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.