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.

Late last month, five Durham College (DC) Project Management (PM) students placed first at the Ontario Project Management Competition (OPMC), showcasing their ingenuity and professionalism, as well as their dedication to local community, with plans to donate their monetary prize to United Way Durham.

Competing against numerous teams from universities and colleges across Ontario, DC’s team of five – which included Lauren Proulx, Ian D’Sousa, Saif Ahmed, Marc Monfredi, and Matthew Zigelstein – were required to address one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through their project, DC Green Matters. They were then evaluated by a panel of certified Project Management Professionals (PMP) on their use of industry best practices, principles and techniques as they took their project from ideation to completion over the span of two months.

In addition to a monetary prize, the students will also receive passes to the largest PM conferences in North America, gain affiliation with the Project Management Institute (PMI) Toronto, and will receive an invitation to a premium PMI event to network with engaged PMPs. This is the first win for DC PM students in a competition of this kind, and DC is proud of their achievement and success.

The OPMC is based on a yearly competition hosted by the Wideman Education Foundation – an inclusive community that promotes PM competencies, skills, and opportunities within the field to students. For 2021, OPMC hosted their competition virtually. To learn more, please visit www.pmitoronto.ca/opmc.

The School of Media, Art & Design at Durham College (DC) is pleased to announce three Music Business Management students – one graduate and two currently enrolled – are recipients of the 2021 SHINE! Music Bursary. Second-year students Whitney Otis and Kailey Haskell along with Alexa Michaels, who graduated from the program in 2017, received the awards at the 2021 SHINE! Concert on March 7.

Established in 2010, the SHINE! Music Bursary is an external financial assistance award aimed at supporting young musicians looking to further their study of traditional or folk music. Originally named the Jim Fay Music Bursary, the award has evolved over time in memory of four influential contributors to the Greater Toronto Area’s music scene, including:

• Jim Fay – Irish-born guitar and mandolin player
• James Gray – musician and long-time keyboard player for Blue Rodeo
• Doug Queen – musician, singer and song-writer, and member of the bluegrass band Jughead (“Hockey Song”)
• Bruce Adamson – lead guitarist of Staggered Crossing

Funding for the bursary is raised through the annual SHINE! Concert as well as generous donations from individuals and groups. Now in it’s 12th year, the concert was streamed virtually due to COVID-19. DC’s Alexa and Whitney were two of four recipients to join this year’s lineup and performed on the virtual stage.

“Quite often, financial barriers can cause disruptions in the continued practice or study of music,” explains Marni Thornton, professor, School of Media, Art & Design. “Financial assistance awards, such as the SHINE! Music Bursary, can make all the difference for those hoping to forge a future in music.”

Youth between the ages of 16 to 24 can apply to the bursary each year, with award amounts ranging between $500 and $2,000, to support opportunities for aspiring musicians to advance their careers, such as album releases and additional coaching.

“We are thrilled that the college and SHINE! found each other,” says Ian Newall, chair, SHINE! Music Bursary. “Durham College has an innovative program that produces keen musicians and I look forward to meeting new applicants in the future.”

To watch the 2021 SHINE! Concert, click here.