‘It’s not just about the technology, it’s how we’re going to change the world with it’: The powerful impact of GenAI on how we live and work Posted on November 30, 2023 at 10:29 am. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) — including ChatGPT – is a game changer on the scale of the internet and Durham College (DC) is embracing that change and exploring how it’s going to impact us in the world of work and beyond through active discussions and research. On November 22, the DC Alumni Association held a discussion called ‘GenAI: The Power of Infinite Possibilities’. The event was hosted by DC president Don Lovisa and professor Lon Appleby and is available via The Rotary Global Classroom. Panelists included three DC graduates who work with GenAI as well as Amanda Maknyik, associate dean of Teaching, Learning and Program Quality at DC. Maknyik explained that GenAI is a branch of artificial intelligence. “It’s unique in the fact that it learns and it can actually create unique new content so that content can be in text form, it can be graphical format, it can be videos, it can be music, it can be any number of things,” she said. “It differs from artificial intelligence in that it learns from the user.” Roop Gill is part of the commercial team at Sanctuary AI, a company whose mission it is to create the world’s first human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots. She is also an alumna of DC’s Chemical Laboratory Technician program and she was enthusiastic about the topic of GenAI. “It’s like being part of this exciting science fiction movie but it’s real life,” said Gill. “It’s not just about the technology, it’s how we’re going to change the world with it.” Computer Programming and Analysis graduate Shane Graham said the development of GenAI is as revolutionary as the internet and everyone is going to be using it. As director of software engineering at Invyzn, a company that handles fleet management solutions including vehicle tracking and big data, he said he uses GenAI on a daily basis for things like writing code, planning projects or even writing emails to save time. “What I found was for higher level things, it worked exceptionally well, so writing up scope of work documents, writing API documentation, even planning — it could plan a project pretty well and then I’d just overview it and approve it essentially,” said Graham adding that it was saving him a great deal of time. “In the beginning I was a little worried about using it for code as well, same with the people at my company, but we’re finding that we can easily build out small scripts where it wouldn’t be perfect, but it would get us to a point where we could then go in and manipulate it to exactly what we want.” GenAI is expected to fundamentally change the skills workers need to succeed in their career. AI can’t be creative like the human mind so the key factor in harnessing the power of it is engineering prompts to generate valuable outputs. “AI isn’t here to take away jobs, rather it’s a tool that will evolve how we work … AI won’t replace your job, but someone who knows AI will,” said Gill. She cited a 2022 report from the World Economic Forum which predicted 85 million jobs worldwide would be displaced by technology and automation, however 97 million new roles would be created due to the same forces. The panel tackled complex questions — and some had no simple answers — like the impact of GenAI on sustainability as complex computing requires large amounts of energy. Artificial Intelligence Analysis graduate Tejas Vyas said a lot of start ups are working on the sustainability issue when it comes to increasingly complex computing. A principal investigator at DC’s AI Hub, a software developer at Preference North America and a 2021 Artificial Intelligence Analysis grad, Vyas also took an optimistic approach when asked about the impact on GenAI on human intelligence. “Every new technology increases human intelligence,” he said. “Think of it this way: we started with a wheel — we created that wheel then we moved forward, we created a car out of it and now we move forward, we created a self-driving car. Getting something that is very smart is a stepping stone we can build upon. If students and the public are able to use (GenAI) well it will be able to augment existing intelligence.” GenAI is revolutionizing the workplace and DC is preparing students and faculty to adapt and thrive in this new environment. Find out more about how DC’s Centre for Teaching and Learning is supporting the use of GenAI in higher education. Journalism students gain new perspective at Community Listening event Posted on November 24, 2023 at 10:03 am. First-year Journalism – Mass Media students had a valuable opportunity for experiential learning at Durham College (DC) earlier this month. The ‘Community Listening’ event, held at the new Centre for Innovation and Research, was part of the Voices in Durham project, a partnership between the Regional Municipality of Durham and DC. The theme of the event was ‘reporting on fair and equitable stories in the diverse region of Durham.’ “We’re talking to key leaders in the Region of Durham about how journalists can approach them, how they can tell stories, how to gain trust in their communities, and how to really build rapport and to look for stories that the students wouldn’t normally know about,” explained Journalism faculty member Joanne MacDonald. By simulating a press conference, the event allowed students to experience the work of a professional journalist, and each of them had a unique role to play, from moderating the discussion to taking notes and snapping photographs. One of the guest speakers was Dr. Vidal Chavannes, Director of Strategy, Research and Organizational Performance at Durham Regional Police Service. He saw the event as an ideal opportunity to speak to the future reporters who will shed light on important news and issues. “I’m happy to participate in any opportunity to connect with young people who are interested in telling the stories of the residents of Durham,” he said. “Any time you’re able to hear other people’s life stories, I think it helps you understand just how different that we are, but also how much we have in common.” First-year students Bryson Betts and Sunmeet Kour served as the event hosts, leading the discussion before turning the microphone over to their assembled classmates. The panelists touched on a variety of topics, from the importance of inclusive local news to the best way for reporters to approach their communities. DC’s young journalists will benefit greatly from the experience, according to professor Teresa Goff. “When you’re working in journalism, you need to know your audience. We want them to feel comfortable going out into the community and doing interviews, but we also want them to understand the diversity of Durham,” she said. “We want to get the students thinking about amplifying voices that we don’t often hear.” Fittingly, the guest speakers for the event were six community members who are working hard to create change, including; Wosen Beyene, Manager of the Ajax Welcome Centre and Immigrant Services (Community Development Council Durham) Vidal Chavannes, Director of Strategy, Research and Organizational Performance at Durham Regional Police Service Jon Colwell, Visual Artist, Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation Akuah Frempong, Clinical Services Coordinator at Inner City Health Associates, Member of Congress of Black Women of Canada (Oshawa/Whitby Chapter), and Member of Durham Region Anti-Racism Taskforce Lisa McIntosh, Director, Income, Employment and Homelessness Support Raveena Rajasingham, President, Canadian Tamil Congress, Board of Directors DC Faculty of Business students win second place in national Sports Case Competition Posted on November 23, 2023 at 10:09 am. A group of five students from the Faculty of Business made Durham College (DC) history recently during the 2023 Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) PrimeTime Sports Case Competition. The team placed second – ranking above competitors from across Canada with their strategic and innovative business solution. Sheldon Koufman and Ian Ellis, Sport Management faculty and DC’s Case Competition coaches said the experience of competing at this event is a great way for students to hone their skills, develop and improve their network, enhance their teamwork and resilience, and to try to solve real-world problems they may encounter in the sports business industry after graduation. “The team had a blend of diverse talents that came together to exemplify a cohesive unit,” said Ellis. “Their dedication to planning and preparing for the competition was truly admirable, and ultimately, their ability to collaborate and a shared passion for excellence culminated in an outstanding result that highlighted the team’s strategic thinking and collective intelligence.” The MLSE PrimeTime Sports Case Competition is run by seasoned sports executives Brian Burke and Trevor Whiffen and attracts students from post-secondary institutions across Canada. This year, students were challenged with developing a digital engagement project – focused on increasing customer engagement and loyalty for MLSE and its brands. The DC team strategized and pitched a loyalty program that connects to all MLSE apps and their associated sponsors. Through their proposed idea, customers and corporate sponsors would be rewarded with points for future purchases. Dylan Foster, a Sport Business Management student and the team’s captain, attributes the team’s success in part to their classroom experience. “The skills you have to develop to be successful in this program translate very easily to being a successful team. Everyone is on the same page, working towards the same goal and our combination of skills made us a force to be reckoned with,” Foster said. “It was an amazing experience and an honour to compete and to represent Durham College at such a competitive event. The team building and preparation with the team was just as rewarding for me as the second-place win.” Celebrating 30 years of our Whitby Campus Posted on November 21, 2023 at 11:57 am. Time flies when you’re leading the way. Tuesday, November 21, 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the Durham College (DC) Whitby campus. Over the last three decades, what started as a converted chocolate factory has grown into a high-demand campus that is addressing the training needs in the Durham Region and beyond with a range of post-secondary, apprenticeship and corporate training programs across multiple disciplines. Since its inception, the campus has produced thousands of skilled graduates who have gone on to support our local, provincial and national economies. “With a special focus on skilled trades, hospitality and horticulture, the campus’s classrooms, labs, shops and training facilities provide a dynamic, experiential-learning environment for DC students and community partners,” said Rebecca Milburn, Whitby campus principal and executive dean, Faculty of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship and Hospitality & Horticultural Science. The campus is home to many unique learning environments including an urban farm, outdoor classroom, learning living labs and Bistro ’67, to name a few. Clair Cornish, a professor in the Faculty of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship, has had a front row seat for much of the expansion after arriving in 1999. “It has been a joy to be involved in the evolution of the Whitby campus, from just a single building delivering a few skilled trades and apprenticeship programs to a complete post-secondary campus that now delivers a variety of programs to a diverse student population.” Robert Nokes, a mechanical technologist in the Welding and Fabrication Shop, has a unique perspective on the growth of the Whitby campus. As a DC student in 1982, he had to make do with the small welding shop that was available at the Oshawa campus at the time. In 2003 he rejoined the DC family as a tech in the Welding and Machining areas. The facilities he worked in were far beyond what he’d used during his time as a student, and they’ve continued to expand since then. “The government has made investments in trades at the Whitby campus, allowing state of the art equipment to be purchased and larger shops to be built,” he said. “Our student numbers have been growing and growing every year as the demand for skilled trade workers grows.” For DC president Don Lovisa, the expansion of the Whitby campus has been a true passion project. He has overseen the creation of state-of-the-art new facilities like the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food, the Ontario Power Generation Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology, and the brand new PROTO and Electric Vehicle Lab. “Throughout my tenure, it has been truly remarkable to witness the growth of our Whitby campus. What began 30 years ago as a modest offshoot of our main campus has evolved into a destination for over 4,000 students each year,” he said. “I’d like to thank everyone, employees, community and students alike, who have played a part in the last three decades of success at the Whitby campus. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this remarkable learning space.” International Education Week proves to be a feast for the senses with music, food and cultural connections Posted on November 21, 2023 at 11:45 am. Durham College (DC) joined global International Education Week celebrations with crowd-pleasing performances for students and a mouth-watering street food festival. Held during the third week of November each year, International Education Week was celebrated in more than 100 countries this year. At DC’s Oshawa Campus, events included the Community Cultural Mosaic in The Pit on November 14. It featured music and dance performances, booths from culturally-focused community groups and snacks for students including warm samosas. Spike Universe, a second-year student in the Music Business Management program, was among the performers. “I think this gives opportunity for people to meet different cultures and show what they have,” he said of the event, adding he believes when people learn about culture, they learn about themselves as well. “It helps you find your own personality and as well it builds a beautiful community around you.” Spike, who is known by his stage name, got the crowd excited, waving their hands and dancing as he performed his original music. “I’ve been making music for almost 25 years, so I’m an independent artist, I have a boutique record label, so I work with a couple of different producers from Sri Lanka and even in Canada and I’m coming out with my own genre,” he explains, adding that he’s working to launch a new genre called Ceylonese Vibe as a uniquely Sri Lankan sound. Students at DC’s Whitby Campus also looked for cultural inspiration at the International Street Food Festival held on November 17. Nine teams of second-year Culinary Management students served up street food-style samples inspired by culinary traditions in Mexico, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, India, Italy and Pakistan. After trying all the flavours, attendees voted for their favourite dish with students Paulo Delgado and Jonathan Castillo taking the top spot with their arancini—Italian rice balls—served with Romanesco sauce and aioli. The dish was topped with cheese developed through DC culinary programs. Paulo said the pair were inspired by their upcoming trip to Italy in February which is a DC Faculty-led Classroom Abroad trip. “I can’t even express how excited we are,” added Jonathan. “We both had the opportunity to go to Peru last year and it was a fantastic experience.” Paulo and Jonathan gave kudos to their fellow students who produced a tasty sampling of street food. They included Taiwanese pork buns, Sri Lankan chicken kottu, Mexican chilaquiles and Indian chicken kondattam. “It encourages and motivates us to better develop our food,” said Jonathan of the event. “We have to work as hard as we can to make these dishes and at the end of the day it’s very enjoyable for us to see people come out and tell us they loved our food and tell us we did so well.” Thom MacDonald, dean of International Education, said the International Education Week events highlighted student talent at DC. “As our region and our college become more and more diverse, I think it’s really important for us to share and celebrate some of our cultural traditions just because it gives us a framework of understanding each other and really understanding the benefits of working together and studying together,” he added. “And also, it’s really fun. Studying is hard and any time we can take a step back and enjoy our experience, I think it’s really important.” Fall season a memorable one for Durham College athletes Posted on November 20, 2023 at 9:54 am. For our Durham Lords, this fall was a season like no other. Five teams earned Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) provincial medals to set a Durham College (DC) record. From the rugby pitch to the ball diamond and beyond, they were powered by some of the best student athletes in Canada. There’s a reason why top athletes choose DC each year, according to athletic director Scott Dennis. “Durham College has always had winning teams. When a recruit sees a team that is successful, that’s where they want to go,” he said. That cycle is sure to continue next year in light of this season’s success. Every athlete wore the DC colours with pride, and many of them produced remarkable individual efforts as they guided their teams to the medal podium. Women’s soccer player Sage Thomas-Roberts was recognized nationally as well as provincially, becoming the 54th DC student athlete to be named a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian. She scored 22 goals in the regular season to become DC’s all-time leading scorer in a single soccer season. “It was another unbelievable season for her,” said Dennis. “Being recognized nationally is a pretty big deal.” As an All-Canadian, Thomas-Roberts’ name will soon hang from the rafters in the DC Gym. On the rugby pitch, Emily Cooper had another outstanding year. After being named OCAA Rookie of the Year in her first season, she outdid herself with a stellar sophomore campaign. She played a crucial role in her team’s undefeated season, becoming the league’s scoring champion with 29 tries for 145 points. For her efforts, she was named OCAA Player of the Year, as well as a two-time All-Star (League and Championship). The Lords women’s softball team earned silver medals at both the provincial and national levels thanks in large part to the efforts of Grace Hearns, who also earned OCAA Player of the Year status. She was also named a Championship All-Star as well as a First Team All-Star. “She’s probably the heart and soul of the team,” said Dennis. “She’s always getting on base and she’s great defensively as well. Overall, a great player.” DC’s third and final OCAA Player of the Year was Cole Cote from the men’s baseball team. The veteran catcher from the United States immediately stepped into a leadership role on the team, earning a First Team All-Star nod and another at the Championship. “It’s tough to go through all the players because they did so well,” said Dennis. “The individual accolades are nice, but the team medals mean more to them.” Below is a complete list of the impressive accomplishments made by our DC athletes this season. 3 OCAA Players of the Year Emily Cooper – Women’s Rugby Grace Hearns – Women’s Softball Cole Cote – Men’s Baseball 1 CCAA All-Canadian Sage Thomas-Roberts – Women’s Soccer 2 Scoring Champions Emily Cooper – Women’s Rugby Tyler Janes – Men’s Rugby 1 Divisional Player of the Year Sage Thomas-Roberts – Women’s Soccer, East 1 Championship MVP Ciara London – Women’s Rugby, OCAA 7 Championship All-Stars Emily Cooper – Women’s Rugby, OCAA Danika Johnston – Women’s Rugby, OCAA Grace Hearns – Women’s Softball, OCAA Chelsea Oke – Women’s Softball, OCAA Sydney Redick – Women’s Softball, CCSA Cole Cote – Men’s Baseball, OCAA Erin Michalicka – Women’s Soccer, OCAA 8 League All-Stars Emily Cooper – Women’s Rugby Shay Morris – Women’s Rugby Maya Austin – Women’s Rugby Terrell Carter – Men’s Rugby, East Tyler Janes – Men’s Rugby, East Alexander Lee – Men’s Rugby, East Liam Spafford – Men’s Rugby, East Reese Watkins – Men’s Rugby, East 11 First Team All-Stars Grace Hearns – Women’s Softball Emily Glendinning – Women’s Softball Cole Cote – Men’s Baseball Nick King – Men’s Baseball Zach Rivers – Men’s Baseball Ryan Mattes – Men’s Baseball Sage Thomas-Roberts – Women’s Soccer Jessica Ferreira – Women’s Soccer Deandre Branch – Men’s Soccer Romaine Watkis – Men’s Soccer Garrett Werner – Men’s Soccer 9 Second Team All-Stars Chelsea Oke – Women’s Softball Jessica Greene – Women’s Softball Morgan Salter – Women’s Softball Jocelyn Shelton – Women’s Softball Griffin McMillan – Men’s Baseball Erika Bjorgum – Women’s Soccer Tenzin Chonyi – Men’s Soccer Jaden Grant – Men’s Soccer Isaiah Wisdom – Men’s Soccer All-Rookie Team Members Chelsea Oke – Women’s Softball Jessica Greene – Women’s Softball Zach Rivers – Men’s Baseball For more on the remarkable DC teams that led the way this fall, click here. Durham Lords enjoy dominant Fall season Posted on November 16, 2023 at 5:09 pm. The Durham Lords took the Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA) by storm this fall. For the first time in Durham College (DC) history, five teams won provincial medals. The women’s rugby squad rode another undefeated season to a gold medal. Women’s softball won silver at the provincial level and added another silver at nationals. Men’s baseball, men’s rugby and women’s soccer all brought home provincial bronze. “It has been great coming back to Durham College and seeing the teams have that much success,” said Scott Dennis, DC’s new athletic director. “We’re going to be celebrating this season 20 years down the road with some potential Hall of Famers.” Read on for a closer look at how DC’s teams made us proud this fall. Women’s Rugby For the second consecutive year, the DC women were unbeatable on the rugby pitch. In a perfect 14-0 run through the regular season, they scored 538 points and allowed only 12 for an incredible differential of +526. That dominance earned them a bye through the first round at the 2023 OCAA Women’s Rugby Sevens Championship in Belleville. In the semi-final, they defeated the host Loyalist Lancers 32-0 to advance to the finals, where they won again by a 29-12 score over the St. Lawrence Surge to bring home the gold. Dennis – “Perfection would be the word to describe them. They outscored their opponents in the regular season by 526 points. Once again they proved they’re the best team in Ontario.” Men’s Rugby DC’s rugby dominance extended to the men’s side, with these Lords also registering their second consecutive undefeated regular season. Their first taste of adversity came at the OCAA Men’s Rugby Championship, where they dropped a hard-fought semifinal match to the Humber Hawks 23-20 in overtime. But they rebounded in the bronze medal match with a 29-7 victory over the St. Lawrence Surge. By bringing home the bronze, they collected their fifth medal in as many years. The stellar year earned John Watkins the Coach of the Year award. Dennis – “They’ve proven to be one of the top programs in Ontario year after year. This is John’s second consecutive year winning Coach of the Year. He put together a great team.” Women’s Softball These Lords earned not one but two silver medals this season. A 22-2 record earned them second place in the OCAA. Wins over the Mohawk Mountaineers (7-2) and the St. Clair Saints (7-4) earned them a place in the championship. Facing St. Clair once again, they gave their all in a losing effort. At the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championships in Victoria, British Columbia, they defeated Western University (7-2), the University of Victoria (4-0) and UBC – Okanagan (7-0) as they marched to the final, where St. Clair edged them out for the gold (8-3). Dennis – “They’re always in the medal hunt. They won their fourth national medal this year. Getting back on the podium at the national level was a pretty big deal for them and winning silver was a big accomplishment.” Men’s Baseball With a 15-3 regular season record, these Lords finished second in the OCAA, but their 205 runs made them the highest scoring team by far (56 ahead of first-place St. Clair). It was also their best record since joining the OCAA in 2013. By winning the provincial bronze, they earned the fourth medal in program history and their first in four years. They also earned a measure of revenge by defeating Humber multiple times after going winless against them since 2019. Dennis – “During the regular season they had the best offense, and they showed that in the championships as well. It was good for them to be back on the medal podium.” Women’s Soccer With a bronze medal at the 2023 OCAA Women’s Soccer Championship, these Lords stepped on to the provincial podium for the first time since 2018. With an 8-1-1 record in the regular season, they qualified for the Championships with a 6-2 victory over the St. Lawrence Surge. A 1-0 decision over the Mohawk Mountaineers punched their ticket to the final four at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Etobicoke. Losing their first game 2-1 to the Humber Hawks, they bounced back against the St. Clair Saints in the bronze medal game with a clutch effort that ended in penalty kicks. Dennis – “It was Bruce Cullen’s first year as head coach, so winning bronze was a great accomplishment for his first year leading the team.” Men’s Soccer An early highlight for these Lords was defeating Ontario Tech in the Campus Cup for the first time since 2015. Vaso’s Field was packed with onlookers as the game was decided in the penalty shootout. The OCAA’s men’s soccer division was highly competitive this season, with first-place George Brown going 10-0 and the next four teams (including DC) each notching six wins. Though tiebreakers relegated them to fifth place, the Lords were almost unmatched defensively. They allowed only five goals in ten regular season games, second only to George Brown’s four. Their season came to an end with a 2-0 loss to the Algonquin Wolves in a Championship qualifying match. Dennis – “They started the year off right for Durham College by winning the Campus Cup, and they had a good run to the playoffs.” Golf Our Lords hit the green for three invitational tournaments this season, finishing just shy of the podium in two of them. At the 2023 OCAA Golf Championship in Windsor, a competitive effort landed them in fifth place. Dennis – “It was a very young team, but they scrapped their way through the regular season and then the Championship and just missed out on Nationals by one stroke. They’re just going to continue to grow.” For more on the remarkable DC athletes who led the way this fall, click here. Durham College raising funds to support students experiencing food insecurity Posted on November 16, 2023 at 9:29 am. With the rising cost of food across Ontario, supporting students experiencing food insecurity is more important than ever. Durham College (DC) is currently raising funds to support the Food Insecurity Bursary which helps provide immediate assistance to students who are navigating these unforeseen financial challenges. Each year, the DC community comes together to support this valuable initiative that helps students and their families during the holiday season. Last year, the bursary distributed more than $80,000 to support 457 students and their families. “I am a single mother of four children and have limited funding,” said Jazmine, a DC student who received the bursary in 2022. “With rising costs, groceries are getting really expensive. I am thankful that DC has provided the Food Insecurity Bursary, which helped me and my family so much last year.” This year, the need is expected to be even greater, said Tara Koski, dean, Students. “With the escalating costs of living and grocery prices this year, this bursary is even more critical as economic pressures faced by our students have intensified the issue of food insecurity,” said Koski. “If we can help alleviate some of that pressure, it allows students to maintain their focus on academics and their future success.” The Durham College Alumni Association is matching the first $10,000 raised so every dollar contributed has twice the power to make a positive change in students’ lives, said Linda Flynn, associate vice president, Office of Development and Alumni Affairs. “We are deeply grateful for our community who continually come together in times of need to ensure our students are well supported and can focus on their learning,” said Flynn. Donations are welcome until December 31 and gifts of more than $20 are eligible for a charitable donation receipt for income tax purposes in the 2023 tax year. Donations are now being accepted online. Are you a student who needs a little extra help this season? Learn more about applying for the Food Insecurity Bursary. Develop global skills and awareness at Durham College Posted on November 15, 2023 at 2:04 pm. Students at Durham College (DC) can become true citizens of the world with a unique Global Competency Recognition program that is now available on DC Connect. ‘Get Global’ invites all students to expand their knowledge in four key areas: cultural awareness, global connections, global learning and global sustainability. By developing global skills and awareness, students will prepare themselves to thrive in our rapidly changing and increasingly connected world. “Durham College is committed to leveraging and growing our positive impact on our community to help it prosper and diversify. And our community is local as well as global,” said Janine Knight-Grofe, director of International Education. “We have a responsibility to prepare students to be globally competent, so that they can better engage in the world thoughtfully but also productively. It’s about making them better, more well-rounded individuals who are also more employable.” Participants in the program can complete a variety of activities to earn points. There are many different options, from taking part in a Faculty-Led Classroom Abroad (FLCA) trip to attending a cultural event on or off campus or learning a new language. Once they’ve collected 100 points, students will earn a Global Learner digital badge and a certificate at graduation. The program is relatively new, but a handful of students completed it before graduation this year. “The students that go through it see a lot of value,” said Knight-Grofe. One such student is Tasharna Thompson-Henny, a 2023 graduate of the Project Management program. An international student from Jamaica, she jumped at the chance to expand her knowledge of other cultures. “It helped me to really function better in Canada and also to have a greater understanding of dealing with a different, diverse set of people on a day-to-day basis,” she said. Canadian-born students can also benefit greatly from the program, according to Knight-Grofe. “All students equally contribute to global thinking, have a role to play in addressing global challenges, and benefit personally, academically and professionally from global competency.” All students who take part in the program must start with a module on Indigenous Histories and Reconciliation, which is crucial according to Rogier Ten Kate, program coordinator for the International Business Management graduate certificate. “We recognize that globalization and internationalization can perpetuate global imbalances through neocolonial practices. So, it’s critical that anti-colonialism underpins global competency actions and activities at Durham College,” he said. “The best way to understand and reflect on this is through learning about Indigenous histories.” Thompson-Henny found those studies particularly helpful in increasing her knowledge of her adopted home. “It gave me a better understanding of what Indigenous people went through. My level of appreciation just increased significantly.” For students who want to expand their knowledge and appreciation of other cultures, the Get Global program is available now. DC students cook up gold medal finish in culinary competition Posted on November 10, 2023 at 11:01 am. For the second year in a row, Durham College (DC) students have struck gold as they were crowned Canada’s best new student chefs at Taste Canada’s Cooks the Books Student Culinary Competition. This year, second-year Culinary Management students Miguel Alves Dos Santos Fonseca and Jess Dalziel were selected to represent DC and they plated up their winning dish of Brazilian beef hearts, farofa, pickled beets, glazed carrots, crispy tripe and chimichurri on October 29. Fonseca described the excitement of winning. “I heard my name and I screamed before everyone else started clapping,” he said. Before facing off in the competition kitchen, Miguel and Jess spent long hours perfecting their dish in DC’s state-of-the-art culinary labs to ensure they could execute it in the 45-minute time limit. They looked to their peers in the Culinary Management program to offer honest feedback as they developed their recipe. Part of the challenge was using sponsored ingredients including Canadian beef, California prunes, Club House spices and Tabasco sauce. Miguel incorporated aspects of his Brazilian heritage while Jess brought inspiration from Hungarian cuisine. For example, when incorporating the prunes, Miguel turned to a traditional Brazilian side-dish called farofa, which is a cassava flour toasted with a fat like butter or oil. But there are a thousand versions of the recipe including one that incorporates bananas. “I thought maybe the prunes would work because it’s sweet as well and with the meat, you know it’ll be a little spicy.” Chef Peter Lee, the DC faculty member who mentored the pair, congratulated the them. “The recipe is delicious,” he said. “The meaty flavour of heart is balanced well with the acidity of pickled beets and sweetness of California prunes. Each school had to choose a different cut of beef, we chose to showcase unpopular cuts as a challenge to ourselves and show they can taste great.” Lee said students selected to represent DC in culinary competitions are dedicated to training and sacrifice many hours to perform at a high level. “It allows eager students to show their passion for their craft,” he said. “It allows us faculty to push students to have success at a high level. I do not want to just participate in competitions, I want to win.” Miguel credits the Culinary Management program for setting him up for success. “What DC helps us do is really build that work ethic,” he said. “Many of our chefs, they really focus on that point and it’s really important.” Interested in a career in food? DC has career-focused programs that prepare students to succeed. Culinary Management Culinary Skills Horticulture – Food and Farming Hospitality – Hotel and Restaurant Operations Nutrition and Food Service Photo credit: Stephen Chu « 1 … 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 … 163 »
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