Durham College announces partnership with Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across Durham Region Posted on January 19, 2022 at 9:48 am. Durham College (DC) is pleased to announce a region-wide partnership between the college’s School of Business, IT & Management (BITM) and the eight Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade located in Durham Region. Launched in Fall 2021, this partnership provides every first-year BITM diploma student a membership in all Durham Region Chambers and Boards of Trade for the duration of their studies, plus an additional year following graduation. The goal of this partnership is to enhance their experience by helping students jumpstart their careers. Membership to the municipal Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade will grant students access to events where they can meet local professionals and potential future employers, develop key relationships in the industry and engage in professional development opportunities. “As leaders in transformative education, this new partnership demonstrates Durham College’s commitment to supporting the local business community through the creation of highly skilled students, graduates and applied researchers,” says Kevin Baker, executive dean, School of Business, IT & Management. “Partnering with Durham Region’s Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade will provide exciting and unique educational opportunities for students to develop an understanding of the community’s business sector and create meaningful connections with industry members within it.” Sharing a dedication to fostering business communities through connection, learning and leadership, DC is proud to be partnering with the following: Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Brock Board of Trade Clarington Board of Trade Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce Newcastle and District Chamber of Commerce Scugog Chamber of Commerce Uxbridge Chamber of Commerce Whitby Chamber of Commerce Speaking to this new partnership and the benefits it brings to the education and business communities, the Durham Region joint Chambers and Boards of Trade said, “this collaboration with Durham College is precedent setting. The Chambers and Boards of Trade in Durham Region are thrilled to participate in this initiative. Bringing educators, the business community and students together across municipalities to deliver strategic programing supports our collective desire to nurture talent in our region. This partnership ensures we have the workforce to sustain the continued growth and prosperity of our communities.” In addition to increasing their profile and establishing meaningful connections, DC students will gain unique business insight prior to entering the workforce, providing them with the necessary skills to face complex challenges and embrace opportunities for growth. As the first partnership of this magnitude, Durham College is looking forward to elevating the student experience and leading the way for future partnerships to be developed and explored. FastStartDC spotlight: Erin Malcolm, She Wolf Inc. Posted on January 5, 2022 at 11:14 am. Over the course of the pandemic, FastStartDC has continued to support Durham College’s (DC) student entrepreneurs to find novel ways to bring their business ideas to life. Despite the challenges, our students have demonstrated innovative thinking, discovering inspiration within themselves, their personal experiences and from each other. DC alumna Erin Malcolm is a graduate of the DC’s Entrepreneurship and Small Business program and a shining example of how our students have turned innovative ideas into viable businesses during uncertain times. Erin started her academic program knowing that she wanted to enhance her skillset while building a business that would allow her to leverage her creative energy for good in order to help others. What wasn’t quite as clear for Erin was what form her new enterprise would take. “Entrepreneurship has always been a part of who I am and how I relate to the world,” says Erin. “I have always craved independence and I know that I am really creative and possess a wildly vivid imagination.” What Erin didn’t know at the time was how the things she learned in her program at DC, combined with the free entrepreneurship supports available through FastStartDC and the inspiring faculty and staff she met along the way, would allow her to graduate with an incorporated business, She Wolf Inc., and launch two sub-businesses by the end of 2021 and a third slated for 2022. The FastStartDC team provided Erin with the support to build a viable business model and long-term strategic plan and helped guide her through the launch process to tell her unique story through her branding and marketing. “The mentorship I received was irreplaceable, and the connections I was able to make will be invaluable as I continue to grow my business. My only regret is that I didn’t start working with FastStart sooner.” As a DC student, Erin was able to take advantage of the many services offered through FastStart. At no cost to her business, she received logo and branding support, website development, photography, videography, postcard and workbook design and social media strategies and templates. “FastStart was instrumental in the development of the She Wolf Inc. brand and all that comes along with it.” says Erin. “FastStart helped bring my vision to life by listening to who I wanted to serve, and how I wanted to serve them, and then helping to express that through the many layers of my brand.” In addition to She Wolf Inc., Erin’s experiences starting and running a small business helped her identify opportunities and address gaps in the market. Erin’s Methodically Yours is a consulting business that provides small enterprises with a variety of services so owners can focus on growth. These services include bookkeeping, digital marketing (social media, email marketing, blog posts), graphic design, copy writing, customer relationship management and employee onboarding supports. As a way to give back, Erin also launched Whole Hearted Coaching. As the creator and chief coach behind The Whole Hearted Coaching program, Erin is building on her first-hand experience with emotional healing and seeks to share this insight with women all over the world who are in need. The Whole Hearted Coaching program is designed for women who are feeling burned out, uninspired, anxious, depressed, or directionless. The program includes mindfulness, emotion regulation, finding your “spark”, connecting to your future self, cleaning house from the inside out, and learning how to set clear goals and a path for moving forward. To ensure every young woman in Canada that desires to participate in the program has access to it, Erin started the Whole Hearted Coaching Program Scholarship Fund that aims to help women facing financial barriers participate in the coaching program. Without a doubt, Erin is a DC alumna to watch. Her passion to give back and support women in need is admirable. The team at FastStart wishes Erin well and is excited to watch her businesses flourish as she makes a meaningful impact in the world. Global Issues students address human trafficking with competitive poster campaign Posted on December 21, 2021 at 2:02 pm. Students enrolled in Durham College’s (DC) Global Issues: Extremism and Trafficking course had an opportunity to address a real-life issue when they were asked to create an appeal poster to attract the attention of a human trafficking victim and provide vital contact information for immediate assistance. The campaign was designed to encourage students to apply their newly developed skills in graphics software while considering the issue of human trafficking in their community. Led by Murray Rose, professor, School of Justice & Emergency Services (JES), and former investigator with the Durham Regional Police Services Human Trafficking Unit, the project’s final component asked students to present their posters to an expert panel of members of the college community and external partners, including: Joanne Spicer, associate dean, JES Yvonne Armstrong, program co-ordinator, Advanced Law Graduate Certificate program, JES Jeff Tucker, constable, Durham Regional Police Services and former investigator in the Human Trafficking Unit Laura Burch, manager, Bethesda House Darlene Rosa, chief operating officer, Timea’s Cause Inc. Jenna Peace, student chair person, Durham College Student Association and graduate, School of Media, Art & Design “As a panelist, it was incredibly rewarding to witness the level of student engagement on this project,” said Joanne Spicer, associate dean, JES. “By fostering their creative voices, the students proved how innovation and analytical thinking can effectively be used in their future careers to make a positive impact in their community.” After a difficult deliberation, the panel was able to narrow it down to two finalists, Robyn Leger and Julie Potapinski, both post-graduate certificate students in the Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations program. As the finalists, Robyn and Julie collaborated to create a combined final poster. “By working together with experts in the field of anti-trafficking, we can improve the experiential learning of Durham College students entering the field of law enforcement,” said Murray. “Collaborations like these continue to help bring awareness to this important cause, and strengthen the unique student experience offered at Durham College.” After four years of teaching the course, Murray hopes to continue partnering with local organizations, such as Bethesda House, a shelter that facilitates care for domestic violence and human trafficking victims, and Timea’s Cause Inc., an organization dedicated to assisting survivors of human trafficking, to build on the momentum of the poster campaign and further enhance the course’s innovative training opportunities. DC receives $900,000 from Weston Family Foundation to build new Centre for Organic Regeneration Posted on December 15, 2021 at 10:58 am. Durham College (DC) is pleased to announce that it has received $900,000 in funding from the Weston Family Foundation to create a new Centre for Organic Regeneration at the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food. A 1,500-sq. ft. facility and composting system, the Centre for Organic Regeneration will enable DC to complete the field-to-fork (and now back-to-field) loop by processing food waste from the Whitby campus and returning it to the earth, specifically the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food fields. This will reduce food waste on campus by 90 per cent while lessening the need for compost from outside sources. The new facility will also create research and work-integrated-learning opportunities and will be incorporated into the curriculum for related programs. “Sustainability in urban farming has always guided the development of the Weston Centre,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “The new organic regeneration facility is one more way we can continue to lead the way in best practices for food and farming.” This donation represents the Weston Family Foundation’s ongoing commitment to ecologically based agriculture practices, and its overall goal of delivering measurable impacts to the well-being of Canadians. “We are pleased to help bring this world-class facility to life at Durham College,” said Emma Adamo, chair, Weston Family Foundation. “We hope the Centre for Organic Regeneration will not only significantly reduce food waste on campus, but also provide a model for other like-minded institutions to emulate moving forward.” DC is proud of the continued growth and innovation at the Whitby campus and recognizes the integral link between this success and the generous history of support from the Foundation. Past donations have helped establish the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food, as well as the vertical and hydroponic facilities and expanded greenhouses, in addition to funding scholarships and bursaries for students studying programs through DC’s School of Hospitality & Horticultural Science. “Just as it takes a team of faculty, students and employees to bring our fields, gardens and orchards to life each year, it also takes a network of businesses and organizations to help the college achieve its goals,” said Lovisa. “We are extremely grateful to the Weston Family Foundation for their support of the work we do each and every day to drive positive change and innovation in food and farming education.” DC’s Academic Upgrading office helps Indigenous students pursue millwrighting trade Posted on December 10, 2021 at 2:12 pm. Durham College’s (DC) Academic Upgrading office is delighted to announce the successful completion of the Introduction to Millwright project at the Ontario Power Generation (OPG) Darlington Energy Complex. The six-week training program was delivered to a cohort of eight individuals from Indigenous communities in the area who made significant life changes to commit to the program with the goal of being successfully indentured into the Millwright Regional Council of Ontario (MRCO) as first year apprentices. The program consisted of two weeks of in-class academic upgrading to prepare students for the communications, math and spatial reasoning segments of the Millwright aptitude test, as well as a four-week Introduction to Millwrighting course delivered by qualified MRCO sister training instructors with weekly support from the Academic Upgrading team. In addition to DC’s Academic Upgrading program, the following organizations were involved in the creation, funding and delivery of the Introduction to Millwright project: Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario First Nations Power Authority Indigenous Opportunities Network Kigita Mikam Aboriginal Employment & Training Millwright Local 2309 Millwright Regional Council of Ontario OPG Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries This successful partnership between DC, industry, union and community-based organizations is a testament to what can be accomplished when there is a demonstrated commitment to improving opportunities for Indigenous candidates into the trades. FastStart launches the Start Market to showcase DC’s student and alumni entrepreneurs Posted on December 8, 2021 at 8:58 am. On December 3, FastStartDC, Durham College’s (DC) on-campus entrepreneurship center launched an online marketplace called the Start Market, showcasing some of the incredibly talented student entrepreneurs here at DC. We see it every day – students coming to FastStart to turn their passion, craft or hobby into a business. With the rise in online-based businesses, the FastStart team is really excited to launch the Start Market and give the college community an opportunity to support our local entrepreneurs. While we have hosted holiday markets in the past, this new marketplace will be a year-round initiative that highlights student entrepreneurs who sell products as well as those that provide services, so if you’re looking for talented photographers, graphic designers, social media experts or content creators, Start Market has a dedicated section of freelance services offered by our students. Earlier this fall, FastStartDC launched a new Maker2Market program to help participants get their businesses up and running in six weeks, providing DC’s student entrepreneurs an incredible opportunity to share with the world what they have to offer in time for the holiday shopping season. We’re excited to feature some of our recent Maker2Market program graduates in the online store. The Start Market has something for everyone. You can enjoy ethically sourced coffee, roasted by Journalism student Andrew Neary from Kettleboy Coffee or check out some unique apparel from talented Data Analytics student Rita Aboagye-otoo of Aleaza Collections or Sustainable Stitches by our Animal Care student Meera Mohindra. If you are looking for art to brighten your space, or unique décor for your home or as a gift, check out Art Blizz by Vidhi Mehra, from DC’s Data Analytics program and City Lights Studio by Fine Arts student, Josiah Chung. Fill your home with warmth and light with a candle by Advertising student Shantel Loague-llewellyn at L’Amour Jae and pick up some treats for your furry friends from Sassypants Pets Bakery by PR & Strategic Communications student Afrika Nieves-Bentley. FastStartDC’s alumni entrepreneurs also have some great gift ideas. Check out the incredible charcuterie boards from Katherine Polack, beautiful and timeless jewelry from Judda, incredible art pieces from Jasmine Rutschhman or sustainable apparel from our friends at 3eeHive. Built and maintained by students, the Start Market is an innovative way to get first-hand experience at building an online enterprise. New businesses will be added regularly, so visit often to see the incredible offerings of DC’s talented entrepreneurs. Durham College receives more than $106,000 in funding to support first-ever postdoctoral fellowship Posted on December 7, 2021 at 3:29 pm. Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) is pleased to announce its first-ever postdoctoral fellowship, thanks to a Mitacs Accelerate grant totaling $106,666, including a contribution and collaboration with the City of Oshawa’s Fire Services through TeachingCity Oshawa. Working with principal investigator Dr. Michael Williams-Bell, professor and research coordinator in DC’s School of Health & Community Services, Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. David Brian Copithorne joins the ORSIE team for a two-year term to support an innovative new project using virtual reality to simulate uncontrolled fire scenarios and improve training for firefighters and other Public Safety Personnel using immersive, life-like simulation. “It’s an honour to be chosen as the college’s first postdoctoral fellow,” said Dr. Copithorne, who received his PhD from the University of Western Ontario. “The work we are undertaking using novel virtual reality simulation training is really going to enrich the firefighting training experience.” Thanks to technology found in DC’s Mixed Reality Capture Studio, the physiological and psychological responses of firefighters that often occur during uncontrolled fire scenarios will be elicited. This will allow participants to be better prepared by learning to manage stressors and optimize their performance and well-being in real-life emergency situations, without the risk of injury, an outcome the City of Oshawa is looking forward to. “We congratulate Durham College on its first-ever postdoctoral fellowship and we are excited to partner on this collaborative project,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter. “The virtual reality simulations developed by DC will complement real-life training scenarios and help Oshawa’s firefighters master their skills.” The grant has also funded two undergraduate intern positions, which are being overseen by Dr. Williams-Bell. “The Ontario government is proud to support initiatives where the talent and expertise of Ontario’s PhD graduates is being leveraged to solve real-world problems through research and innovation,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “By investing in research internships, we are preparing the next generation of talent with the experience they need to get good jobs after graduation. We’re also supporting employers, who are looking for students and graduates with hands-on experience so they can make an immediate impact in the workforce.” The addition of a post-doctoral fellow is one more way DC is expanding its applied research innovation and reach. “This is a very exciting opportunity for the college,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, ORSIE. “As with all of our projects, faculty and students benefit from hands-on experiential learning, working to solve real-world challenges, while our partners are able to take advantage of our expertise and technology.” This is the third Mitacs Accelerate grant the college has been awarded. “We are proud to support Durham College’s first postdoctoral fellowship and its commendable dedication to driving research and innovation in Canada,” said Mitacs CEO Dr. John Hepburn. “Dr. Copithorne’s virtual reality research will improve training for firefighters and safety for workers. We are very pleased to leverage provincial and federal funding to drive innovations that improve the lives of Canadians.” Durham College recognized as a Greater Toronto Top Employer for eleventh year Posted on December 3, 2021 at 9:33 am. Durham College (DC) is proud to announce it has once again been named one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2022. Awarded to organizations for their progressive, forward-thinking employee programs, this marks the eleventh time the college has received this honour. Among the many reasons for selection as a Top Employer, DC was specifically recognized for its diversity and inclusion – 65 per cent of its executive team are women – as well as its family-friendly policies and excellent maternity and parental leave benefits, including paid leave for mothers, 35 weeks of paid leave for partners and adoptive parents, and 93 per cent salary top up benefits. The selection committee also acknowledged other employee supports offered by DC, including tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, a defined benefit pension plan with employer-matched contributions and a new remote work policy, which supports the option for some roles to continue operating remotely in a hybrid capacity beyond the pandemic. It was also noted support does not stop once a DC employee retires. From retirement planning assistance prior to their departure to maintaining the connection between retired employees and the college through the Retiree Association, DC encourages and helps its employees at every stage of their career, from those just starting out, to those ready to transition into the next chapter of their lives. “We owe so much of our success as a post-secondary institution to our employees, whose dedication, passion and expertise provide our students with an exceptional education and college experience,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “Ensuring their professional fulfillment and personal well-being is a top priority, as we are only as strong as our people and together, we are leading the way.” Greater Toronto’s Top Employers is an annual competition organized by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. This special designation recognizes Greater Toronto Area employers who lead their industries by offering exceptional places to work. Organizations are judged on several criteria including physical workplace; work and social atmosphere; 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 sector to determine which offer the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. More information can be found on DC’s Greater Toronto Top Employers profile. More than 1,500 visitors explored DC digitally at Fall Virtual Open House Posted on November 17, 2021 at 9:54 am. November 13 marked Durham College’s (DC) fourth Virtual Open House event in two years, as DC’s dedicated employees, faculty and students logged on to welcome more than 1,500 prospective students and their families as they explored DC online. Checking in from across the globe, visitors from 50 countries benefited from the immersive, virtual format as they got an inside look at DC and gained access to important information that will help them prepare for their college experience. Through informative live program information and student support services sessions, visitors had the opportunity to ask questions about DC’s more than 140 market-driven programs and learned about financing their education, living on campus, career outcomes and everything in between. Guided virtual tours of campus spaces, including learning environments, residence, applied research centres and wellness facilities, allowed visitors to envision themselves on our campuses. Attendees also had the chance to enter to win a $5,000 tuition credit, fall 2022 semester parking passes, Flex Dollar meal cards and DC swag. Since last year, DC has welcomed more than 12,000 visitors to virtual student recruitment events and information sessions, providing the opportunity to create the meaningful connections between visitors and DC community members that are a hallmark of the college’s pre-pandemic in-person events. For more information on applying to DC and upcoming student recruitment events, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/student-recruitment or reach out to recruitment@durhamcollege.ca. DC receives more than $472,000 from Global Skills Opportunity to support faculty-led learning abroad for students Posted on November 12, 2021 at 8:30 am. In the current Canadian context of urgently needed Reconciliation, Durham College (DC) has been awarded more than $472,000 in funding from Global Skills Opportunity, the Government of Canada’s Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program, for an innovative international learning opportunity designed to engage with Indigenous and traditional communities around the world. Offered through DC’s Faculty-Led Classroom Abroad (FLCA) program, FLCA@Home and Away will begin with virtual activities, followed by future global travel opportunities to participating countries. “We are very excited to be offering this program to students,” said Janine Knight-Grofe, manager, International Education at DC. “Based on previous education abroad experiences between the college and communities in Guatemala, we’ve gained valuable insights into the rich learning and transformation that takes place when we engage in authentic interactions with Indigenous peoples. FLCA@Home and Away is a timely extension of that work, which will allow students to interact and exchange knowledge and skills with these groups from other countries. It is through these experiences that students develop a foundation for Reconciliation at home.” By taking part in the FLCA@Home and Away initiative, students will increase their knowledge of intercultural competencies and hone their professional networking skills while demonstrating cultural awareness, adaptability, resilience, creativity, and self-awareness, particularly in understanding the unique perspectives and contributions of Indigenous peoples. They also will learn to respond positively to written, spoken, or visual messages in a manner that ensures respect of cultural differences, while developing the ability to recognize and interpret cultural perspectives without bias. In addition, demonstrating respect for the diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contributions of others will be emphasized as they cultivate transferable skills for their personal and professional development. FLCA@Home and Away was designed in collaboration with DC’s International Education Office, faculty, the First Peoples Indigenous Centre, the Access and Support Centre and the Career Development Office. The first offering, FLCA@Home: Storytelling will take place virtually over the winter 2022 semester for students from the college’s School of Media, Art & Design. Future projects are also being planned for students across the college’s other academic schools. More information about FLCA@Home and Away can be found at www.durhamcollege.ca/flca. Details about the Global Skills Opportunity program are also available online. « 1 … 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 … 165 »