On November 6, Durham College (DC) welcomed president of the Treasury Board, Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, as well as MPP Lorne Coe to its Whitby campus for a roundtable discussing skilled trades and apprenticeship reform.

They were joined by Pam Stoneham associate dean of DC’s School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology, Dr. Rebecca Milburn, executive dean and principal, Whitby campus and Dr. Elaine Popp, DC’s vice-president, Academic, as well as faculty from the college’s welding, millwright, crane and elevating devices programs.

Grant Hawkins, a Level 1 apprentices in DC’s Elevating Devices Mechanic program, and Haley Barnes, who is in her second-year of DC’s Welding Engineering Technician program, were also on hand to share their experiences as current students.

Participants at the roundtable discussed areas where they felt changes are needed including streamlining the apprenticeship application process and bringing clarity to the journey of becoming an apprentice.

Reaching out to and promoting skilled trades earlier in a student’s education was also highlighted. Whether through offering exposure to those fields through events, such as DC’s recent Young Women in Science, Technology and Trades Conference, or working with guidance counsellors to advocate for skilled trades, it was emphasized that helping students understand the value, potential and importance of these professions is a key factor in assuring the future prosperity of the trades in Ontario.

“Apprenticeship is so important,” said Stoneham. “Our program advisory committees are indicating they want the college to have more apprenticeships and by extension apprentices but we need to review the current system and address ongoing misconceptions about the value of skilled trades; that is a challenge.”

Carla Carmichael, vice-president, Project Assurance and Contract Management at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), also attended the roundtable, stressing that the skilled trades shortage is very real and impacting businesses both small and large.

As the company responsible for approximately half of the electricity generation in the Province of Ontario, OPG is also one of the province’s largest employers however, the biggest threat to its Darlington Nuclear Generating Station refurbishment project is a lack of skilled trades’ workers.

“Our contractors anticipate hiring thousands of skilled trades within the next five years to support the current planned refurbishment activities. This includes boilermakers, millwrights, electricians, steamfitters and carpenters.” she said. “We are working closely with our industry partners such as Bruce Power to ensure the success of the project.”

Of the call for apprenticeship reform, Minister Bethlenfalvy said “the evidence pointing to a skilled trades shortage and issues with the structure of the apprenticeship system is why our Government for the People is taking swift action to transform and modernize the apprenticeship system. There is tremendous value in coming to Durham College today and listening to your feedback. You are on the ground floor of training our next generation of skilled trades’ workers.”

With more than 1,300 students studying in nine apprenticeship programs offered at the college, DC has advocated extensively for apprenticeship reform and welcomed the opportunity to share its thoughts with the minister and MPP Coe.

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.