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DC Paralegal professor assists with Mock Trial Competition

Dalton Burger, a professor in Durham College’s (DC) Paralegal program recently took part in the annual York Region Secondary School Mock Trial Competition held at the Newmarket Courthouse in Newmarket, Ontario. The competition welcomed students from 24 area high schools who have received mentoring from local lawyers and paralegals to conduct mock trials before various judges of the Ontario Court of Justice.

The event was created to help students develop their interest in the legal field while exposing them to a fully integrated, hands-on experience. The trials began on February 24 and will continue for a week with the finals being held on Monday, March 3. The winners of the York Region event receive the celebrated Mock Trial Competition Cup and bragging rights for the next year.

Burger was on hand to assist students with the competition as well as provide information about post-secondary opportunities and pathways.

“Each year I am proud to see what these students accomplish in their mock trials,” said Burger. “The Paralegal program at DC is a perfect match for many of these students who showcase a passion for law and are interested in directly representing clients before various courts and tribunals.”

DC’s Paralegal program is accredited by The Law Society of Upper Canada (Law Society), the regulatory body governing professional paralegals in the province.  The program prepares students for the Law Society’s paralegal licensing examination, enabling them to provide legal services within authorized areas of law practice and represent clients before Small Claims Court, Criminal Court (summary convictions), Provincial Offences Court and government tribunals.

Centre for Food becomes 2 Star Certified Green Restaurant®

Durham College announced today that its new Centre for Food (CFF), including Bistro ’67, the college’s full-service, teaching and learning restaurant, has been certified as a 2 Star Certified Green Restaurant® by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA), a non-profit organization which helps restaurants become more environmentally sustainable.

With the CFF receiving 121.33 GreenPoints™ on the GRA’s rigorous certification scale and having implemented 50 environmental steps, Durham College has gone 21.33 per cent above and beyond the minimum requirements necessary for certification.

“Since Day 1 Durham College has been dedicated to ensuring sustainability guides our decisions and best practices at the CFF,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “We’re proud to receive this certification from the GRA, which is a reflection of our commitment to build a centre focused on being green and demonstrating sustainable practices, and be recognized for our efforts to be a leader in environmental sustainability for the restaurant industry.”

Some highlights of the CFF’s green accomplishments include its dedication to reducing its environmental footprint by recycling; using a fully automated building controls management system and occupancy sensors in a variety of areas; offering touchless sensor faucets; recycling and composting kitchen waste; and using safer hand soaps among others. In addition careful attention is paid to the inputs and outputs of the facility and the restaurant in an effort to be good stewards of our environment.

Focused on the field-to-fork concept, which is based on the harvesting, storage, processing, packaging, sale and consumption of food – in particular the production of local food for local consumers, the CFF opened to students in September 2013. Accommodating approximately 900 additional students studying in culinary, hospitality, tourism, agricultural and horticultural programs, the CFF also houses state-of-the-art labs including food and beverage pairing labs; a hotel living lab; classrooms and meeting spaces; and a demonstration lecture theatre. The CFF brings these programs and building elements together with the college’s food science programs, completing the field to fork cycle. 

Bistro ’67 offers dishes prepared and served by students in the culinary and hospitality programs, featuring produce and delicious flavours from the region. It offers a unique field-to-fork culinary environment to diners including seating up to 70 guests and the opportunity to choose from a variety of seasonal dishes designed to satisfy any palate such as delicious soups and salads, intriguing sandwiches and entrees and decadent desserts.

In addition to featuring the latest in culinary technology, the restaurant also offers a boardroom (available for public rental) surrounded by glass walls overlooking the kitchen and a living lab with exposure to all restaurant-related jobs.

For more information on the college’s green certification ranking, please visit the GRA’s website.

For more information on the CFF please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/CFF.

DC students introduce a new online magazine, The Water Buffalo

Durham College (DC) Journalism – Web and Print students are undertaking a new endeavour to provide another learning outlet to their already full program. The venture is a new online magazine called The Water Buffalo with 100 per cent of its content provided by Journalism students.

“Until now, students have had The Chronicle, a weekly paper that caters to news production,” said Teresa Goff, an instructor in the Journalism program. “The Water Buffalo is an opportunity for students to use new digital tools to tell stories and engage readers.”

The large animal was chosen as the magazine’s title because the media industry is a changing beast. In order to adapt, both content and delivery of that content must evolve to match reader expectations, much in the same way the water buffalo has adapted to survive for generations. In honour of this distinctive fact, the magazine will cover a variety of topics from entertainment to social issues while maintaining its goal of providing an alternative news option for those living in Oshawa and within the Durham Region.

“We hope to reflect both the changes here at the college and in the Durham Region as well as the changes in the way that people access their information,” said Goff. “The stories that appear in the magazine will be told on many media platforms incorporating interactive polls, social media and interactive content.”

The online magazine’s first issue will launch on Thursday, February 20 with a diverse array of stories including features on the amazing journey of the Durham College women’s volleyball team manager; the beginnings of a competitive intercollegiate gaming league; and a chronological breakdown of the continuing evolution of the music industry coupled with an audio interview.

DC’s Program Quality Assurance Process Audit rating written in the stars

Durham College announced today the results of its Program Quality Assurance Process Audit (PQAPA) final audit report, which indicate that the college has successfully met all six quality assurance criteria outlined in the report; demonstrating that Durham College is dedicated to its mission – the student experience comes first – through all its quality assurance efforts.

Overseen by the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service (OCQAS), PQAPA involves the regular and cyclical review of each college’s program quality assurance processes, focusing on college-wide policies and practices and drilling down on selected programs to verify that practices are implemented; recommendations lead to improvement; and that program quality is assured.

“Durham College is dedicated to providing our students with quality programs, expert faculty, a superior learning environment and ensuring our graduates have the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in their careers and further education,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “We are proud to receive this high rating, which is a reflection of our collective quality assurance efforts. We look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality teaching and learning in the years to come.”

In addition to the six-star rating the report, which was approved by the OCQAS Management Board on December 17, also saw the college received two formal commendations, the first acknowledging the numerous opportunities for faculty development offered by its Centre for Academic and Faculty Enrichment (CAFE) and the second recognizing the implementation of the integrated student services model and support services offered in the Student Services building. The commendations will be listed as best practices on the OCQAS website and used as a reference for other colleges in the system.

Each external evaluation of a college includes completion of a quality criteria form and self-study report and a two-day site visit. It then ends with  a report from the audit review panel documenting the degree to which each college’s processes conform to the criteria and provides recommendations aimed at improving and enhancing processes and procedures to ensure learning comes first.

Durham College’s PQAPA site visit took place April 2 to 4, 2013 with members of the review panel speaking with students, and program teams. The auditors also toured the college’s facilities and met with various members of the college community including the Durham College Leadership Team, members of the Durham College Board of Governors and Program Advisory Committees and staff and administrators from many student services departments.

Durham College students carve their way to victory

Two Durham College (DC) students recently took advantage of the record cold temperatures when they won the Winterloo Student Ice Carving Competition in Waterloo, Ont. on February 15. Marisa Latin, a second-year Culinary Management student, and Michael Stowell-Smith, a first-year student in the Hospitality Management – Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism program, teamed up to represent DC at the first annual event.

“We were invited to be one of three colleges (along with Conestoga and Fleming College) to participate in this event,” said Dave Hawey, professor and program co-ordinator of DC’s culinary programs. “Participating in events like this gives our students the opportunity to network as well as represent DC in an extra-curricular activity.”

The competition required students to create an ice carving from a 300-pound block of ice with basic carving tools. The carving was to be based on the competitions theme of Hearts and Dogs and was to be completed within a four-hour time limit. Carvings were then judged based on their relevance to the contest’s theme, overall impression and defined finish.

Faculty members from DC’s culinary and hospitality programs were also on hand to act as mentors for the students in the competition, assisting with larger cuts necessary in creating the sculpture. Stowell-Smith and Latin completed a beautiful swan carving that impressed the judges and pushed their effort ahead of their competitors, winning the inaugural event.

Hawey went on to mention the value for students participating in events such as Winterloo.

“Students gain the opportunity to learn a new skill which is great for their personal and professional portfolios and the support from the rest of the students and faculty showcased the tremendous pride found at DC and the Centre for Food,” said Hawey. 

Studying abroad opportunities in Ireland

The Irish Institutes of Technology visited Durham College (DC) on February 10 to showcase a new pathways agreement with DC which offers students the opportunity to complete an honours degree program in Ireland.

This initiative, led by Enterprise Ireland, aims to increase the number of Canadian students studying in Ireland to assist in the entrepreneurial growth of the island nation. As well, the agreement adds to the more than 450 pathway to degree options already offered to DC students.

Students who missed the first information session will have a second chance to learn about this exciting opportunity on Wednesday, February 26 with a free, online webinar at 4 p.m. Along with learning about the chance to study abroad, students will hear from current and recently returning Canadian students who will highlight the high quality education options and unique culture found there. As well, all students who partake in the webinar will be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Dublin, Ireland.

Registration for the webinar is available by visiting the Education in Ireland site.

DC students donate to OneMatch

Led by a group of Durham College (DC) student volunteers, the One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Network held their annual “Get Swabbed” event at the Oshawa campus on February 13. The event is held to help recruit healthy, committed donors for patients in need of stem cells.

This year, a specific emphasis has been placed in finding more young male donors between the ages of 17 and 35 from an ethnic background to address the shortage within this category. Approximately 12 per cent of the current stem cell donor base fits into this demographic, forcing a large amount of patients to draw from a small donor base that primarily consists of donors from other countries. In 2006, 77 per cent of stem cells used by Canadian patients were provided by donors from other countries.

“I really believe in this, this saves lives,” said Angela Gillis, a second-year Library and Information Technician student volunteering with the event. “It only takes a few minutes to fill out the form, to do the swab and the college campus is a great environment to be looking for the donors needed by this OneMatch campaign.”

With fewer than 30 per cent of patients requiring stem cell transplants able to find a match within their own family a necessity exists for the generosity of others to help potentially save lives. Currently, more than 237,000 Canadians have volunteered to donate stem cells. For those that missed the on-campus event but are interested in becoming a donor, please visit the OneMatch website or call 1.888.2.DONATE (1.888.236.6283).

Health Centre continues to grow and serve students

The Health Centre is an invaluable part of the Durham College (DC) campus, providing students with numerous services to ensure their needs are met while attending college. In order to continue providing students with a great overall experience, the Health Centre has expanded its offerings to now include psychiatric nursing care, alongside its existing counselling services, to assist students dealing with mental health concerns by providing the necessary support.

“College marks the start of many new transitions in peoples’ lives; moving away from home for the first time, finding independence, new friendships and experiences, as well as a challenging new class schedule,” said Lindsey Thomas, the Health Centre’s new psychiatric nurse. “We want to make sure that we are providing early detection and prompt care to decrease the amount of disruption that this may cause to someone’s personal life. The team will help support students in whatever way they need.”

Along with psychiatric nursing care and counselling services, the Health Centre also provides students with a medical clinic, pharmacy, massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic therapy and a nutritionist. The medical clinic and counselling services are covered under the DC health insurance plan that is included in every students’ tuition fees while the other offerings are all available for a nominal fee.

“The Health Centre staff members are knowledgeable leaders in their fields,” said Thomas. “It is a friendly, confidential space where students’ health care needs can be assessed, treated and maintained to ensure optimal and holistic functioning.”

The Health Centre is located in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre and is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Student mobility enhanced and simplified

Durham College (DC) students are being provided with more opportunities to continue their post-secondary education in an enhanced and simplified way with the recent launch of a new course-to-course transfer guide developed by the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT).

With more than 21,500 post-secondary students transferring within Ontario schools each year the course-to-course transfer guide will allow them to determine what credit they can expect to receive from participating institutions prior to applying.

Currently 35 colleges and universities are taking part in the two-phase launch with more planned to join in the future. Development of this initiative began in 2012 after the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities requested a more streamlined credit transfer system across the province. Durham College currently offers more than 450 pathways to degree options

DC president Don Lovisa has made the development of transfers and pathways a priority for the college and has put himself on the forefront by serving as Co-Chair of the ONCAT’s Board.

“As someone who has been involved in the credit transfer discussions for a long period of time, I have seen first-hand how institutional collaboration is transforming the culture of credit transfer in Ontario,” said Don Lovisa. “I am proud to be a part of ONCAT, the only organization in Ontario that brings together all colleges and universities to achieve a common goal to improve student mobility.”

ONCAT was established in 2011 as part of a five-year, $73.7 million commitment from the province to support the development of post-secondary infrastructure required to promote student mobility.

Centre for Food hosts Breakfast Television

Monday morning came early at the Centre for Food (CFF) on February 3 when the college played host to Breakfast Television’s (BT) Jennifer Valentyne and the Live Eye crew as they filmed five different segments that aired throughout the morning.

Showcasing the college’s culinary, hospitality, events and horticulture students, Live Eye opened with President Don Lovisa and Valentyne surrounded by students in the building’s main atrium in front of the college’s spectacular living wall. After discussing the CFF’s field-to-fork concept Lovisa then presented Valentyne with her own chef’s jacket while setting the stage for the ‘Durham College Winter Warm Up’.

The four remaining segments saw culinary students and profs discussing how to work with local apple cider to create a classic hot and cold winter beverage; horticulture and events students and profs showing viewers how to make seasonal table centerpieces on a shoestring budget; culinary students and profs showing off how to make delicious vegetarian chilli and lamb stew and the best wines to pair them with; and lastly horticulture students showed Valentyne and viewers how to create an indoor garden designed to provide a variety of flavour-enhancing culinary herbs all winter long.

“Everyone at Durham College was thrilled to welcome Jennifer and her crew to the CFF this morning,” said Lovisa. “It was a great opportunity to have some fun with our students, professors and, of course, Jennifer, while sharing everything we love about CFF and its programs and students as well as the college’s commitment to field-to-fork. We would welcome them back anytime!”

Toronto’s number one morning show, BT airs from 5:30 to 9 a.m., Monday to Friday and offers viewers a refreshing look at the day ahead, combining the latest in local news, weather, traffic , celebrity interviews, lifestyle trends, local community events and big ticket giveaways. LiveEye sees Valentyne tour around the Greater Toronto Area and far beyond to businesses, tourist attractions, etc. 

Pictures from the day can be found on Durham College’s Facebook photo gallery and the video segments can be found on BT’s website at the following locations: