strong, the Eastview Boys and Girls Club provides a safe and supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life. The Oshawa-based club is now in its 45th year of service.

When:
Wednesday, April 9
3 p.m. rain or shine

Where:
Durham College
Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, Gym 3
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:
M.J. Jaffray
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2333
mj.jaffray@dc-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.