Once again, Durham College (DC) Paramedic and Paramedic – Advanced Care students were among the winners at this year’s National Paramedic Competition, which was held on April 9 at DC’s Oshawa campus.

The competition saw 34 teams of professional and student paramedics from across Canada put their medical knowledge and skills to the test in a competitive format. Crews of student paramedics, along with professionals in advanced and primary care, all competed in scenario-specific situations at the same time. Team members were judged individually on their performance during each scenario, and on how well they performed together as a unit. At the end of the competition, the combined scores were added up and the winners were declared in the student, advanced care and primary care divisions.

DC’s team of Jena Spencer and Rob Triano, second-year Paramedic students, finished second among the 17 teams competing in the student division. Students in DC’s paramedic programs also played a role in helping the competition run as smoothly as possible.

Ralph Hofmann, program co-ordinator of the Paramedic and Paramedic – Advanced Care program, which is housed under the college’s School of Justice & Emergency Services, said there was more than enough behind-the-scenes work available to keep many of the students busy, even though they weren’t competing. “Some students helped our competitors during practice sessions, while others volunteered to assist with running the competition by serving as simulated patients, providing supplies and even doing make-up for ‘victims’ during the scenarios,” said Hofmann. “Students got the opportunity to network and show off their stuff to prospective employers and co-workers, and the competitors were able to perform their skills in a different setting and have some fun with it.”

While competitions like this are no substitute for an actual medical emergency, Hofmann said the participants definitely knew they had to be at the top of their game in order to win. Nevertheless, he says it was a great experience for everyone involved, no matter what the outcome. “The competition can be stressful and challenging and, in the end, no matter what the result, our DC students walk away with smiles on their faces,” he said.

Although the weather outside was cold and blustery, spring was definitely in the air on Saturday, April 9 at Durham College’s (DC) Centre for Food (CFF). That’s because teams of students in the Advanced Baking and Pastry Arts program used spring as their theme for three different pop-up bake shops, selling sweet treats to an appreciative crowd of students and visitors.

The pop-up shops were the result of a semester-long capstone project that marked the culmination of all the learning experiences the students had acquired during the program. The students spent an average of 25 to 30 hours in the kitchen labs preparing a variety of sweet and savoury baked goods, confections and preserves. In addition, students were responsible for the marketing, budgeting, packaging and decision-making for all elements of their pop-up bake shop. Using the skills they had acquired in the program, students successfully created the products, determined how they would be displayed, created a pricing strategy and used their sales skills to encourage customers to make purchases. 

For Jeremy Wong and his teammates at the Spring Fever Bakery, the competition was an opportunity to “share their passion” for good food and pastry, and to work on his sales and customer service skills.

“It’s been a lot of fun and we’ve made a lot of items using spring fresh ingredients,” said Wong. “Our goal is to sell out of all of our products and to show off our skills to both our customers and our professors.”

Student Marie Owen and her Patisserie Noir team chose the theme “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and featured a variety of hand-dipped chocolates and other sweet treats, packaged in attractive black-trimmed wrapping. Owen said that as exhausting as it can be to prepare and package all of their products, the final results always make it worthwhile.

“I enjoy baking and making things so much, that I have to remind myself to remember to take the money from customers,” she said with a laugh.

Student baker Suzette Kearns and her team from the Spring Flour Bakery featured a mixture of sweet and savoury items at their shop, including products that used edible pansies produced by DC’s Horticulture – Food and Farming students from the CFF’s gardens exclusively for this event. Kearns and her team were relieved they’d reached the final stage in their course work, and she said they enjoyed the challenge of selling their wares directly to the public.

“I spend most of my time at the back of the house, baking things and working in the kitchen,” she said. “It’s a nice change to sit down and work out the prices for our products, develop a theme for our pop-up shop and really get into the business side of things.”

“I’m really proud of all three student teams and the work they did for their final projects,” said Chef Tanya Heck, professor at the CFF. “The presentation and quality of all the students’ work shone through at this event and I’m pleased all of them were virtually completely sold out of their products by the end of day. It was truly a great effort.”

The tardy arrival of spring this year has meant the perfect weather for a Canadian winter classic – mac n’ cheese. On April 9, eight teams of local Grade 11 and 12 students gathered at the Durham College (DC) Centre for Food (CFF) to put their culinary and creative skills to the test at the college’s second annual Epic Mac n’ Cheese Competition.

Watched by an appreciative crowd of parents, family, friends and DC Culinary Management students, the competitors cooked up an amazing variety of macaroni and cheese delicacies, using ingredients as varied as crab, smoked duck, bacon and Montreal smoked meat. Samples of each team’s recipe were provided to festival visitors, who were then asked to vote on their favourites.

“Events like this help us build our profile in the community by encouraging high school students who are considering a career in the culinary sector  to showcase their talents in DC’s state-of-the-art kitchen facilities,” said Chef Peter Lee, program co-ordinator of the college’s Culinary Management program  and the driving force  behind this year’s festival. “At the same time, our Culinary Management students worked with the competitors, offering advice, support and constructive feedback on their work. It’s a fun event that’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

Based on the votes from festival-goers, first-place honours went to Savannah Lowe and Natalie Young of J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate in Ajax. Two teams from St. Peter Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough rounded out the top three, with Courtney Ross and Jeremy Breese taking second place and John Fawn and Gordon McGlaughlin finishing third.

“It’s an incredible feeling to win,” said Lowe, who is currently in Grade 12 and keeping her options open about a possible culinary career. “I was so nervous that we weren’t going to hear our names called, and then when Chef Peter called Natalie’s name, I knew we were going to get first place.”

The winning teams received cooking equipment, cookbooks and other prizes, while each student was also awarded a certificate of appreciation for their participation. While not every team could be a winner, all of the 16 participants are now eligible to apply for a bursary towards tuition for a culinary, hospitality or special events program at DC.

Chef Lee says he was pleased with the calibre of all of the entries that made it from the kitchen to the table at this year’s event. “The vote gap between many of the teams was very close, reflecting the quality of the ingredients and the hard work and preparation that was done by the students and their Durham College mentors,” he said. “I hope we’ll have the opportunity to see many of those who took part in the festival in our classrooms in the near future.”

Individuals with a passion for helping others manage and control their insurance risks can invest in their futures by enrolling in Durham College’s (DC) Insurance program.

This two-year program is designed for those with a keen interest in business and insurance who want to acquire a specialization in general insurance (Property and Casualty) by developing their understanding of policies and legislation, fraud awareness and client management. Graduates have the skills needed to flourish in the thriving insurance industry, which can lead them to positions as appraisers, brokers, claims adjusters, loss control specialists, risk managers and underwriters.

“Over the span of two years, students learn to determine the role of general insurance in society and become immersed in the varied expertise needed to succeed,” said Keith Miller, co-ordinator of the DC Insurance program. “This includes evaluating risk factors; applying marketing techniques and negotiation strategies; and adhering to principles, processes and procedures used in adjusting losses, settling claims and completing required documentation.”

As part of the program, students register with the Insurance Institute of Canada and have the opportunity to earn eight out of the 10 required credits for the internationally recognized Chartered Insurance Professional designation.

Graduates can also choose to continue their education by applying for the Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) bridge program at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, using credits from their time at DC towards earning a degree.

During their time on campus students also have access to financial support through one of Durham Region’s most well-known Insurance Brokers – Roughley Insurance Brokers Ltd.

Located in Oshawa since 1945, the organization has made a $25,000 commitment to students enrolled in the Insurance program over five years, allowing for $5,000 worth of bursaries and scholarships to be awarded per year.  In addition, along with providing generous financial support to students, owner Jim Roughley is also a member of the Advisory Committee for the Insurance program.

For more information on these awards, interested students can visit www.durhamcollege.ca/studentawards or contact the Student Awards office at 905.721.3036.

With spring on its way, thousands of people across southern Ontario have only one thing on their minds; golf. It’s a sport enjoyed by the young, the old and everyone in between, but for those dealing with physical disabilities, playing the game was often only a dream. Until now, that is.

In late March, second-year Durham College (DC) students in the Sport Administration program teamed up with local golf pro Todd Keirstead, who operates a unique golf program called Bring Back the Game. The organization works with groups like Wounded Warriors to give men and women who are differently-abled an opportunity to try golf as a sport for the first time, or rebuild their golf skills after suffering an injury or illness. With Keirstead’s help, the students hosted a golf clinic at the Abilities Centre in Whitby for almost 30 participants facing a variety of physical challenges.

“It goes without saying that I am very proud of the group of students who put on this event,” said Nadine Lamarche, professor, Sport Management, at DC’s School of Business, IT & Management. “They connected with the Abilities Centre and had multiple meetings to set things up, including booking the date, corresponding with staff, even using Twitter to promote the event.”

The participants ranged from people who had never held a club to those who had previous golf experience but, for a variety of reasons, felt they couldn’t currently play. Keirstead, an accomplished golf professional and entertainer, specializes in showing differently-abled people how to play golf using adaptive techniques and equipment and by harnessing their dedication and commitment. At the event, DC students managed registration, assisted with the teaching efforts and, at the end, handed out prizes.

And how did the participants feel about taking part in the event? Their answers speak for themselves:

• “I found out today I can still golf.”
• “I can’t believe I got to hit a golf ball again. It’s been a long time!”
• “For 10 years I wasn’t able to do it, and by the grace of God, I did it today.”

“Other events being hosted by the Sport Management students include video game, floorball and water pong tournaments, all of which will help them build their event management skills,” Lamarche said. “This is the first time we’ve ever put together a golf event like this, and it’s another way that DC has a positive impact on our local community.”

Like millions of Canadians, Durham College (DC) student Damien Haveliwalla was moved by stories of Syrian refugees who arrived in Canada in search a new life, and decided to do something to help the cause in his own unique way.

Haveliwalla, a third-year student in the Sport Management program at DC, was doing his field placement in the sales and sponsorship department of the Steelheads – an Ontario Hockey League team based in Mississauga, when an idea hit him. What about inviting some Syrian refugee families, newly arrived in Toronto, to get their first taste of Canada’s national winter sport; hockey?

“The Steelheads are really big on community involvement,” Haveliwalla said. “And I thought, what better way to help introduce these people to our community, and to Canada, than by inviting them to be our guests at a Steelheads game.”

He took the idea to his team’s management and, after getting their approval, he approached Lifeline Syria, a charitable organization that recruits and trains sponsor groups to help Syrian refugees who are settling in the Greater Toronto Area. The Steelheads supplied tickets to the organization and, as a result, more than 200 Syrian refugees were able to attend their first hockey game as the Steelheads claimed a 5-3 victory over the Peterborough Petes on Friday, March 18^.

Haveliwalla says he was busy with his regular duties during the game, so he didn’t have much chance to interact with the refugee families who were attending the match, but one story he later heard did stick in his mind.

“One of volunteers with Lifeline Syria told me she talked to one of the refugees who told her she was so happy and excited to be at the game and, after everything she’d been through, it felt like the best day of her life,” Haveliwalla said. “Something like that really sticks with you.”

Haveliwalla’s efforts garnered local and national media attention for the Steelheads, with stories on CBC, CITY, Global and CTV News. His teachers at DC had nothing but praise for his efforts to raise the team’s community profile while helping Syrian families get accustomed to their new home.

“Damien has exhibited leadership skills and professionalism in his role with the Mississauga Steelheads,” said Janice Robinson, professor, School of Business, IT and Management at DC. “This is a great example for all of our students on how to excel in their field placements and careers.”

As for Haveliwalla himself, he will finish his placement as a member of the Steelheads sales and sponsorship team, then begin the task of finding a job in his chosen field. With the solid grounding he received from his family, he hopes the lessons he’s learned while at DC will lead to a successful career in sports management.

“My parents always taught me, and this was reinforced at DC, that I should always do the right thing, no matter how much work is involved.” Haveliwalla said. “This really felt like the right thing to do, and I’m glad I was able to help.”

First-and second-year students from Durham College’s (DC) culinary and hospitality programs recently had the opportunity to show off their skills when they spent the weekend cooking and serving pancakes at the Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival.  During the weekend of March 19th and 20th, students from DC’s Culinary Management, Hospitality Skills, Hospitality – Hotel and Restaurant Operations Management, Special Events Planning and Advanced Baking and Pastry Art programs took on the challenge of feeding festival goers with a wide range of products. Chef Peter Lee, program co-ordinator for the Culinary Management program at the College’s Centre for Food (CFF) says this was the first time DC students had been involved with the festival and, by all accounts, their work was extremely successful.

“The students did everything from providing front-of-the-house services to setting up and preparing pancakes in the kitchen,” said Lee.  “They also operated a pop-up bake shop while feeding about 1,000 people per day. With the festival’s organizers saying everything went very efficiently with almost no line ups to get food, it is clear that the skills our students are gaining in the CFF’s classrooms, kitchen and labs, are making a very real impact when it comes to working in the field.”

In particular, events like the festival give students an opportunity to learn more about the requirements of feeding a large number of people, in close quarters, under tight deadlines. Students were responsible for setting up serving lines, cooking dozens of pancakes at a time, estimating how long it would take each batch to be served and how many could be prepared in each hour. Once the morning and afternoon pancake events were concluded, the students cleaned up, washed up and got ready to do it all again a few hours later.

”There are a number of advantages in taking part in these festival-style events, despite the large volume of work involved for our students,” added Lee. “This includes offering young people who might be considering a career in the culinary, hospitality or events industries the chance to meet with DC students and staff and learn about our award-winning programs.”

And the need to connect is a two-way street, as returning students and new graduates from DC’s culinary and hospitality programs are already searching for either summer jobs to pay for next year’s classes, or looking for the first job towards a full-time career. As Chef Lee points out, being visible in the community pays dividends for DC students as they start their career search.

“I’m fielding calls from a number of local restaurants who are seeking both summer staff and full-time cooks at their locations in Durham,” he added. “Being visible at events like the festival at Purple Woods Conservation Area gives us a chance to show potential employers what our students can do, while helping out in the community.”

Pollination provides a direct link between ecosystems and agricultural production systems, and is critical in the process of cultivating natural foods such as apples, bananas, berries, watermelon, and even chocolate. Without the aid of pollinators, such as butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and other insects, a majority of our food sources would disappear and our environment would begin to falter.

One important member of the pollinator family, the Monarch butterfly, has seen a steep population decline over several years. In an effort to help repopulate this species, Durham College (DC) has partnered with General Motors of Canada Company (GM) to support the Milkweed for Monarchs Program, a project launched to increase milkweed plants, the main food source for Monarchs.

On Monday, March 21, DC students and employees as well as General Motors Oshawa Assembly Plant employees made quick work of potting about 500 milkweed seedlings in the greenhouse located at DC’s Centre for Food (CFF) in Whitby.

“We are so pleased to partner with GM, and offer both space and volunteers to grow milkweed in our greenhouse,” said Shane Jones, professor, Centre for Food. “It’s also an excellent hands-on learning opportunity for students as they work with the plants, while understanding the importance of pollination.”

The plants will remain at DC’s greenhouse until late-April when they will be re-potted in larger four-inch pots. In May, they will be transferred to several locations throughout Durham Region where they will provide a safe habitat for endangered Monarch butterflies.

“The Milkweed for Monarchs Program is an example of GM’s commitment to environmental education and conservation through community partnerships,” said Bill Craig, senior environmental officer, Environmental Compliance & Sustainability, GM. “Our employees are proud to partner with Durham College staff and students to enhance the Monarch butterfly habitat.  The level of enthusiasm and engagement demonstrated by the students and staff was inspiring and reflects on the depth of commitment required to be effective environmental stewards.”

Some of the milkweed will be planted in DC’s own pollinator garden, which received a boost last summer with a large donation of plants from Dutchmaster Nurseries, including serviceberry, winterberry and butterfly bush. Students began populating the garden with the donated plants, and added in St. John’s wart and barrier foliage to create a semi-enclosed sanctuary for the bees and butterflies.

The pollinator garden does more than provide a safe haven for pollinators. It also provides learning opportunities for students in the Horticulture – Food and Farming and Horticulture Technician programs, where they can hone their horticulture and pruning skills and practice plant identification.

On January 21, Durham College (DC) Human Resources Management graduate certificate student Daniela Rojano was recognized with the Outstanding Student, HRPA Scholarship Award from the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA). The scholarship is presented to an outstanding student member enrolled in part-time or full-time studies in the association’s required academic courses who also demonstrates a financial need.

Rojano’s success spans from Mexico to Canada with Rojano deciding to further her post-secondary education at DC in 2015.

After obtaining her Bachelor of Business Administration from Technological University of Mexico in 2004 she gained significant human resources experience through a multitude of positions, eventually landing a leadership role as a human resources business partner and organizational development manager at PepsiCo. Despite holding a steady and rewarding job in Mexico, Rojano felt the need to expand her existing knowledge in the ever-changing field of human resources (HR).

After visiting the DC Oshawa campus, she became confident that the college’s Human Resources Management graduate certificate was the perfect fit. With the support of her husband and two young sons and with a commitment to continuous learning in mind she packed up her family and moved to Whitby, Ont.

“The role of human resource professionals has evolved since I began my career,” said Rojano. “In addition to being knowledgeable experts on topics such as compensation, labour relations, managerial accounting and occupational health and safety, HR professionals have the opportunity to add value to an organization by speaking the same business language to engage and influence business partners. I am inspired by the constant challenges in this field.”

In addition to maintaining high academic standards, Rojano also volunteers her time as a member of the Professional Development Committee of the HRPA Durham Chapter, a group committed to providing opportunities for learning and developing new competencies for HR professionals. After completing an internship at Teva Canada as part of her program, she was hired as a senior human resources generalist.

Rojano received her award at HRPA’s Annual Conference & Tradeshow, Canada’s largest human resources conference, attracting HR and business professionals from around the world. Taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the three-day event featured keynote speakers, informative sessions, more than 240 exhibitors and an opportunity to network with others in the industry.

“The first time I visited Durham College I was impressed by the supports and services available to me on campus,” said Rojano. “In my experience as a student, I am continually amazed by the passionate and knowledgeable professors who are always willing to help.”

DC’s Human Resources Management graduate certificate is designed for individuals with previous post-secondary education or relevant work experience. Students enhance their knowledge and abilities, enabling them to contribute to business success in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.