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.

The Durham College (DC) Board of Governors (BOG) is pleased to announce Kristi Honey as the new board chair and Gary Rose as vice-chair, respectively, effective Thursday, July 1, 2021.  The appointments are for a one-year term.

As chair of the BOG, Kristi brings over 20 years of private and public executive leadership experience to the role, including starting a global consultancy that grew to a multi-million-dollar enterprise, and was recognized by Microsoft as a top 5 per cent global partner. Currently the chief administrative officer for the Township of Uxbridge, she is also a DC graduate and Alumni of Distinction recipient for her success as an entrepreneur. In addition to her diploma, Kristi also holds a Bachelor of Management and Masters of Business Administration degree.  An active community volunteer, Kristi is a champion of human rights and environmental causes having been recognized for her efforts by Women of Influence’s Global Series as one of Canada’s leading women driving equality, diversity, and inclusion nationally and internationally.

As vice-chair of the BOG, Gary brings more than 30 years of progressive experience at Ontario Power Generation (OPG) in corporate finance and project planning and execution.  Gary is currently a vice-president within OPG’s Enterprise Projects Organization on the Darlington Refurbishment project and is supporting planning of OPG’s new nuclear Small Modular Reactor at Darlington.   For eight years, Gary served as a trustee on the Whitby Public Library Board and during this tenure, served on all committees and held the position of Vice-Chair and Chair of the Board.  Gary is a Chartered Professional Accountant, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and holds a Project Management Professional certification.

The BOG is responsible for the governance of DC. It is accountable to the students, employees and communities the college serves, ensuring the college is effectively and appropriately managed to achieve its established mandate and to provide needed services.

As chair, Kristi will be responsible for ensuring the board meets its responsibilities and established mandate through collaborative leadership, openness and transparency. To learn more about the roles of chair and vice-chair of the board, read the Board policy.

Durham College (DC) is pleased to receive $184,000 in funding as part of the Ontario government’s Roadmap to Wellness initiative, which will support eight mental health-related projects at select colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes.

In partnership with Ontario Tech University and Ontario Shores, the funding will be used by the Campus Health and Wellness Centre to support students from both institutions through the “Better Together Series” – a collaboration of creative workshops, volunteer opportunities and informational sessions supporting a multi-dimensional framework to address the social Isolation and grief resulting from COVID-19.

“Durham College is excited to receive these funds and work with our partners Ontario Tech University and Ontario Shores to foster social connectedness and mitigate grief among students from our campus,” says Darlene Heslop, director, Campus Health and Wellness Centre. “Funding for projects like this is incredibly important as we look to support students during these challenging times.”

Grounded in identity, shared interest, meaningful relationships, involvement and belongingness, the “Better Together Series” will employ action-based activities and integrate mental health education to foster social growth, resilience and promote the wellness of students on- and off-campus through the Campus Health and Wellness Centre.

The “Better Together Series” launched in May, and is available to the general student population, while being mindful of the unique vulnerabilities of 2SLGBTQ+, Indigenous and other multicultural students who experience mental health disparities which may be exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions.

For more information, please contact the Campus Health and Wellness Centre at cwhc@durhamcollege.ca.