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DC recognizes the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Today, Durham College (DC) joins Canadians across the country in observing the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This date marks a somber anniversary when, on December 6, 1989, a shooter entered a mechanical engineering class at L’École Polytechnique in Montréal, and murdered 14 young women and wounded 14 others.

“The loss of these bright and talented women continues to deeply impact our post-secondary communities across Canada,” said DC President, Dr. Elaine Popp. “As we mourn them, we also reflect on all those whose lives have been impacted by gender-based violence.”

Memorial ceremonies will be held at both the Oshawa and Whitby campuses for students and employees to come together, remember and reflect. Flags at the college have been lowered to half-mast.

Durham College is committed to creating a safe campus community, free of all forms of violence. All members of the DC community are encouraged to speak out against harmful behaviours to help end gender-based violence in our communities.

“This day is a call to action to build a world where everyone can pursue their aspirations without fear of violence and where we can all thrive,” said Dr. Popp. “To achieve this, we must challenge the systems, attitudes, and behaviours that perpetuate gender inequality.

“Together, we can work to dismantle harmful stereotypes, support survivors, and advocate for policies that protect victims while holding perpetrators accountable. Education, awareness, and allyship are critical tools in the fight to end gender-based violence.”

Durham College celebrates ranking as one of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges

Durham College (DC) is proud to once again have been named one of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges by Research Infosource Inc.

DC placed 24th in the annual ranking and was highlighted as second among medium-sized colleges for our number of paid student researchers and third for industry research income as a percentage of total college research income. DC also moved up in the ranking to fifth overall in both research partnerships and completed research projects.

Powering DC’s research success is DC’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE), which moved four of its five applied research centres into the new Centre for Innovation and Research (CIR), last year. In addition to centralizing DC’s research presence on campus, ORSIE continues to engage industry, business and community partners from the wider Region of Durham as it seeks out meaningful ways to collaborate in solving our community’s applied research challenges.

This year, ORSIE is proud to highlight several initiatives:

  • Hosting the ORSIE Impact Expo in October, where close to 150 visitors explored DC’s applied research centres. Researchers were on hand from the AI Hub, Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation, Mixed Reality Capture Studio and the Social Impact Hub, each eager to answer questions and share projects.
  • Recognition for the AI Hub, a new Technology Access Centre (TAC), with the Tech-Access Canada’s Tri-Pillar Excellence Award. This award highlights the AI Hub’s strengths in all three areas of research, training and technology. Last year, the AI Hub was awarded an annual grant of $350,000 per year over the next five years from the College and Community Innovation (CCI) program.
  • The Social Impact Hub launching a project to study and improve mental health care for Black communities thanks to a $360,000 federal grant.

DC continues to create meaningful applied research and co-operative education work terms for students, supported in part through the Diane Blake Student Success Initiative.

“We’re thrilled to be recognized for our research expertise and proud to have developed the Centre for Innovation and Research as a hub to connect our research centres across the campus,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, Associate Vice President, Innovation and Research. “Within the business community, organizations are recognizing Durham College as an essential partner for their innovative ideas and that collaboration means more opportunities for our students as well.”

To learn more about DC’s applied research centres, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/orsie.

To learn more about ORSIE, read the 2023-2024 Annual Report.

Durham College is a Greater Toronto Top Employer for the 14th time

For a remarkable 14th time, Durham College (DC) has been recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers.

This distinction recognizes DC’s supportive culture as well as our commitment to the growth and well-being of our valued employees.

“We take great pride in being recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, President. “Employees are the heart of our community. When they thrive, so do our students. We foster a culture that inspires our colleagues to do great things, and we are always pleased to witness their growth both individually and collectively.”

The innovation and dedication of our employees shone through in a number of ways in this year’s application, from our work in applied research to solve industry and social challenges; to our community connections and work which this year, helped more than 100 charities; to the launch of new scholarship opportunities and programs that support our students and help ensure career-ready graduates.

We also received commendation for the DC pension plan with employer-matched contributions, parental leave top-up, tuition assistance, and mentorship and development opportunities.

These are just some of the reasons why DC employees routinely express their commitment and enthusiasm for the work they do and the difference they make in students’ lives.

Looking ahead, Dr. Popp is determined to maintain DC’s well-earned reputation as an exceptional place to work and grow a career.

“We will continue to nurture, embrace, and most importantly, maintain this incredible culture where people care. This dedication is what truly sets us apart.”

For more on what makes DC a great place to work, visit our Greater Toronto Top Employers profile.

Durham College students set to gain work experience while supporting local shelter

Durham College (DC) is partnering with the Regional Municipality of Durham to support people experiencing homelessness, while providing valuable work experience opportunities for DC students.

The 1635 Dundas Street East project in Whitby aims to provide safe and inclusive housing solutions to help individuals and families who need it most. A 45-bed low barrier shelter with wraparound supports was opened in the building at the end of March 2024, and has provided a safe and supportive environment to over 100 unique individuals. Phase 2 will focus on creating housing units with onsite access to health and social supports and services.

A recent meeting in early November about DC’s role in the project focused on how students could be involved.

“It was a great meeting, lots of excitement and innovative ideas about how students on field placement can support shelter patrons,” said Lorraine Closs, a professor in the Faculty of Social & Community Services’ Social Service Worker program and research lead with the Social Impact Hub in the Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE). “We have a long-standing, strong partnership with the Region of Durham. We’ve done a number of multi-year research projects together.”

As well as sharing a formal conceptual design of how the housing space will be expanded in Phase 2, the Region also discussed the services that might be needed and how students across DC faculties could help work with them. With a vision to create a multidisciplinary, holistic support for the new shelter, the Faculties of Social & Community Services; Health Sciences; Hospitality and Horticultural Science; and even Media, Art & Design are all potential candidates for work-integrated learning opportunities. Closs is hopeful that one or two may even be able to start as early as January. A Steering Committee will decide which DC programs get connected first based on the needs of the shelter.

Lisa McIntosh, Social Services Director Income & Employment Support for Durham Region, says that having DC on board will help the region to achieve its goals for the project. “By fostering community partnerships, we create opportunities for individuals to support one another and work toward a deeper understanding of how we can collectively make a difference. Durham Region looks forward to working with Durham College to enhance 1635 Dundas Street East’s ability to help individuals regain stability. 1635 Dundas Street East exemplifies the strength of community.”

In addition to helping to support services and patrons at the low barrier shelter, the potential placements will offer fantastic hands-on learning for students, said Closs. “There are so many opportunities for students from many faculties to use the skills they are learning in class and put them in to practice in real life.” She added that a bonus will be the empathy that arises from this sort of practical experience. “Research has shown that students who do a work integrated learning experience with the homeless population really change their perceptions and overcome bias and stereotypes.”

The partnership will also provide applied research opportunities through the Social Impact Hub, one of five research centres at DC. Potential topics to investigate include the impact of these learning opportunities on students and their perceptions of homelessness, benefits of student interaction for shelter patrons, and the impact college involvement in service provision has on community member resistance to shelters. Closs, who has already been twice recognized with a DC Researcher Award of Excellence in 2019 and 2023, has submitted multiple research project applications, including for multi-year project funding. There’s also exciting research potential in documenting the pathway that the team is currently pursuing, to serve as a blueprint for other community collaborations.

For students, Closs says the partnership will be a win-win. “This project can also help students become aware of their own privilege. It’s an opportunity for them to support a vulnerable group of people and make a difference in their lives.”

Students can graduate with a degree and a diploma with DC pathway into Honours Bachelor in Community Mental Health

Blending the hands-on learning of a diploma program and the academics of a degree, Durham College’s (DC) pathway programs into an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Community Mental Health are the perfect combination of theoretical and practical knowledge setting students up for career success.

Students who already have an Advanced Diploma in Child and Youth Care or Social Service Worker from DC or another Ontario college can pursue a degree and enter the fourth semester of the Community Mental Health – Honours Bachelor (HBMH) program (second semester of second year), with only one additional course. With credit for completing the diploma, students fast track through the program to complete their degree in five semesters, plus the 420-hour placement opportunity.

The first cohort of pathway students will enter the Community Mental Health degree program at DC this January.

“The benefit of having a diploma and degree is the opportunity to combine hands-on training with academic and critical thinking skills,” said HBMH Program Coordinator, Jenny Andrus, adding that the degree also gives students the option to pursue future graduate-level studies. “It is a chance for the student to further distinguish their academic resume, and to graduate and enter the workforce with both academic and practical skills.”

Courses in the degree program allow students to learn more about a field that they have already demonstrated a passion for and gain additional employment-ready skills in the full-semester field placement.

“Having both a diploma and a degree broadens the student’s employability and the positions they can pursue in the workforce,” said Andrus. The degree builds on the diploma to offer a range of increasingly specialized courses in areas from psychology to communications skills to counselling skills. In the final year of the degree, a thesis project offers students the opportunity to engage in an area of mental health research that interests them, with the benefit of deeper expertise.

Besides the added learning, degree students also enjoy small class sizes and the opportunity to connect with others who share their passion for mental health.

“One of the biggest highlights about the HBMH degree program at Durham College is the class sizes and faculty-to-teacher ratio,” said Andrus. “Students find a community of like-minded peers and wonderful connections with their teaching faculty.”   

DC’s General Arts and Science program works to develop a sense of community from day one

The General Arts and Science program (GAS) in the Faculty of Liberal Studies may be a pathway to other places, but the program team wants to ensure that students enjoy every aspect of their time at Durham College (DC). Designed for students still figuring out their career path and interests or those preparing for future college or university programs, this one-year certificate program is focused on setting students up for success in their academic journey. Now the GAS team’s efforts to deepen the student experience, with a more interactive orientation and regular meetups, have resulted in double-digit increases to retention and graduation rates, and a closer-knit community.

For the faculty and staff, step one was to start on day one — orientation. Last year, the team re-formatted their event to focus on the fresh adventure to come, with a focus on building connections between students, faculty and staff through activities focused on goal setting and collaboration.

“We wanted to get away from piling on information,” said General Arts and Science program coordinator Nathan Wilson. “Talking as a team, a lot of us remember from our own orientations the fun, the cohort and the collegiality, a confirmation that you made the right decision.” In practical terms, the team created two orientation segments, a breakout session on creative thinking and brainstorming, and an activity where students worked together to create an infographic on the topic of “why choose General Arts and Science.”

To keep the connection going, the team also created a new weekly event called MEET 1000, where students could drop in for lunch and learn sessions and social time. From information sessions about pathways available through Durham College, Ontario Tech and Trent University, to guest lectures on student-centred topics such as wellness or motivation, the hour has become a gathering point and the response has been tremendous, with weekly attendance ranging from 50 to 100 students depending on the topic.

Recent feedback from one student said: “MEET 1000 was a great addition to the program as a lot of people were afraid to ask questions. It provided an opportunity to learn things you wouldn’t have thought to ask.”

Sometimes the MEET 1000 sessions feature pizza or giveaways, and always a presence from faculty and student advisors, as a way to raise the profile of student supports.

“I think it’s really helped cultivate a level of trust and rapport with students,” said Wilson. The team also circles back between events via the DC Connect program page with information and discussion forums for follow-up questions.

GAS has also increased efforts to stay in touch with alumni, inviting graduates back as ambassadors to participate in Q&A sessions with current students and contribute to Program Advisory Committees. Three GAS graduates were recipients of DCAA Leaders of the Future awards this year.

“Even though they are only with us for two semesters, we want them to actually feel like a part of the General Arts and Science community, and to see this as a valuable step along their path,” said Associate Dean Claire McCormack. “We’re helping them build a solid foundation, and academic self-confidence for future programs.”

Already, enrolment numbers show that these activities are making a difference with both an increase in enrollment and improved student academic performance. It’s a success that McCormack credits to her entire team.

“It’s a faculty team who I think really understands the goals of the GAS program,” she said. “Our faculty and staff team care deeply about supporting student success.”

 

Interested in joining the General Arts and Science program in the Faculty of Liberal Studies? Learn more about the program options here

Give yourself the time and space to explore a variety of options and evaluate the many paths that lie ahead with one of DC’s upgrading, general arts or pathways programs.

DC Advanced Law students use virtual reality to gain essential de-escalation practice

Durham College (DC) Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations students are using an innovative and interactive way to practice their crisis de-escalation techniques thanks to a new virtual reality (VR) scenario program.

The program was designed to deepen students’ communications skills by providing more real-time opportunities to practice the difficult scenarios they would face in the profession, said Program Coordinator Yvonne Armstrong, who was inspired to incorporate the new VR tools by both her own position on the Toronto Police Services’ Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Panel, as well as by recommendations from the Program Advisory Committee.

Christopher Patton is one of the 23 Advanced Law students who had the opportunity to try out the system first. He’s now gone through dozens of scenarios, which last five to 10 minutes each and deal with everything from suicidal people to citizens with dementia to domestic violence. Patton says that one of his most memorable recent scenarios was a traffic stop where he practiced pulling an individual over and talking them down and making sure everything was under control.

“When you’re in it, it feels real with the noises and traffic going by, you’re looking at everything and there’s a lot going on,” he said. Already a graduate of the Police Foundations program, Patton says he’s de-escalated similar situations on placement so appreciates how valuable the training can be.

Patton also gains a lot by watching his classmates go through their scenarios (students interacting with the scenario wear VR headsets but the rest of the class can follow along by watching a screen projection). The space is set in a 10 x 10 metre perimeter with cameras 360 degrees around the user, so users can look all around when using the headset.

“You get to see a different perspective when other people answer. Everyone approaches scenes a little differently, so it shows you that difference,” says Patton.

Armstrong unfolds the scenario in real time on the headset, advancing the scene based on students’ responses and even starting over if they get stuck, which is part of the benefit. “It’s a safe environment—it allows for the student in the scenario to stop, start and reset, and for students watching to also learn from the feedback,” said Armstrong. She says it’s a great opportunity to expand students’ communications practice, an essential employability skill.

“I don’t expect perfect responses, but I always say, ‘let’s talk, let’s think about the questions you should ask,’” she said, noting that while some students may have a bit of experience, others have never done this sort of exercise. “For them, it’s really a shock, and in real life, you can’t stand and freeze. Hopefully, this provides some skills and situations.”  

Patton agrees: “This is your time to make mistakes, where you’re allowed to mess up, versus on the job.”

DC team places third in supply chain case competition

Durham College (DC) students from the Supply Chain and Operations – Business diploma program showed off their skills at the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) Toronto Student Case Competition in late October. There were 18 teams from Greater Toronto and Hamilton-area colleges and universities, and the DC Team placed third in their category.

Eight students from the program’s second and third year represented DC in two teams, each showing creativity, critical thinking and collaboration in the three-hour match. Although students receive the scenario for the case two days ahead of time, the problem to be solved only arrives on the day itself, when teams are sequestered into rooms to hash out their solutions. Held at George Brown College, the goal after three hours was to create an eight-minute presentation that introduced their solution to the problem, calling on students’ public speaking skills in addition to their classroom learning.

Gliza Domondon, a team member who participated alongside classmates Gokul Ramasamy, Rodney Lachapelle, and Pratik Adhikari, said that the team decided to take a relaxed approach to the challenge, in part because they initially felt overwhelmed with the calibre of the competition. “We decided that at the end of the day you win or lose, but at least you learn a lot,” she said, adding that it was her first case competition.

While the team had discussed the company over a group chat after they received the scenario, the time constraints on competition day meant that they had to get down to business right away. After discussing possible solutions, they selected one conventional and one riskier one. To make the most of their time, they divided up parts of the presentation and got to work immediately.

While Domondon said she’s dealt with case studies in various classes before, the competition problem was more detailed, and the time pressure really called on the team’s organizational and collaboration skills plus their ability to think on their feet.

Program Coordinator Reza Mofid said those are exactly the competencies he hoped the team would find in this extra-curricular. “The experience provided our students with valuable insights and practical applications of their learning. Their ability to think critically and collaboratively under pressure showcased the quality of education we strive to provide.”

For Domondon, who at 39 is a mature student who already works full-time in logistics for Amazon, the experience was yet another positive aspect of a program that she says has been a really useful complement to her career.

“I’ve had so much fun, learning with my classmates,” she said. “I’d recommend the case competition to other students, for us it’s a learning experience you can’t get in other places, a real-life situation where you can apply all the knowledge you get in college.”

DC names Communicative Disorders Lab in recognition of Harmonize for Speech Fund

Students in Durham College’s (DC) Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) graduate certificate program will benefit from a $50,000 donation, contributed over the next five years, made by Harmonize for Speech (H4S), an official charity of the Ontario District of the Barbershop Harmony Society International. To recognize this generous gift, the program’s lab has been named in their honour the Harmonize for Speech Communicative Disorders Lab.

On November 8, members of the Ontario District including three members of the H4S visited the college’s Oshawa campus to celebrate the naming of the lab and hear from faculty and students in the CDA program about the impact their gift has made to students’ education and to the clients of the program’s Kids Speech Clinic.

During their visit, members of H4S and the Last Call quartet also treated attendees to a performance, which included their theme songs We Sing That They Shall Speak and Keep the Whole World Singing – and even engaged students in a brief singing tutorial.

“The support for Harmonize for Speech will enhance our ability to provide essential services to young clients in need,” said Gillian Dunn, Associate Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences. “The Kids Speech Clinic has been an important part of the CDA program since 2018, helping to meet the needs of children in our community with speech while providing our students with invaluable experiential learning opportunities.”

Founded in 1977, H4S provides funds and support for Ontario children and adults to improve their ability to communicate. In addition to directly supporting the Kids Speech Clinic, funds provided by H4S will contribute to the purchase of assistive technologies and tools that will enhance therapeutic outcomes and equip students with crucial hands-on experience. Equipment purchased through this donation allows students to create communication aids such as visual schedules and communication and choice boards. Funds will also contribute to procuring an Anatomage 3D digital anatomy visualization and virtual dissection system.

“Our number one goal as a charity is to see that individuals with communicative disorders receive the help they need,” said Jim Finlay, Co-chair of the Harmonize for Speech Fund. “We believe that if we see to it that more people are well trained to work with them, the better chance they have of receiving the services they require.”

DC alumna Victoria Rinsma is Canadian finalist in S. Pellegrino Young Chef Academy competition

Young chef and Durham College (DC) Culinary Skills alumna Victoria Rinsma recalls first learning about the S. Pellegrino Young Chef Academy competition as a student from Raul Sojo, executive chef of DC’s teaching-inspired restaurant Bistro ’67. Today she’s the Canadian finalist, and headed for the world competition in Milan, Italy, next fall.

Rinsma’s winning dish was called “Across the Sea and Home Again,” a two-part meal that includes a chawanmushi (Japanese savory egg custard) made with smoked ham hock, and a main course of striped bass with nixtamalized butternut squash and preserved tomatoes.

Rinsma says her dish represents her culinary journey, with the first part an ode to her grandmother’s split pea soup and the second to her culinary development and especially the influence of her mentor Rafael Covarrubias, executive chef at the Michelin-star Hexagon Restaurant in Oakville, Ontario, where Rinsma has worked for the past six years and is now sous chef.

“I wanted the dish to convey my story, all the people I’ve met and the cultures I’ve practiced cooking,” said Rinsma.

S. Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition is now in its sixth edition and receives submissions from more than 1,000 young chefs from 15 countries worldwide. The Canadian final was held at George Brown College in October, where each chef had five hours to produce their signature dish before presenting it to a panel of top chef judges. Rinsma’s win was a culmination of months of training with her mentor (a previous Pellegrino competitor) who worked with her on timing, flavours and process.

Rinsma has known she wanted to be a chef from an early age, and recalls watching cooking shows with her grandmother, pretending to stir pots of water alongside the chefs. Calling her grandmother an excellent home cook and the inspiration for her own professional aspirations, Rinsma started cooking seriously herself in high school. Growing up in Pickering, Durham College was a natural choice for her training, and Rinsma threw herself into both the program and into the mentorship she found at Bistro ’67. 

“I can’t say enough good things about the program and my experience. I dove in and did as much as I could. I started working in the Bistro in my first year—I was really keen. When Chef Raul started, we worked really well together, and he even allowed me to be part of menu development,” said Rinsma, adding that she even first heard of her current restaurant Hexagon while at DC.

Now that she is focused on competing in Milan, Rinsma knows that she will have many more hours of training ahead as she refines her dish even further and steadies herself for the challenges of competition.

“I’ll have to prepare myself mentally for that, the first round was a lot, and the finals will be even more,” says Rinsma, noting that her mentor also went to Milan, so she plans to call on his expertise along with the rest of the advisors she is gathering around her, calling it a team effort.

“It was not just me that was in the competition, it was a huge group effort, and I’m lucky enough to be the face of it.”