Info for
Quick links
Download our Mobile app
Icon for Apple. App Store Icon for Android. Google Play

DC launches new learning series for employees on equity, diversity and inclusion

Durham College (DC) is launching a new learning series for employees as part of ongoing work towards ensuring an equitable post-secondary experience for all students.

Developed jointly by DC’s Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion and Transitions and its Centre for Academic and Faculty Enrichment, the series is titled Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Pedagogy and Practice and comprises five modules:

  • Power, Privilege and Bias
  • Navigating Difficult Conversations
  • Inclusive and Responsive Teaching
  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
  • Conversations in Decolonization

DC recognizes the rich diversity of all students and appreciates the need to ensure this diversity is welcomed and reflected in all teaching and learning practices. The modules reinforce DC’s values of diversity, inclusion, and respect, and were created to introduce college employees to the concepts of inclusion and cultural intelligence so that all students can be equitably supported.

DC celebrates the start of the academic year

With the 2020-2021 school year fast approaching, over 550 Durham College (DC) employees gathered virtually on September 1 for Academic Kickoff. Designed to engage and inspire, this annual event sets the tone for the academic year ahead.

Thanks to its online webinar format, DC faculty, as well as administrative and support staff, enjoyed a diverse program including college updates and a discussion about the impact of COVID-19 from a ministry and provincial perspective from President Don Lovisa, a sneak peek from Dr. Elaine Popp, vice-president, Academic, into DC’s new Academic Plan, and video presentations from various employees about transitioning to remote learning and the creative solutions they have implemented to enhance the overall education experience for students.

The videos can be viewed on DC’s YouTube page via the following links:

Attendees also had the pleasure of hearing from keynote speaker Dr. Britt Andreatta, an internationally recognized thought leader who creates brain-science based solutions for today’s challenges. As CEO and president of 7th Mind Inc., and having been both a professor and dean in post-secondary education, Dr. Andreatta draws on her background in neuroscience, psychology, leadership and learning to unlock the best in organizations and their people.

Through an exploration of the way the brain functions when learning and retaining information, Dr. Andreatta provided insight into how modern educators can help enhance the academic experience for students. Stating “we are all biologically hardwired to learn,” she provided a number of strategies and suggestions for those teaching in the coming academic year.

DC’s fall 2020 classes will begin on Tuesday, September 8 and will be delivered via a blended-learning approach which includes remote and remote/in-person delivery.

Durham College and Sheridan College receive funding to support Canadian media industry SMEs

Durham College (DC) and Sheridan College (Sheridan), with support of up to $100,000 from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), are pleased to announce that they will undertake university-industry projects by sharing their applied research centre services and by providing expert time to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Canadian media industry. The contribution from NRC IRAP will help support projects with up to 10 high-potential, growth-oriented companies who are aiming to develop media production workflows.

DC’s Mixed Reality Capture (MRC) Studio, in partnership with Screen Industries Research and Training Centre (SIRT) at Sheridan College Pinewood Toronto Studios, will lead applied research and development projects with industry clients to help fuel the growth of Canada’s media industry by assisting SMEs in conducting the feasibility to create media content workflows, offering technical expertise and proof of concept for the inclusion of advanced technologies in the creation of media.

The colleges’ joint offering includes an integrated suite of the following technologies, all powered by leading-edge infrastructure technologies such as 5G and SIRTNET:

  • Live performance tools for content creation using the film development kits for integration of all aspects of content creation.
  • Virtual production techniques allowing content creators to plan, imagine, or complete a filmic element with the aid of digital tools to simplify content generation workflows.
  • Integration of digital techniques such as AI, special sound effects and immersive experience using AR/VR techniques across all platforms.
  • High-fidelity virtual human creation and aggregation to maximize productivity for content generation across all platforms.
  • Access to Multi-National Enterprise (MNE) technologies such as leading-edge processor and graphics platforms from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

The MRC Studio and SIRT Centre are recognized for their demonstrated track records of success assisting SMEs with the development of proof of concepts in a variety of content generation projects. DC and Sheridan will use the funding to enable SMEs from coast to coast to gain technical skills, adopt new technology, commercialize innovations, create jobs and increase revenues within a globally competitive market.

Durham College receives $75,000 in funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to reduce social isolation among youth

Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) is pleased to announce it is receiving $75,000 in applied research funding via a College and Community Program – Applied Research Rapid Response to COVID-19 grant, awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

The funding will be used to support a collaborative project between DC and Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham (BBBSND), an organization that provides vital mentorship programming to vulnerable youth who deal with anxiety in rural areas of Uxbridge, Scugog, and Brock Townships. The project will be led by two DC nursing faculty members, Crystal Garvey and Jacqueline Williamson, who have ample experience working with youth and addressing issues of mental health.

BBBSND has a long history serving the youth in these communities, and is very familiar with the daily hardships they experience. These include having limited opportunities to build healthy relationships and little or no access to supports, including transportation and technology. In addition, before the pandemic occurred, BBBSND estimated that 75 per cent of youth they work with deal with anxiety on a regular basis.

Knowing that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated many of these challenges, the project is designed to ensure that the vitally important mentor support provided to mentees is maintained and does not deteriorate despite physical distancing challenges. The mental health needs of the mentor and mentee will also be addressed.

Those resources include building a bank of activities, tools and mental health supports that are easily accessible to mentors and can serve as a roadmap for use by BBBS Canada and others in rural communities across the country. The resulting resource bank will be useful for BBBSND to enhance training of current and future mentors. The resources may also be disseminated by the national office to other BBBS agencies for their use.

Students from various DC programs, including, Child and Youth Care and Nursing, as well as those from the School of Media, Art & Design, will be involved at various stages of the project, providing them with experiential learning opportunities while also meeting project objectives.

For more information about ORSIE visit www.durhamcollege.ca/orsie.

Durham College launches new DC Ready homepage to prepare students for fall

​September is right around the corner! We can’t wait to welcome back returning students and meet our new cohort of first-years as they embark on their exciting post-secondary journey at Durham College (DC).

To support students as they navigate a unique new year, including changes to operations and course delivery, we’ve launched a new DC Ready microsite to help students get started and get settled. Full of helpful links and resources, the site is also home to our DC Ready Guide, a valuable academic success tool preparing students for their fall semester.   

With COVID-19 changing the way we work, teach and learn, the DC Ready homepage will act as a hub of information so students can find the support and guidance they need to be successful at DC.

To visit the DC Ready microsite, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/dc-ready.

DC Journalism program continues winning streak in Ontario newspaper competition

Students and faculty from the Durham College (DC) Journalism – Mass Media program once again won big in the Ontario Community Newspaper Association’s (OCNA) Better Newspaper Competition (BNC).

DC’s journalism program was introduced more than 40 years ago and has won dozens of OCNA awards since, most recently finishing second in the Best College/University Website category in 2018 and first in both the Best College/University Website and Student Feature Writing categories in 2017.

The Chronicle newspaper won first place in the General Excellence Newspaper – College/University for the 2019 awards. The category judge praised The Chronicle’s “eye-catching front pages,” “fantastic editorial and op-ed pages,” and “flawless presentation of issues.”

The Chronicle also placed second in the Best College/University Newspaper Website category. Judges complimented the website’s user-friendly navigation, particularly for mobile, as well as the paper’s “solid, well-rounded content” with its balance of campus news, community and pop culture coverage.

In addition to the program’s overall success, Dave Flaherty, a 2010 Journalism – Mass Media graduate and current editor of the Oshawa Express newspaper, took home accolades with his win for Best Heritage Story.

The BNC is an annual contest that recognizes the outstanding work produced each week by the OCNA’s member newspapers and showcases it to readers and advertisers.

Congratulations to DC’s Journalism – Mass Media students and faculty on this well-earned celebration of their dedication and hard work.

Durham College’s 2019-2020 Annual Report now available

Durham College (DC) is pleased to share that its 2019-2020 Annual Report is now available. As one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for a fourth consecutive year, DC is sharing its successes in a fully electronic format.

“Given 2020 marked the start of a new decade, this Annual Report gave the college an opportunity to take stock of the past ten years while also considering the future ahead,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “We’ve got a lot to be proud of and always welcome the opportunity to share those accomplishments with DC and the broader community.”

The report is filled with examples of leadership in action. Driven by the entire DC community and marked by innovation, growth and excellence in education, DC has a lot to be proud of.

DC Photography grad to be featured in Applied Arts virtual gallery

Anurag Parteek Singh’s successful career as a professional photographer is coming into sharp focus thanks to his recent win in the prestigious Applied Arts Awards. Mere months after graduating from the Photography program at Durham College (DC), Anurag’s work, ‘The Untitled Gaze”,’ garnered industry accolades as a winning selection from the Character Portrait category of the Applied Arts Student Awards.

In addition to the profile boost within Canada’s visual arts landscape, Anurag’s photograph will be featured in the Applied Arts virtual gallery of winning work that will be included in the Student Annual Edition, to be published online in October.

Regarded as the go-to destination for creative advice, insight and inspiration, Applied Arts has been awarding design, advertising, illustration and photography professionals and students since 1992. The Student Awards are open to high school and post-secondary students enrolled in relevant programs.

DC takes great pride in Anurag’s work and success and congratulates him on this significant professional achievement.

DC student leads the pack in design competition

Second-year Graphic Design student Kristin Cornell can make a major addition to her resume after placing third overall, and second in the People’s Choice Award, in the annual Packaging Association of Canada (PAC) Student Competition in May.

Representing Durham College (DC) after being voted in by classmates and faculty, Kristin competed against peers from across Ontario.

Nestlé Canada hosted the 2020 competition, offering up an interesting creative brief that focused on sustainability. Competitors were tasked with designing a completely plastic-free package for Nestlé’s KitKat Minis chocolate bars.

Kristin and her classmates worked on their designs for the competition as an in-course assignment. Although the competition became more challenging due to COVID-19 and the move to remote delivery for the remainder of the winter semester, Kristin powered through and finished her design in time to compete.

After presenting her final concept to representatives from Nestlé Canada and other industry experts, Kristin received valuable feedback that she’ll now take forward into her career as she continues to hone her design skills.

PAC added the Student Sustainable Packaging Design competition in 2008. Students are given a product to redesign and present to a packaging community audience and winners receive monetary rewards and high-profile industry recognition, which often leads to career opportunities.

DC congratulates Kristin on her achievement and takes great pride in the efforts of our Graphic Design students to make packaging more sustainable.

DC signs BlackNorth Initiative pledge to dismantle anti-Black racism

While Durham College (DC) condemns anti-Black racism and oppression of any kind, we are not blind to the fact that there is more work to be done on campus and beyond to fully dismantle the systemic barriers faced by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) students, employees and community members.

We need more than words. We need meaningful, specific action.

Recognizing this need, DC is proud to announce that on July 17, President Don Lovisa signed the BlackNorth Initiative’s CEO pledge, joining more than 200 leaders from across Canada in committing our organization to realizing specific actions and targets designed to dismantle anti-Black systemic racism and create opportunities for all those in the underrepresented BIPOC community.

The pledge commits DC to implementing and reporting on measurable efforts, including new policies, procedures and practices, aimed to not only address systemic anti-Black racism within the college but to actively work to educate others and dismantle the barriers negatively affecting the lives of Black Canadians.

As a signatory to the BlackNorth Initiative CEO pledge, DC is committing to increasing its delivery of unconscious bias and anti-racism education and, by 2025, ensuring that 5 per cent of its student positions and 3 per cent of its donations create opportunities for the Black community. The college is also committing to working to attract, develop and advance talent to contribute to a target of 3.5 per cent of executive and Board roles based in Canada being held by Black people in the same timeframe. The college’s actions and progress will be accountable through reports to its Board of Governors.

Joining the BlackNorth Initiative reflects DC’s core values of diversity, inclusion and respect that are named in the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan published earlier this year. Our participation is also a significant extension of the work both completed and currently underway at the college to identify and eradicate anti-Black racism, discrimination and oppression of all kinds.

This summer, the college’s Social Justice Week committee, together with the DC Black Student Success Network, Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion and Transitions and DC Students Inc., launched a series of online community dialogue sessions to create a safe space for students and employees to share with and learn from each other about experiences of anti-Black racism. Other recent initiatives include:

  • Establishment of the college’s first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.
  • DC representation on the City of Oshawa’s first-ever Community Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
  • Development of a college Equity policy.
  • Ongoing delivery of unconscious bias training for students and employees.
  • Formation of a DC Black Student Success Network.

Signing the BlackNorth Initiative CEO pledge is a powerful next step towards effecting significant, positive change on our campus and well beyond.