Please be advised the City of Oshawa has scheduled reconstruction of the intersection of Conlin Road and Thornton Road this fall. The existing four-way stop at that intersection will be converted to a roundabout (traffic circle).

The construction will impact traffic flow to and from the west side of the joint Durham College-UOIT- campus location in Oshawa.

The construction will take part in two phases:

• Site preparation work now underway will result in lane restrictions and traffic delays around the Conlin/Thornton intersection, however, the intersection will remain open during this period.
• In mid-October, the City of Oshawa will close the entire intersection for construction of the roundabout and the installation of sidewalks, ditches, storm sewers and streetlights.

Faculty, staff and students who normally use the Conlin/Thornton intersection to access campus will need to find an alternative route during this period. 

Suggested alternatives:

• East-west traffic flow should follow either Taunton Road or Winchester Road.
• North-south traffic flow should follow Simcoe Street or Thickson Road. Stevenson Road can also be used as a north-south alternative route between Taunton Road and Conlin Road.

All motorists should expect heavier traffic flow along Simcoe Street and allow for extra travel time during the construction period.

The Conlin/Thornton area is expected to reopen to through traffic at the end of December, but the city advises unfavourable weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances may impact the work schedule. Once construction is complete, motorists should familiarize themselves with the new traffic pattern at Conlin and Thornton.

The City of Oshawa realizes aspects of this construction work may be disruptive; however, it advises it will make every effort to complete the project as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The Durham College/UOIT Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program received outstanding results from the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE), with 98 per cent of (BScN) graduates passing the exam. In addition, 100 per cent of graduates who completed the Durham College/UOIT Registered Practical Nursing bridging program and then the BScN program passed the CRNE. Finally, 92 per cent of graduates who completed the BScN after taking the Durham College/UOIT/Georgian College bridging pathway also passed.

“On behalf of Durham College, I extend my sincere congratulations to our collaborative nursing students on these outstanding results,” said Susan Sproul, dean, School of Health & Community Services. “The results are a true reflection of our students’ dedication to their studies as well as the college and university’s commitment to providing exceptional nursing education to students, ensuring they are able to meet today’s nursing needs.” 

In order to become a registered nurse in Canada, graduates of all BScN programs must pass this national exam. Not only are the recent results the highest yet in the history of the college and university’s collaborative nursing program, they are also some of the best in Ontario and across Canada.

“Success on the national registration exam is an important indicator of the high quality of our nursing programs,” said Dr. Sue Coffey, director, Durham College/UOIT and Durham College/UOIT/Georgian College collaborative nursing programs. “Even more importantly, it reflects the commitment of our students and faculty to ensuring our graduates are the very best nurses they can be. These results, along with consistently very positive feedback from graduates and employers about the degree to which the Durham College/UOIT and Durham College/UOIT/ Georgian College nursing programs prepare students for transition into nursing practice, underscore the success of these programs.”

This message is being posted on behalf of the Project Management office.

October 8, 2013

We are pleased to inform you that the installation of the two elevators at the Centre for Food is now complete, following the strike of Ontario’s elevator workers earlier this summer. The building is now fully accessible. 

Thank you for your support during this time of transition.  

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August 22, 2013

The installation of the two elevators at the new Centre for Food (CFF) at our Whitby Campus was delayed due to the recently-ended strike of Ontario’s elevator workers under the International Union of Elevator Constructors.

As of today, August 22, the installation has begun, with an aim to have the elevators in place and functioning by early October.  The CFF will still open for classes on Tuesday, September 3 with the rest of the building fully operational and in line with accessibility standards. 

We remain committed to student success and working with students and guests to meet individual needs as we move through this time of transition. Those using the CFF are encouraged to contact Beth Smith, Facilities and Ancillary Services, at 905.721.2000 ext. 2213 with any questions or concerns.

We will continue to provide you with updates as they become available.  

After a month-long naming contest, Durham College is pleased to announce the name of its new full-service restaurant: Bistro ’67, located at the Whitby campus’ new state-of-the-art Centre for Food (CFF). In addition to serving the public, the restaurant will provide a supportive and creative teaching environment and hands-on learning experience that will train the chefs and hospitality professionals of the future.

The name was chosen from more than 1,152 online submissions through the Feed Us Your Ideas contest which was launched on June 21. After one week, a seven-person panel reviewed the entries and determined their top five choices. The public then voted on the top five and after 1,242 votes were cast, Bistro ’67 was determined as the winning entry.

“The name Bistro ’67 encapsulates the proud and rich history of Durham College by paying tribute to the year we opened our doors, with a fresh, modern perspective,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “I look forward to my first dining experience at the very first green-certified teaching restaurant in Canada. True to the inspiration of Jamie Kennedy’s local food movement, I am confident that Bistro ‘67 will be an excellent addition to the field-to-fork culinary landscape for years to come. Bon Appétit!”

The winning name was submitted by Gail McKenzie, manager of strategic initiatives with the School of Interdisciplinary Studies & Employment Services at Durham College. For creating the name, Gail will receive dinner for six at the chef’s table, a Durham College prize pack including an iPad mini, and will be recognized at the CFF’s grand opening event on Thursday, October 17 at the Whitby campus.

“I brainstormed and submitted a few ideas trying to incorporate a name that would reflect the history of the college,” said McKenzie. “Since the college opened in 1967, I thought Bistro ’67 would work well!”

Scheduled to open this September, Bistro ’67 is a 70-seat, full-service, teaching and learning restaurant which will be green certified and feature dishes prepared and served by students in our culinary and hospitality programs, including produce and delicious flavours of the region.

The CFF is designed to accommodate approximately 900 additional students studying in culinary, hospitality, tourism, agriculture and horticulture programs. This incredible new learning centre will also feature state-of-the-art labs including a food and beverage pairing lab and hotel living lab, classrooms and meeting spaces, a retail store and a lecture theatre.

Highly-skilled graduates in a variety of programs including Culinary Skills, Culinary Management, Event Management (graduate certificate), Horticulture – Food and Farming, Hospitality Skills, Golf Facility Operations Management, Horticulture Technician, Hospitality Management – Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism,  Special Events Planning and Cook Apprenticeship will fulfil the demand for next-generation workers in sectors critical to our local economy.

On Monday, August 19, the Campus Bookstore will kick off a new Price Match Policy.

The following items are covered:

• All textbooks

The following items are not covered:

• E-books
• Online Orders
• Clothing
• Stationary items (notebooks, writing utensils, binders, calculators, etc.)
• Quick Study Guides
• Other non-textbook items

The Campus Bookstore will only price match the listed value with the following websites:

• Canadian Chapter-Indigo website: www.chapters.indigo.ca
• Canadian Amazon website: www.amazon.ca

*Member pricing does not apply for the sites listed above

Price matching will only apply to in-store purchases at the Campus Bookstore, excluding online sales. For previous purchases, you have 10 days to price match from the date of your original receipt (this will only be honoured once). You may only price match items that are in-stock, no rain checks available.

The bookstore reserves the right to refuse to price match on any textbook priced lower than our cost from the publisher.

To price match, please visit the Bookstore’s front counter with a smartphone displaying the website URL, date and following book information:

• ISBN
• Price
• Title
• In-Stock

*Paper printouts with the above information will also be accepted with the current date.

For further information please contact the Campus Bookstore at 905.721.3026 or visit the Campus Bookstore website.

The first phase of the Feed Us Your Ideas contest to name Durham College’s new restaurant has closed and the response was overwhelming with more than 1,150 entries submitted.

Now that we’ve selected our top 5 choices, we’re putting the power back in your hands. Voting is now open for you to pick your favourite.

Not only will you help determine the restaurant’s new name, but you’ll also have the chance to win an amazing Durham College prize pack!

Vote until July 19 at www.durhamcollege.ca/nameit. Winners will be notified and announced on the website.

Canada Basketball’s junior women’s national team recently held their tryouts and training camp at Durham College to prepare for the FIBA U19 World Championships being held in Panevezys, Lithuania. Players from across the country joined head coach Rich Chambers for the two-week training camp from June 28 to Sunday, July 7 at the Campus and Recreation Wellness Centre located at the Oshawa campus.

The team will travel overseas following the conclusion of camp for exhibition games in France and Spain before arriving at the World Championships in Lithuania on Tuesday, July 16. The 11-day tournament begins on Thursday, July 18 with Team Canada being drawn in Group C alongside Senegal, France and the Netherlands.

Canada is currently ranked ninth in the FIBA World Rankings and has previously finished third in the 2012 U17 Women’s Championship in Netherlands, defeating Japan 84-77 in the bronze medal game and fifth in the 2011 U19 World Championship in Chile, defeating France 70-52 in the consolation round.

For more information on all the national teams and programs visit Canada Basketball.

Through partnership with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC), Durham College was pleased to welcome six international Chinese delegates to its Oshawa campus for vocational education leadership training from June 8 to 22.

Consisting of presidents and vice-presidents from international colleges, these delegates were invited to learn about the post-secondary level of education; issues that the college has faced; and the policies and procedures that Durham has in place.

An interpreter accompanied the four male and two female delegates to their many scheduled activities as they expanded their knowledge in Canadian-style teachings, focusing mainly on student services cultivation and professional development for faculty.

These activities included gaining knowledge in school services such as strategic planning and governance; human resources, project and budget/financial management; internationalization; marketing and communications; strategic enrolment management; student services; and academic programs while showcasing the Centre for Academic and Faculty Enrichment and the Whitby campus.

Delegates were also given the opportunity to experience culture off school grounds with a field trip to meet with the Region of Durham.

At the end of their tours and meetings where they discovered the many services offered by Durham College, each delegate was provided with a gift to commemorate their time at the school. 

“We were greatly impressed by (Durham College’s) education quality, its commitment to the community and industry and its focus on the student experience as well as the efficient leadership and the hardworking staff team,” said Zhao Ye, translator, on behalf of the delegates. “This valued experience not only deepened our understanding of the Canadian college education system but also offered a great opportunity of sharing and accessing best practices. We are more than excited to develop and promote the friendship and partnership with Durham College in the near future.” 

On June 18, the history books were reopened for almost 100 founding faculty, staff and alumni at the Founders Appreciation Day, hosted by the Durham College Retirees Association (DCRA). Positive energy filled the room as old friends were reunited and stories and memories were shared by the ones that were there when the foundation of the college was established.

The event transported individuals back to 1967 where it all began. Durham College officially opened on September 18, 1967 with 16 portable classrooms and 205 students, offering courses in applied arts, business and technology. “We used to make bets on how many students would show up,” said Lister Robinson, Durham College dean in 1967.

“There was no building, we were brand new. We had no money for advertising and there were no buses that came to the school.”

Current Durham College President Don Lovisa thanked those in attendance for starting the dream with only 14 faculty and staff members – an energetic and determined group who made it happen.

Reg Smith, who was the second employee hired in 1967 also shared his memories. “What made it possible was the good fortune to have a wise and strong founding board, and to have successive boards with a deep and sincere interest in the welfare of students who enrolled at Durham College,” he said.

Through events like this, it is evident that putting the student experience first was and still is Durham College’s mission. 

Dozens of faculty and staff members from Durham College teamed up with counterparts from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) on June 26 for a great show of community support for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Both groups hopped aboard the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike and wheeled their way through downtown Oshawa to raise money for the charity. Combined donations topped the $10,000 mark.

2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the Heart and Stroke Big Bike event, which invites community organizations, companies and groups across Canada to help support heart disease and stroke research. Each rider makes a commitment to raise a minimum of $50. Last year, over 40,000 riders in more than 200 communities helped raise more than $7 million.