Durham College (DC) Architectural Technician and Architectural Technology students will get the opportunity to put the skills they are learning in the classroom to use in the field as they contribute to Cobourg’s downtown vitalization initiative.

A partnership between the Town of Cobourg and DC has been struck to showcase conceptual design work complementary of the character and heritage of Cobourg’s downtown district. Beginning in the upcoming fall semester, students will be asked to come up with innovative and creative design concepts for five locations within Downtown Cobourg. The project is an opportunity for the students to gain practical and relevant experience in land use, site analysis and planning.

“We are thrilled to be working with the students and instructors in Durham College’s Architectural Technician and Architectural Technology programs,” said Alison Torrie-Lapaire, Heritage Planner for The Town of Cobourg. “It is my hope that the students will gain an appreciation for the potential that heritage properties hold, and that the final designs will provide us with some new ideas as to how these properties can accommodate the needs of the community, building owners and occupants while respecting and enhancing the character of the heritage district.”

Working in small groups students will analyze building codes and draft construction and design plans taking into account both urban design and the compatibility of new development in the heritage district, along with the potential for retrofitting existing historical structures. A half-day field trip is being planned so the Architectural students can visit Cobourg in September.

“On behalf of Durham College, I would like to express how pleased we are to be working in partnership with the Town of Cobourg on their downtown revitalization project,” said Sue Todd, dean of the School of Science & Engineering Technology. “Our Architectural Technician and Technology programs are focused on sustainable design and provide the practical and design knowledge required to succeed in this exciting field. We can’t think of a better project for our highly skilled students to demonstrate their talents in. Thank you to the Town of Cobourg for their confidence and support of Durham College and its students.”

By the end of the semester students will present their final design plans. The concepts that come out of these plans will be integrated into the existing sketch of Cobourg’s downtown and will help to illustrate a new vision and a fresh perspective while maximizing the potential of these select downtown properties.

Durham College’s (DC) Terri Strawn, a professor in the Dental Hygiene program, has been elected as the new president of the Ontario Dental Hygienist’s Association (ODHA), representing one of the largest health-care professions in the province.

A regulatory body that advocates for the profession and ensures the public receives safe and effective oral care, the ODHA counts more than 13,000 registered dental hygienists in Ontario amongst its members. Strawn looks forward to her term as head of this growing and vital organization while continuing to find ways to work with the government and other health-care providers to deliver more efficient and cost-effective services.

One of the ODHA’s most important focuses is providing access to oral care that Strawn, during her one-year term, will continue to advocate for while also trying to increase public awareness about the link between oral health and the rest of the body.

“This makes our services as prevention professionals essential for improving oral health and helping Ontarians live healthier lives,” said Strawn. “With more than 250 independent dental hygiene clinics and mobile practices across the province, the public — especially low-income families, the uninsured and long-term care residents — has increased access to affordable oral care treatment.”

Strawn, who practises dental hygiene at the Whitby Dental Centre as well as teaching at DC, has been a volunteer director on the ODHA board since 2009. 

Nathanael Andrew, Community Services and Child Studies Foundations program and Leon Andrew, General Arts and Science – Business Preparation program were featured in the YouTube video My Path to a Better Future. The video was produced by the York Durham Crown Ward Education Championship Team, and is intended to inspire youth in care to achieve their educational goals. The two Durham College students are brothers and although they have not always lived together, they are extremely close and their bond is undeniable. 

There are approximately 8, 000 youth in foster care, also known as crown wards, in Ontario and about 450 of them reside in Durham Region; and according to the Toronto Star, it is said that barely 40 per cent of them will graduate high school and continue on to a post-secondary education. The Durham/York Crown Ward Education Championship Team (CWECT), a provincial initiative developed to support students with crown ward status in successful high school completion and post-secondary education, created a YouTube video that showcases Durham College (DC) and York students who were in care growing up and are now on their ‘path to a better future.’

Produced through the Durham/York CWECT, the students featured in My Path to a Better Future are full of life, independent, proud of their hard work and appreciative of all the people who have helped them along the way. The video is aimed at inspiring youth in care and providing advice to peers who are about to move on to post-secondary education.

“When I was in high school, my worker was the one that introduced me to the word ‘college.’ I didn’t even know what it was,” Nathanael said. “I took my worker’s advice, applied to college and my foster dad was so proud when I got accepted. Now, I want to help kids by doing what she did for me.”

Filmed collaboratively at DC and York University, the video features crown wards from both schools, who speak about their aspirations growing up, high school experiences and how their mentors and family at the Children’s Aid Society help prepare them for post-secondary education.

 “My foster parents are the best ones out there! Jackie and Randy should have a banner for being so awesome. They had rules, but I respected them,” Leon said. “They definitely influenced my decision to come to college. They always said ‘you’re going to college whether you like it or not.’ Now, my foster dad wants to take me under his wing and is a big help when it comes to starting my couponing business.”

The Durham/York CWET has representatives from Durham Catholic District School board, Durham Children’s Aid Society, Durham College, Durham District School Board, Seneca College, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, York Catholic District School Board, York Region Children’s Aid Society, York Region District School Board, and York University.

At Durham College, students with crown wardship status are considered First Generation students and are eligible for the supports offered through the first generation student co-ordinator.

With Ontario’s food industry now employing more than 150,000 people, with no signs of demand slowing down, it’s becoming an incredibly desirable option for students across the province and Durham College (DC) is ready to help students get their foot in the door. Two of DC’s newest programs, Horticulture – Food and Farming and Horticulture Technician, are a perfect fit for those with an interest in both the food industry and horticulture.

While both two-year diploma programs have similarities, they focus on different aspects of the industry. The Horticulture – Food and Farming program offers students a hands-on opportunity to become familiar with the concepts of local food production through individual and teamwork both on- and off-campus.

Graduates from this program can find career opportunities in agri-tourism, field production, hydroponics and food inspection, to name a few.

Students interested in a more entrepreneurial route can turn to the Horticulture Technician program. Students gain knowledge and hone their skills in landscape construction, nursery management and soil and plant nutrition.

Upon completion, graduates can find wide variety of employment opportunities within the horticultural field through entrepreneurship, landscaping construction and maintenance, nursery stock, farm and tree management or maintenance companies.

Durham College (DC) recognized its creative faculty and students recently when the college celebrated the launch of a new animated video focused on the Centre for Food (CFF) and its implementation of the field-to-fork philosophy.

Taking place at the CFF, the event saw students, faculty and staff gather together to recognize the video project, which was created by third-year Animation – Digital Production students and led by Peter Hudecki and Ebin Ibric, professors with the School of Media, Art & Design (MAD).

“We are extremely proud of ‘From Field to Fork’ and the work of our senior animation students,” said Hudecki. “The film was developed at the request of President Don Lovisa and Greg Murphy, dean of the School of MAD, who asked our animation faculty to make the project a part of the 2013-2014 curriculum. We could not be more pleased with the result.”

The video, which demonstrates how the school is providing locally grown foods to consumers, is the result of a 10-month collaboration between students, staff, faculty and external partners. Featuring CFF ambassador chef Jamie Kennedy, who helped pioneer the field-to-fork concept nationwide and continues to support and foster both the CFF and the importance of farmers and chefs across Ontario, the video demonstrates the key elements of the concept, which include the harvesting, storage, processing, packing, sale and consumption of locally produced foods for local consumers.

“Being in a school environment, I never expected to be working on a real-world project,” said Heather Debling, a third-year Animation – Digital Production student. “I really felt a sense of professionalism in myself that I didn’t know I had. I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”

Anna Augusto Rodrigues, a professor with the School of Media Arts & Design, was recently awarded the John Ansel Distinguished Service Award by the Broadcast Education Association of Canada (BEAC), a national organization dedicated to promoting excellence in media education.

Rodrigues received the award, which recognizes outstanding service and commitment to the BEAC, on May 23 during the association’s annual Professional Development and Student Awards Conference.

“I was not expecting this honour and was very surprised to hear my name when it was called out,” said Rodrigues. “I am deeply honoured and humbled to be amongst a special group of people that throughout the years have tirelessly, and with great heart, worked toward providing a better education for all broadcast students across Canada by being part of the BEAC.”

In addition, Rodrigues was also awarded the BEAC’s Diversity Research and Internship Faculty Grant, which will go toward a project focused on teaching practices.  

Rodrigues, who attended the conference to deliver a presentation titled Inclusive Teaching in Broadcast Education and its Potential Impact on the Canadian Media Landscape applied for the Diversity Research and Internship Faculty Grant as part of the project.  The funding will help support the creation of a video showcasing an instructor who uses inclusive teaching practises in conjunction with funding received from the college’s Office of Research Services and Innovation (ORSI).

As a result of receiving the grant, she will be employing a couple of Durham College students to create the video with plans to continue working on the project throughout the summer months.

Rodrigues was also recently nominated by a BEAC board member for the Ontario director position, making her the secretary for this term. She previously served on the board from 2011-2013 and served as a director at large, taking on the duties of vice president. Although she stepped away in order to pursue her PhD in Education, Rodrigues has completed her coursework and is pleased to be back.

 “I was privileged to be nominated again and delighted to accept the nomination. The BEAC is a wonderful organization and I have to thank my dean, Greg Murphy, and Durham College for supporting my involvement with this organization,” said Rodrigues.

Durham College (DC) Business Marketing student Adriana Reyes will be taking a major step towards learning and demonstrating sustainability leadership this month at the 2014 IMPACT! The Co-operators Youth Program for Sustainability Leadership Conference. Selected from more than 730 candidates to attend the all-expenses-paid conference, Reyes will work alongside 175 other students and industry experts to develop future sustainability solutions.

“Being the only Durham College student who is attending the conference I will be helping to bring positive change and help develop real sustainability solutions,” said Reyes.

The conference, held at the University of Guelph from May 23 to May 26, will bring together students from 68 Canadian colleges and universities to spark creativity through advanced online courses, workshops, student projects and mentoring. Canadian astronaut and keynote speaker Chris Hadfield will highlight this year’s conference and share his unique perspective on the planet and the role Canada’s youth will have in its future.

“I am excited to listen to all the amazing speakers who will share their wealth of knowledge with young university and college students from different programs and careers,” said Reyes. “We all have a common passion called sustainability.”

Participants will bring back the initiatives discussed at the conference to their campuses to help promote sustainability and to bring about a positive change. Following the conference, participants will have the opportunity to spearhead community initiatives with the help of grants from The Co-operators Foundation – IMPACT! Fund.

Gorgeous weather and promises of exciting experiments brought many curious young minds to Durham College (DC) and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) to take part in Science Rendezvous 2014, a free event designed to promote science awareness.

More than 600 people visited the Oshawa campus to explore the more than 60 scientific demonstrations and workshops, which included:

• Making balloon dragsters
• Exploring why Mentos erupt in Diet Coke
• Making lava lamps and glitter globes
• Exploring why candies are certain colours
• Levitating magnets (using science, not wizardry of course).

There were also tours of UOIT’s Automotive Centre for Excellence (ACE) and the Scanning Electron Microscope lab.

At the end of the day, the young scientists had an opportunity to test what they learned and win some prizes with a game of Science Jeopardy.

“We had more than 200 volunteers on our shared campus who the participants experience the joy and excitement of science, engineering technology and mathematics,” said Laura Benninger, professor, School of Science & Engineering Technology, DC. “Together with our organizing team from UOIT, we are pleased to say that the day was a success; with much fun had by volunteers and the community alike.”

Science Rendezvous has been a popular tradition since the inaugural event was held in 2008 with just a handful of venues participating. It is Ontario’s largest public science festival and in 2011 it was held nationwide for the first time.

Durham College (DC) Sport Management students Matt Manley and Jake Krotowski, were honoured with the ceremonial puck drop during the March 23 American Hockey League matchup between the Toronto Marlies and the Abbotsford Heat. The second-year students were recognized as the top sellers in a new DC and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) joint initiative where students were challenged with selling a minimum of 10 tickets to three selected Toronto Marlies games within four weeks.

“MLSE staff came to campus three times in the early part of the semester to give students direction on the products and how to sell them,” said Matt Akler, a professor in the Sport Management program. “They also provided many sales incentives for top sellers in the program including tickets to Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and Marlies games, along with several other unique elements like the puck drop event and private networking opportunities.” 

As part of the challenge, the students were able to raise close to $2,700 for Camp Oochigeas, a group of camps in the Greater Toronto and Muskoka area for children battling cancer, with 20 per cent of the ticket sales going to the charity. The unique project also gave students the opportunity to gain real-world sales experience and demonstrate their abilities to plan and execute fundamental aspects associated with a successful event.

“I believe it was a very eye-opening exercise that showed them what it will take to be successful whether they are planning a sports event or any other kind of transactional relationship,” said Akler. “With the opportunity for students to personally connect with executives and gain real experience from the country’s most prominent professional sport organization while helping a local charity, this initiative is one that the Sport Management program is proud of and looks forward to continue for years to come.”

Durham College (DC) continued its remarkable streak of outstanding results at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OTSC), winning four provincial medals, including one gold, one silver and two bronze, at the 2014 OTSC which was hosted by Skills Canada – Ontario from May 5 to 7 at RIM Park in Waterloo, Ont.

First-year Culinary Skills student Sarah Lavergne won the gold medal in the Culinary Arts category and will represent DC in the Cooking category at the 20th annual Skills Canada National Competition taking place from Wednesday, June 7 to Saturday, June 10 at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont.

Joe Dunn a Welding – Level 2 apprentice program student was also awarded a silver medal in the Welding category. Claiming a bronze medal were third-year Computer Systems Technology student Brent Shanks in the IT Network Support Administration competition and Gas Technician student Michael Schafranek in the Heating System Technician division.

“On behalf of the college I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of our students who competed and achieved these well-deserved honours,” said Judy Robinson, vice-president, Academic, Durham College.  “Our talented faculty members should also be congratulated for teaching and guiding these students. Well done everyone and good luck to Sarah as she represents Durham College at Skills Canada next month.” 

DC sent 15 students to compete in nine different categories to this year’s provincial event. The winners bring DC’s six-year totals to 23 OTSC awards and five Skills Canada medals including two national titles.

Skills Canada – Ontario is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of the skilled trades and technologies as viable, first-choice career options to Ontario youth. With the support of partners, it encourages young people to consider a career in the skilled trades and technologies through programs and initiatives such as in-school presentations, qualifying and provincial skills competitions.