The Journalism – Mass Media program is celebrating 50 years of excellence.

The first issue of the Durham College (DC) Chronicle was published in November of 1973. Over the ensuing decades, the world of journalism has experienced a number of seismic shifts, and the Chronicle has kept pace. What started as a printed campus newspaper has grown into an online platform that incorporates social media, Riot Radio and YouTube. But what hasn’t changed is the hard work of the award-winning students and professors who deliver the news from campus and the surrounding community with accuracy and integrity.

“This year is a chance to celebrate that we are still here, and that journalism is still very much alive and it’s still really important to democracy,” said professor and program coordinator Danielle Harder. “A lot of the world thinks journalism is in decline, but we like to think we’re just changing with society. We’re still telling the same stories; we’re just changing the ways in which we tell them. We’re telling them with more context and on new platforms.”

The internet may have irrevocably changed the old media landscape, but it has also created limitless opportunities for those with the skillset an education in journalism can provide. Graduates aren’t relegated to jobs as reporters or broadcasters anymore.

“Our students take the skills they learn from us and apply them in really interesting ways. We have students who go out and work in communications, and others who create social media content. We have some who write reviews for video games,” she said. “We’re teaching how to tell stories, how to think critically, how to ask questions that get to the truth.”

The 2023-24 school year will feature a number of special events to commemorate the Chronicle’s semi-centennial:

• A series of panel discussions will highlight important issues, beginning on Tuesday, September 26 with ‘Indigenous Voices in Journalism.’
• At the campus Library, a microfiche machine will allow for perusal of copies of the Chronicle from throughout its history.
• During Social Justice Week in January, professor and writer-in-residence Alvin Ntibinyane will discuss the importance of equity in journalism, while librarian Trish Johns-Wilson and students from the program will promote digital literacy and provide tips on how to critically analyze information and navigate online platforms.

There are also plans for a panel discussion involving graduates of the program who have gone on to exceptional careers.

All of the successes the program and its students have enjoyed over the last 50 years wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the campus community, according to Harder.

“We would like to thank people for supporting our students on campus as they learn to become journalists. We have really appreciated the support of leadership, faculty and staff.”

Stay tuned for more information on this year’s anniversary events to learn how DC’s homegrown journalists are leading the way.

More than 12,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students are set to attend Durham College (DC) and on-campus events, efforts and initiatives have already kicked off to welcome the college community.

Ringing in the new year

Orientation activities are underway for new DC students! There are a number of planned events, ways to get involved, helpful program information and services that provide opportunities to connect with other DC students and the campus community.

Employees kicked off the academic year with an annual event to generate excitement and set the stage for the year ahead. Keynote speaker Justin Reilly, CEO of Wavelo, shared his unique perspectives on integrating AI programs and machine learning technologies in our work and inspired faculty as they continue to lead the way in innovative teaching.

Creative campus spaces

There are some exciting updates to campus spaces. DC’s new PROTO and Electric Vehicle (EV) Lab officially opened this week and our brand new vertical hydroponic farm was just delivered with preparations underway for its use at the Barrett Centre Urban Farm in Ajax.

At the Oshawa campus, the Centre for Innovation and Research (CIR) opened and we revitalized the Naanaagide’endamowin Courtyard and other outdoor spaces. The L Wing got a major refresh with 18 new murals, designed and installed by DC Fine Arts students as a work-study project.

Responsive programs to meet industry needs

Over the last year, DC has enhanced program offerings to meet the industry and community needs and ensure graduates are career-ready and in-demand.

New programs this year include:

• Cloud Computing (graduate certificate)
• Early Childhood Education – Childcare Worker Stream (diploma)
• Fire Prevention and Technology (advanced diploma)
• Honours Bachelor of Community Mental Health (degree)
• Honours Bachelor of Paralegal (degree)
• Recreation Therapy (diploma)

DC’s Professional and Part-time Learning also launched two new initiatives this year – Internationally Educated Nurses and Personal Support Worker (PSW) to Practical Nurse (PN) Bridge – to increase the number of qualified nursing professionals in the province.

Promoting health and wellness

To support health and wellness of our community, we launched the Wellness Directory, an online hub that provides direct access to all of the wellness supports and resources at DC and on-campus accessibility supports ensure a sense of inclusivity and belonging for all.

Students and employees have access to free fitness classes at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre. And tryouts are underway for Durham Lords varsity sports teams. Check out the full schedule. And you can come cheer on our athletes at the annual Campus Cup!

With the majority of classes set to begin on September 6, DC is looking forward to an exciting year ahead!

Durham College (DC) proudly opened its doors once again to host the Skills Ontario Summer Camp, welcoming 18 campers from Grades 7 to 9 to explore future career opportunities in the skilled trades at DC’s Whitby campus.

Led by Skills Ontario from August 14 to 18, the camp focused on inspiring the next generation of skilled trades students, through hands-on activities, interactive workshops and shop tours.

Campers experienced a different trade each day and gained a broad introduction to many areas of the college, including the automotive, carpentry, welding and plumbing shops located in the DC’s state-of-the-art Ontario Power Generation Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology (CSTT) and the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (Weston Centre).

Led by Skills Ontario staff and DC employees, campers learned virtual welding skills and measuring techniques, how to change a tire on the rim and build a birdhouse and a hula hoop before testing their own vehicles in a C02 dragster car racing competition. They also took to the Weston Centre fields for a day to learn about the college’s field-to-fork philosophy and sustainability practices, before harvesting, cleaning and pickling their own vegetables.

“With the growing demand for skilled trades professionals across the province, the Skills Ontario Summer Camp is a great opportunity to spark an early interest for young people in the world of skilled trades,” said Rebecca Milburn, principal of DC’s Whitby campus and executive dean of the Faculty of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship and Faculty of Hospitality & Horticultural Science. “It’s incredible to witness the campers’ curiosity and enthusiasm. Durham College is proud to play a role in inspiring a lifelong passion for learning in the next generation of students.”

Skills Ontario summer camps are sponsored by the Government of Ontario and Magna, dedicated to inspiring youth to explore skilled trades and technologies. DC is proud to partner with Skills Ontario and help shape the young minds of tomorrow.

For more information on future camps, please visit the Skills Ontario website.

Ryanna Law and Blake Dawson made Durham College (DC) proud at the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) World Championship in Orlando, Florida.

After first excelling in their MOS exams (which are embedded into a number of DC’s Faculty of Business programs), the pair qualified for the competition with stellar showings at the MOS Canadian Championship in June.

Competitors travelled from across the globe to represent their countries at the event earlier this month. Law (Accounting – Business) put her PowerPoint 2019 skills to the test while Dawson (Marketing – Business Administration) gave it his all in Word 2019. Each student was tasked with completing an exam, as well as a project, in their respective MOS program. They were graded on the results they produced as well as their speed.

Only the top ten in each category were revealed, and though neither DC student cracked that threshold, it was still a positive experience.

“I was grateful to be there,” said Dawson, who is already looking forward to next year’s event. “It was definitely fun. The support I received was great.”

For Law, the experience of testing her knowledge and skills against other students from around the world is one she won’t soon forget, and heartily recommends.

“If you have the opportunity to go to this competition, or any other competition, definitely take it,” she said. “Being able to show your skills is so helpful in proving yourself for future career opportunities.”

After their hard work, the pair and their fellow competitors were able to enjoy some time as tourists, including a trip to Walt Disney World.

Law, Dawson and the other members of Team Canada competed under the watchful eye of Lysa Amaral, director of Brand and Global Marketing for CCI Learning, which organizes the Canadian MOS events. She was impressed with both DC students, crediting Dawson for his critical thinking, attention to detail and tenacity, while lauding Law for her thoroughness, responsiveness, professionalism and leadership.

“These skills and traits are indicative of what Durham College instills in their students,” she said.

 With programs that incorporate important technical skills like MOS programs, DC continues to lead the way in preparing students for the job market.

Durham College (DC) is promoting food literacy and fighting food insecurity.

The Campus Health and Wellness Centre (CHWC) and the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture have teamed up for ‘Food IQ: Growing Minds, Growing Plates’. The multifaceted initiative seeks to educate DC students on the importance of accessible, affordable healthy food and preparing nutritious meals.

“Durham Region as a whole is having food insecurity and food literacy issues. Some individuals struggle with making economical food choices while keeping nutritional value in mind due to the increased cost of living,” said Jennifer Elliott, CHWC director, noting that such issues are especially prevalent among young students living on their own for the first time. 

Brenna Bizley, partnership manager for the Barrett Centre, agrees that improving food literacy in youth is critical.

“We need to teach students that purchasing fresh fruit or vegetables provides more of a nutritional benefit than spending that same amount of money on processed food that might be more familiar to them,” she said. “Hopefully that will build some awareness and momentum around healthy eating and making healthy choices.”

With that in mind, the CHWC and the Barrett Centre have expanded the DC Farmer’s Market by bringing it to the Oshawa campus, allowing more students to access fresh produce. The Durham College Student Association (DCSA) is providing coupons to help all students benefit from the market. Unsold produce has been donated to the DC Food Bank and used in other programming, including cooking classes and as snacks for students.

CHWC wellness coaches attend the market every Tuesday to promote food literacy activities, mindful eating and healthy habits, while also ensuring that students know about resources that can help them, like financial support and the DCSA food bank.

Additional programming will be available for the Fall semester. Munchie Mondays will teach students how to prepare budget conscious snacks, while Mindful Farm Fridays invites them to join wellness coaches at the Whitby campus for mindfulness practice. The CHWC’s eating disorders psychotherapist will provide education and counseling on important topics like body dysmorphia.

Plans for more programs and activities are in the works, like budget planning and grocery shopping tips.

Food literacy is important for everyone, but especially for the younger generation, according to Elliott.

“Developing food literacy skills, such as understanding nutrition, cooking, and meal planning, can lead to healthier eating habits. This, in turn, promotes better physical and mental health among students,” she said. “Our hope is that this can instill lifelong habits of responsible and conscious eating. Students are more likely to carry forward the knowledge and values they acquire during their college years, making a positive impact on their own lives and the lives of others.”

Four Durham College (DC) Fine Arts students have spent the summer transforming the L Wing with their artistic talent.

“We have an amazing group of students who have been hired to enliven our hallways by producing some original artwork and collaborative pieces,” explained Sean McQuay, professor and coordinator of the Fine Arts program.

Heading into the third and final year of their program, Elijah McKenzie, Meghan Costello, Jennifer Rammler and Jordan Dolman jumped at the opportunity to put their artistic stamp on the walls of DC for years to come.

The quartet have been hard at work since late spring, and many of their 18 pieces will be completed in time to be enjoyed by returning students next month. Work on the others will continue throughout the fall semester.

“The point is to bring life into the halls and make this feel like the art wing that it is,” said Costello. “I think it’s really special that we’re doing work that we’ll get to see every day throughout the year, and our classmates and other students will also get to see it.”

One eye-catching piece is a colorful and anatomically correct version of the familiar “I Heart DC” logo. But the artists were not instructed to simply promote the school. Instead, they were encouraged to treat the walls as their personal canvas and create work that’s meaningful to them.

McKenzie is particularly proud of a piece that depicts an open mouth emitting smoke.

“I wanted to represent how people want to get their voice out,” he said. “It’s nice to have a variety of different styles and themes.”

He has also collaborated with Costello as she creates a mural depicting a skeletal figure emitting light from within. Rammler has been hard at work on a mural that celebrates the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, while Dolman has focused on pieces that he hopes will radiate positivity.

“I’m just making them colorful and full of love and putting all that energy out there,” he said. “I always try to start with good vibes and just go with it.”

Providing a work study opportunity like this is a dream come true for McQuay, his fellow professor Keir Broadfoot and the entire Media, Art and Design (MAD) Faculty. Though the work of Fine Arts students has long been displayed throughout Durham College (DC), this is the first time they’ve been allowed to redecorate the wing they call home.

Though the students are being paid for their work, they’re also gaining invaluable experience in the conception, planning and implementation of the kind of art project they hope to work on in the future.

“We wanted to give them the opportunity to do the planning and conceptualization on their own, so they can have as much experience as possible working on a large-scale project,” said Broadfoot.  

It’s a rare opportunity that isn’t lost on the students, according to Rammler.

“I don’t even know of any art schools that would have such a convenient and open opportunity to do artwork for the school, and get paid for it, while you’re still students,” she said.

A summer of hard work will yield some great artwork for students to enjoy, and another example of how DC is leading the way in experiential learning.

The L Wing is open to everyone. Next time you’re on campus be sure to visit and enjoy the new artwork.

Durham College (DC) has partnered with Supply Chain Management Association Ontario (SCMAO) to provide students with a jumpstart to their job search.

While they complete their studies, students in DC’s Supply Chain programs will also be making progress towards earning their Certified Supply Chain Management Professional (CSCMP) designation. Offered by the SCMAO, the designation can be earned by completing a number of modules and workshops that cover the finer points of the supply chain industry. Though not required by employers, the CSCMP stamp of approval undoubtedly gets their attention when considering applicants.

“Being able to pursue their CSCMP designation is a definite leg up for a student. It’s a well-recognized designation in the world of supply chain management,” explained Nancy Martin, associate dean, Faculty of Business.

DC graduates from Supply Chain and Operations – Business, Supply Chain and Operations Management – Business Administration, and Supply Chain Management – Global will be exempted from a variety of the CSCMP program components, as long as they maintain a 60% average.

Providing students with a head start on their career journey is just one of the ways DC is leading the way, according to Kevin Baker, executive dean of the Faculty of Business.

“In almost every one of our programs, we’re connected with an external association which represents people working in that field,” he said, pointing to examples like the Microsoft Office Specialist certifications that are embedded into a number of business programs.

“These are designations that employers recognize, and together with the knowledge and skills students gain in their program, this accreditation will help them stand out in today’s competitive job market as career-ready graduates.”

Learn more about a recent Supply Chain Management – Global graduate, Rejoy James, online.