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.

Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) announced today that Leslie Graham, a professor in the Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Honours  program,  has been recognized with the 2014 Award for Excellence in Collaborative Education by the Council of Ontario University Programs in Nursing (COUPN).

The award is presented to a college faculty member teaching in a collaborative program who demonstrates excellence in teaching along with the ability to inspire creative and critical thinking in students. In addition, they must offer thoughtfulness toward student learning and well-being; motivation to exceed personal expectations; and the ability to further the growth of future nursing professionals. Graham received her award at the COUPN Awards reception in Toronto, Ontario on April 23.

“I am humbled to receive the 2014 Award for Excellence in Collaborative Education from COUPN,” said Graham. “It is such a privilege to teach and learn from the wonderful Collaborative BScN faculty and staff.  There is no greater joy than to see our Nursing students mature into novice registered nurses, contributing so richly to our health-care system.”

After 30 years of direct clinical practice in nursing in acute and critical care areas, Graham joined DC’s faculty as an instructor in the college’s Critical Care Nursing graduate certificate program in 2007. In 2008 she became a faculty member with the Collaborative BScN program, and has served as program co-ordinator of the collaborative program since 2012.

“I can’t think of a more worthy person to receive this distinguished award,” said Susan Sproul, dean, School of Health & Community Services, DC. “Professor Graham’s passion, vision and enthusiasm for moving nursing care forward in relation to current and emerging technologies can be felt through the entire BScN curriculum. She is able to motivate students to exceed their own expectations and pass along to faculty colleagues that same level of confidence.  Congratulations, Leslie!”

“This recognition is so highly deserved,” said Dr. Sue Coffey, director, collaborative BScN program, UOIT. “Leslie’s outstanding leadership in the area of nursing education, and particularly her visionary focus on simulation as a teaching-learning methodology will undoubtedly transform both nursing education and nursing practice.”

Graham has also taken part in a number of nursing research projects, including a variety of initiatives focused on the development, application and evaluation of using simulation and technology-enhanced learning in both nursing and critical care nursing curriculum.

The collaborative BScN is designed to graduate professional nurses committed to excellence and innovation in assessing and meeting the nursing needs of society. Students develop and transmit knowledge regarding nursing practice and the human experience of health, illness and healing. The fully integrated DC/UOIT partnership provides collaborative learning activities that enable students to take an active role in their own learning. This strategy, combined with traditional methods, prepares graduates for lifelong learning, research and teamwork and provides the leadership skills essential for nursing practice. State-of-the-art nursing labs also provide students with practical, hands-on experience in hospital and home-care settings and give them access to the latest technology, right at their fingertips.

COUPN is an organization of Ontario’s 20 publicly funded universities and one associate member institution that facilitates discussion between its members and advocates on a wide range of university issues and co-ordinates a number of shared services. The organization also works closely with the provincial and federal governments to develop and improve public policies that help universities deliver high-quality programs for students and research and innovation that positively impacts the social, cultural and economic well-being of Ontarians.

Once again, Durham Colleges (DC) Paramedic students have demonstrated their exceptional skills as they placed second and sixth in the Student Division of The National Paramedic Competition, held at the college’s Whitby campus on April 5.

The annual event, held in the Durham Region, challenges paramedics from across the country in head-to-head simulated emergencies to prove who the best in Canada are. This prestigious competition found its origins as the Durham Paramedic Skills Competition before transitioning to the now national competition in 2008. In turn, this has allowed for the prestige of DC’s Paramedic program to increase as a recognized partner with the event.

Students from DC compete annually in the student division, placing them alongside their professional counterparts in search of the best in the country. This year two teams of second year students competed for DC, with Geoff Hooper and Andrew Mokedanz achieving a second place podium finish while Jamere Bembrisge and Stefano Marcelli finished sixth.

“It is fun for the students to be challenged in a unique way and this is a wonderful event for the college to be involved in,” said Paramedic professor Kevin Griffin.

Along with competing, DC also had a large number of students assist in the hosting of the event as volunteers, providing an opportunity to network and learn from the professional teams in attendance.

“This is an opportunity for the students to showcase what they have learned over their two years in a setting with working paramedics,” said Griffin. “It offers students a networking opportunity as many services send representatives and any level of involvement in the competition is seen as a plus by employers during hiring.”

Along with the college’s student success, Durham Region Emergency Medical Services (EMS) placed first in the Primary Care Paramedic division. For more information on the national competition including results, photos and competition history, please visit www.paramediccompetition.ca. 

 

Kevin Fraser, a professor with Durham College’s (DC) School of Media, Art & Design (MAD), recently won the Making A Difference Award (MADA) for his documentary film, Living As Brothers, at the 2013 Toronto Global Community Film Festival (COMMFFEST). Fraser’s film has also been selected as one of only 29 films to be screened around the world as a representative of the Africa World Documentary Film Festival (AWDFF).

The feature-length documentary delves into the lives of Jamaican migrant workers making the long journey to labour in the fruit orchards of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Most of these men are skilled workers such as mechanics, electricians and farmers but because of poor employment situations in Jamaica, the migrant work in Canada becomes the only plausible option to support their large families. Several of the men have turned this into an annual means of employment having made the trip for more than 20 years, spending up to nine months of the year away from their families.

“I grew up in Niagara and worked on the farm where I filmed over a summer and returned 20 years later to find some of the same men still working there,” said Fraser. “When I shared this experience with friends in Toronto, I was surprised to find so few people knew Canada brings in thousands of migrant workers each year, mostly to do work that we are not willing to do ourselves  and that began the film for me.”

Fraser pursued the close to home subject matter with fervour and completely self-funded the documentary, purchasing his own camera and calling in favours from friends within the industry for help and additional equipment. After spending countless hours back on the farm and in Jamaica learning about the migrant worker experience, Fraser took on the additional work of editing and distributing to ensure the self-made film could have the appropriate impact.

“Living as Brothers is a very simple film, I allowed my subjects to tell their stories in their own words,” said Fraser. “I hope my students find it inspiring and see that they can create their own media projects and if they bring their passion to it, they can get their work seen and hopefully inspire others.”

Fraser, like many DC faculty members, continues to pursue his passion outside the classroom to ensure what he provides in the classroom remains relevant and beneficial to his students.

“The reality is that the media landscape that students are now venturing into is changing rapidly,” said Fraser. “Working on my own projects keeps me involved in the industry, hones my technical skills and feeds my passion and I think it’s one way I can help my students succeed when they go off to work on their own projects by sharing my technical skills, creative skills and real-world experience.”

The final year of several Durham College (DC) programs require students to complete an extensive capstone project. As part of this assignment, students must research their desired field of interest and develop a product using the skills they have learned through their program to fill a niche within the market. On April 7, students in the final year of the Electronics Engineering Technology program had the opportunity to show off their capstone creations.

“We expect our students to go out and find an opportunity or a problem to solve,” said Electronics Engineering Technology Professor Louis Bertrand. “We are trying to make them go out of the classroom and find something relevant to the real world and address that opportunity with what they have learned over the last three years with software, hardware, system design, analog hardware, transistors and chips.”

Ryan King, a third-year student in the program, excelled at this specific curriculum requirement. Combining a passion for cars with what he had learned through his program, King developed an aftermarket device allowing for electronic vehicle automation (EVA) in older vehicles. The device, which is installed into an older vehicle, allows use of modern features such as interactive voice commands, Bluetooth control through a smartphone or tablet and live engine telemetry readouts via duel LCD screens to a not-so-modern vehicle.

“I thought about what’s something all cars except those built in the last two or three years lacks, that automation, that voice control,” said King. “It would be really cool to bring that into the car scene as an aftermarket feature so with EVA you can now keep your hands on the wheel, keep your eyes on the road, talk to the car to turn different things on and start it with your phone from a distance.”

During the fall semester students spent one hour a week in class dedicated to learning project requirements such as patent searching, project management and mechanical technology as well as hearing from previous graduates who provide insight from their own capstone experiences.

“It’s a challenge,” said Bertrand. “We try and make sure the challenge isn’t so insane they just give up but challenging enough that it really stretches their capabilities and because it’s something generated by the students themselves, they are a lot more enthusiastic about the capstone assignment then us coming along with a single project designed for everyone.”

The Durham College (DC) campus was alive with the sound of music last week as students in the Music Business Management (MBM) program held their annual Reel Music Festival from April 2 to 5. The festival, in its fourteenth year, is organized entirely by students as part of their curriculum and features a song writing competition, educational conference, film showcase and several artist performances throughout the three days.

The festival was developed for MBM students to assist with providing hands-on experience in event planning along with giving insight into the music industry. As well, students are offered opportunities to engage in networking opportunities through the various events.

 This year saw a number of music industry professionals making appearances at the event, highlighted by MBM graduate and MTV Canada host Lauren Toyota who returned to DC to moderate Songs Revealed, the annual song writing competition developed to showcase local talent to a panel of industry professionals. Durham College president Don Lovisa and Oshawa mayor John Henry were also in attendance for the song writing event.

“Just as DC showcases its art students, this event is a showcase for MBM students,” said MBM student Danielle Feraday. “It’s showcasing everything we’ve learned in our classes this year and helping teach us real world aspects along the way.”

Additional highlights from this year’s festival included live performances throughout the Oshawa region at local establishments including The Hub, Wasted Space and EP Taylor’s; Prescription 2 Rock, a clinic on the music business hosted by Dale Russell from Canadian rock band the Guess Who; and several seminars such as The Power of Branding, Planning Live Music, The Current State of the Music Industry and DIY Musicians.

The Durham College (DC) Whitby campus has primarily been the home of programs from the School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship and Renewable Energy which has meant the campus has been filled  with a predominantly- male student population. This mirrors industry trends which see women represent only 19 per cent of apprentices in Ontario. However, this trend has recently begun to change as more women have chosen to pursue careers in the skilled trades.

Jessica Cooper, Samantha Hulcio, Lindsey McKay, Jordan Burch and Courtney Pelow-Jones are all students in the Welding Techniques program at DC and have all begun to pursue a career in the trades despite several of them having completed prior degree or diploma programs.

Both Hulcio and Cooper are examples of this transition to the trades with Hulcio earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trent University and Cooper earning a diploma in Police Foundations from Fleming College prior to coming to DC. However, both also possess a desire to work in the trades and through DC’s welding program have found an outlet to pursue it.

“I realized that was not the path I wanted to take with my future,” said Hulcio when asked about her prior education. “I instead did some research into the trades programs because I knew that was the type of work I enjoy.”

Both students credit the warm and accepting learning environment for their success thus far.

“Working alongside the guys in my program has been very enjoyable,” said Hulcio. “We have a great group in our class and they have treated all the women with respect and encouragement.”

The number of women in trades has increased since the early 1990s with the number of skilled trades programs completed by females rising 13 per cent since 1991 according to Statistics Canada. However, this still only amounts to a one or two per cent representation in several trade categories as the larger share of apprenticeships completed by women is within the food and service and hairstylist/hairstyling programs. This is a trend that both Hulcio and Cooper know they can assist in changing.

“I believe that it is important for women to pursue trades because there are a lot of good paying jobs out there and they don’t all need to be done by just men, even though that’s what we’ve been told over and over for years,” said Cooper.

The Whitby campus currently offers 14 apprenticeship programs including 11 that are Red Seal as well as numerous trade-related diploma and certificate programs; living lab environments in areas including solar cell systems, wind turbines and geothermal technology systems; expanded shop areas for green building trades and technology; and most recently the 36,000-square-foot Centre for Food, which opened to students in the fall of 2013.