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DC music business grad launches first annual Vietnam Music Week

Since graduating from the Music Business Administration (MBA) program at Durham College (DC) in 2018, Thao Nghiem has been in tune with emerging trends in the Canadian and international music industries. Currently based in Toronto, Thao’s latest initiative as co-founder of the Vietnam Music Industry Network (VMIN) has introduced exciting opportunities to support the music industry in her native country while honouring her Vietnamese culture.

In June 2021, after three years of planning, Thao and her VMIN partners successfully launched the first annual Vietnam Music Week (VMW). With more than 250 attendees, this five-day virtual conference featured 30 guest speakers, companies and organizations, and offered engaging panel discussions, keynote presentations and success stories.

“It’s rewarding to see our grads applying the skills they’ve learned at Durham College and establishing themselves as respected professionals in the music industry,” says Greg Murphy, dean, School of Media, Art & Design (MAD).

The inspiration for VMW was sparked by her involvement with the VMIN community, which offers access to free, industry-related news and resources, job boards, events and other exclusive opportunities.

“Popular music and its consumption are at a fever pitch in Vietnam and many other Asian countries, and my partners and I were inspired to provide a platform for education, collaboration and networking that could lead to growth for individual music creators and the Vietnamese music industry,” explains Thao. “The more I learned about Canadian and international music industries, the clearer the opportunities became to apply my knowledge and support my music community back home.”

Thao has been working as a Label Licensing and Royalty Liaison at the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) in Toronto. Representing music rights holders and offering various licensing services, her role has helped build a foundation for her own entrepreneurial ventures. Her mentor, Tony Sutherland, a professor in DC’s MBA program, participated as a guest speaker during VMW, leading a series of workshops, such as: Composition, Copyright, and Music Education; Music Applications Outside the Industry; and Musical Performance and Advertising Collaboration.

“Vietnam Music Week is a great initiative that fosters collaboration and education,” says Tony Sutherland. “Together, with industry professionals from across the globe, attendees gain insights about the current music industry landscape and potential opportunities for growth.”

During her time at DC, Thao developed meaningful connections on campus and in the community, acting as co-founder and co-director of the Oshawa Music Awards, an event dedicated to celebrating music and talent within Durham Region.

“My experience in the MBA program at Durham College was my gateway into the music industry,” explains Thao. “The experienced faculty members were encouraging and supportive, and I especially benefitted from the hands-on experiences offered through workshops and practicum.”

With planning already underway for next year, Thao and her team are excited to shape VMW into an annual event for those who are interested in learning, collaborating and fostering the growth of the music industry in Vietnam and beyond.

DC students win media awards for video and podcast produced in Guatemala

In February 2020, a group of Durham College (DC) students spent five days in Las Arrugas, Guatemala – a small, remote Mayan village – as part of a Faculty-led Classroom Abroad. During that time and following the trip, the students undertook media projects inspired by their visit – two of which were recently recognized with accolades from the 2021 Canadian Media Educators (CME) National Student Awards.

Ryan Beaton, a Video Production student, and Tara Sottile, a Journalism – Mass Media student, won in the Best Corporate/Client-Based Production category for their video We Are SOS, which was produced for the organization Students Offering Support. In addition, Meagan Secord, a Journalism – Mass Media student, won Best Podcast or Current Affairs Show for her powerful podcast Les Femmes: Strong Women Aren’t Born, They’re Raised, which looks at the impact of the Guatemalan civil war on the women who are now mothers in Las Arrugas. The podcast has also been shared online by Global Affairs Canada’s Fund for Innovation and Transformation

“These awards underscore the transformative impact that Faculty-led Classrooms Abroad and experiential learning opportunities have on our students,” said Danielle Harder, a former CBC journalist and a professor in the School of Media, Art & Design. “Their understanding of Guatemala, its people and its culture is reflected in the high-calibre pieces Ryan, Tara and Meagan produced, and I’m thrilled that their work has been recognized.”

Faculty-led Classroom Abroad opportunities at DC involve students travelling with a faculty member to another country. These for-credit programs are typically 10 to 12 days in length, and faculty members, in cooperation with DC’s International Education office, customize unique learning experiences that aim to bridge the curriculum with the local culture and teach students the skills needed to adapt, thrive and succeed in an increasingly globalized world.

The CME National Student Awards program recognizes and rewards the unique combination of creativity and technical excellence demonstrated by students in radio, television/video, new media/animation, game design and photography programs taught in CME member institutions.

DC’s Business Plan and Annual Report are now available

Durham College (DC) is pleased to share both its 2020-2021 Annual Report and 2021-2022 Business Plan.

“In looking back at the year that’s been, while also mapping out our objectives and goals for the current year, we’ve had the opportunity to see the college’s mission – Together we’re leading the way – truly come to life,” said Don Lovisa, president. “Working, teaching and learning during a global pandemic has presented us with challenges. Despite the uncertainty we’ve faced, DC’s Annual Report shares incredible stories of adaptability and innovation, while the Business Plan capitalizes on all we’ve achieved during the past year, to help drive our success and chart our course for the future.”

Both documents can be viewed online in interactive and PDF formats.

Five Durham College alumnae nominated for 2021 Premier’s Awards

Durham College (DC) is pleased to announce that, in recognition of their outstanding career success related to their college experience and the significant contributions they have made to their community, five alumnae – Caroline Wright, Tamara Dus, Judy Pal, Tamara Green and Ellen Campbell – have been nominated for the 2021 Premier’s Awards.

The Premier’s Awards honour the important social and economic contribution that college graduates make to Ontario and throughout the world. The awards were launched in 1992 and are administered by Colleges Ontario. Presented annually, the Premier’s Awards recognize graduates in the following seven categories – Apprenticeship, Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Health Sciences, Recent Graduate, and Technology.

“We are DC proud of our five outstanding alumnae and their nominations for this prestigious award,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “Their accomplishments and the impact they make in their sector and communities is proof that a college education lays a strong foundation for incredible and uniquely rewarding careers. Good luck to our nominees!”

DC’s nominees include:

Caroline Wright – Sports Business Management, 1996

Caroline Wright has spent the past two decades supporting the success of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), one of the largest and most diverse sports and entertainment portfolios in North America. As the senior director of Operations and general manager for MLSE Facilities, she manages all MLSE venues, including Scotiabank Arena, BMO Field, Coca-Cola Coliseum, and more. She has been recognized with multiple awards from the NHL, NBA and MLB for leading business results, and in 2018, was presented with an MVP Award for leading the building conversion of the Air Canada Centre to Scotiabank Arena. Most recently she was recognized by Sports Business Journal. Wright is nominated for a Premier’s Award in the Business category.

Tamara Dus – Registered Nursing, 1993

A registered nurse and the director of Health Service, Occupational Health and Wellness for the University Health Network (UHN), Tamara Dus leads COVID-19 employee response, addressing frontline worker burn-out and stress from the pandemic. She also co-leads the provincial pilot vaccination roll-out to support Ontario’s immunization strategy for vaccine clinics. Dus was instrumental in establishing the first COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Ontario, and in December 2020, administered the first five doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the province. She has been recognized as the Most Influential Woman in Emergency & Critical Care Solutions in Ontario by Acquisition International. Dus is nominated for a Premier’s Award in the Health Sciences category.

Judy Pal – Sports and Entertainment Administration, 1983

Judy Pal is a sought-after consultant who has worked with international police agencies in Canada, Chile and Trinidad and held numerous communications and administration leadership roles across police organizations in North America. She is credited with re-tooling the image of the largest police department in Atlantic Canada and has conducted image and media training for more than 200 commanders with the NYPD and thousands of law enforcement professionals. She is also a regular contributing trainer at FBI Regional Command Colleges across the U.S. and has taught and spoken at events across North America, Australia, Uruguay and the Philippines. Pal is nominated for a Premier’s Award in the Community Services category.

Tamara Green – Culinary Management, 2017 and Advanced Baking and Pastry Arts, 2018

The founder of the personal chef company Indigenesis, Tamara Green provides Indigenous ingredient-based catering inspired by the Great Lakes region and surrounding Indigenous nations. She prepares items with historical ingredients used prior to Canada’s colonization, avoiding the flora, fauna and animals that were introduced to the area by settlers. Through Indigenesis, as well as her participation in local events like Ontario Culture Days, Green provides opportunities to learn history through food while honouring Indigenous culture and cuisine. Green’s recipes have been published online and in print, and featured in the Fall 2020 edition of Grapevine Magazine. Green is nominated for a Premier’s Award in the Recent Graduate category.

Ellen Campbell – Water Quality Technician, 2013

Ellen Campbell’s passion for clean water has allowed her to nurture an incredible career. She is a senior operator and mechanic with the Ontario Clean Water Agency and member of the agency’s Executive Leadership Committee, as well as the marketing manager for the Ontario Association of Sewage Industry Services. Outside of work, Campbell has sat on the Walkerton Clean Water Centre’s Board of Directors and is the founder of Rain It In, a national non-profit and annual competition that challenges post-secondary students to create innovative solutions to mitigate the impacts of intense rainfall events and floods. Campbell is nominated for a Premier’s Award in the Technology category.

This year’s Premier’s Award winners will be announced in November. For more information, please visit www.co-awards.org.

It was another successful year for the Regional Chair’s Classic in memory of Roger Anderson

Although participants didn’t come together on the golf course this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, Roger Anderson’s legacy continued with the 2021 Virtual Regional Chair’s Classic silent auction.

Thanks to the generous donations from our sponsors, donors and proceeds from the auction, over $150,000 was raised in support of students in financial need at Durham College and Ontario Tech University, as well as programs at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.

In total more than $6.9 million has been raised since the tournament’s inception.

“I want to thank the local community for their support of the students and youth in Durham Region,” said John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer for The Regional Municipality of Durham. “Although this year’s Regional Chair’s Classic was different than in the past, the results and impact will continue to make a difference in the lives of many.”

Don Lovisa, president, Durham College; Karim Mamdani, president and CEO, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences; Dr. Steven Murphy, president, Ontario Tech University were on hand for the cheque presentation, also offering their gratitude on behalf of their respective institutions.

DC’s new Social Impact Hub receives more than $300,000 grant from the College and Community Social Innovation Fund

Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) is pleased to announce it has received a SSHRC College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) Grant for over $300,000.

Awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the funds will support DC’s recently launched social innovation applied research centre, the Social Impact Hub, in developing a model of support that is proactive and addresses the social issues that impact parents with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (ID/DD).

Designed in response to their needs, the project will identify and remove barriers for children, youth, and families impacted by ID/DD by seeking their feedback, along with input from key partners to create a model that addresses the obstacles they face, while building the capacity of the service providers supporting these families.

The project is being led by DC professors Kay Corbier and Amanda Cappon, who both teach in the School of Health & Community Services.  “Parents play a critical role in child development, especially in the early years,” said Amanda Cappon, project co-director. “As individuals with ID/DD and cognitive challenges become parents, they may require individualized supports to learn skills such as diapering, feeding and bedtime routines, to foster a safe and healthy environment. This in turn helps avoid removal of the child from the family home. Unfortunately, research has shown skills-building supports are not always appropriate or available to these members of our community.”

This research project also directly supports the redesign of the Child Welfare System in Ontario. By incorporating the voices of parents with ID/DD challenges, and then creating a model that service providers can use to address those barriers and deliver assistance, trauma can be avoided by preserving the family unit.

“We are very grateful for the support of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the CCSIF Fund,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, ORSIE. “This project is a prime example of why we launched the Social Impact Hub – so Durham College can leverage faculty expertise, student talent and strong community partnerships to identify creative solutions to complex social challenges through leading-edge social innovation projects and initiatives.”

To learn more about the Social Impact Hub visit www.durhamcollege.ca/socialimpacthub.

DC students win big at Microsoft Office Specialist Canadian National Championship 2021

Last month, seven Durham College (DC) School of Business, IT & Management students competed against their peers at the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Canadian National Championship 2021. Hosted by CCI Learning, an education technology company, the MOS competition tests the skills of students aged 13 to 22 years old in Microsoft Office applications.

Students were tasked with taking certification exams for Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint and Excel, with the highest scores determining who placed at the top of each category.

At the end of the competition, four DC students placed across all categories, with Maggie McCrimmon taking first place and Hayden Ellis placing third in the Microsoft PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps & Office 2019) category. Brandon Linde also placed first in the Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps & Office 2019) category, while Garret Duncan took third place in the Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps & Office 2019) category.

All winners received a medal of achievement and certificate, while the first-place students received a $1,500 scholarship, and have been invited to represent Canada at the MOS World Championship 2021 competition.

Due to COVID-19, the dates for the World Championship have not yet been released. When it takes place, DC’s first place students will have the opportunity to compete for a chance at a $7,000, $3,500 and $1,500 monetary prize.

Congratulations to DC’s winning students and good luck at the World Championship!

DC hosts virtual engineering sessions for Durham District School Board

Durham College (DC) was pleased to partner with the Durham District School Board to support an interactive and collaborative learning experience for students at R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate & Vocational Institute (CVI) in Oshawa.

On March 31, DC’s School of Science, Engineering & Technology (SET) professors Beau James, Dimitri Stathopoulos and David Duncan hosted “Engineering: Electromagnetism” – a live-streamed event for members of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Club at R.S. McLaughlin CVI. Students were given the opportunity to create their own electromagnet, using personalized DC-branded kits delivered to them prior to the event. The session concluded with a discussion around electromagnetism applications by innovative autonomous vehicle companies, such as Tesla – a newsworthy topic that captured the interest of many participants.

“Given the impact COVID-19 has had on schools throughout our community, this initiative provided an opportunity to foster important relationships with students interested in STEM-related programs, and promote the benefits of collaborative education,” says Dr. Rebecca Milburn, executive dean. “The college is thrilled to play a role in inspiring the next generation of learners and offer a glimpse into the exciting field of electromagnetism at a time when students are planning their academic futures.”

This is not the first time DC has supported the Science department at R.S McLaughlin CVI. In November 2020, David and Dimitri filmed labs for two of teacher Nadia Baby’s classes when students switched to virtual learning and were unable to access the high school’s labs. For Grade 11 Chemistry, David and Dimitri demonstrated the method of Titration to calculate the concentration of antacid in a TUMS tablet. In Nadia’s Biology class, the professors led a lab on the “Spread of a Virus,” using the indicator phenolphthalein, and asked the students to create a plan to trace the person originating the virus – a timely topic the students enjoyed relating to their own studies.

“Partnering with Durham College has allowed me to provide an enriching experience for my students after a year of change and uncertainty,” says Nadia Baby, Grade 11 and 12 science teacher, R.S. McLaughlin CVI. “I’m grateful for the impact this has had on my classes and look forward to working with Durham College again in the future.”

DC grad nominated for Daytime Emmy® Award and James Beard Foundation Award

Kristin Atwood, an alumna of the Durham College (DC) Culinary Management program, has been combining her passion for food and filmmaking since graduating in 2017. What began as a freelance gig creating media content for local restaurants, has since evolved into an award-winning independent production company called Chef Studio, where she produces cooking tutorials and web series that bring the joy and magic of cooking to digital streaming and video-on-demand platforms.

With more than 5 million views on her channel, Kristin has been able to turn Chef Studio into a thriving full-time job, allowing her to showcase her creativity and skill in cinematography, as well as her culinary prowess as she helps others learn to cook. It’s also landed her two incredible nominations.

This week, her At Home Pasta series was nominated for an Emmy® Award – which recognizes outstanding achievement in daytime television – in the Outstanding Single Camera Editing category. The seven-part series was inspired by the lack of kitchen staples available in grocery stores during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, when “panic buying” was at it’s worst. Using a few simple ingredients, Kristin was able to develop unique recipes, like beet pasta or egg yolk and ricotta ravioli, and created short films that explain how viewers could easily replicate these meals at home.

Chef Studio is up against five other programs in this category from Netflix, Hulu, and the Food Network, with the winner set to be announced at the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Lifestyle Programming ceremony on Sunday, July 18 at 8 p.m. ET. The series was also recently nominated for two Webby Awards in the Best Food and Drink and Best How-To, Explainer and DIY categories.

Prior to her Emmy nomination, Kristin was also recognized in 2020 with a prestigious nomination for a James Beard Foundation Award – America’s most coveted and comprehensive honour for chefs, restaurants, journalists, authors and other leaders in the food and beverage industry – for her series The Crumby Bits. With a focus on creating something beautiful and delicious out of ingredients that would have normally been considered scrap, waste, wilted or worthless, Chef Studio’s Cricket Macaron episode received its nomination in the Online Video, Fixed Location and/or Instructional category for its innovative take on culinary sustainability.

Kristin was also recently the recipient of an Alpha Female+ Grant. For her grant project, she intends to create a five-part series called Flight of the Bumblebees which will celebrate the beauty of spring and summer, and highlight the important work honeybees do during those seasons.

Congratulations to Kristin for her incredible culinary and filmmaking successes – your DC family is cheering you on from home!

Watch one of Kristin’s Chef Studio videos below – Making an Edible Forest Floor, as part of her Best Laid Schemes cooking series inspired by the lands and lochs of Scotland, where she currently resides.

Durham College’s Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation receives over $2.788 million in grants

Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) is pleased to announce that small – and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) throughout Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area will have enhanced access to support from its Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation, thanks to two separate grants, totalling more than $2.788 million.

Grant one: College and Community Innovation Grant

The first is a $2-million College and Community Innovation Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Provided over the course of five years, the funds will play an integral role in the Centre’s ability to scale up its applied research activities to meet and address the demand for its services from SMEs.

“We are incredibly grateful to be receiving this grant,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, ORSIE. “Given the growth SMEs are experiencing within the economic heart of Ontario, we know there is an urgent need to improve these businesses’ cybersecurity capabilities. However, the current capacity of the Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation could not meet this demand. Thanks to the additional funding we will now be able to provide dedicated faculty research time and resources to address the cybersecurity skills gap by training students and transferring knowledge to our immediate partners and the broader community.”

With the help of expert researchers, student talent and technology partnerships, the Centre will help SMEs develop and integrate cyber defense technologies and increase their cybersecurity awareness by undertaking applied research that falls under two themes –developing cybersecurity products and services with cybersecurity companies, and reducing the risks of cyberthreats to companies with critical infrastructure and operations. This will ultimately increase consumer confidence in the digital economy, promote international standardization, and better position Canada’s SMEs to compete globally.

Grant two: College Industry Innovation Fund Grant

The second is a College Industry Innovation Fund (CIIF) grant for a total of $788,509. Awarded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, these funds will be used to enhance the research capacity of DC’s Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation by bolstering its infrastructure.

“Given increasing cybersecurity demands from small- to medium-sized business (SMEs), combined with an accelerated digital transformation, and the number of people now working remotely, it’s more important than ever for SMEs to protect their information systems,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, ORSIE. “This generous CIIF grant will play an integral role in helping the Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation meet our clients’ needs.”

Thanks to the Centre’s enhancements, including purchasing new technology and software, adding technical personnel and building capacity for more equipment to effectively manage the increased power and security firewall demands, faculty and student researchers will be able to develop cybersecurity products and services and reduce the risks of cyberthreats to companies with critical infrastructure and operations.

Established in 2020, the Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation was launched as part of a plan to increase cybersecurity applied research capacity at DC. To learn more visit www.durhamcollege.ca/CentreforCybersecurityInnovation.