For students, any financial assistance received during their educational experience is always met with appreciation, which makes Durham College’s (DC) annual scholarship ceremony such a special event.

Held on November 28, the college not only honoured 184 students for their outstanding academic achievements, but also gave them an opportunity to express their gratitude to numerous individual, organizational and corporate award donors for their financial contributions.

In-course scholarships, valued at $138,000, were presented at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre to students from the Oshawa and Whitby campuses as family, friends and college faculty and staff, including Durham College President Don Lovisa, looked on.

“I want to thank the many donors and organizations that contribute to our scholarship funds,” said Lovisa. “It acknowledges the value you place on a Durham College education. An investment in a Durham College student is an investment in the future success and prosperity of the college and the region of Durham.”

Lovisa paid special tribute to the late Alan Strike, a long-time supporter of DC who passed away in May. Strike was a member on the college’s founding Board of Governors in 1966 and former member of the Legal Administration Program Advisory Committee. He offered his generosity and support to not only the institution, but to its students, including his personal donation to the annual Scholarship ceremony via the A. Alan Strike Scholarship, which was established in 1992.

A number of donors also celebrated milestone anniversaries of contributing to the college through scholarships and bursaries including Paul Vessey and Pine Ridge Corvette Club (10 years); Marigold Ford Lincoln Sales and Rotary Club of Oshawa (20 years); Human Resources Professionals Association of Durham (25 years); Lovell Drugs Limited (30 years); and Andrew Foundation, BDO Canada LLP, Canadian Federation of University Women – Oshawa and District and Millwork/Rona Home Centre (35 years).

To view photos from the event please visit our Scholarship Ceremony photo gallery.

Durham College is being recognized for being a great place to work with the college named one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2014 for the fourth year in a row.

The college is proud to be recognized in several different areas of full-time employee support including championing continued skills development through a variety of in-house and online training programs and tuition subsidies; investing in the education of the future generation through academic scholarships for children of employees who pursue post-secondary studies; and helping employees save for retirement through contributions to a defined benefit pension plan.

“Durham College is pleased to be named one of Greater Toronto’s top employers for the fourth year in a row,” said Scott Blakey, vice-president, Administration. “This honour reflects our commitment to creating an empowering environment for all faculty and staff that fosters and rewards innovative thinking and ideas and enables all of us to fulfil our mission that the student experience comes first. Being recognized by Mediacorp Canada/Canada’s Top 100 Employers for providing employees with the opportunities, resources and benefits they need to be successful is a strong indicator that we continue to meet that commitment.”

Greater Toronto’s Top Employers is an annual competition organized by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. This special designation recognizes the greater Toronto area employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Organizations are judged on several categories including physical workplace; work atmosphere and social; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement. Employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.

For more information, please visit http://www.eluta.ca/jobs-at-durham-college . 

In honour of its grand opening two decades ago, the Whitby campus celebrated its 20th anniversary of providing high-quality training in skilled trades, apprenticeships and renewable technology, with a ceremony on November 21.

More than 80 people gathered in the student lounge area to hear remarks from Don Lovisa, president; second-year Construction Carpentry – Sustainable student Lissi Sorenson; and Sandy MacDonald, former 29-year employee at the college and fixture at the Whitby campus during his time there.

“While many things at the Whitby campus have changed, the college’s goal to provide quality learning experiences and the best facilities possible for each and every student has remained true,” said Lovisa. “I’d like to thank and recognize the faculty and administrative and support staff who helped open the campus in 1993 and those who continue to support its operation today.”

Guests were treated to a slide show of images from the past 20 years at the Whitby campus, including pictures from the official grand opening event on November 18, 1993. Cadbury treats were handed out in recognition of the building’s former resident before the college purchased the facility in 1992.

Covering more than 29 acres of land, the campus started as a 150,000-square-foot Skills Training Centre featuring shop and lab space; a productivity improvement centre; skills development office; and Bureau of Excellence.

The original campus layout also included a bookstore, library, student service centre and cafeteria. Since its opening, a computer commons, offices and further student space has been added.

The majority of the campus’ growth has taken place in the past four years as part of the three-phase expansion project. Phase 1 opened in December 2009 and included a second-storey addition with new classrooms and labs, wind turbines and geothermal technology systems in support of the college’s focus on renewable energy.

May 2011 saw the opening of Phase 2 which included 13,000 additional square feet of expanded shop area as well as new labs, classrooms and boardrooms; a renovated reception area; and two new residential labs.

The third and final phase of the expansion – the Centre for Food (CFF) – officially opened on October 17 and accommodates approximately 900 students enrolled in culinary, hospitality, tourism, horticulture and agriculture programs. It also features Bistro ’67, a full-service restaurant; Pantry, a retail store presenting ready-made food prepared by students; and state-of-the-art kitchens, classrooms and labs.

Sorenson a second-generation student at the Whitby campus, is following in her father’s footsteps and will be graduating next spring. She has great appreciation for what she will take away from her educational experience.

“I believe the college provides a learning environment that really lets the students who have a voice know that they will be listened to,” Sorenson said. “I am very proud to be graduating saying that I attended Durham College. It’s left nothing but a positive impression on me and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.”

Durham College (DC) hosted over 2,500 potential students, their friends and families at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses and Pickering Learning Site on November 16 at DC’s annual fall open house.

Showcasing the college’s innovative programs, high-tech classrooms and labs and state-of-the-art facilities, visitors were treated to information sessions and tours.

Guests at the Whitby campus also had the opportunity to explore the new Centre for Food (CFF), which opened to students in September 2013 and accommodates approximately 900 students studying a variety of programs in the culinary, hospitality, tourism, horticultural and agricultural sectors.

Expert staff and knowledgeable students were on hand at all three locations to answer questions and provide important information about a variety of college programs, processes and departments including financial aid and admissions.

Durham College’s Spring Open House will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2014. Check the Spring Open House website for more details coming soon.

On Sunday, November 17, Durham Ideas Den (DID) will launch their annual, full-day hackathon challenge, where more than 100 innovative students will come together to design practical solutions for existing social problems in the community.

The hackathon will showcase the Durham Region’s best and brightest of Durham’s post-secondary students, as well as community and corporate leaders, who will guide them in the process of turning a brilliant idea into a viable social venture. 

Last year’s competition was won by a group of Durham College Paralegal students and included more than 100 submissions from 25 teams.

“It is a win-win solution for all – students hone new skills through the creation of new enterprises, increasing their networks and employability,” said Pramilla Ramdahani, executive director, Community Innovation Labs. “Municipalities and businesses benefit from a new talent pool that seeks to tackle our toughest problems with innovative tools, processes and economic models.“

At the hackathon, students will form teams and enter into the Launch Factor, a 30-day challenge to build a tribe around their vision and crowd-fund their venture. Following the Launch Factor challenge, each of the DID teams will work on building their social ventures with continued support from the Community Innovation Lab and the mentorship community, until the deadline in March 2014, when each team will present what they’ve built to community members at a grand finale celebration. 

Do you own your own business? Have you ever thought of starting one? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you should participate in the Do It In Durham event taking place from Monday, November 18 to Thursday, November 21.

Do It In Durham will provide free workshops and networking events; the chance to meet like-minded individuals; and the opportunity to win prizes worth up to $7,000.

The Spark Centre and BACD have joined forces with regional partners, including Durham College, for the event which allows participants to discover the educational resources, business connections and funds available in the Durham Region to help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.

“Part of our mission is to transform Durham into a thriving, entrepreneurial place to be,” said Martin Croteau, executive director of the Spark Centre. “We know Durham is a great place to live and go to school, but it’s also become a fantastic place to start a business. Do It In Durham will make connection points for learning, support and recognition at every stage in that journey.”

Held across a number of locations across the Durham Region, Do It In Durham is happening in conjunction with thousands of other events around the world, in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, a time to celebrate the innovators and job creators who are driving economic growth.