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DC president, CAO and professor have some frightful fun on Halloween

Durham College (DC) President Don Lovisa and Chief Administrative Officer Scott Blakey treated students and employees to some frightful fun on October 31 as they roamed the Oshawa campus to hand out candy after undergoing a Halloween-inspired make-over from DC’s Cosmetic Techniques and Management professor Rachael Authors. After the success of last year’s zombie look for Scott, Don decided to get in on the fun to spread a little Halloween spirit.

While Rachael is a faculty member and program co-ordinator in the School of Business, IT & Management, teaching the next cohort of cosmetic professionals, she’s also a professional make-up artist by trade and has been lending her talent to Canada’s Wonderland for the last 13 years to create zombies, evil clowns and ghouls for their annual Halloween Haunt event.

Although special FX makeup isn’t currently part of the course curriculum, Rachael incorporates a lot of those techniques into her classes. Her background is a great example of the depth and breadth of opportunities available within the cosmetics industry and she loves being able to help train the next generation of makeup artists.

Using a holistic approach, the Cosmetics Techniques and Management program offers hands-on training, covering both the fundamental and advanced aspects of the industry. Courses range from cosmetic application techniques to skincare analysis and creative styling, as well as retail management and marketing for makeup artists, business communications and entrepreneurial cosmetic event-planning skills. Students also have the opportunity to hone their skills by working onsite in the fully operational Durham College Spa.

DC recognizes student achievement at 2019 Fall Convocation

On October 30, more than 1,100 Durham College (DC) students received their credentials during Fall Convocation. Friends, families, college employees and special guests celebrated the post-secondary achievements of graduates, encouraging them to continue reaching for their goals and accomplishing great things. 

“Our students have worked incredibly hard to get to this day,” said Andre De Freitas, associate vice president and registrar, Student Affairs. “The exciting experience of walking across the stage in front of their family, friends and peers to receive their credential will be a moment they’ll remember forever.”

Held at the Tribute Communities Centre in downtown Oshawa, graduates from the Centre for Food and schools of Business, IT & Management; Continuing Education, Health & Community Services; Interdisciplinary Studies; Justice & Emergency Services; Media, Art & Design; Science & Engineering Technology and Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology received their diplomas and certificates.

“Our graduates may have received their credentials today, but the long hours they spent in labs, classrooms, field placements, and applied research have prepared them for the next step in their journey,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, vice-president, Academic. “We are confident that our graduates will succeed in anything they put their mind to and wish them all the best as they move towards their next accomplishment.”

Guest speakers at each ceremony were:

  • Adam Hare: Petley-Hare Insurance Brokers president, entrepreneur and business leader, member of the Insurance Brokers Association of Durham Region board of directors, executive advisor to Lakeridge Health’s Launchpad committee, Young Broker of the Year in 2016 named by Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario, former professor in the School of Media, Art & Design, and 2006 graduate of Multimedia and Design program (now known as Interactive Media Design) both at DC.
  • Melissa Farrow: program co-ordinator and child and youth counsellor at Hospital for Sick Children, field practicum advisor and professor at DC, member of a number of community child and youth agencies, 2009 graduate of Social Service Worker program and 2011 graduate of Child and Youth Worker program (now known as Child and Youth Care) both at DC.

For more information about Fall Convocation, including links to videos of each ceremony, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/convocation.

DC hosts 13 international teams on campus for Global Cyberlympics

On October 26, Durham College (DC), in partnership with The Regional Municipality of Durham, co-hosted the Global Cyberlympics at its Oshawa campus, welcoming 13 international teams from North and South America, Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa. Organized by EC-Council and SiberX, with assistance from DC’s Hub for Applied Research in Artificial Intelligence for Business Solutions (AI Hub), this is the first time that the highly competitive ethical hacking competition has been held in Canada.

“It was such a thrill welcoming talent from all over the globe and watching them compete in Durham College’s state-of-the-art Global Classroom,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “Our students and employees from the AI Hub worked hard alongside event partners to make this event a reality and I’m so proud of their involvement and effort.”

As teams battled it out for first place, two other events took place on campus. A CareerXpo was open to the public and an EsportsX Tournament was held at DC’s Esports Gaming Arena, which saw local teams compete for up to $2,000 in cash prizes. The day-long event and competition concluded with a gala at the Audley Recreation Centre in Ajax, where Team Jobless Hackers from the Netherlands was announced as the Global Cyberlympics winner.

“While the Global Cyberlympics finals were brought to Canada by EC-Council and SiberX, it was Durham College and the Regional Municipality of Durham’s effort as co-hosts that showcased the potential in business and tech that exists for cybersecurity professionals in the area,” said Mahdi Raza, co-founder of SiberX. “These games were just the first step in an exciting future for cybersecurity in Ontario.”

Since its inception in 2012, the Global Cyberlympics have seen more than 2,100 participants from 500 teams and 75 countries compete. Last year’s event included finalists from locations such as Brazil, Netherlands, India, Nigeria and Australia.

DC Lords men’s baseball team win national championship

Durham College is pleased to share that its Durham Lords men’s baseball team claimed the National College Baseball Championship gold medal on October 26 in Toronto, defeating the Thompson River Wolfpack in an exciting extra-inning contest, 2-1.The win marks the second national championship in program history, previously claiming the Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association national title in 2011.

A near storybook ending to the career of head coach Sam Dempster, who announced his retirement for the conclusion of the 2019 season earlier this fall, the bench boss has led the program since its inaugural season in 1992. Earlier this season Dempster recorded his 400th career win, he led the Lords to a winning conference record for the 24th time over 28 seasons, and to an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA)  silver medal for the third time in seven years; in addition to the national gold.

First-year power-hitter and 2019 OCAA batting champion Fernando Suarez Muniz was named the championship MVP after driving in the Lords first run of the championship final with an RBI double off the left field fence, before crossing the plate himself in the eighth inning for the game-winning run.

A stellar season for the Lords, after a 2-6 start they would rebound to record 11 straight wins and eventually claim the provincial silver as host of the 2019 OCAA baseball championship, qualifying them for the National College Baseball Championship. Durham lost their first game of the national tournament, but would go on to pick up wins over the Lionel-Groulx Nordiques, John Abbott Islanders, and 2019 OCAA champion Humber Hawks, en route to the championship win over the Thompson River Wolfpack.

Durham College encourages young women to see themselves in science, technology and skilled trades

On October 22 and 23, Durham College (DC) hosted more than 600 Grade 7 and 8 students from across Durham Region and Northumberland County for the second annual conference, Expand the Possibilities: Young Women in Science, Technology and Trades.

The two days of exploration and inspiration aimed to better connect girls with careers in the traditionally male-dominated fields of science, technology and skilled trades. Each day of the conference included a keynote presentation and a series of hands-on workshops held in the college’s industry-grade facilities and innovative learning spaces.

“These young women need to believe that they belong in a lab conducting experiments, operating a crane on a jobsite or deep in the code advancing cybersecurity,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, vice president, Academic, DC. “As a post-secondary leader in science, technology and skilled trades, our job at Durham College is to help students get there. This conference is an important first step in that journey.”

Students received practical advice and motivation from serial inventor Ann Makosinski and contractor-entrepreneur-TV personality Kate Campbell. Makosinski offered a compelling argument for how fewer distractions equal more creativity as she shared her experience as a young inventor who is now one of the most sought-after influencers of her generation. Sharing highlights from her own career journey, Campbell busted myths associated with skilled trades and encouraged students to consider pursuing an apprenticeship.

“Engaging more young women in the fields of science, technology and skilled trades is critical if we are going to conquer the skills shortage that is facing employers and industries across the country,” said DC president Don Lovisa. “Our hope is that at the end of each day, students leave this conference with a clearer vision of the incredible opportunities and careers that are available to them.”

On the second day of the conference, at the college’s Whitby campus, the Honourable Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities, brought greetings from the Ontario government. He also rolled-up his sleeves to participate in activities alongside students.

In addition to workshops led by DC faculty, sessions were also delivered and supported by several conference sponsors. Seven industry leaders partnered with the college on this year’s event: Gerdau, General Motors, OCNI: Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries, Ontario Power Generation, RESCON: Residential Construction Council of Ontario, Siemens and Black & McDonald.

Durham College continues to support local autoworkers through transition

Durham College (DC) hosted the government of Ontario, on October 23 as Minister of Labour, Training and Development, the Honourable Monte McNaughton announced the opening of the Unifor/GM Oshawa Action Centre. Established in response to General Motors’ (GM) announcement regarding the Oshawa Assembly Plant, the centre will be a resource for employees to access employment guidance and job search support, referrals to service providers and computers and the internet.

As a proud member of our community, DC has been working with GM, the provincial government and education partners over the past months, developing resources to support impacted auto-sector workers through this transition. Generously powered by TD Canada Trust (TD), a resource-filled, college-supported website has been created to provide these workers access to post-secondary and government resources and offerings from regional partners and employers to help them in their next steps. The college working to connect those looking for work, with the right education and training solution and the right employer. Additionally, DC has established a job portal specifically for GM employees affected by the changes.

“By working together we are creating meaningful support structures and engagement opportunities for autoworkers that will hopefully lessen the impact of these changes on their lives and families,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “The auto-sector workforce is experienced and skilled. The resources provided by Durham College and our partners will give them assistance and guidance as they look to leverage new and perhaps even greater opportunities in the future.”

Also, on October 23, auto-sector employees had an opportunity to come to DC’s Oshawa campus to participate in a job fair. Sponsored and organized by GM, UNIFOR, and the Ontario Government with generous sponsorship from TD, participants connected with 40 employers and community partners who were on hand to discuss employment and training opportunities.

Through collaboration and working with our community, DC is working hard to ensure those affected are supported as we adapt and evolve together.

DC celebrates opening of Energy Innovation Centre and completion of geothermal field

On October 22, Durham College (DC) celebrated the completion of its geothermal field and grand opening of its Energy Innovation Centre (EIC), which together leverage clean, sustainable underground thermal energy for the heating and cooling of the college’s Gordon Willey building.

“This facility is such a great addition to our Oshawa campus,” said Marianne Marando, associate vice-president, Academic at DC. “Not only will the Energy Innovation Centre work in tandem with our green initiatives to reduce the college’s carbon footprint, but it will do so while providing our students with a unique living lab that offers both a self-guided learning experience for all students and experiential learning opportunities for students in select programs.”

Stephane Chayer, vice-president of Smart Infrastructure at Siemens Canada spoke on behalf of the organization at the opening and presented DC with a cheque for $27,500 – a grant awarded via the Siemens Empower Sustainability Education program that will further assist DC in its applied learning student opportunities. Siemens Canada is the primary contractor and industry partner for the geothermal project and EIC and provided valuable expertise throughout the entire process.

“We’re very appreciative of our relationship with Durham College and proud that they chose Siemens as their partner to help make the geothermal field and Energy Innovation Centre a reality,” said Stephane Chayer, vice-president of Smart Infrastructure, Siemens Canada. “DC is a trailblazing Ontario institution in its commitment to sustainability leadership, innovation and applied learning – we’re confident that this project positively contributes to Durham’s energy transformation on campus.” 

Open to students, employees and the public, the EIC facility provides an exhibit-like atmosphere where visitors can learn more about how the geothermal system works through signage and interactive touch screen monitors that feature system diagrams and performance metrics. Additionally, a real-time energy dashboard provides insight on campus energy savings and the reduction of associated greenhouse gas emissions.

This project is just part of the ongoing transformation of DC’s energy infrastructure to support and implement sustainably focused initiatives on campus. This past year, the college’s Centre for Collaborative Education achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED®) Gold level certification. Additionally, DC was named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the third consecutive year in a row.

For more information on how the geothermal system at DC works, check out the video below created by Siemens Canada.

Industry leaders partner with DC to better connect girls with science, tech and trades

Through their sponsorship of Expand the Possibilities 2.0: Young Women in Science, Technology and Trades, the second annual conference hosted by Durham College (DC), seven industry leaders are sending a clear message to girls that they belong in the traditionally male-dominated fields.

On Tuesday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 23, DC will host girls in Grades 7 and from across Durham Region and Northumberland County for two days of exploration and inspiration connecting them with careers in science, technology and skilled trades.

Students will attend keynote presentations and participate in hands-on workshops in the college’s industry-grade facilities and innovative learning spaces to help each girl better see herself in the fields of science, technology and trades.

Helping bring the conference to life are the following industry sponsors:

  • Gerdau
  • General Motors
  • OCNI: Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries
  • Ontario Power Generation
  • RESCON: Residential Construction Council of Ontario
  • Siemens
  • Black & McDonald

Support for the conference is the latest contribution from the industry leaders, all of which are strong, longstanding partners of DC that give generously to the college in a variety of ways throughout the year.

Representatives from each of the conference’s valuable sponsors will be in attendance at the conference, joining DC students and employees to lead conference participants through an exploration of the career possibilities for women in science, technology and trades.

DC students create wayfinding tool for Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens

Durham College (DC), with TeachingCity Oshawa, is proud to announce the launch of new Augmented Reality (AR) technology to encourage the community to explore and learn about the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens.

The community can now use their smartphone cameras, to scan Quick Response (QR) codes placed on signage throughout the park to learn about the park, points of interest and utilize a navigation guide between landmarks.

 “The innovative experiential learning opportunities created through Durham College’s partnership with TeachingCity give students the chance to investigate and problem solve, strengthening the skills they learn in the classroom,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “This augmented reality wayfinding app is just one example of the incredible things that are possible when we leverage the talent of our students and faculty in partnership with and in support of our community.”

Students researched, designed and created the AR platform as part of a TeachingCity partnership with the City of Oshawa and the Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and School of Media, Art and Design. This was a pilot project that will be enhanced through future collaborations with DC students. The City and the College are also exploring the possibility of expanding the technology to include other City parks.

Durham College joins SHARCNET to advance applied research at AI Hub

Durham College (DC) is pleased to announce that it has become a member of the Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network (SHARCNET) to support the high-performance computing (HPC) requirements of the college’s Hub for Applied Research in Artificial Intelligence for Business Solutions (the AI Hub). Established in 2001, SHARCNET is the largest HPC consortium in Canada, which includes 18 universities, colleges and research institutes across southwestern, central and northern Ontario.

By participating in the SHARCNET ecosystem, applied researchers and students at the AI Hub will have access to an on-demand selection of specialized software that will allow them to create, host and deploy their own applications. Additionally, accelerated computing power, increased memory and storage will support the development of large-scale, enterprise-grade prototypes faster and more efficiently for clients and applied research partners.

“Becoming a member of the SHARCNET consortium is very exciting and a significant benefit for faculty and student researchers at the college. Access to valuable software and high-performance computing capabilities will not only drive efficiencies in our research projects, but will also allow us to reduce cost and project time, impacting customer satisfaction and increasing research output,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Leveraging ORION’s digital infrastructure, the AI Hub will be able to access all that SHARCNET has to offer through cloud technology, without the need for on-site hardware installation. As a member of the consortium, AI Hub faculty and students will also have access to ongoing training programs, webinars, workshops and HPC resources offered by SHARCNET.

For more information, please visit www.sharcnet.ca.