Durham College’s (DC) Communications and Marketing department is once again being recognized for its expertise and creativity, winning seven industry awards from both the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) Paragon Awards and the Higher Education Marketing Report’s Education Digital Marketing (EDM) Awards.

Over the course of the last four months, the team has added four gold, two silver and one bronze to their trophy case.

“I am extremely proud of the innovative, dedicated and professional members of DC’s Communications and Marketing department.” said Carol Beam, executive director, Communications and Marketing. “Every day this amazing team reaches for new heights and pushes themselves to produce the highest quality of work possible. To be recognized by awards programs hosted by both the Education Marketing Report and the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations for the third consecutive year is a great honour and a testament to all of their hard work.”

DC took the gold for the 2015-2016 Academic Catalog at the NCMPR Paragon Awards and received gold from the Higher Education Marketing Report for the 2016-2017 College Guide; the Annual Report and the Experience DC microsite. In addition, DC received silver for the International Viewbook and the Experience DC marketing campaign and bronze for the DC Alumni Magazine in the online publications category.

NCMPR’s prestigious Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications at community and technical colleges. It’s the only national competition of its kind that honours excellence exclusively among marketing and PR professionals at two-year colleges. Winners hail from large, multi-campus districts and small institutions, from large staffs with healthy budgets and from one-person shops with limited resources. All of them demonstrate that creativity, originality and unique approaches to problem-solving set the winners apart.

The Higher Education Marketing Report is the most widely read publication for educational marketers. The EDM Awards recognize the best educational websites, digital content, electronic communications, mobile media and social media, judging submissions on creativity, marketing execution, message impact, technology application and innovative content.

Furthering their shared commitment to providing high-quality education and training on an international scale, Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) have each signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Modi Edutech Private Limited (Modi Edutech) in India.

Both agreements explore opportunities to develop and deliver educational programming in India. The MOU with the college is focused on early childhood/early years education. The MOU with UOIT focuses on teacher education and curriculum development, as well as leadership and research collaborations.

DC President Don Lovisa and UOIT President Dr. Tim McTiernan signed the agreements with Modi Edutech Chairman Alok Modi on February 1 at a ceremony in New Delhi. Both presidents participated in Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s 10-day Indian trade mission. 

“Our new agreement with Modi Edutech marks an important first step in exploring international opportunities for us to deliver education designed to strengthen India’s workforce and provides a significant opportunity for the college to further develop our international presence,” said Lovisa.

“Ideas know no borders and, as such, universities are at the forefront of building global communities,” said McTiernan. “As the University of Ontario Institute of Technology continues to grow, an agreement like this allows us to play an increasing role in global engagement.”

The agreements allow each institution to explore opportunities for leadership education programs and teacher education. Further discussions will look at co-operation for curriculum development, teaching and learning resources, occupational standards, testing and certification, labour market information systems and, for UOIT, collaborative research.

“A key part of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s international plan involves leveraging our strength in technology-enriched and online learning to expand access to global education and partnerships. I am hopeful that we can develop such partnerships with Modi Edutech,” said McTiernan.

“Durham College was very pleased to be selected to be part of the Premier’s delegation to India,” said Lovisa. “The country represents an important emerging market and economy with a number of specific training needs that are aligned with the skills and education that we provide. In particular, our strength in early childhood education will meet the need of our Indian partners for high-level training in that area.”

More than 100 leaders from Ontario’s higher education, business and sustainable development and urban infrastructure sectors joined the Premier’s delegation. The group visited New Delhi, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Mumbai to promote Ontario’s business advantage and create opportunities for new partnerships.

India is the world’s third-largest economy and has the potential for numerous partnership and training opportunities in business and higher education. The higher education delegates involved in the trade mission focused on building new partnerships in priority areas such as health education, clean energy and information and communications technology.

With more than 73,000 graduates and countless community and business supporters, Durham College (DC) makes it a priority to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the college and well beyond.  With that in mind, the college announced today that nominations for its 2016 Alumni of Distinction Awards and 2016 Honorary Credential recipient are now open.

“One of the best ways we can inspire students and employees at DC is to shine a light on the many DC community members who are succeeding in their careers, giving back to their communities and paving the way for future generations,” said Don Lovisa, president of Durham College. “We want to recognize their success and thank them for their contributions — the Alumni of Distinction Awards and Honorary Credential allow us to do just that.”

The Alumni of Distinction Awards honour the significant contributions DC graduates make to society while achieving career success. The Honorary Credential recognizes a community or business partner who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of DC, Durham Region and well beyond. Both are given at the college’s annual spring convocation ceremonies in June.

A wide range of professionals have received the Alumni of Distinction Award including entrepreneurs, health-care leaders, journalists, multimedia designers, engineers, technicians and skilled trades professionals. Nominations are now being accepted until Friday, March 11 through the DC Alumni office.

“I’ve made it a personal priority to reconnect with as many alumni as possible this past year and their stories of both personal and professional success have been incredible.” said Lovisa. “There are so many who deserve to be nominated for an Alumni of Distinction Award and I hope to see that reflected in the number of nominations we receive this year.”

Nominations for the Honorary Credential are made by DC employees with members of the public invited to submit possible nominations to Paul Bishop, executive director and registrar, Strategic Enrolment Services, DC, at paul.bishop@durhamcollege.ca by Tuesday, March 15.

“DC is lucky to have so many passionate supporters and we take immense pride in the way our graduates and community partners continue to help us build a strong college that is committed to student success,” added Lovisa. “We look forward to recognizing these individuals in June.”  

 

When it comes to determining next steps after graduation, students at Durham College (DC) got a head start on the path to success last week when the college hosted its annual Career Week on campus.

“Our annual Career Week is an excellent opportunity for students to connect with employers and for employers to discover bright, new talent in their own community – it’s a win-win,” said Tara Koski, director, Career Development and Co-Operative Education at DC. “We are thankful to our business partners and alumni who took time to participate in our events and provide invaluable guidance to the thousands of students in attendance.”

Taking place from February 1 to 5, the event, which was co-ordinated by the Career Development office, took place at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses. The initiative saw students meet with potential employers, network with industry experts, access helpful resources, learn from the real-world experiences of successful DC alumni and much more.

This includes the annual job fair, which saw more than 2,000 students meet with more than 75 potential employers at the Oshawa campus, including Ontario Power Generation, Canada’s Wonderland and Loblaw Companies Ltd. who are currently hiring for full-time, summer and seasonal work. In addition, attendees gained valuable feedback from recruiters and enjoyed a free LinkedIn photoshoot.

The second annual Mentoring Lounge, held during the job fair, gave students an opportunity to mingle with business leaders, local entrepreneurs, alumni and special guests including Cameron Munroe, DC graduate and operations manager at CLS Catering Services, and Rob Leth, sports anchor at Global News – Toronto.

Students also received additional words of wisdom during the Alumni in the Pit event. DC alumna Hannah Elkington, a police officer, who graduated from DC’s Police Foundations program in 2014, and alumnus Kyle Merkley, a music supervisor, who graduated in 2009 from the Music Business Management program, offered post-graduation insight to students preparing to make the transition from college to career.

Venture for Canada (VFC), a not-for-profit organization that recruits, trains and supports recent graduates in order to help them find employment at top Canadian start-up companies was also on hand at the Oshawa campus to meet with students on potential employment opportunities.

The Whitby campus also hosted the Tradesmart Career Fair, with 29 trades professionals in attendance, along with the Culinary and Hospitality Fair, which took place at the Centre for Food and focused on current culinary and hospitality students.

The Career Development office offers coaches who assist, guide and encourage DC students and graduates with learning about their chosen career path; discovering what employers are looking for in new recruits; translating their academic experiences into resumes and professional letters; and job interview preparation. This includes the DC Hired site, which allows students to view job postings and employer links; explore job opportunities on campus; and book coaching appointments.

For more information please visit the Career Development website.

For many students, time spent obtaining their post-secondary education is often a balancing act, with school commitments in one hand and employment, family responsibilities and other demands in the other. This is why the annual Durham College (DC) Student and Donor Recognition evening is such a special event.

On Monday, January 25, the college not only honoured 198 students for their outstanding academic achievements, but also recognized the numerous individual, organizational and corporate donors who provide financial assistance to help relieve some of the post-secondary pressure.

“To our award recipients, I offer sincere congratulations,” said DC President Don Lovisa. “Your willingness to work hard and your dedication to learning will serve you well when you graduate and as you launch into your careers.

“And to our donors, your investment in our students shows the value you place on a Durham College education, and for that we are truly thankful. Through your ongoing support we can continue providing the best possible education in the best possible learning environment while contributing to the future success and prosperity of both the college and the community.”

Lovisa also paid special tribute to the Oshawa Folk Arts Council, which celebrated its 20^th anniversary as a donor to DC. Each year, for the past 20 years, the council has generously contributed two memorial awards to help support student success: the Anna Racz Memorial Award and the Jan Drygala Memorial Award.

Several new donors were also recognized during the ceremony for choosing to invest in DC through a scholarship or bursary. These included:

Scholarships:

• The Jack and Marg Sills Memorial Scholarship.
• The Ontario Water Works Association Scholarship.
• The Ontario Water Works Equipment Association Scholarship.

Bursaries:

• Aramark Canada Ltd. Award.
• Brooklin Horticultural Society Bursary.
• CIBC Endowed Bursary.
• Dick Huang Memorial Bursary.
• Estates of Kathleen Nawrot and Jean Kroll.
• Owasco Volkswagen Bursary.
• Trillium Automobile Bursary.
• Roughley Insurance Brokers Ltd. Bursary.
• Travis Pepper Award.

Seven years ago, an idea was planted at Durham College (DC) to create a facility that would change the way our local communities eat and grow food as well as meet the growing demands of the local culinary, hospitality, tourism, agriculture and horticulture sectors.  The idea sprouted into a vision and, with the generous support of many donors, has come to fruition and continues to blossom.

On Monday, January 25, a donor wall was unveiled at the Durham College (DC) Centre for Food (CFF) to honour its donors as well as establish a distinct marker where all donors could be recognized for years to come.

“Our vision for the Centre for Food was to bring ‘field-to-fork’ to Durham Region, while creating a place where students would receive an exceptional, hands-on learning experience,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “Thanks to the support of our donors, we have been able to substantially grow our vision and make great strides in advancing our programs, grounds, research projects, facility and offerings to our students and the community.”

To complement the warm and natural atmosphere of the CFF, the wall was designed using walnut name plates and metallic inlays in platinum, gold, silver and bronze that denote the amount of each donation.

“On behalf of everyone at DC, I would like to truly thank all our donors for believing in our vision and helping us to establish a state-of-the art facility that supports both the success of our students and the economic development of our communities,” said Linda Marco, associate vice-president, Office of Development and Advancement. “This is exciting for all of us here at the college and testament to your collective support and commitment to the CFF.”

Three donors in particular were acknowledged for a contribution of more than $1 million to the CFF. They were:

• The Region of Durham
• The Town of Whitby
• The Estate of Lois Sleightholm

Lovisa also announced that a new $1 million donation towards the CFF has recently been confirmed, and details will be shared publicly in the coming months.

The CFF has the capacity to accommodate 900 students, and is Durham Region’s first-ever post-secondary presence focused on field-to-fork. In addition to Bistro ’67 – a green-certified teaching restaurant, the CFF houses Pantry, a retail store featuring fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals created by students in the college’s culinary programs. The grounds feature an apple orchard, gardens, farm fields and greenhouses that support academic applied-learning and research while growing fruits, vegetables and other produce for use in its kitchens, laboratories and Bistro ‘67.

The college was joined by its campus partner, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, in hosting the 2016 Summit on Talent and Skills in the New Economy, which was presented by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU). In addition to Premier Wynne sharing her thoughts in a panel discussion, the day also included keynote addresses from MTCU Minister Reza Moridi and Education Minister Liz Sandals.

“We’ve all come together with a common goal of helping Ontario’s workforce adapt to the demands of a technology-driven knowledge economy,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “This particular goal resonates with me because of its strong alignment with Durham College’s commitment to producing graduates with the professional and technical qualifications required to meet the ongoing advancement and changes in today’s labour market.”

The day featured presentations and panel discussions on topics such as building a highly skilled workforce and the value of partnerships between employers and post-secondary institutions with a view to skills development. This included the ‘What Do Youth Think? Perspectives from Student Leaders on Pathways’ panel, which was moderated by Lovisa. All the discussions will help inform the work of the Premier’s Highly Skilled Workforce Expert Panel.

Students in DC’s Culinary Management program were also given the opportunity to prepare food for the summit’s mid-morning break, enabling them to showcase the college’s commitment to field to fork through its Centre for Food, to the more than 300 guests in attendance.

“As we look toward the future, I truly believe that events such as today’s skills summit, which has brought together such a strong group of leaders, will enable us to bridge the gap between education, training and skills development and ensure our economy is both prosperous and competitive – now and in the future,” said Lovisa.  

Durham College announced today that its Centre for Food (CFF), which is known for its unique blend of creativity and innovation in design, has been awarded a 2015 Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) Award.

ARIDO, which conducts the annual ARIDO Awards to showcase excellence, innovation and originality in interior design, recognized the CFF in the Public and Institutional Spaces category with entrants judged on design elements, budget and project objectives, strategies employed, overall creativity, examples of project results and sustainability and collaborative elements.

With the capacity to accommodate 900 students, the CFF is Durham Region’s first-ever post-secondary presence focused on field-to-fork. Designed by Gow Hastings Architects, it offers warm woods, soft stones and natural colours that create an inviting and open atmosphere conveying a connection to nature. Ample windows cast light into the heart of the building’s atrium where a two-storey living-wall herb garden highlights the space. The atrium also serves as a central meeting place for special events and celebrations. Showcasing food preparation, the windows on the floor above provide a glimpse into the culinary labs, where marble, Corian, stainless steel and ceramic tile reduce visual clutter, maintain sanitation and enhance function.

“Gow Hastings Architects truly brought our vision for the CFF to life,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “We were committed to the creation of a unique teaching and learning facility that could also support cooking demonstrations, workshops and corporate events; Bistro ’67, our full-service, teaching-inspired restaurant; and Pantry, our retail store, while utilizing eco-friendly elements and maintaining an atmosphere of innovation and creativity. This wonderful recognition confirms that we have done just that.”

Celebrating the best in Ontario’s design profession, the ARIDO Awards bring superior design to the forefront each year by recognizing winning projects in ten different categories: residential; retail spaces; workplaces; health-care facilities; marketing centres; public and institutional spaces; hotels and recreational spaces; restaurants, bars and clubs; restoration and adaptive reuse; and special projects.

While recognizing the exceptional work of ARIDO members, the awards also serve to raise public awareness of the power and effect of interior design among the Ontario public.

“It is an exceptional privilege and honour to win this award,” said Valerie Gow, partner, Gow Hastings Architects. “This award, one of the most highly regarded distinctions in the interior design community, recognizes excellence, innovation and creativity through an intense competition adjudicated by esteemed industry representatives. We are extremely proud that the CFF was selected as one of the best design projects in Ontario.”

Created by the college in direct response to the demands of the local culinary, hospitality, tourism, agriculture and horticulture sectors, the CFF houses a 70-seat, green-certified restaurant, Bistro ’67, and Pantry, a retail store featuring fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals created by students in the college’s culinary programs. The grounds feature an apple orchard, agricultural planting fields, gardens and greenhouses that support academic applied-learning and research while growing fruits, vegetables and other produce for use in its kitchens, laboratories and Bistro ‘67.

Durham College is pleased to welcome Andrée Robichaud to its Board of Governors as a new external member, effective December 10, 2015.

Robichaud, who takes over from former Governor Renate Ilse, brings a wealth of management and governmental experience within the health-care sector to the position. She is currently president and chief executive officer of Rouge Valley Health System in Toronto, Ontario and has served in the same roles for numerous other health authorities including the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre and the Vitalite Sante Regional Health Authority in New Brunswick. In addition, she has worked in senior leadership roles with the New Brunswick Ministry of Health.

“Strong governance is incredibly important, especially as Durham College continues to develop and grow,” said Robichaud. “I am looking forward to contributing to the success of both students and the institution as a whole through my participation on its Board of Governors.”

Robichaud holds both a degree in recreation and a Masters of Public Administration from the Universite de Moncton. As part of the board, she will work with its 16 other members to provide oversight and leadership for Durham College and its students.

“On behalf of the Durham College Board of Governors, I am pleased to welcome Andrée to Durham College, “ said Pierre Tremblay, chair, Durham College Board of Governors. “Her significant knowledge and unique expertise complement the strength of our existing Board and I look forward to working together to provide guidance to the college as it continues to evolve.”

To learn more about the college’s Board of Governors, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/bog.

Thanks to the kindness and generosity of donors and volunteers, the annual campus Holiday Food Drive was able to raise more than $47,000 to provide assistance to 275 Durham College (DC) and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) student families, including more than 700 people in total.

Holiday Food Drive co-chairs Kevin Dougherty and Brad MacIsaac were especially grateful to the more than 100 volunteers who joined them on December 20 at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre to pack and deliver hampers.

“The success of the drive would not be possible without the kindness of volunteers,” said Dougherty. “Thank you to everyone who contributed food, money, time and resources to this year’s campaign.”

One recipient also wanted to convey their gratitude and let everyone involved in the campaign and hamper delivery to know how appreciative she is of their efforts:

“When my husband passed away five years ago and I decided to go back to school, I didn’t anticipate how challenging things would be financially for myself and my three children. This coming year I am set to graduate. Your assistance with the wonderful food baskets these past few years has helped us tremendously at a very difficult time of the year and we want you to know how much we appreciate your kindness, contributions and efforts. On behalf of my family to all of you, thank you, happy holidays and a very happy and healthy New Year.”