Three Durham College (DC) students are celebrating after successfully finishing on the podium at the Skills Canada Virtual National Competition (SCVNC).

Held on June 15, Mark Steele won gold for IT Network Systems Administration, while Cameron Billingham and Glesy Panaga, claimed bronze for Photography and Baking.

Designed to engage Canadian youth by promoting careers in skilled trades and technologies, the SCVNC is the largest trade and technology competition event of its kind in the country for apprentices and young students.

Steele, Billingham and Panaga earned their place at the event after winning gold in their respective categories at the Skills Ontario competition in May.

“Once again these three students rose to the occasion,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, executive vice president, Academic, Durham College. “They’ve continued to demonstrate their talent, this time on a national stage, taking the technical, hands-on skills they have been honing during their studies at Durham College and applying them with innovation, creativity and passion to their respective competition challenges. We are extremely proud of their success.”

Skills Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization which partners with Skills Canada organizations in each of the provinces and territories, and works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trade and technology careers among Canadian youth.

Durham College (DC) professor Richard Tidman has been recognized with the 2021 Challenge Award from the American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE) for his leadership in developing the first Health Care Technology Management – Honours Bachelor (HCTM) degree to be offered in North America.

A long-time faculty member, Tidman used his 35 plus years of expertise to create and launch the HCTM program at DC, which also has the distinction of being the first degree to be offered at the college.

Developed in response to the growing demand for professionals with a hybrid skill set that combines life sciences, medical technology and business acumen, the core of the program is comprised of six streams of study covering science and technology; medical equipment and clinical systems; mathematics and quantitative methods; management; research and design; and the health care industry, professionalism and ethics.

The first class of graduates will be available for hire in 2022, ready to use their unique qualifications to influence positive patient outcomes, address effective and safe use of innovative technologies, and ensure financial stewardship for their employers.

The Challenge Award is one of nine annual honours bestowed upon individuals and organizations as part of the ACCE Advocacy Awards, which were started in 1994 to recognize outstanding people in various aspects of the health care technology profession,

Congratulations to Professor Tidman for leading the way in this dynamic field.

Days before the 2021 Enactus National Exposition, members of Durham College’s (DC) Enactus team received candy delivered to each of their homes. This is just one small example of how Heather Brown, president of EnactusDC, kept the team spirit alive and thriving before this major event – and throughout the year.

It’s an approach that paid off with EnactusDC achieving its most successful year ever.

The annual Enactus National Exposition is a showcase of student-led, community-based entrepreneurial projects developed and implemented by Enactus student leaders and teams across Canada. Teams are celebrated and awarded for their dedication to nurturing positive impact on recognized social, economic and environmental issues affecting communities.

Heather made DC proud with her unwavering leadership and resiliency as she supported EnactusDC to exceptional accomplishments at the competition this year. While many Enactus teams forfeited their participation due to the pandemic, Heather rallied her team to its best-ever rankings despite the challenges faced in a virtual world.

Out of more than 75 participating colleges/universities, the Enactus DC team made the semi-final round, placing in the top 20 teams in Canada for its projects: 3eeHive, True Grit, rCycle and ConnectUs 4 Community (CU4C). The team also received the Impact Through Innovation award for its dedicated efforts during the week-long competition.

“We demonstrated commitment to sustainable change,” Heather said. “Because of that, we were recognized with this award.”

To acknowledge her hard work, dedication and leadership, Heather received the prestigious Enactus Canada Gold Community Service Leadership Digital Badge for devoting more than 1,000 hours to Enactus DC projects.

The Enactus DC team also celebrated the RBC Future Launch Project Accelerator Best Project Award for project CU4C, an initiative that empowers high school students from Grades 9 to 12 to create clubs that solve community issues as they relate to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The project extends the mission “Connecting Us and Uniting Communities” into high schools to inspire and engage next generation leaders to foster positive impact in their own communities. This year, more than 300 students took part in the pilot project, and CU4C aims to grow to more than 30 new clubs in the upcoming academic year.

For an overview of the Enactus DC’s projects, check out its Annual Report and Website.

Enactus is an international non-profit organization dedicated to creating social change through entrepreneurship. DC’s chapter was introduced to the college in 2016 through FastStartDC, the college’s entrepreneurial centre, to create a club of student leaders looking to make a positive economic and social impact on society.

Durham College (DC) is proud to share that Jay Fisher, a faculty member in the School of Business, IT & Management and lead faculty advisor for the EnactusDC team, has been recognized with a John Dobson Enactus Fellow of the Year award for his outstanding contribution in advancing entrepreneurial learning at the post-secondary level. The award was presented virtually at the 2021 Enactus Canada National Exposition.

Jay has played an instrumental role in weaving entrepreneurship into the fabric of the college, starting with introducing Enactus through FastStartDC. A business instructor at DC for nearly 12 years, in 2017 Jay led the EnactusDC team to the Regional competition and National Exposition in British Columbia. That same year, he was inducted as a John Dobson fellow and also received the Rookie Faculty Advisor of the Year award at Nationals.

Today, Jay continues to advise the EnactusDC team, coaching and mentoring hundreds of student entrepreneurs as they work to make their business ideas a reality. Recently, he coached the team in the 2021 Enactus Regionals Competition, where they placed first for Central Canada.

“The mentorship that the team and I have received from Jay has changed our lives,” says Heather Brown, president of EnactusDC. “The paths we walk now are stronger and more successfulbecause of his guidance and the positive impact it has had. Jay has instilled the confidence, awareness and drive it takes for students to become leaders. He fosters social consciousness and commitment to creating a better world, and always reminds us that what we do for the world is just as important as what we do for ourselves.”

Through his role with EnactusDC, Jay has also found new opportunities to introduce community partners to the college and Enactus organization, demonstrating an undeniable commitment to social innovation.

“The John Dobson Enactus Fellow of the Year award is well-deserved recognition of Jay Fisher’s outstanding contributions to the Enactus team and his persistent efforts in advancing entrepreneurship at Durham College,” says Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “As a John Dobson Enactus Fellow since 2017, Jay has led Durham College’s Enactus team with creativity, passion and commitment, and the students are fortunate to have a dedicated mentor and coach in Jay.”

Congratulations, Jay on the well-deserved recognition!

Enactus is an international non-profit dedicated to creating social change through entrepreneurship. DC’s chapter launched in 2016 through FastStart DC and is comprised of student leaders looking to make positive social impacts in the community.

For more information on how to get involved with EnactusDC, visit www.enactusdc.com.

Durham College (DC) architecture students experienced a unique opportunity to apply their skills as a result of the college’s new partnership with HOM Drafting and Design (HOM). Through their recent Architecture Placement Initiative competition, HOM challenged students from DC’s Architectural Technology program to design an accessory apartment (a secondary unit), within an existing basement structure, and produce a set of architectural drawings. DC’s Sara Sargent, Hayden Lam and Gregory Stewart – all third-year students of the program – were selected as competition winners, earning a monetary prize and the opportunity to complete a placement at HOM.

“As a distinguished member of the design community, HOM’s partnership provides DC students with vital hands-on experience in the industry. This placement initiative is a great pathway to connect our students with industry experts and recognize future employment opportunities available upon graduating,” said Michelle Hutt, executive dean, School of Science & Engineering Technology (SET).

This marks the first year DC has partnered with HOM, adding to the college’s diverse roster of valued community affiliations. Locally owned and operated for 13 years, HOM’s community ties and service offerings, from concept to design to construction, provide students exposure to a variety of areas within architectural design. HOM’s team was so impressed with the work of DC students, they decided to extend additional placement opportunities, one of which resulted in a full-time employment, demonstrating the calibre of the program’s graduates.

“This initiative challenges students to apply the architectural methods learned in the classroom in a real-life scenario. The competitive element and field placement opportunity act as the perfect incentives to fuel creativity and participation,” said Ali Taileb, professor, SET. “As an instructor, it is incredibly rewarding to see our students thrive in the field, and I am very proud of the contributions they have made at HOM.”

Focused on sustainable design, DC’s architecture programs provide the practical and design knowledge required to succeed in this exciting field. Partnering with HOM allows the college to continue exploring opportunities for students to gain relevant experience in the industry.

Durham College (DC) is proud to share that six students reached the podium in multiple categories at the Skills Ontario Competition on May 12. Virtual this year, the competition and Career Exploration Showcase welcomed thousands of attendees to discover new skilled trade and technology careers, while students competed against one another in categories from numerous fields.

Three DC students took home a gold medal, including Cameron Billingham for Photography, Glesy Panaga for Baking and Mark Steele for IT Network Systems Administration. Receiving silver was Lucas Mawdsley for Coding, and bronze was awarded to Jared Toomey for IT Network Systems Administration and Logan Scott for Photography.

“We are incredibly impressed and proud of the level of talent and dedication our students have demonstrated during the Skills Ontario Competition this year,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, executive vice president, Academic. “This competition has allowed them to draw on the technical expertise, creativity and innovation that DC students are known for, while putting into practice everything they’ve learned in the classroom. If what they’ve showed us here is any indication of their future success, we know that they will go far.”

Good luck to gold-medal winners, Billingham, Panaga and Mawdsley, who will represent DC and Ontario in the 26th Skills Canada National Competition to be held virtually on Tuesday, June 15.

Skills Ontario is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of the skilled trades and technologies as viable, first-choice career options to Ontario youth through programs and initiatives such as provincial skills competitions.

Durham College (DC) is excited to announce that the Young Pipeliners Association of Canada (YPAC) has launched a new chapter for DC’s Mechanical Engineering Technician – Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) students and alumni. As one of only two schools in Ontario to offer the NDE program, the launch of YPAC’s DC chapter will expand opportunities for students to gain relevant work experience and training in the field.

The DC chapter joins YPAC’s community of 2,500 members across Canada who benefit from access to peer networking, scholarships and industry opportunities and events, such as the 2021 YPAC Conference. YPAC also has a number of technical committees for young pipeliners to collaborate on issues of design, production and distribution.

Compared to its fellow chapters across Canada, typically comprised of mechanical, civil, chemical and environmental engineering professionals, DC’s chapter will have a unique focus dedicated to protecting the integrity of the pipeline. This chapter will leverage its expertise in the latest methods and developments to promote ways in which NDE technologies can be used during pipeline construction and maintenance. Virtual chapter events will offer a platform for discussion and are open to all YPAC members.

“The Durham College chapter of the Young Pipeliners Association of Canada will create an exciting network for students and alumni to establish meaningful relationships and access to resources that will ease their transition into the industry,” said Michelle Hutt, executive dean, School of Science & Engineering Technology (SET). “The college’s unique focus on non-destructive evaluation technologies will add value to the membership while also raising awareness for important advancements in the field.”

The two-year program, which also has an available one-year fast-track option, requires students to complete in-depth training and gain relevant work experience before obtaining their license and entering the workplace. By connecting current students and recent graduates through YPAC, the DC chapter will work to create a network for early-career individuals in the pipeline industry.

“I am confident that this initiative will bring new networking opportunities for our students and position Durham College as a leader in Non-Destructive Evaluation nationally,” says Katy Zaidman, professor, SET and chapter mentor-advisor.

DC has elected the following Executive Committee, comprised of faculty and students to lead the chapter:

• Lovlesh Kamudu, co-chair, fast-track NDE student
• Jamaal Betts, co-chair, second-year NDE student
• Maya Wijeratne, vice president secretary-treasurer, fast-track NDE student
• Jim Cree, vice president events, second-year NDE student
• Almigdad Ibrahim, chapter founding member, second-year NDE student
• Simon Susac, DC graduate and industry liaison, senior lead NDE technician/pipeline specialist, NDT Group
• Katy Zaidman, professor, program co-ordinator, SET

“Since announcing the DC chapter, we have had a positive response from students and alumni inquiring about the Young Pipeliners membership,” explains co-chair Lovlesh Kamudu. “On behalf of the executive committee, we look forward to building a membership base of like-minded individuals and engaging in meaningful discussions about how to successfully navigate the pipeline industry as young professionals.”

To learn more about YPAC’s Durham College chapter, please visit https://ypacanada.com.