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Durham College Food Access Bursary helps students experiencing food insecurity during the holidays

As the cost of food continues to be a challenge for many students, Durham College’s (DC) Food Access Bursary can serve as a relief, supplementing grocery costs over the holiday season.

The bursary is funded by the DC community — including employees, alumni, students and the Durham College Student Association — who donate during November and December so that students navigating challenges can receive support for the purchase of food during the holiday season. Last year, almost $200,000 was distributed, supporting 1,150 students.

Cora Reid was among those students.

“The holidays can be a very stressful time for students,” she said. “With OSAP as my only source of income, there simply wasn’t enough funds for something as simple as a holiday dinner. I was truly grateful for the support of the Food Access Bursary.”

Tara Koski, DC’s Dean, Students, says the escalating cost of living — including rising housing and grocery costs — presents a tremendous challenge for many students.

“By pursuing a college education, students are laying the foundation for future success,” she said. “But as they work to realize their goals it’s crucial for us as a college community to help by easing some of the pressures they face and that includes addressing food access over the holidays.”

The Durham College Alumni Association is matching the first $10,000 raised so every dollar contributed has twice the power to make a positive change in students’ lives.

“I’m hopeful our community will come together and support our students so they can focus on learning,” said Ariel Sully, Associate Vice President, Advancement and Alumni Relations at DC. “Donations to the Food Access Bursary are an investment in a brighter future for our students and their families.”

Donations are welcome until December 31 and gifts of more than $20 are eligible for a charitable donation receipt for income tax purposes in the 2024 tax year. Contributions can be made online by selecting the “Food Access Bursary” option from the designation list.

Applications for the bursary are open to DC students from November 15 to 29. Bursaries will be awarded in December. Are you a student who needs a little extra help this season? Learn more about applying for the Food Access Bursary.

DC’s AI Hub recognized with Tech-Access Canada’s Tri-Pillar Excellence Award

Durham College’s (DC) AI Hub has been awarded the Tri-Pillar Excellence Award for its ongoing work to help businesses conduct research and development, adopt new technology and education and training.

The award comes from the national non-profit Tech-Access Canada, which supports a network of Technology Access Centres (TAC) across the country, including the AI Hub, which became a TAC in 2023.

Natalie Arthurs, Senior Manager of the AI Hub, says that the award was especially meaningful because it recognizes that her team is meeting multiple needs in an evolving field.

“As a fairly new TAC, this award reflects that we’ve made considerable progress in the three key areas of research, training and technology,” she said. “We have done a really good job of looking systematically across this moment in time in AI at how to put the right tools in the right place to overcome barriers to AI in a holistic way.”

Key initiatives from the AI Hub include the development and launch of the AI Guide ethics training program to help non-technical professionals gain an in-depth knowledge of AI governance and regulations. The Hub also offers a webinar and workshop series to help small- and medium-sized businesses learn about ways they can use AI in their organizations. The Hub’s AI Strategic Roadmap service helps companies to test the feasibility of an AI tool before fully committing to a larger investment.

The AI Hub has also positioned itself as a thought leader in the community, hosting a flagship annual AI in Action event in February, which attracted more than 180 participants in 2024. In addition to partnering with local organizations including the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, Invest Durham and the Spark Centre, and Angel Investors of Durham, the AI Hub also engaged with more than 60 companies in various industries over the last year, including health care, finance and marketing among others.

For Arthurs and her team, the AI Hub’s focus is always on practical solutions and meeting the needs of industry and the community. “When we set out to research something, it’s specifically solving a problem that industry has brought to us,” she said. “We looked across the board and asked: What are key barriers companies are facing? Why are companies struggling to integrate AI into their businesses? And then we developed programming specifically around that.”

She points to the AI Guide as an example to emerge from the realization that a possible barrier to AI adoption was concern over emerging regulations.

Given the ecosystem that the AI Hub has created, Arthurs says she was thrilled to share the news of the win with her team. “The best part was we had an event here at DC the day that we got home from the conference where the award was presented. Being able to share it with the team was the most rewarding part, because this award is really about diversity and diversity of services, and that diversity is reflected in our team and their strengths and their dedication.”

The AI Hub serves as a strategic advisor to help companies assess the value of AI. They currently have more than 30 research and development projects underway, serving partners in every province and in sectors from energy to consulting to health to marketing. Companies are encouraged to reach out to the AI Hub with an AI problem and request a consultation.

 

Durham College’s Barrett Centre recognized by the Province of Ontario for excellence in urban agriculture

The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture at Durham College (DC) has been recognized by the Government of Ontario through the 2024 Excellence in Agriculture Awards.

The awards were announced at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto on November 2 and the Barrett Centre received an Honourable Mention in the Urban Agriculture Excellence category from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

Durham College President Dr. Elaine Popp was joined by Barrett Centre Partnership Manager Carey Yeoman and Community Engagement Coordinator Jennifer Hoban in accepting the award.

“We are so honoured to receive this award on behalf of the Barrett Centre and Durham College,” said Yeoman. “This is a testament to what can be achieved in our communities when municipalities, regions and community partners work together to create a lasting impact on food security and agricultural literacy.”

Recently, the centre celebrated the first anniversary of the grand opening of its innovative and dynamic Urban Farm in Ajax which has been developed as a community-based living lab replicating and scaling the successful farming operations already established at the college’s Whitby campus as a model for other urban farms. The Barrett Centre also operates an innovative indoor hydroponic growing unit on the urban farm which allows freshly grown food to be accessible to the community even during the winter months.

“I’m thrilled to congratulate the entire team at the Barrett Centre on this award and I am incredibly proud of their achievements including a fantastic inaugural growing season at the Ajax Urban Farm,” said Popp. “Managed by DC’s Faculty of Hospitality and Horticultural Science, the urban farm presents DC students with meaningful opportunities to gain hands-on learning experiences through the farm’s mission to build a more resilient, inclusive, collaborative, and diverse food system in our community.”

Some of the biggest challenges facing society today include food insecurity, access to a safe and stable supply of fresh food, economic stability and environmental regeneration of the land for local food production.

The adoption of a holistic and sustainable approach to urban agriculture, and vertical, regenerative farming methods offers socio-economic solutions that build resiliency into our communities, create financial opportunities for people, and solve food insecurity issues while also enhancing soil and air quality.

“Agritech is an incredibly exciting area for our students to participate in,” said Yeoman. “Connecting our students with industry leaders not only furthers their learning but allows our farm to bring food to market more efficiently.”

The Barrett Centre was founded at DC through the generous support of The Barrett Family Foundation and is a hub of excellence in the field serving as a model of best practices in urban agriculture.

Learn more about the Barrett Centre and urban agriculture resources for the Durham community.

DC Communications and Marketing efforts win gold

Durham College’s (DC) Communications and Marketing (C+M) team has been recognized with five gold Education Digital Marketing Awards for key projects designed to inspire, inform and support our DC community.

The Awards celebrate excellence in educational websites, digital content, electronic communications, mobile media and social media. DC’s submissions were selected from over 1,000 entries received in the competition from higher education institutions across Canada and the United States.

“We are incredibly proud of our Communications and Marketing team for this outstanding achievement,” said Carol Beam, DC’s Associate Vice President, Communications and Marketing. “Receiving five awards among such a broad group of competitors reflects our commitment to creating meaningful, engaging content and assets that inspire and inform our DC community. This recognition is a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication to excellence in digital communication, ensuring our students, faculty, and partners feel connected and supported.”

The team won gold in all categories it entered, including:

  • Blogs, regular profiles of students, employees and opportunities across DC’s campuses, written to highlight, inspire and showcase our community.
  • International student website, in collaboration with DC’s International Education team, C+M recently redesigned the site for an improved user experience for international students.
  • Interactive map, designed to help users navigate our two campuses and explore our state-of-the-art facilities and learning spaces. Visual content including photos, video and 360-degree tours provides an immersive experience.
  • DC mobile app, a collaborative effort with DC’s IT Services team, this app provides students easy access to key resources, including campus news and events, course and student information, and more.
  • The Future is Now video, a collaboration between C+M and the Office of the Vice President, Academic and Students, this video features past students thanking their mentors and celebrating DC.

Launch your future at Durham College’s Fall Open House on November 9

The doors are open at Durham College (DC) for Fall Open House on Saturday November 9 creating opportunities for prospective students to explore 145+ career-driven programs, meet with faculty and to see state-of-the-art learning spaces including shops and labs.

Visitors can explore both the Oshawa campus at 2000 Simcoe St. N. and the Whitby campus at 1610 Champlain Ave. during Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kaeli Caguicla, a first-year Mechanical Technician – Elevating Devices student, explains she found her path at a DC Open House last year.

With an interest in the skilled trades, Caguicla attended Open House at DC’s Whitby Campus and met with a faculty member from the program she wanted to pursue.

“It was very valuable, basically he just talked about how amazing the program was and how special it was,” she said, adding that she was interested to learn it was just one of two Elevating Devices programs in Ontario. “He seemed like he really enjoyed the program and highlighted the career options.”

Caguicla got her questions answered, learned more about the courses in the program and visited her future learning spaces. She also enjoyed the energy at Open House.

“It’s very welcoming and I really liked the atmosphere,” she said. “It was easy to get around and I thought the shop spaces were really cool.”

Now, she says she loves her program and looks forward to attending her classes.

Navjot Sehgal is a campus tour guide and marketing assistant at DC and he’ll be leading tours during Open House.

“One of things people get excited about on campus tours is seeing the facilities and services that we offer,” said Sehgal, who is also a student pursuing a Cybersecurity graduate certificate.

He said prospective students love seeing spaces like the fitness facilities and gyms at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, the Esports Arena and learning about services like Career Development or Student Academic Learning Services (SALS) which provides free academic support to DC students.

“These are the kinds of things students really don’t know about before they come here,” Sehgal explains. “Durham College has a vast campus; you can’t really know about all the things we have to offer unless you visit us. There’s a lot to explore and you can get a first look at your campus life.”

He said Open House is a one-stop-shop event where they can meet the recruitment team, explore programs and meet faculty, take a tour and apply. DC will cover the $150 Ontario Colleges application fee for domestic students who visit an Apply Now room and submit their application.

Top reasons to register for and attend DC’s Fall Open House:

  • Meet with expert faculty to learn about our 145+ career-driven programs
  • Learn about DC’s supportive financial aid services, including over $5 million in available bursaries and scholarships
  • Find out about campus life and why our students love DC
  • Explore inspiring spaces with a guided campus tour
  • Apply for a DC program at the event and we will cover the $150 application fee for domestic students

Register to attend Fall Open House! Attendees who register will be entered into a draw to win a $5,000 Durham College tuition credit.

Schulich Builders Scholarships supports Durham College students in launching in-demand careers in the skilled trades

Ten Durham College (DC) students are pursuing rewarding careers in the skilled trades through life-changing support from the Schulich Builders Scholarships for the Skilled Trades.

Five students received $20,000 scholarships for one-year programs and five received $40,000 scholarships for two-year programs through The Schulich Foundation whose goal is to help to combat the shortage of skilled trades in the province and amplifying their importance and value to the community. Applications for a third round of scholarships will open to students in 2025.

Kaeli Caguicla, a Mechanical Technician – Elevating Devices, is among DC’s $40,000 winners.

She explains that her father originally encouraged her to pursue a career in accounting, but she took an automotive class in high school and found she loved being in the shop and working with her hands and on tangible problems with solutions.

Caguicla selected her program after attending a DC Open House and speaking with faculty in the Elevating Devices program as well as hearing from her neighbour who works in the industry and is passionate about it.

“It’s been a blast so far, I’ve never enjoyed school so much,” she said. “I truly look forward to most of my classes. I come to school early and leave late. It’s been really fun.”

Earning a Schulich Scholarship has made a big impact on her life covering not only her tuition costs, but other costs like books, food and GO Transit transportation fees for the Scarborough resident.

“I’ve known for a while I would have to pay for my own post-secondary schooling and for my whole life, for birthdays and Christmases, I never spent the money and saved it up into a bank account,” she explains. “But when I was in Grade 12, due to a family situation, all that money was gone so I was kind of stuck—I didn’t even have enough for one year—but then I found out about the Schulich Builders Scholarship and went through the process and received it and it really lifted the pressure off my shoulders, it was really great.”

She said that the scholarship also made it easier for her father and her grandparents to accept her decision to pursue a career in the skilled trades.

“They were proud of me because I won this scholarship.”

Josh Peacocke, a Power Engineering Techniques – Fourth Class student and $20,000 scholarship winner, said he always knew he was going to pursue a career in the trades but wasn’t sure which trade he wanted to pursue until attending a trades fair at the Tribute Communities Centre.

“They had a bunch of stands set up and they had a power engineering booth and I thought it was pretty neat,” he said.

Peacocke said he liked that the program was only a year and that he would receive nine-month reduction of qualifying experience time. After acquiring three months of experience and completing Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) exams, DC graduates may qualify for their Fourth-Class Operating Engineer Certificate of Qualification.

He said he heard about the scholarship through his guidance counsellor and was surprised when he found out he won.

“I just couldn’t believe it this happened to me,” he said. “I told my parents, my mom cried and she said this is life changing and my dad, he was pretty proud of me.”

Peacocke said there are several benefits to winning the scholarship.

“It’s a motivation to go to school and to finish everything and to do very well and I’m trying significantly harder because I know there’s money on the line. It was also very financially helpful paying for school, I didn’t know how much the books were. I paid a little over a $1,000 for my first semester books.”

Whitby campus Principal and Faculty of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Executive Dean Rebecca Milburn congratulated the scholarship winners.

“The skilled trades are the backbone of our economy in key industries like construction, manufacturing, automotive, and infrastructure maintenance and development and I want to thank the Schulich Foundation for supporting our students as they prepare to enter these fields,” she said. “The trades sector continues to offer sustainable, high-demand career opportunities and it is critical that we develop the next generation of skilled workers who will drive innovation and growth in Ontario.”

Durham College 2024 Schulich Builders Scholarship $40,000 winners:

Devon Babich (Cobourg) – Welding Engineering Technician

Kaeli Caguicla (Scarborough) – Mechanical Technician – Elevating Devices

Blake Hutchinson (Oshawa) – Electrical Engineering Technician

Dimitre O’Reggio (Pickering) – Electrical Engineering Technician

Jarod Tieche (Pickering) – Mechanical Technician Millwright

Durham College 2024 Schulich Builders Scholarship $20,000 winners:

Tori Dimytruk (Whitby) – Trades Fundamentals

Amjad Masri (Oshawa) – Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technician

Josh Peacocke (Brooklin) – Power Engineering Techniques – Fourth Class

Darcy Short (Whitby) – Trades Fundamentals

Tyler Webb (Toronto) – Trades Fundamentals

 

Durham College celebrates largest fall graduating cohort in school’s history

More than 2,200 graduates were invited to cross the stage this week at Durham College’s (DC) Fall Convocation, making it the largest fall graduating cohort in DC’s history. Skilled, career-ready graduates, ready to thrive in in-demand industries received their credential, including:

    “Convocation is an incredible event that serves as a time to celebrate our graduates’ achievements and the commencement of their next chapter,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, President. “Whether they’re choosing to continue their studies, enter the workforce, or start their own business, the education they received is transformative and positively impacts their lives, their families, and our community.”

    Guest speakers at the ceremonies included:

    • Adam Ruppel, 2024 Alumni of Distinction award recipient, President of Chico Racing, and Co-founder of Drive Festival
    • Rachael Wraith, DC Alumna, Associate Vice President of Strategic Communications at Global Public Affairs

    During the afternoon ceremony on October 29, the college also recognized Don Lovisa, past DC President, with the honorary designation of President Emeritus in recognition of his many years of outstanding service to DC students, employees, and the community.

    For more information about Fall Convocation, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/convocation.

    Office of Research Services, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) hosts impactful event

    Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) opened its doors for an exciting event last week.

    The ORSIE Impact Expo on Friday, October 25 invited industry, business and community partners to explore and celebrate the innovative work they’re doing at DC.

    Close to 150 visitors filled the Centre for Innovation and Research to discover DC’s hub for research and development, new products, processes and services, and experiential learning. They also explored its four applied research centres, including the AI Hub, Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation, Mixed Reality Capture Studio and the Social Impact Hub, as well as the Institutional Research Team and the Experiential Learning Hub. The Centre for Craft Brewing Innovation didn’t miss out on the fun, travelling from the Whitby campus to bring samples of their non-alcoholic products.

    DC’s Associate Vice President, Innovation and Research, Debbie McKee Demczyk was proud to welcome so many attendees to the event.

    “We’re so excited to share all of the cutting-edge ideas, products, and innovations that are being created right here,” she said.

    Another big draw for the crowd was world-renowned keynote speaker Hamza Khan. A bestselling author and proven educator, he kept the audience intrigued and entertained with his powerful presentation on leadership.

    Hailing from the Greater Toronto Area, and having worked with DC before, he was eager to take part in the special event.

    “This was a very meaningful opportunity for me. DC was one of my first clients when I started in the early 2010’s. They’re one of the first companies that said yes to me, that took a chance on me, and so this felt like coming home,” he said. “This is a community of students, staff, faculty, partners and friends, who are all galvanized around the same idea, which is leading the way.”

    Though he spoke for an hour, Khan arrived at a simple and powerful conclusion for his listeners.

    “Put people first.”

    With those words in their ears, visitors spent the rest of the morning exploring, enjoying interactive tradeshow displays, and networking with peers and DC leaders.

    It was an event that made DC proud, including President Dr. Elaine Popp.

    “We’re fostering an environment conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship, promoting adaptability and agility, and encouraging a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement,” she said. “I’m excited about the future of DC. We are determined to be a future-proof college and spearhead the transformation of education. ORSIE is leading that charge.”

    Police Foundations student wins $5,000 Durham College tuition credit

    First-year Police Foundations student James Fluri is the lucky winner of a $5,000 tuition credit from Durham College (DC).

    The annual contest is open to all Durham College applicants who register for campus events such as Open House, Program Information Nights and even scheduling a one-on-one appointment with the Start at DC team.

    Fluri was entered into the draw after taking a campus tour earlier this year and announced as the winner on October 28. The Oshawa resident said he was surprised and excited to win the draw.

    Durham College President Dr. Elaine Popp met with Fluri and his parents Jim and Christina Fluri and congratulated them.

    “Education really does transform lives, it gives you opportunities – doors will open that weren’t there before so consider it a gift and an investment in yourself and make the most of it,” said Popp.

    “I’m very excited about it,” said Fluri. “It’s going to help me go after what I want to do and I’m excited for this opportunity.”

    Christina Fluri said when they first found out their son won, they couldn’t believe it, but when the news sunk in, it felt great to know that the prize means he will save $5,000 in potential student debt.

    She said her son has wanted to be a police officer since he was four-years-old and she still has a picture of a police car he drew in kindergarten. Before starting at DC, he was an honour roll student in high school.

    “We’re proud of him,” she said.

    Fluri said he’s excited about pursuing his goal of becoming a police officer and he’s enjoying his program, which he started in September.

    “It’s something that really interests me and something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time so Police Foundations is a great way to get into that,” he said.

    Interested in exploring options for financing your education? Connect with the Financial Aid and Awards office can help. And if you’re attending DC next year, it could be your turn to win!

    Interior Decorating, Immigration Case Management among four new programs launched by Durham College

    Four new programs are launching at Durham College (DC) in fall 2025 to meet industry and community needs and ensure graduates are career-ready and in-demand.

    Applications are now open for the Electric Drive Vehicle Technician diploma program, Environmental Technician diploma program, Immigration Case Management graduate certificate and Interior Decorating diploma program.

    “At Durham College, our role is to ensure that we are preparing students with the necessary skills and knowledge to fill evolving and in-demand careers,” said Dr. Jean Choi, Vice President, Academic and Students. “Consulting with industry professionals and leaders is an important part of our rigorous program development process so we’re confident these new programs align with the expertise employers are seeking.”

    Demand in the immigration field, for example, has increased in recent years as Canada has welcomed millions of newcomers. DC is meeting the demand for legal support skills in the highly specialized area of immigration, refugee and citizenship law by launching the Immigration Case Management program – one of only two available at a public college in Canada.

    “Law firms are craving legal assistance,” said Ana Bernal, program coordinator for Immigration Case Management. “Immigration law firms, community centre and centres for that help newcomers are looking for people with specialized knowledge because employers are finding it difficult to train new employees in this complex field.”

    Explore all the new programs at DC:

    Electric Drive Vehicle Technician (EDVT) – This four-semester diploma program is one of only two in Ontario and meets the demand for technicians to service electric and hybrid vehicles. It’s focused on both traditional mechanical expertise and specialized EV knowledge with students training at DC’s state-of-the-art Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre.

    Environmental Technician (EVTN) – Through this four-semester diploma program, students will train to play a key role in helping conserve Canada’s ecosystem and protecting the health of communities from environmental contaminants. They will learn to evaluate, monitor and control potential risks to the environment and public health and assist in environmental protection and sustainability efforts.

    Immigration Case Management (IMCM) – This two-semester graduate certificate empowers students with specialized knowledge and skills required to support people engaged in the immigration, refugee and citizenship process. Students acquire specialized legal skills aimed at supporting law practitioners, government agencies and community centres with immigration-related case load.

    Interior Decorating (INDR) – Students in this four-semester diploma program will explore the design process, space planning and decoration of both residential and commercial environments. They will learn to work with clients and tackle creative challenges to enhance quality of life through the curation of functional, accessible and beautiful environments.

    Connect with our Start at DC team today to explore these new programs and all of DC’s 145+ career-ready programs.