Durham College has signed an agreement with the Chicago-based Siebel Institute of Technology (Siebel Institute), North America’s oldest and most prestigious brewing school, to deliver its craft brewing courses in Durham Region.

As the only Canadian post-secondary institution currently approved to deliver the institute’s world-renowned brewing curriculum, the agreement will enable DC to deliver three different courses at its Centre for Food (CFF).

“Durham College is bringing the gold standard in brewing education to Ontario’s thriving craft brewing community, which is comprised in large part by entrepreneurs who are looking to further develop both their business and product knowledge,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “The industry’s rapid growth has translated into a significant demand for brewers who know what it takes to make, market and sell great beer and DC is answering that call with this agreement.”

Designed for the professional development of people aspiring to build their career in Canada’s craft brewing industry, the three courses are a natural fit for the CFF where faculty and students are already working on a brew line, including related research and recipe development.

“We are excited to be involved in bringing brewing-industry training to Ontario,” said Keith Lemcke, vice-president, Siebel Institute. “We look forward to working with Durham College and the brewing community in Ontario towards helping to train the next generation of great Ontario brewers.”

Providing current and prospective brewing professionals with the practical, hands-on experience required to further develop their skills and expertise, the courses include:

• Brewing Microbiology, which provides the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to implement an effective microbiological quality control/quality assurance program.
• Brewing Technology, which offers comprehensive knowledge of the brewing process, brewing operation dynamics and issues affecting the industry.
• Sensory Analysis for Flavor Production and Control, which gives brewers the tools they need to effectively identify and control flavours and aromas in beer.

“From our first meeting with the management of Durham College we knew we would be working with professionals who were just as passionate about what was happening in craft brewing culture as they were about education,” said Lyn Kruger, president of Siebel Institute. “The groundwork they developed within the Ontario Craft Brewers Association and the surrounding brewing community has shown us the level of enthusiasm for professional brewing education that exists in Ontario, and we couldn’t be happier to be part of this program.”

The Siebel Institute has been an integral part of international brewing history for over 140 years and is widely recognized as the industry leader in brewing education. The institute’s alumni – which include names like Stroh and Busch – span more than 60 countries and can be found in almost every major brewery on earth.

“Our alliance with the Siebel Institute is all about DC’s ongoing response to an emerging and developing industry in Durham Region and the GTA, in particular the need for craft brewing education here at home,” said Lovisa. “We look forward to working together to effectively deliver the education Ontario microbrewers are telling us they need —training that until now was only available outside of Canada.”

Durham College (DC) is happy to share the news that it has raised $27,507.04 in support of United Way Durham Region through its annual United Way campaign, which ran this year from March 28 to April 8.

This year’s campaign saw funds collected via several different payment methods, but perhaps the most original idea was the college’s first annual United Way Food Table Challenge. Teams from DC’s academic schools and departments competed against each other in a battle for taste bud and fundraising supremacy to see who could raise the most funds as well as design the most creative table.

Adding to the incentive for employees to donate and raise money, was DC President Don Lovisa pledging to “Go Green for United Way”. Lovisa agreed to temporarily dye his hair green in support of United Way and in appreciation of DC’s generosity if the campus community was able to raise $25,000.

Surpassing that total by more than $2,000, the campaign saw Lovisa show off his new ‘do’ on April 21 when he presented United Way with a cheque for the funds raised while recognizing the winning Food Table Challenge teams with commemorative certificates.

DC is proud to support United Way and its role in supporting the communities in which our employees live and work.

Durham College announced today that it has received $22 million in funding from the provincial government toward the construction of the Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE) at the Oshawa campus. The announcement, which was made by Reza Moridi, minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, at an event held at the Oshawa campus this morning, represents one of the largest investments in DC by the provincial government since the college opened its doors in 1967.

The CFCE will replace the college’s aging Simcoe building, which was originally built as a temporary structure and opened in 1969. The new three-storey facility, a legacy project tied to DC’s 50^th anniversary in 2017, will bring together local, Indigenous and global communities, providing a new home for several of the college’s innovative and ground-breaking programs.

“Although our Simcoe building has served us very well over the past 50 years, leaving behind a wonderful legacy of teaching, learning and memories for our students, faculty members and administrative staff, it has reached its end of life,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “As we prepare to celebrate DC’s 50^th anniversary in 2017, we are excited to bridge our past with our future through the creation of a new facility where students, employees and the broader community can work together in ways that transcend traditional concepts of education. On behalf of everyone at DC, I extend my sincere thanks to the provincial government for its wonderful support in bringing our vision for the Centre for Collaborative Education to life.”

DC has continued to experience tremendous growth year after year. This includes the addition of more than 40 new programs in high-demand and emerging areas of study; expanding its daily academic hours; increasing the number of students enrolled in both summer and winter-month programs; and adding more than 3,000 post-secondary registration spaces since 2008.  

“In addition to creating a strong need for physical infrastructure at the Oshawa campus, our significant growth has positioned Durham College as a college of choice for students in Durham Region and well beyond,” said Lovisa. “The new Centre for Collaborative Education is a direct reflection of that growth combined with our ongoing commitment to building a high-quality and sustainable post-secondary education system that meets the needs of our students, the local community and today’s economy.

The CFCE will house the following:

• The Aboriginal Student Centre.
• The Entrepreneurship Centre including the Spark Centre.
• Global, Open and Collaborative Space that will enable faculty, students and the broader community to use technology in creative ways to gain unprecedented access to students, educators, thought leaders, subject matter experts and other visionaries from more than 40 countries around the world.
• Health science facilities including state-of-the art classrooms and labs.
• Foundation programs designed to prepare students for the continuation of post-secondary education at college or university.

Final plans and costs for the project are still being determined including ongoing work with the government to obtain additional funding. In addition, the college will be launching a capital campaign designed to raise financial support for the construction of the building in partnership with individuals, corporations, community partners and alumni over a two-year period.  

While it’s no secret that Aeroplan© Miles and TD Points can be used toward the purchase of airline flights to exotic destinations, Durham College (DC) students can now use them for something a little closer to home – the cost of their college tuition.

Thanks to a new agreement between DC and HigherEdPoints.com, students now have the option to redeem their Aeroplan© Miles and TD Points into credits that can be used toward their program fees. As an example, 35,000 Aeroplan© Miles translates into $250 worth of credits.  Students can also redeem Aeroplan© Miles and TD Points from family members and friends to help cover their educational costs since anyone can donate their points to an individual student or to a DC student in need.

In addition, students can also use HigherEdPoints.com to pay off portions of their Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) loans, either while they are still in school to get a head start on reducing their debt load or after they graduate.

“This partnership is another example of the innovative ways we can support students in funding their post-secondary education,” said Norah Warmuth, manager, Accounts Receivable/Accounts Payable, Durham College. “HigherEdPoints are a complement to the range of financial payment options available at the college, providing our students with one more avenue to ensure they can access one of our more than 140 market-driven programs.”

To learn more about the HigherEdPoints.com program at DC, please visit: http://www.higheredpoints.com/.

More than 3,000 prospective students, their families and the community at large got a look inside Durham College (DC) on April 2 as the school hosted its annual Spring Open House.

Showcasing the Oshawa and Whitby campuses and the Pickering Learning Site, the event gave attendees an opportunity to learn more about the college’s programs, services and facilities first-hand while meeting with current students, faculty, staff and alumni.

DC Crew members were also on hand to lead tours through the college’s state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories and provide information on DC’s extensive list of student services. Information sessions were also held topics such as the admissions process, financial aid, academic pathways and career planning.

“Open House is a great way for potential students and their families to learn more about Durham College while having the opportunity to experience our learning environment for themselves,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “The entire Durham College family did a great job sharing the DC experience with our visitors.”

Those who missed Spring Open House are still in luck – tours of the college are still available and can be arranged by visiting www.durhamcollege.ca/campustours emailing campustours@durhamcollege.ca or calling 905.721.3000.

Durham College (DC) President Don Lovisa went door-to-door this week making special deliveries to six lucky students. Travelling to several local communities, Lovisa hand delivered official DC welcome packages and swag to randomly selected individuals who will begin their studies at the college this September.

“Delivering the welcome packages was a fun way to demonstrate our mission statement that at Durham College, the student experience comes first,” said Lovisa. “The opportunity to meet with students face to face and personally welcome them to DC is a great example of the high level of service we strive to deliver on campus every day.”

Lovisa travelled to Bowmanville, Port Hope, Oshawa, Whitby and Pickering to deliver the packages, and captured the moments with students on camera and video that was shared via the college’s social media accounts. Follow @DC_Pres on Twitter and DC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as we continue to share Lovisa’s door-to-door welcome of new students next week.  

CBC Television’s Rick Mercer was on hand at Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s shared Oshawa campus on March 12 as the college and university co-hosted the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Canada Greater Toronto East Regional FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC).

Over three days of intense competition, 50 teams from across Ontario, Quebec and Alberta, as well as New York and Texas, demonstrated their engineering skills and knowledge playing FIRST Stronghold™, a robot battle developed for the 2016 competition. The game features a medieval-themed playing field equipped with reconfigurable obstacles that teams incorporate into their battle strategies.

Competitors and judges both agreed that Rick Mercer’s visit was one of the highlights of this year’s event, especially when Rick himself tried to navigate the robots while competing against students in a match. His visit to the FRC competition will be featured on the Tuesday, March 22 episode of the Rick Mercer Report, which airs at 8 p.m. EDT on CBC.

An international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, FIRST hosts several levels of competition for students with FRC being the most senior.

“Not only is FRC an incredible forum for students to learn, compete and improve alongside their peers, it’s a celebration of science, technology, engineering and math,” said Elaine Popp, vice-president, Academic at DC. “This is why we love being part of these competitions. It’s our privilege to host these science and tech leaders of tomorrow, as well as the educators and families who support them.”

Each match in the competition saw two competing alliances of teams remotely guide a robot on a quest to breach their opponents’ fort, weaken their tower with boulders and ultimately capture their opponents’ castle. During two-and-a-half-minute matches, points were awarded to each team for defending their castle, retrieving boulders and defeating the other alliance. During the first 15 seconds of each battle, robots operated independently of their drivers to earn points by moving themselves.

After the final match, the four teams of the winning alliance were declared regional champions. They are:

• (2056) Orchard Park Secondary School (Stoney Creek)
• (2634) Chaminade College (Toronto)
• (746) Westview Centennial Secondary School (Toronto)
• (118) Clear Creek High School (League City, Texas, USA)

Each winning school was awarded a spot at the FRC World Championship, taking place in St. Louis, Missouri from Wednesday, April 27 to Saturday, April 30. Three other teams that won in specific award categories will also compete at the World Championship. The Greater Toronto East Regional FRC was the second of seven national qualifying competitions across Canada.

See a complete list of award winners.

For more information about the FRC program, please visit http://www.firstroboticscanada.org.

Durham College’s (DC) 2016 spring and fall graduates-to-be enjoyed more than just a free lunch during the college’s annual Countdown to Grad events held at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses and Pickering Learning Site.

The event provides students with a fun opportunity to learn about convocation details, cool alumni benefits, and employment services, while enjoying pizza and other treats. Participating students were also presented with a graduate gift.

“Graduation can be both exciting and a little overwhelming,” said Lori Connor, alumni officer, Durham College. “Countdown to Grad is an excellent opportunity for students to get all the information they need about their upcoming transition while having some fun. It’s also a great way to learn about the many perks of becoming a DC alumni.”

The events were held on Tuesday, March 8 (Oshawa campus), Wednesday, March 9 (Whitby campus) and Tuesday, March 15 (Pickering Learning Site) with more than 850 students in attendance.

During the Countdown to Grad events, students also had a chance to enter the School Cup Challenge – a friendly competition where students can submit their favourite DC memories for a chance to win great prizes as well as bursaries for their schools to award the following academic year.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

First place – $1,000 bursary
Centre for Food

Second place – $500 bursary
School of Science, Engineering & Technology

Individual Prize – $500
Jelena Petrovic, student in the Biomedical Engineering Technology program

Individual prize – Toronto Maple Leaf tickets
Kyle Mundy, student in the Construction and Hoisting Techniques program

For more information about the 2016 graduation please visit the Spring Convocation page.

As part of its commitment to supporting international education and training, Durham College (DC) has embarked on its most recent global partnership in collaboration with the Government of Barbados Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (METI), and Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan).  

The agreement is being facilitated through the Government of Barbados Skills for the Future Program – an initiative that aims to enhance the delivery of educational leadership and management under the umbrella of competency-based education and training (CBET). The program is comprised of four components including: support for an employer-driven training system; improving the quality and relevance of secondary and post-secondary education; institutional strengthening; and a communication campaign.  Funded by the Inter-American Development Bank, its objective is to support the government’s human resource development strategy with an emphasis on improving the quality and relevance of secondary education and the effectiveness of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

In November 2015, DC was chosen by METI and CICan to focus on the component of institutional strengthening. Through customized training, mentoring and coaching, the goal is to enhance leadership skills of TVET managers and support Barbadian leaders from METI; the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resources Development; Barbados Vocational Training Board; Barbados Community College; Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic; and 12 secondary schools in understanding the value of leadership models that are focused on current best practices.

As such, the college is currently hosting 25 management professionals, faculty, and representatives from METI, the Barbados Vocational Training Board and TVET at its Oshawa campus from March 7 to 19, and sharing learning strategies related to:

• Strengthening the leadership skills needed to guide a transformational process of TVET institutions.
• Building leadership skills to drive competency-based education.
• Enhancing collaboration skills for developing dynamic relationships with industry partners.

“We are thrilled at the opportunity to support higher learning on an international level,” said Mark Herringer, executive director, international education. “We look forward to supporting our Barbadian partners in creating business plans that will guide the transformation and modernization of trainings offered by their institutions and ensuring those offerings align with industry demands.”

The on-site training agenda was developed by DC’s International office and supported by an interdisciplinary team from across the college including faculty, employees from student service areas, Corporate Training Services, the Centre for Academic and Faculty Enrichment (CAFE), the School-College Work Initiative and the Durham District School Board.

In addition to the in-person training, ongoing mentorship and coaching will also be provided by Pam Stoneham, associate dean, School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology throughout the year via an online portal. Several onsite visits in Barbados are also scheduled to support, monitor and evaluate progress and ensure the change management projects are well positioned for successful implementation.

“It is an honour that DC was chosen as the lead Canadian college to support this exciting project,” said Stoneham. “It is exciting to share the insight and expertise the college has developed in the areas of leadership and competency-based, student-centered teaching and learning while supporting the effort of Barbados to transition to a more effective education model.”

CICan is the national and international voice of Canada’s publicly-funded colleges and institutes, with 1.5 million learners of all ages and backgrounds at campuses serving over 3,000 urban, rural and remote communities. For more information about the college’s commitment to international partnerships and engagement, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/international. 

Durham College’s (DC) Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) graduate certificate program has once again received a generous donation of $2,500 from The Oshawa Horseless Carriagemen on behalf of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Harmonize for Speech Fund.

“The Barbershop Harmony Society has supported the college’s CDA program for more than 10 years,” said Elizabeth Maga, a professor and co-ordinator of the CDA program. “We could not provide the high quality of learning we do without its continued support.”

The funds are used primarily to facilitate the purchase of items used in the CDA classroom. These resources are used to enhance students’ training and ensure they are prepared to serve the needs of clients during two different field placements and post-graduation when working with clients in the field.

Items purchased include a copy of The Baby Signing Book by Sara Bingham for each student; PLS-5 Preschool Language Scales, an assessment tool widely-used speech and language screening kit; and a TruTone Electrolarynx, a device used for people who have had their larynx removed.

In addition, the donation also enables students to attend a full-day Motor Speech Disorders and Therapy in Preschool Children workshop led by world-renowned speaker, Debra Goshulak from the Speech and Stuttering Institute in Toronto.

“The resources we purchase with this generous donation greatly benefit current and future CDA students, and through them, the community in general,” said Maga. “The skills and hands-on experience our students gain from these items will ultimately benefit so many individuals with communicative disorders in the future.”

The CDA program, which is recognized by the Communicative Disorders Assistant Association of Canada, is a one-year, three-semester graduate certificate program that prepares students to, provide speech and language therapy to clients of all ages under the guidance of qualified speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists.

The Harmonize for Speech fund was established nearly 40 years ago as a fundraising project of the Barbershop Harmony Society. It continues to provide support for numerous speech-related projects across Ontario. At this year’s cheque presentation ceremony, treasurer Greg Goodall was joined by Match Point, a quartet from the Oshawa Chapter who performed for the CDA students in their classroom. “It was a wonderful event which no one in attendance will soon forget,” said Maga.