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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.

Allison Hector-Alexander joins City of Oshawa’s first-ever DEI committee

Durham College (DC) is proud to announce the appointment of Allison Hector-Alexander, director, Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion and Transitions (OSDIT), to the City of Oshawa’s first-ever Community Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee.

As a member of the 15-person committee, Allison will contribute to the development of a community-driven model for supporting the implementation of the City’s Diversity and Inclusion Plan. She will work alongside City staff to eliminate barriers within City programs, services and policies and support the creation of new programs or initiatives related to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the community.

The Committee is also expected to liaise and work with the City’s Oshawa Accessibility Committee and Cultural Leadership Council.

As a DEI specialist with a social work background, operating from an anti-oppressive/anti-racist framework, Allison brings a wide breadth of experience and deep expertise gained through her work with youth at risk, street-involved youth, Ontario Works recipients, new immigrants, women survivors of abuse, faculty and students.

Allison’s appointment to the City’s committee speaks to her recognition across Durham Region as a leader in DEI education and action; she has been honoured by numerous organizations for her work and leadership, including her receipt of the 2019 Madiba Award, which recognizes a community leader of African ancestry in Durham Region who embodies Nelson Mandela’s values, vision and commitment to overcoming barriers.

DC’s 3DP Task Force brings PPE project to a successful end

In what was truly the little community project that could, the Durham College (DC)-led 3DP Task Force wrapped up its production of 3D-printed PPE parts for frontline workers in June.

The 3DP Task force launched on March 26 when Chris Daniel, a professor with the college’ School of Science & Engineering Technology, galvanized a group of students, employees, alumni and community members to use 3D printers to create headbands for face shields used by the healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working out of their garages and basements, the task force members embarked on an inspiring journey that saw the team grow to an impressive 62 volunteer members using 83 3D printers and raising nearly $16,000 in funds to support the initiative. Members produced face shield headbands as well as ear savers that relieve the pressure of elastic bands used to hold face masks in place.

Industry is now more fully online to manufacture PPE, allowing the 3DP Task Force to wind down its operations and celebrate the positive impact its members have made on communities across Durham Region and beyond.

Highlights of the 3DP Task Force’s work include:

  • 32, 700 ear savers produced and distributed to the following organizations
    • Kerry’s Place Autism Services
    • Lakeridge Health
    • Peterborough Regional Health Centre
    • Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga (Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga Hospital and Queensway Health Centre)
    • Unity Health, Toronto (Providence Healthcare, St. Joseph’s Health Centre and St. Michael’s Hospital)
    • Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
    • Scarborough Health Network, Toronto
    • Markham Stouffville Hospital, Markham
    • Southlake Regional Hospital, Newmarket
  • 6,350 face shield headbands produced and distributed in collaboration with Northumberland I.O. to the following organizations:
    • Northumberland Hills Hospital
    • Campbellford Memorial Hospital
    • Extendicare, Port Hope
    • Colborne/Cramahe Food Bank
    • Community Living, Campbellford/Brighton
    • Christian Horizons, Cobourg
    • Canadian Mental Health Association, Durham
    • CAD Microsystems
    • SickKids Hospital, Pediatric Respiratory Therapy Unit
    • InkSmith
    • Rosalie Hall, Scarborough
    • Kerry’s Place Autism Services
    • Dorset Dental, Scarborough
    • Thornhill Medical Centre
    • Moss Medical Office, Toronto
    • Kahane Medical Office, North York
    • 26 community medical offices in Thornhill, North York, Richmond Hill, Stouffville, Markham, Unionville and Scarborough

DC wishes to recognize and thank everyone involved in the 3DP Task Force, which has provided a terrific case study for how our employees, students and alumni can collaborate and mobilize to create tangible solutions for real problems facing our communities.

 

Durham College recognizes the class of 2019-2020

They may not have crossed the stage at the Tribute Communities Centre, but Durham College’s (DC) more than 3,800 graduates are being recognized through a variety of online and physical festivities, designed to acknowledge and celebrate their hard work and achievements.

The class of 2019-2020 will be invited to attend an in-person ceremony when it is safe to do so, however, DC recognized the importance of marking the accomplishments of its graduates upon completion of their credentials and created a Convocation Recognition website.

Filled with elements typically seen at convocation, the site features:

  • Messages of congratulations from DC’s leadership team and each school’s dean.
  • Virtual shout outs and recognition for grads submitted by family, friends, faculty and college employees.
  • A list of frequently asked questions related to graduation.
  • Links to order DC merchandise, from grad rings to t-shirts and flowers.
  • Information about life as a college alumni, including benefits details.
  • Digital DC swag so #DCGrad2020 pride can be shared online.
  • Details about what comes next after graduation.

In addition, the site acknowledges this year’s Alumni of Distinction winners. The Alumni of Distinction award honours the extraordinary contributions DC graduates make to society while achieving career success. Congratulations to Judy Pal (Sports and Entertainment, 1983), Nancy Shaw (Practical Nursing, 1985), Lori Lane Murphy (Public Relations, 1988) and Ellen Stitt (Water Quality Technician, 2013).

The DC Alumni Association (DCAA) also helped ensure the class of 2020 was celebrated by providing free, DC-branded lawn signs that are now displayed at graduates’ homes to show college pride while celebrating their success.

More than 745 signs were distributed during three DC style drive-through events, featuring curbside pick up, as grads were cheered on by the college’s leadership team and its school deans. The sign is also available for download for those who missed the events or do not live locally.

“It was so important to find other ways to honour our graduates and their accomplishments,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College.  We’ve all experienced a lot of change and upheaval but our grads were able to persevere and finished what they set out to do when they chose to study at DC. I truly believe these students have graduated with a greater sense of inclusion, empathy and understanding of the roles we each play in making society a better place. They also have the skills they need to succeed in whatever comes next in their personal journeys, which is an incredibly powerful combination. On behalf of the entire college community, I want to congratulate and wish them the best of luck.”