Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) is pleased to announce that small – and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) throughout Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area will have enhanced access to support from its Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation, thanks to two separate grants, totalling more than $2.788 million.

Grant one: College and Community Innovation Grant

The first is a $2-million College and Community Innovation Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Provided over the course of five years, the funds will play an integral role in the Centre’s ability to scale up its applied research activities to meet and address the demand for its services from SMEs.

“We are incredibly grateful to be receiving this grant,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, ORSIE. “Given the growth SMEs are experiencing within the economic heart of Ontario, we know there is an urgent need to improve these businesses’ cybersecurity capabilities. However, the current capacity of the Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation could not meet this demand. Thanks to the additional funding we will now be able to provide dedicated faculty research time and resources to address the cybersecurity skills gap by training students and transferring knowledge to our immediate partners and the broader community.”

With the help of expert researchers, student talent and technology partnerships, the Centre will help SMEs develop and integrate cyber defense technologies and increase their cybersecurity awareness by undertaking applied research that falls under two themes –developing cybersecurity products and services with cybersecurity companies, and reducing the risks of cyberthreats to companies with critical infrastructure and operations. This will ultimately increase consumer confidence in the digital economy, promote international standardization, and better position Canada’s SMEs to compete globally.

Grant two: College Industry Innovation Fund Grant

The second is a College Industry Innovation Fund (CIIF) grant for a total of $788,509. Awarded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, these funds will be used to enhance the research capacity of DC’s Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation by bolstering its infrastructure.

“Given increasing cybersecurity demands from small- to medium-sized business (SMEs), combined with an accelerated digital transformation, and the number of people now working remotely, it’s more important than ever for SMEs to protect their information systems,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, ORSIE. “This generous CIIF grant will play an integral role in helping the Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation meet our clients’ needs.”

Thanks to the Centre’s enhancements, including purchasing new technology and software, adding technical personnel and building capacity for more equipment to effectively manage the increased power and security firewall demands, faculty and student researchers will be able to develop cybersecurity products and services and reduce the risks of cyberthreats to companies with critical infrastructure and operations.

Established in 2020, the Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation was launched as part of a plan to increase cybersecurity applied research capacity at DC. To learn more visit www.durhamcollege.ca/CentreforCybersecurityInnovation.

The Durham College (DC) Board of Governors (BOG) is pleased to announce Kristi Honey as the new board chair and Gary Rose as vice-chair, respectively, effective Thursday, July 1, 2021.  The appointments are for a one-year term.

As chair of the BOG, Kristi brings over 20 years of private and public executive leadership experience to the role, including starting a global consultancy that grew to a multi-million-dollar enterprise, and was recognized by Microsoft as a top 5 per cent global partner. Currently the chief administrative officer for the Township of Uxbridge, she is also a DC graduate and Alumni of Distinction recipient for her success as an entrepreneur. In addition to her diploma, Kristi also holds a Bachelor of Management and Masters of Business Administration degree.  An active community volunteer, Kristi is a champion of human rights and environmental causes having been recognized for her efforts by Women of Influence’s Global Series as one of Canada’s leading women driving equality, diversity, and inclusion nationally and internationally.

As vice-chair of the BOG, Gary brings more than 30 years of progressive experience at Ontario Power Generation (OPG) in corporate finance and project planning and execution.  Gary is currently a vice-president within OPG’s Enterprise Projects Organization on the Darlington Refurbishment project and is supporting planning of OPG’s new nuclear Small Modular Reactor at Darlington.   For eight years, Gary served as a trustee on the Whitby Public Library Board and during this tenure, served on all committees and held the position of Vice-Chair and Chair of the Board.  Gary is a Chartered Professional Accountant, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and holds a Project Management Professional certification.

The BOG is responsible for the governance of DC. It is accountable to the students, employees and communities the college serves, ensuring the college is effectively and appropriately managed to achieve its established mandate and to provide needed services.

As chair, Kristi will be responsible for ensuring the board meets its responsibilities and established mandate through collaborative leadership, openness and transparency. To learn more about the roles of chair and vice-chair of the board, read the Board policy.

Durham College (DC) is pleased to receive $184,000 in funding as part of the Ontario government’s Roadmap to Wellness initiative, which will support eight mental health-related projects at select colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes.

In partnership with Ontario Tech University and Ontario Shores, the funding will be used by the Campus Health and Wellness Centre to support students from both institutions through the “Better Together Series” – a collaboration of creative workshops, volunteer opportunities and informational sessions supporting a multi-dimensional framework to address the social Isolation and grief resulting from COVID-19.

“Durham College is excited to receive these funds and work with our partners Ontario Tech University and Ontario Shores to foster social connectedness and mitigate grief among students from our campus,” says Darlene Heslop, director, Campus Health and Wellness Centre. “Funding for projects like this is incredibly important as we look to support students during these challenging times.”

Grounded in identity, shared interest, meaningful relationships, involvement and belongingness, the “Better Together Series” will employ action-based activities and integrate mental health education to foster social growth, resilience and promote the wellness of students on- and off-campus through the Campus Health and Wellness Centre.

The “Better Together Series” launched in May, and is available to the general student population, while being mindful of the unique vulnerabilities of 2SLGBTQ+, Indigenous and other multicultural students who experience mental health disparities which may be exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions.

For more information, please contact the Campus Health and Wellness Centre at cwhc@durhamcollege.ca.

Durham College (DC) is thrilled to announce that the Ontario government is providing the college with more than $1.5 million in funding to support 12 innovative virtual learning projects. From entrepreneurship and sales to health care, cybersecurity and more, these projects will help students gain access to new, high-quality post-secondary learning and retraining opportunities.

“The last 14 months are proof that virtual learning is flexible, accessible, and can offer boundless educational opportunities for students,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, executive vice president, Academic. “We are grateful for the Ontario government’s support and investment in these projects. This funding allows us to continue offering exceptional in-demand virtual learning experiences for students who wish to gain valuable skills that prepares them for workplace success.”

Of the 12 DC projects to be developed with the funding, four are micro-credentials that respond to specific industry gaps, including Corporate Training Specialization, Establishing a Construction Contracting Small Business in Ontario, Managing Responsive Behaviours in Older Adults and Sales for Small Businesses.

The remainder of the projects are a diverse selection of digital learning resources, programs and courses that will supplement learning taking place at DC and its collaborative partner institutions, including:

• Case Management Workflow simulator
• Cybersecurity courses – APSA upskilling course and Cloud Computing Fundamentals course
• Fluid Power Trainer simulator
• Five-course French language program
• Health Technology Management Practice course
• Indigenous Histories and Reconciliation: Moving Towards Reconciliation through Capacity Building course
• Metrology Trainer simulator
• Write it Again – Open Educational Resource

These projects are part of the province’s Virtual Learning Strategy that was announced last December and support key priority areas including creating or adapting digital content, equipping faculty and students with skills and resources to teach and learn online and identifying educational technologies to support online courses and programs.

Durham College (DC) is pleased to announce it has received $25,000 from the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund. As part of Bell’s commitment to the mental health of post-secondary students, the Bell Let’s Talk Fund Kickoff Grant is awarded each spring to select colleges and universities to cover start-up costs for specific mental health initiatives.

DC will utilize this funding to infuse mental health resources into DC’s first-year experience course PREP 1000 – a self-guided, non-academic course consisting of seven modules designed to prepare students for their first day of classes.

The development of a mental health module within PREP 1000 is currently under way, and is expected to be completed for the upcoming fall semester. In addition to a dedicated module, wellness resources and mental health awareness will also be embedded throughout the entire course.

“Durham College is incredibly grateful to receive this funding from Bell Canada,” says Tara Koski, dean, Students. “Aligned with the college’s goal of building digital fluidity, the mental health module of PREP 1000 will provide students with their own toolbox, equipped with helpful information, coping strategies and support networks should they find themselves in need of help.”

DC is committed to ensuring mental health resources are accessible across campus to help prepare students for success. Through the updated PREP 1000 modules, students will learn about the various supports and services that exist within DC’s community as well as external resources, such as the Good2Talk 24/7 Post-secondary Student Helpline.

“PREP 1000 is a conduit which allows us to spread mental health awareness to the largest volume of students possible, during a critical point of transition,” says Tara. “Its systematic and comprehensive approach will support our goal to create mental health equity within the Durham College community.”

Led by the Student Development office, the design of the PREP 1000 mental health module features collaborations across a number of DC departments and services, such as the Access and Support Centre, International Office, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the Campus Health and Wellness Centre, and includes valuable input from DC’s mental health professionals.

Learn more about DC’s mental health resources online or contact the Campus Health and Wellness Centre at chwc@durhamcollege.ca.

As a recognized leader in food, farming and horticulture science education, Durham College is pleased to announce it has received a $5-million donation, to be released over a period of five years, from The Barrett Family Foundation. Only the second college in Ontario to receive support from the foundation, the funds will be used to create The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture (Barrett Centre). 

Housed within the college’s Whitby campus, the Barrett Centre’s vision is to become an internationally recognized hub of excellence in urban agricultural practices, research, education and training, to address some of society’s biggest challenges including food insecurity, access to safe and stable supplies of fresh food, and economic stability and regeneration of land for local food production. 

This includes building a dynamic new urban farm that will be developed as a community-inspired living lab in the coming years. Leveraging the college’s horticultural, food and farming knowledge and experience, the farm will replicate and scale the successful farming operation already established at the college’s Whitby campus, within the community.

“We are extremely grateful to be partnering with The Barrett Family Foundation to bring this new centre to life,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “The immense successes we have enjoyed with our post-secondary programs and urban farm on our Whitby campus demonstrate the potential for further exploration and solving critical issues related to food access and security. In establishing the new community farm, we will refine and enhance the current model while also scaling up more broadly to support the local, regional and national urban environments.”

“Durham College is a recognized leader in urban agriculture education,” said Bob Barrett, The Barrett Family Foundation. “The vision to modernize and replicate their current model of urban farming into a regional, national and global entity is very impressive and innovative. Our investment in the college and creation of the Barrett Centre will allow them to scale their operations into a global hub for urban agriculture knowledge and best practices.”

Over the coming weeks and months, the college will begin establishing the infrastructure for the Barrett Centre, including the new community farm which will be scaled and modelled based on the urban farm at DC’s Whitby campus gardens, greenhouses and agricultural fields. A progress update and launch event is planned for the summer, public health restrictions permitting. 

For more information about The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture visit www.durhamcollege.ca/barrettcentre.