Here’s the pitch: make a western featuring a mop and a character who is a super geek with a love for Velcro. While it may not be your typical Hollywood fare, it’s the concept behind “Strung Out”, the winning film of the second annual 48-Hour Film Challenge at Durham College (DC). This quirky but fabulous project is the high moment of the academic year in the School of Media, Art & Design (MAD), and is the biggest competition of its kind in Canada.

Beginning at noon on October 10, more than 500 MAD students from seven programs were challenged with creating original short films in only two days. Teams were each given a genre, line of dialogue, prop and character type that had to be included in their final submissions. Films were due by noon on October 12 and then stitched together by faculty and staff for a private screening at the Cineplex Odeon Theatre in Oshawa.

The film crew for this year’s best picture winner – Fynn Badgley, Zen Egyed, Muhammad Muntasir Kaudeer, Judy Krajcik, Matthew Ledrew, Narendiren Loganathan, Nicole Potter, Jordan Rivoire, Kendall Schofield, Ashlyn Van De Ven – will now have their names engraved on the prestigious “Deanie Award”, a trophy featuring a miniature likeness of MAD executive dean Greg Murphy.

A jury of industry professionals chose the winners in all categories. They were: John Arkelian, director, Cinechats Film Program; Andy Malcolm, foley artist, Footsteps Studio; Eileen Kennedy, film liaison for Durham Region; Catherine Richards, director of culture and recreation, City of Oshawa; and Katie Boone, manager, International Projects and Partnerships, DC.

The film challenge brings together students from DC’s programs in Advanced Filmmaking, Broadcasting for Radio & Contemporary Media, Contemporary Web Design, Interactive Design, Media Fundamentals, Photography and Video Production, along with mentoring staff and faculty. It is an event designed to help students meet and collaborate across program boundaries and to form a community of emerging content creators. It also provides students with an opportunity to flex their creativity and develop the so-called “soft skills”, such as communication, teamwork and problem solving, which are vital to achieving success after graduation.

This year’s student films can be viewed on the challenge’s website and MAD YouTube channel.

On October 26, more than 1,100 students received their credentials during this year’s Fall Convocation; friends, family and the college community were on hand to celebrate the achievement. Whether beginning their career or pursuing further education, these individuals have graduated knowing they have the skills they need to succeed.

Held at the Tribute Communities Centre in downtown Oshawa, graduates from the Centre for Food and schools of Business, IT & Management; Continuing Education, Health & Community Services; Interdisciplinary Studies; Justice & Emergency Services; Media, Art & Design; Science & Engineering Technology and Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology received their diplomas and certificates.

In honour of the college’s 50th anniversary in 2017, two alumni from DC’s first graduating class in 1969 also attended convocation; John Krezanowski graduated from the college’s Mechanical Engineering Technician program and Ron Hooper graduated from the college’s Marketing program. Ron is also an Alumni of Distinction award recipient.

As part of the college’s commitment to building on its positive reputation, the outstanding contributions and exemplary service of retired employee Margaret Greenley was recognized through the honorary designation of vice-president emeritus.

A video of the entire ceremony is now available.

Durham College (DC) is excited to share the news about our recent Readers’ Choice award wins. We would like to thank those who supported and voted for us in the categories below: 

• Continuing Education – Diamond
• Trade School – Diamond
• Durham College Employment Services – Diamond 
• Bistro ’67 Restaurant – Diamond
• Kid’s Camps – Gold

We are proud to serve our communities by providing quality education and services in a variety of areas including full- and part-time post-secondary and continuing education courses and programs and employment services.

The annual Readers’ Choice nominees are chosen by local residents who select their favourite businesses for the products and services they offer in the Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa and Clarington areas.

On October 22, under warm, sunny skies, Team Durham College (DC) once again pounded the pavement at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, half-marathon and 5K to raise funds for the new Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE).

More than $17,500 was raised thanks to the fundraising efforts of Team DC, individual participants and the kindness of the family, friends and organizations who sponsored them. Additional matching funds were generously provided by silver sponsor the Durham College Alumni Association and participant sponsor Mason Bennett Johncox. Donations can be made until Tuesday, October 31, for those who still want to support the team.

This is the second year that employees, students and alumni banded together to participate in the Building Something Amazing campaign’s Run for DC in support of the CFCE and the promise of collaboration and innovation that it brings.

Durham College (DC) will host the inaugural Student Job Fair for the Nuclear Industry at the Oshawa campus on Saturday, October 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Held in partnership with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), the Canadian Nuclear Society and the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries, the event will connect students and recent graduates with more than 30 employers and support organizations in the nuclear field.

Students and graduates from a variety of disciplines, including engineering, human resources, business and office administration, computer science, IT and skilled trades, are encouraged to attend.

Admission to the event is free but registration is required. Attendees can register in advance online or onsite at the event. Free parking will also be available in Founders lot 2.

In addition to the job fair, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the nuclear science and technology community through a variety of breakout sessions. They will also have access to a Career Coach’s Corner for advice on job search strategies, resumés and interviews.

The job fair and Career Coach’s Corner will be held all day in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, Gyms 3, 4 and 5.

Breakout sessions will be held in the UOIT Science Building as follows:

• Nuclear for Everyone mini course
  Presented by Canadian Nuclear Society
  9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
  Room 2130

• Getting Involved with North American Young Generation in Nuclear
  9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
  Room 2120

• Overview of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Chalk River Laboratories
  11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
  Room 2240

• Careers in Nuclear
  Presented by Ontario Power Generation
  11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
  Room 2140

• Planning a Career
  Presented by Women in Nuclear
  12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
  Room 2120

This fall, Durham College’s (DC) Whitby campus was ready for more than 400 students enrolled in increasingly-popular welding and welding trades programs with a third welding shop. These programs include Trades Fundamentals, Mechanical Technician – Millwright, Mechanical Techniques – Plumbing, and Welding Engineering Technician among others. This additional welding shop has been completed and upgrades made to the other two shops. The expansion and upgrades are part of DC’s commitment to a state-of-the-art learning environment for students.

The new shop has 20 modular work booths to accommodate a standard 20:1 student to professor ratio in each class. This provides every student with their own workspace, fostering a sense of ownership that motivates them to maintain their area as they learn welding skills. In keeping with the welding programs’ approach to teaching, in which students follow along with the professor, the setup of the new shop also includes a centrally-situated demonstration area.

“Our practice of teaching students has always been to work alongside them,” said Gregg Peel, program coordinator and professor with DC’s, School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology (START). “Hand-on-hand, one-to-one instruction is something we ask all of our professors to do in the welding shops. Students work on their own with the professor visiting them often during the class to offer help, guidance and encouragement as they progress.” 

The shop expansion and upgrades also include the installation of a new state-of-the-art gas alarm system for safety.

DC’s welding and welding trades programs provide students with exceptional welding, fitting and blueprint reading skills sought by employers in the structural, pressure vessel and manufacturing industries. Students learn from professors with vast welding experience and receive expert knowledge and practical skills that foster their trade.

On September 13, second-year students from Durham College’s (DC) Sport Administration (two-year)/Sport Management (three-year) program presented a cheque for $15,000 to Durham Outlook, the organization that operates St. Vincent’s Kitchen in Oshawa. The students raised the money by organizing a Hockey Helps the Homeless (HHTH) hockey tournament which took place on March 24 at the Campus Ice Centre at Simcoe St. and Conlin Rd. The funds will be used to support the construction of a brand-new facility to feed those in need.

Hockey Helps the Homeless is a national charity working toward a future where every Canadian has a place to call home. Although the charity has operated a collegiate division to help colleges and universities run events, the DC event was entirely unique in that it was part of the curriculum embedded in the course, Sport & Event Marketing, taught by Nadine Lamarche, a professor and program co-ordinator with the college’s School of Business, IT & Management.

A group of 15 of Lamarche’s students ran the event and did all the work including managing logistics, securing sponsors, negotiating ice-time rates, obtaining prizes for the silent auction, overseeing the risk-management aspect, and of course, managing the flow of tournament day. As sports and charity work are so closely linked, Lamarche has seen that this kind of marketing experience is very important for the professional development of students and gives them skills and connections that they will use in their future sport management careers.

With the success of DC’s HHTH event, faculty is moving ahead to provide even more opportunities for sport management students to become involved with non-profit organizations and benefit from the experiential learning that is a highlight of the DC student experience. Their next HHTH tournament is already on the calendar for March 23, 2018! More information is available on the Hockey Helps the Homeless website.

Aligning with DC’s internationalization focus, Durham College (DC) International’s three-year Caribbean Education for Employment (C-EFE): Driving World Connections project has officially come to a successful conclusion marked by a closing ceremony, hosted by the Government Technical Institute (GTI), the vocational institute in Georgetown at the centre of the project, and DC, in Georgetown, Guyana on September 15.

A DC contingent, including Katie Boone, manager, International Projects and Partnerships, Doug Hart, manager, Curriculum Design, Corporate Training Services and Phil Raby, professor/program co-ordinator, Broadcasting – Radio and Contemporary Media, travelled to Georgetown to participate in the ceremony. Boone spoke at the event and presented GTI with a plaque to recognize their partnership.

Jan Sheltinga, counsellor, Development Cooperation, High Commission of Canada, also spoke at the ceremony, congratulating the partners on their success while Guyana’s minister of education, Nicolette Henry, emphasized the importance of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to Guyana. Henry expressed her appreciation to the Canadian partners for their support.

Visitors in attendance were taken on a tour of the institute and its facilities by its principal, Renita Crandon Duncan, faculty members and students.

A special moment of the afternoon was the ribbon-cutting and official launch of GTI’s new Automotive Electrical/Electronics and Repairs Program – a direct outcome of the C-EFE project. Developed by DC and its partners, the College of the North Atlantic and the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, the program was designed in response to the growing needs of Guyana’s auto industry. The first cohort of students started the program this summer and will receive the National Vocational Qualification when they graduate.

Over the lifespan of the partnership, project initiatives have included: structured training for the Guyanese faculty to modernize their automotive curriculum under a competency-based model; technical training on new equipment as well as capacity-building in applied teaching strategies; support for GTI to build sustainable relationships with internal and external stakeholders; and fostering the growth of the leadership and change management skills of GTI’s administrative team. The project initiatives bolstered communication and teamwork between all of the partners resulting in more positive working relationships as reflected in GTI’s emerging institutional five-year strategic plan, developed with DC’s mentorship.

The C-EFE: Driving World Connections project was conducted with support from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and Global Affairs Canada.