To kick off the 2022-2023 academic year, Durham College (DC) welcomed first-year domestic and international students to campus with an exciting roster of in-person events for Orientation week.

The transition into college life can be intimidating, but DC’s Orientation week helps students put their best foot forward by introducing them to student services, offering study tips, and providing ample opportunity to mix and mingle with the rest of their cohort while learning to navigate the Oshawa and Whitby campuses.

To start the festivities, DC faculty helped lead the way to a successful academic year by sharing insights and setting course expectations at Program Orientation. After that, everyone switched gears to attend DC’s first-ever Block Party and, later that night, the coveted Campus Cup, where students got to embrace their sense of school pride and cheer on the DC Lords in the annual varsity soccer game against Ontario Tech University.

The excitement didn’t stop there! Fall Orientation featured a long list of social mixers, such as an outdoor movie night under the stars, a fabulous drag brunch hosted by the DC Student Association (DCSA) and DC Pride Coalition, and a jaw-dropping performance from the Great Canadian Lumberjacks, who wowed the crowd with axe throwing, chainsaw carving, wood chopping, and more. Students were also encouraged to visit the open house at the First Peoples Indigenous Centre, take a campus tour, meet members of the DCSA, and attend an in-person Ask a Student, or parent and family session.

On the last day of Orientation week, DC students closed out the celebrations by making their way to the Rogers Centre for University & College Night, where they watched the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3.

This year’s Orientation week saw a promising demonstration of enthusiasm and excitement for learning – DC can’t wait to see what this new semester has in store.

Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) is thrilled to share that two work-integrated learning (WIL) projects have been awarded more than $100,000 in total funding for the 2022-2023 academic year. These generous grants are provided by Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada and its Innovation Hub (iHub) which is dedicated to developing future-ready students through its unique hands-on experiential learning opportunities and partnerships.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of CEWIL Canada and iHub on these two emerging projects at DC,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, ORSIE. “These projects are perfect examples of how we’re identifying and responding to the evolving needs within our national and global community and serves as proof of how our students and employees are leading the way in inclusivity and innovation.”

The first project, led by Greg Murphy, executive dean, Faculty of Media, Art & Design (MAD) at DC is committed to improving media representation of people with disabilities living in Canada. This new accessible and inclusive image bank will authentically represent those with a disability by focusing on the individual rather than the equipment they rely on, which is unfortunately portrayed the majority of time in stock image sharing sites. To better improve this representation, 84 students in MAD will capture and edit images and videos in collaboration with Spinal Cord Injury Canada throughout the 2022 fall semester.

The second project receiving funding is a brand-new student-produced podcast called Founder’s Drive. It aims to spark inspiration and curiosity among entrepreneurial-minded youth world-wide to explore starting their own businesses. The podcast will help foster inclusivity, honesty, trust and accessibility for new entrepreneurs by building a foundation of self-determination. This project is led by Danielle Harder, a professor in MAD, and will be hosted through DC’s 360insights Entrepreneurship Centre and FastStartDC. This project will give 13 students across five academic programs in MAD the unique opportunity to host, produce, market and promote six podcast episodes, equipping them with the tools and experience they need to better conquer their entrepreneurial dreams in our ever-changing media industry.

“By offering innovative WIL opportunities at our institutions across Canada, we continue to see growth in students’ personal and professional competencies,” indicated Charlene Marion, director, WIL at CEWIL Canada. “The skills and competencies gained through these experiences serve to support students as they transition to the workplace, entrepreneurial endeavours, or future studies.”

The funding received for these two work-integrated projects at DC will provide students with the skills and experience they need to flourish post-graduation in careers and businesses of their own.

These projects have been funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning program and CEWIL Canada’s iHUB. For further information on these programs and funding opportunities, please visit their website.

On August 30, Durham College (DC) employees officially launched the start of the new academic year at the 2022 Academic Kickoff. After being held virtually for the past two years, the in-person event was nothing short of exciting, as more than 400 employees from all areas of the college gathered for a morning of inspiration and motivation.

Led by Dr. Elaine Popp, executive vice president, Academic, DC colleagues were greeted with a hot breakfast and the chance to reconnect with each other before the morning’s events kicked off with a keynote address from Dr. Henning Beck, neuroscientist and best-selling author. Exploring methods for better thinking and ways to identify the ideal environment to generate innovative solutions, Dr. Beck left employees feeling inspired to think in new ways.

For many, the event was an opportunity to meet new colleagues, as it was the first employee gathering on-campus since the college announced the realignment and renaming of our academic faculties in June 2022. In addition to hearing about updates and successes from the Academic Plan, the agenda also featured an Exemplary Faculty panel discussion, where members shared experiences and sparked new ideas to showcase how DC is leading the way in the student experience, both inside the classroom and beyond.

The event concluded with the announcement of this year’s nominees for the Employee Awards of Excellence, which recognize our employees’ outstanding achievements from the past year. The winners will be announced later this fall.

With the majority of classes set to start on Wednesday, September 7, the campus community is feeling energized and excited for the new year ahead.

From August 15 to 19, Durham College’s (DC) Whitby campus hosted 18 very special guests, who spent the week exploring future career opportunities available in the skilled trades. The summer camp was hosted by Skills Ontario and provided campers with several hands-on activities in each of DC’s skilled trades programs – including an off-site tour of Ontario Power Generation (OPG), a long-standing community partner and donor of the college. Skills Ontario has been providing programs like this for students in Grades 7 to 9 for over 30 years, with an intention to inspire youth to explore skilled trades and technologies. This is the first summer since 2019 that the camp has been able to run in-person.

“We’re thrilled to bring back our popular summer camps program,” says Ian Howcroft, chief executive officer, Skills Ontario. “It is crucial for youth to not only explore opportunities in the skilled trades and technologies, but also to build their skills for the workforce and consider what career path is right for them.”

Supported by experiential learning opportunities – a concept that is deeply embedded in many of DC’s programs – campers learned about the many career paths available in the skilled trades and technology fields. Daily camp activities were led by Skills Ontario staff and DC employees, and featured interactive activities and competitions, including: virtual reality welding, building birdhouses in the carpentry shop, learning hoisting and drilling techniques, creating tasty treats while learning about DC’s Field to Fork philosophy, using plumbing skills and materials to build hula hoops, as well as a Co2 Dragster car assembly and performance race.

“I had the pleasure of visiting the camp and was very impressed with each camper’s enthusiasm and pride for their work. I’m pleased to see youth taking such interest in the skilled trades and having the ability to experience the state-of-the-art facility we have at our Whitby campus,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “I’m grateful for the work Skills Ontario provides young people and I’m sure this will be the beginning of a lifelong passion of learning for the campers and foster DC’s relationship with them all as future leaders in our community.”

DC’s Whitby campus is leading the way in skilled trades and technology education. It spans over 350,000 square feet in state-of-the-art learning spaces, including the newly opened Ontario Power Generation Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology, which features a double-height shop lab, new classrooms and student touchdown spaces. The campus also includes the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food, which is home to the award-winning full-service restaurant, Bistro ’67; retail store, Pantry, and the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture and its community-inspired urban farm.

DC is proud to partner with Skills Ontario in an effort to introduce youth in the Durham Region to the many skilled trades professions while also helping them develop communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills. Skills Ontario summer camps are sponsored by the Government of Ontario and Magna. For further information on future camps, please visit their website.

*photo credit Skills Ontario

Durham College (DC) is excited to announce that its 2021-2022 Annual Report is now available. As one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the sixth consecutive year, DC is committed to sharing its report in the following interactive online format.

The highlighted accomplishments featured in this report serve as undeniable proof that the innovative work of our students and employees – inside and outside the classroom – is truly making a positive impact. Our DC family has a lot to be proud of, which is why we’re so pleased to share these stories of resilience and leadership with you.

“Despite the challenges we faced in the pandemic’s second year, the college’s commitment to our mission – Together, we’re leading the way – remained steadfast and strong,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “This year’s annual report features a number of stories that highlight the inspiring collaboration, innovation and determination exemplified by every member of our campus community over the last year. These stories demonstrate how DC is leading the way in everything we do.”

We hope the successes featured in this report inspire you and provide you with a glimpse into the future of Durham College and our global community.

Durham College’s (DC) most exciting event of the year returned this June, complete with confetti canons and inspirational guest speakers, as the college hosted its first in-person Convocation since 2019.

During this momentous occasion, more than 3,500 students crossed the stage to the cheers and smiling faces of their friends, family, and special guests. During the ten ceremonies held over the five-day event, DC’s 2022 graduates celebrated new beginnings as they received their credentials, and the 2020 and 2021 graduates returned to acknowledge how far they’ve come and experience their ceremonies that were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Not only did our graduates complete their program – setting their sights on a tremendous goal and meeting it with resolve – but they made it to the finish line during a once-in-a-century global event that has impacted all of us to varying degrees and in different ways,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC during his remarks to the graduates. “As COVID-19 changed the way we live, work and learn, our graduates showed the world that they have an undeniable amount of drive and determination that will continue to serve them in their career and life for many years to come.”

Held at the Tribute Communities Centre in downtown Oshawa from June 13 to 17, the events honoured graduates from programs in the schools of Hospitality & Horticultural Science; Business, IT & Management; Professional and Part-time Learning, Health & Community Services; Interdisciplinary Studies; Justice & Emergency Services; Media, Art & Design; Science & Engineering Technology and Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology.

Ceremonies on June 14 marked an important milestone for the Durham College Alumni Association as it reached 100,000 members with the graduating class of 2021. The ceremony on June 17 also celebrated the inaugural graduating class of DC’s first degree program, the Honours Bachelor of Health Care Technology Management.

The first and last ceremonies of the week also featured a Big Drum performance by John Snake and drummers from the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, welcoming graduates and guests as they entered the building.

The opening song was performed to offer positive thoughts as DC honoured all graduates and their achievements, and the closing performance symbolized safe travels for graduates as they move on to new endeavours. An Indigenous student graduation celebration also took place on June 10, prior to Spring Convocation week, with a reception and Indigenous Heritage Celebration on campus.

Guest speakers at the ceremonies included:

• Nicole Blackman, DNP, MN, RN – graduate of DC’s Registered Nursing program in 2004, provincial director of the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, former sessional instructor at Ontario Tech University, and member of the provincial Children’s COVID-19 Vaccine Table, Chief Medical Officer of Health Advisory Table, provincial Hepatitis C Working Group, and Durham Region Aboriginal Advisory Committee.
• Brent Lessard – graduate of DC’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program in 2014, co-founder and project manager for rLoop, director of programs and operations at Venture Development Institute, 2017 Premier’s Award winner, and member of the Durham College Alumni Association.
• Thao Nghiem – graduate of DC’s Music Business Management program in 2018, founder and managing director of the Vietnam Music Industry Network and Vietnam Music Week, co-director of the Oshawa Music Awards and marketing manager for Small World Music.
• Cameron Munro – graduate from the Business Administration – Operations Management (now Supply Chain & Operations Management – Business Administration) program in 2012, plant manager at FibreCorr Ltd., president of Munro Strategy Group Inc., and former chair and member of the Supply Chain & Operations Management – Business Administration Program Advisory Committee.
• Hannah Elkington – graduate from the Police Foundations program in 2014, K-9 handler with the Durham Regional Police Services, volunteer with the Imire Elephant and Rhino Sanctuary’s K-9 anti-poaching unit, 2016 Premier’s Awards nominee, 2016 Alumna of Distinction and winner of the Public Hero Award form the Intercultural Dialogue Institute.

Over the course of Spring Convocation, the college also awarded three deserving recipients with Alumni of Distinction awards based on their extraordinary contributions to society while achieving career success:

• Nicole Blackman – a 2004 graduate of the Registered Nursing program.
• Kristin Atwood – a 2017 graduate of the Advanced Baking and Pastry Arts program and 2016 graduate of the Culinary Management program.
• Andrew McNamara – a 2004 graduate of the Business Administration – Accounting program.

For more information about Spring Convocation, including links to videos of each ceremony, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/convocation. To learn more about this year’s Alumni of Distinction winners visit www.durhamcollege.ca/alumniofdistinction.

On June 3, 2022, Durham College (DC) joined the City of Oshawa and fellow educational partners – Ontario Tech University, Trent University Durham GTA and the University of Toronto, Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering – for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), officially extending the TeachingCity partnership for another five years.

Just as many medical centres are designated “teaching hospitals,” the partnership began in 2017 with a shared goal of making Oshawa the world’s first “teaching city.” Over the last five years, the TeachingCity initiative has built momentum, establishing Oshawa as a leader in experiential learning, applied research and innovative partnerships. Focusing on specific city-identified challenge statements, students have the opportunity to participate in the courses as part of their program, to identify urban issues and collaborate and co-design possible solutions.

“In the five years since this partnership began, more than 1,000 Durham College students have received one-of-a-kind, hands-on experiences through TeachingCity that are making a difference in our community, allowing them to apply their unique skillset in a supportive, innovative and collaborative work-integrated learning environment,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “These opportunities are preparing our students for success now, and in the future, as they develop valuable, in-demand skills to launch meaningful careers.”

Since 2017, DC and the City of Oshawa, along with their other educational partners, have collaborated on 55 applied research projects, creating opportunities for 1,711 students and 135 post-secondary faculty to address a number of topics, including:

• Diversity, equity and inclusion;
• Virtual reality training and advanced navigation technology for firefighters;
• Digital wayfinding;
• Active transportation for an age-friendly community;
• Engaging local youth;
• Supporting local culture and business;
• Storm water management ponds;
• Optimizing City operations routes; and
• Corporate energy management planning.

In May 2018, the partners celebrated the first year of TeachingCity with the opening of the TeachingCity Hub in downtown Oshawa, a dedicated space for students and employees to facilitate projects with education and research partners.

Learn more about the TeachingCity Initiative online.

On June 9, 200 golfers took to the links for the 24th Regional Chair’s Classic, in memory of Roger Anderson. Hosted in person for the first time since the pandemic began, the tournament took place at Durham Region’s Deer Creek Golf and Country Club.

This year’s event raised $290,000 for students in financial need at Durham College and Ontario Tech University. Funds will also go towards youth programs at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. Thanks to the generosity of participants and supporters, the event has raised over $7.2 million since the Classic first began.

“I can think of no better way to honour Roger Anderson’s memory than by coming together as a community for a day of camaraderie and fun, while also raising money for our students in need and for Ontario Shores Centre’s invaluable youth programs,” says Regional Chair John Henry. “This year’s tournament was a wonderful demonstration of the good we can achieve when the community rallies together to help make education and mental health programs accessible to all.”

Don Lovisa, president, Durham College; Karim Mamdani, president and CEO, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences; and Steven Murphy, president and vice-chancellor, Ontario Tech University were in attendance for the evening’s cheque presentation to offer their gratitude on behalf of their respective institutions.

Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) has proudly released its 10th Annual Report, a summary of the impactful work accomplished by ORSIE staff and faculty members. From hosting #TechTalksDC to receiving funding for DC’s first-ever postdoctoral fellow, it was a year of impressive accomplishments.

“At the heart of ORSIE, we strive for innovation,” says Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, ORSIE. “Through the work we do, we support student learning, work with community agencies to resolve societal challenges, help businesses hone their competitiveness and collaborate with external partners. Despite obstacles posed by COVID-19, we continued to establish DC as a leader in applied research.”

ORSIE encompasses four key areas, as highlighted in the annual report:

• Institutional Research and Planning
• Applied Research
• Entrepreneurship
• Experiential Learning

“The pandemic continues to shape our priorities and the way in which we operate, but ORSIE is poised for the challenges ahead and laser-focused on supporting the success of our students, local businesses and community partners,” says McKee Demczyk. “We are proud to support DC in leading the way in transformative education, applied research and social innovation.”

Over the course of this year, guided by the college’s Strategic Research Plan and Academic Plan, ORSIE will continue to support the research needs of our stakeholders, and explore increased experiential learning opportunities, while building our students’ entrepreneurial success. Through applied research, ORSIE will also seek to provide more local businesses with pandemic recovery strategies and develop creative solutions to complex community challenges through social innovation.

Read more about ORSIE’s work in the annual report.

Following the Ontario and federal government’s recent child-care announcement, Durham College (DC) is pleased to share it is accepting applications for a new compressed Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, with an intake beginning in July.

The tuition and ancillary fees for students accepted into the program will be fully covered, and students will be able to graduate with full credentials within 14 months; the standard ECE program at DC is two years in duration.

This opportunity is funded in partnership with the City of Toronto, The Region of Peel, The Region of Durham, The Region of Halton, the Province of Ontario and Government of Canada under the new Canada-Ontario Early Childhood Workforce Agreement, which provides one-time federal funding to support the retention and recruitment of a high-quality child care and early years workforce.

“The compressed version of the college’s Early Childhood Education program is a direct response to the emerging trends we’re seeing in the industry and the evolving nature of the work employers are looking for our graduates to fill,” says Dr. Elaine Popp, executive vice president, Academic, Durham College. “By embracing these changes, Durham College is proud to be a post-secondary leader in education, fostering economic and social success for our students, graduates and community along the way.”

Over 14 consecutive months, DC’s compressed ECE program will include approximately 1,645 hours of training offered through a hybrid model that combines synchronous and asynchronous delivery components as well as the opportunity to complete a practicum in a variety of settings.

RECEs play an integral role in promoting children’s development from birth to age 12 within the following five domains: cognitive, social, emotional, language and physical. DC’s dedicated faculty, enhanced curriculum and experiential learning opportunities will ensure students graduate well-prepared, with the career-ready skills they need to be successful.

Additional information about the compressed ECE program, including admission requirements and details to apply, can be found online.