Durham College (DC) opened its doors to prospective students, families and friends at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses for the college’s annual Fall Open House on November 12.

More than 2,000 people explored DC’s state-of-the-art facilities and innovative learning spaces through guided tours, conversations with faculty experts from the college’s 145+ market-driven programs and meetings with support service representatives, such as financial aid, career services and co-op, to learn how DC is leading the way in post-secondary education.

At the Oshawa campus, visitors toured the creative spaces that make the DC student experience unique, including the Esports Gaming Arena, Mixed Reality Capture studio and the DC Spa, before attending information workshops, meeting President Don Lovisa and learning how to start their DC journey with Admissions representatives.

Whitby attendees participated in various workshops and toured the college’s innovative learning labs and shops, such as the Crane Simulation Lab and newly opened Ontario Power Generation Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology. They also had the opportunity to drop into one of two cooking demonstrations hosted by faculty in the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food – always a popular stop for those interested in DC’s culinary and hospitality programs!

At both campuses, attendees were invited to attend DC Alumni Guest Speaker panels, where DC grads offered unique perspectives on what they can expect as a student and the exciting opportunities available beyond college.

Did you miss Fall Open House? You can still learn more about all that DC has to offer. Campus tours and information sessions can be scheduled online or via email. You can also attend one of our upcoming Program Information Nights on January 17 and 18 and Spring Open House on April 1, 2023.

As the scope of paralegals’ role has increased, so has the demand for their skills within the community. Durham College (DC) is proud to launch a new Honours Bachelor of Paralegal degree – one of only two four-year degree programs of its kind in Ontario – to improve access to affordable legal representation and expertise.

The program will prepare students with the legal context they need as well as the cultural competency lens to provide legal services to a wide range of diverse populations including immigrants, refugees, Indigenous peoples, women and people who identify as 2SLGBTQQIA+. To best serve their future clients, students will gain an in-depth understanding of human rights claims, disability applications, Immigration and Refugee Board hearings, criminal code offences involving those who have experienced inter-generational trauma and applications involving mental health, housing and financial stability issues.

“We’re providing advanced programs like the Honours Bachelor of Paralegal because we understand the needs of our growing community,” says Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “By combining in-depth classroom learning with an experiential field placement, graduates of this degree program will have the tools they need to be future leaders in the legal sector.”

Graduates of the program will be prepared to provide legal services under the supervision of a lawyer or a licensed paralegal and are also eligible to apply to become Licensed Paralegals themselves through the Law Society of Ontario. Licensed Paralegals can independently represent their clients before various courts and tribunals within their regulated scope of legal practice. They also have the ability to continue their education by applying to law school or graduate studies.

“The paralegal profession has grown in complexity in recent years, which is why Durham College is excited to launch the Honours Bachelor of Paralegal program,” says Dr. Elaine Popp, executive vice president, Academic. “The student experience and the impact graduates’ expertise has on members of the community are at the forefront of program development. The Honours Bachelor of Paralegal program will develop confident graduates who are well equipped to advance in the legal field.”

For more information about the Honours Bachelor of Paralegal, including registration details for next fall, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/hbpl.

Results of Durham College’s (DC) first Diversity Self-Identification Survey are now available and will help support data-informed decision-making to continue the building of an inclusive and equitable campus culture. The survey was a collaborative effort by DC’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OEDI) and the Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE).

Of the staff and students polled, more than 500 full-time and part-time employees and 1,900 full-time and part-time students responded to the survey between January 25 to February 5, 2021, helping DC gather demographic data on five identity dimensions, including Indigenous identity, gender, sexual orientation, disability and ethnic origin.

Of note, eight in 10 employee respondents indicated that they believe people of all identities are valued at the college (85.5 per cent) and that they feel a sense of belonging as identities are valued at DC (80.3 per cent).

The results provide an opportunity to reflect on and improve DC’s current processes, policies and drive data-informed decision-making. One in five (20.2 per cent) employees perceive barriers to career progressions based on their personal identity, and over 68 per cent believe that transparency in decision-making about equity and inclusion decisions will help the college become a more diverse and inclusive institution.

This critical baseline information will support DC’s commitment to respect and inclusion. Together we will continue to lead the way to move the college beyond equity and inclusion to belonging.

Thank you to all who participated in the survey. For further information, please view the report online.

On October 25 and 26, girls from regional school boards participated in the Expand the Possibilities 4.0: Young Women in Science, Technology and Trades Conference (YWSTT) hosted by Durham College (DC). The on-campus event, in its fourth year, featured a series of interactive activities designed to foster a sense of curiosity in science, technology and skilled trades and connect Grade 7 and 8 girls to career opportunities in these fields.

To kick off each day of the conference, students heard from tech start-up founder and CEO Jessica Lui and HGTV home renovation expert Kate Campbell, before participating in several hands-on workshops at DC’s state-of-the-art facilities and learning spaces. 

“Women make up only 23 per cent of Canadians employed in science and technology, according to Statistics Canada,” says Bonnie St. George, associate vice president, Academic Administration. “As a post-secondary institution leading the way in science, technology and skilled trades, DC is uniquely positioned to help students surpass any gender barriers to entry in their chosen profession. We hope the conference helps these girls feel encouraged and inspired to pursue a career in a field they might not have considered.”

Students participated in a number of hands-on workshops including science and technology-themed activities, such as building a robot, investigating pond water under a microscope, and studying candy chromatography, the process of separating colours from candy using science. The event also featured a number of skilled trades learning opportunities, such as plumbing, welding and carpentry.

The event garnered praise from attendees, including Mikayla, a student at Monsignor J. Pereyma Catholic School in Oshawa.

 “Kate [Campbell] really inspired me today,” said Mikayla. “After hearing about how she grew up playing baseball around boys who would put her down and how her family supported her choices to do what she wanted to do, I think that would motivate other girls and break the stereotype that girls can’t do sports. Girls can do anything boys can do.”

This event was possible because of the generous support of community partners: Ontario Power Generation, Aecon, Black & McDonald, Elexicon Energy, Enercare, Gerdau, RESCON and Safran Landing Systems.

More information about YWSTT is available online.

As the federal and provincial governments emphasize the development of mental health support services as a priority to Canadians, Durham College (DC) is pleased to share that it has received consent from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to offer a new degree program available starting September 2023, the Honours Bachelor of Community Mental Health (HBMH).

According to the National Mental Health Institute, one in two Canadians will experience mental illness by the age of forty. With the HBMH, students will be trained with the knowledge, skills, and expertise to support individuals, organizations and institutions across of variety of mental health areas and make a significant contribution to the health and well-being of our communities. As the fifth degree offered at DC, HBMH’s inaugural program intake is September 2023, where students will learn about counselling theory and skills, social psychology, professional practices and interventions and more.

“With one in five Canadians experiencing a mental illness each year, there is an unprecedented need for increased services and experts in the community mental health field,” says Dr. Elaine Popp, executive vice president, Academic. “Graduates of this interdisciplinary degree program will be able to create a meaningful impact on their community by supporting the mental health of diverse populations in Canada, including Indigenous peoples, immigrants, refugees, women and 2SLGBTQIA+ clients.”

HBMH will encompass multiple subjects, including psychology, counselling, health promotion, and social justice. Through a comprehensive mix of theoretical, research and applied courses, students will acquire the skills needed to become leaders in mental health services. There will also be an opportunity to bridge education into real-world experience with a 14-week mandatory field placement, allowing for the practical application of methods and techniques for working collaboratively in the industry.

“As the demand for mental health services grows in Canada, the next generation of graduates is entering a workforce that requires a complex combination of technical knowledge as well as soft skills like cultural sensitivity and social awareness,” says Don Lovisa, president. “Our excellence in blending theoretical education with experiential learning opportunities will give our students a competitive advantage among other new graduates and help them lead the way in the evolving landscape of mental health.”

HBMH graduates may apply to the Master of Counselling Psychology degree program at the University of Western Ontario or pursue graduate education at Carleton University or Sir Wilfred Laurier University, if desired. Career opportunities for HBMH grads are numerous and varied, from social workers to crisis counsellors to housing advocates.

To learn more about this exciting new program, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/hbmh.

Media contact:

Elyse Carney
Communications Officer
Communications + Marketing
Durham College
elyse.carney@durhamcollege.ca