On November 10, Durham College (DC) welcomed more than 2,700 prospective students and their families as it opened its doors to visitors at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses and Pickering Learning Site for the college’s Fall Open House.

The event gave prospective students the opportunity to explore DC’s extensive facilities, check out support services, including Financial Aid and Awards and the Access and Support Centre, and learn about the college’s more than 140 full-time programs and hundreds of continuing education offerings.

During the day, the new Centre for Collaborative Education at the Oshawa campus was abuzz – visitors met AI robots in the 360insights Entrepreneurship Centre, explored the Durham College Spa and First Peoples Indigenous Centre, and experienced a unique demonstration in the Global Classroom. At the Whitby Campus, prospective students attended baking and cooking demonstrations in the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food and learned about exciting upcoming plans for expansions to the campus.

On hand throughout the day was DC president Don Lovisa, dean and principal of the Whitby campus Rebecca Milburn, as well as current students, alumni, faculty and staff who eagerly connected with community members and shared their first-hand knowledge and experience related to all things DC.

Fall Open House also gave curious students the opportunity to learn more about DC’s first degree program, the Honours Bachelor of Health Care Technology Management – which welcomed its inaugural class in September, and the Artificial Intelligence Analysis, Design and Implementation graduate certificate, a new offering beginning in 2019.

Anyone who missed the Fall Open House is still in luck. Campus tours and information sessions can still be requested online, via email or by calling 905.721.3126.

DC will also hold its Spring Open House on Saturday, March 23, 2019.

Durham College (DC) is pleased to announce the signing of two General Agreements of Cooperation (GAC) on October 31 with German post-secondary institutions Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (THN).

The GACs will provide opportunities to promote international development and stimulate educational, professional and intercultural activities and projects among students and employees within FAU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, THN’s School of Engineering and DC’s School of Science & Engineering Technology.

Moving forward, DC will work with FAU and THN to explore exchange opportunities for students, staff and faculty, facilitate curriculum exchange for distance learning and training programs, and identify opportunities for conducting applied research in industrial and community development and teaching and learning.

This past summer, Dr. Elaine Popp, vice-president, Academic, at DC was part of the delegation from the Durham Region that traveled to Nuremberg, Germany to investigate business and educational development opportunities. On October 30, the Region, DC and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology welcomed the German delegation, including Dr. Jens Helbig from THN Institute of Chemistry Materials and Product Development, Alexander Nasarow from FAU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Dr. Michael Fraas, deputy mayor, Economic Affairs from the City of Nuremberg.

During the day you will find professional makeup artist Rachael Authors teaching in front of a group of students in Durham College’s (DC) new Cosmetic Techniques and Management program. At night for the month of October, she’s using her talents to create zombies, evil clowns and ghouls for Canada’s Wonderland’s annual Halloween Haunt, which she has done for the past 12 years.

She recently brought that artistry to DC when she gave the college’s chief administrative officer (CAO), Dr. Scott Blakey, a Halloween-inspired monster makeover.

While special FX makeup isn’t currently part of the course curriculum, Rachael incorporates a lot of those techniques into her classes. From colour matching to determining which tools to use and learning how to communicate with clients, the only real difference between both settings is the end result; one is decidedly less gory!

Before joining DC Rachael worked as an occupational therapist, where she combined her cosmetics skills with working one-on-one with clients teaching application tips and techniques as part of self care. She has also worked freelance for companies including Dior and Sephora.

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.

Watch Rachael in action as DC’s CAO sits down in her makeup chair, transforming from desk-side administrator to DC’s own roaming zombie.

On October 25, more than 550 Durham College (DC) students received their credentials during this year’s Fall Convocation ceremony, with friends, family and the college community cheering them on.

“Convocation is an opportunity for our students, along with their families and the college community, to come together to recognize the hard work and dedication that has led to the completion of their credential,” said Paul Bishop, executive director, Strategic Enrolment Services and registrar, Durham College. “It’s a celebration not only of their academic success but also what’s to come. Each student graduates with the skills they need to succeed and we have every confidence their futures will be bright.”

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.

Manjula Selvarajah, a freelance journalist, technology columnist for CBC Radio and producer for local CBC Radio shows, as well as a 2014 graduate of DC’s Journalism – Print and Broadcast program (now known as Journalism – Mass Media), Alumni of Distinction Award recipient and Premier’s Award nominee, addressed the graduates during the ceremony.

On October 23, two teams of second-year students in Durham College’s (DC) Culinary Management program took home multiple awards at the 2018 Student Chef Challenge, hosted at DC’s W. Galen Weston Centre for Food.

Sponsored by Ontario Sheep Farmers and Mushrooms Canada, the challenge brought together students from DC, Fleming College and Centennial College to prepare and present three internationally-inspired lamb and mushroom dishes to a panel of industry judges.

Students worked with faculty mentors to guide them through the finer aspects of butchery – an essential skill required of today’s culinary arts professionals – and were provided with high-quality ingredients, including fresh mushrooms from Gordon Food Service (GFS), to test their expertise in recipe development techniques.

DC’s Team A, comprised of second-year students Kacey Payne, Sharon Nanninga and Patrick Eckert won second place overall in the competition. Team B’s Kinsley Moore, George Donovan, and Caden McBeth won the award for Best Butchery Skills and were presented with a set of high-quality butcher knives from Canada Cutlery Inc.

This exciting experience for students went above and beyond regular classroom learning, giving them the opportunity to receive valuable feedback from judges and begin building a name for themselves in the industry.

All recipes from the competition will be featured in a future cookbook jointly-published by Ontario Sheep Farmers and Mushrooms Canada, with the students receiving credit for their contributions.

On October 22 and 23, Durham College (DC), in partnership with Ontario Power Generation, hosted over 550 girls in Grades 7 to 9 from several regional school boards for a program of exploration and inspiration aimed at connecting young women with careers in science, technology and skilled trades.

The two-day conference featured keynote presentations from serial inventor and speaker Ann Makosinski and entrepreneur and HGTV designer Jo Alcorn. Students participated in hands-on workshops while taking advantage of DC’s industry-grade facilities and innovative learning spaces.

“This conference has been a fantastic way for us to introduce the next generation of women to careers in science, technology and the skilled trades, helping them to discover new skills and capabilities,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “By doing this early in their academic career, these students are able to see the possibilities for their future, giving them more opportunities to explore paths they may not have considered before.”

A selection of unique programming was offered throughout the conference, including workshops that allowed attendees to write code, test out a welding simulator, build robots, create a sheet metal candle holder, patch and plug a tire and frame a wall. The students also had opportunities to perform scientific experiments in industry-grade laboratories that included conducting an acid-base titration and testing water to simulate how water plant operators test chlorine levels in our drinking water.

Feedback from students highlighted the positive impact of hearing from two strong and successful female role models. The hands-on opportunities provided them with the chance to experience different career possibilities, expanding their knowledge and interests.