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DC’s Integrated Manufacturing Centre gifted state-of-the-art equipment from Rockwell Automation

A recent donation of state-of-the art equipment from Rockwell Automation to Durham College’s (DC) Integrated Manufacturing Centre (IMC) will help keep students from the School of Science & Engineering Technology ahead of the curve.

The gift, which includes 12 Controllogix (CLX) L71 controllers and 1756-EN2T modules, will support important upgrades within the IMC to provide students with access to the latest firmware and technology used in the industry today.

The first of its kind in Canada, the IMC is a world-class, industrial-grade, automated facility primarily used by students in the college’s Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology program. The facility houses major equipment components including human-machine interface terminals; industrial networks and robots; material handling systems; programmable logic controller hardware; vision cameras; and supervisory control and data acquisition software.

Partnerships with industry leaders such as Rockwell Automation, a world leader in industrial automation, are vital to helping DC continually adapt programs and curriculums to ensure graduates are prepared to meet the needs of employers.

Honey bees arrive at Durham College

Hundreds of honey bees now call Durham College’s (DC) W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF) home, with the arrival of its first apiary, also known as a bee yard.

According to beesmatter.ca one out of every three bites of food we eat is made possible by pollinators like honey bees. However, honey bees are in decline worldwide due in part to changes in land use, habitat loss, diseases, pesticides, farming practices, pollution, and climate change.

As part of the CFF’s field-to-fork vision, the apiary is a natural fit to further the cycle of sustainability and growth already in place, thanks to features including the pollinator garden, filled with honey bee-friendly flowers, the greenhouses, fruit and vegetable fields and arboretum. It’s a win-win scenario as the bees will help the crops flourish and DC does its part to help protect the honey bee population.

A honey yield is expected in 2018. The fruits of the bees’ labour will be available for sale in Pantry, incorporated into food and drink items available at Bistro ’67, and for use in post-secondary labs.

Durham College welcomes North American Indigenous Games participants

On July 15, Durham College (DC) held a barbeque event to welcome hundreds of competitors, coaches and families, along with organizers of the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), to its Oshawa campus and Durham Region. The college, which is providing residence for many of the NAIG participants, was excited to show their support for the competition.

“The games are a wonderful opportunity to share the talent, skills and dedication of the Indigenous community,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, vice-president, Academic. “With that in mind, it is very fitting that DC is one of the host locations for the game’s participants because community is an important part of our history.”

Attendees were blessed by Elder, Dr. Shirley Williams and heard remarks from Dr. Popp, as well as Oshawa Mayor John Henry, Durham MPP Granville Anderson and Oshawa MPP Jennifer French.  Performances followed, by Indigenous artists Smoke Trail, the All Our Relations Métis Drum Circle and Knowledge Keeper, Troy White, who performed Mi’kmaq drumming.

DC’s Aboriginal Student Centre also opened its doors to any participants seeking support from Aboriginal employees, Bawaajigewin Community Board members and volunteers, and/or those looking to participate in fun activities during their stay.

Hosted by the City of Toronto with events throughout the Greater Toronto Area, NAIG is the largest continental sporting and cultural gathering of Indigenous people. This year’s games will see 5,000 participants, including athletes and coaches, in attendance.

 

The games can be followed on Twitter and Instagram with #AllOne and #NAIG2017.

Above and beyond the call

In May, Durham College (DC) alumnus Dominic Rehayem received the Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery from the provincial government in honour of a heroic rescue he made in 2015.

A graduate of DC’s Advanced Care Paramedic program, Rehayem was working as an advanced care paramedic with the Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services when he rescued a man who had fallen into a river following an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident.

On April 11, 2015, Rehayem made a 20-minute ATV ride to find the man, who had been helped to a nearby island by a friend who then left to find help, because an ambulance could not reach the area.  After finding the man lying on the island, freezing, Rehayem sprang into action. He gave the man some of his own clothing before strapping him to Rehayem’s body and swimming back across the river. Once back to shore, Rehayem brought the man into a nearby cabin to raise his body temperature, lighting a fire and making some hot chocolate, before making the 20-minute ride back to the ambulance.

The Government of Ontario bestows the Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery annually to recognize paramedics for individual acts of outstanding courage. Individuals are nominated by their home services and honourees are selected following a committee review of submissions.

 

Building a better community

On June 15, Pam Stoneham, associate dean of the School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology (START), added to Durham College’s (DC) 50 Acts of Kindness by taking part  in the Habitat for Humanity Durham: Women in Power Build 2017 with an all-women group of colleagues. The female-focused build rolled out across three days and saw 150 like-minded women from all professions and backgrounds join forces to build new homes for local families in Oshawa and raise funds for the cause.

Stoneham, who is also an ambassador for Habitat for Humanity Durham, was joined by a DC team that included Mary Pearce, Sue Moore, Julie Hauber, Melissa McLean, Arian O’Neill-MacLellan, a DC graduate and START welding professor, and students Nataskki Frazer and Michelle Pegg.

While participants enjoyed a quick Zumba warmup, entertainment and lunch over the course of the day, among other treats, their energy was focused on helping to build safe, decent and affordable homes for families in Durham Region.

“Initiatives like this are a great opportunity to highlight that the skilled trades are a place for women,” said Stoneham. “It was a privilege to work alongside women on a build project that contributes so meaningfully to our local community.”

Habitat for Humanity Durham is a chapter of Habitat for Humanity Canada, a national non-profit organization with a mandate of working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. The Women in Power Build project is part of the group’s larger Women Build initiative that is held across the Greater Toronto Area. Since the event started in 2009, over 5000 women have taken part and constructed 85 homes. Additionally, over $4 million dollars has been raised as a part of this event through fundraising and sponsorship of the volunteers.

Donations to the Habitat for Humanity Durham: Women in Power Build 2017 campaign are still being accepted and can be made via the DC team’s fundraising page.

DC hosts Celebration of Excellence and Distinction

On June 26, Durham College (DC) welcomed guests to the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food for its first ever Celebration of Excellence and Distinction, to recognize the achievement and success of DC alumni, employees and community partners in the college’s 50th anniversary year.

Guests reconnected with fellow Alumni of Distinction winners and recipients of the Founder’s Cup, President’s Award of Excellence, Employee Awards of Excellence, Honorary Credential and Emeritus Award, to learn about college news and developments while enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts prepared by DC students working in Bistro ’67.

Durham College receives Silver Stars rating

Durham College (DC) is pleased to share that it has received a silver rating from the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS), offered through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), for its on-campus sustainability initiatives.

DC became a member of AASHE in 2009 and achieved a bronze rating in 2012. Work towards achieving silver status began in January 2016, with employees from many departments and schools across the college contributing to the collection of data required to support the application.

Environmental responsibility has been a key focus for the college’s Sustainability Committee and Living Green initiative, who, along with the entire campus community, have been implementing changes to increase green activities and operationalize sustainability programs across DC. These include the use of solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, co-mingle waste bins and low-flow toilets, all of which contributed to achieving the silver rating.

STARS is a comprehensive tool that compares the sustainability initiatives of participating colleges and universities by focusing on several key areas including education and research; operations; planning; and administration and engagement, with each category holding a percentage-based score.

AASHE has extensive participation from several universities and colleges throughout North America. This group of institutions creates networking opportunities to advance sustainability through sharing ideas and opening dialogues on behalf of the diverse community AASHE effects. Administrators, faculty, staff and students all contribute to improve sustainability and demonstrate the value of collaboration on these initiatives.

DC’s PD Day is a success as employees network and learn

Durham College (DC) employees enjoyed their Professional Development (PD) Day with sunny skies and a positive tone.

The role of PD Day is to remind college employees how their roles are essential to igniting the passion and imagination of DC students to help them achieve their goals. It’s also a day for employees to reconnect with each other and recharge through exposure to new ideas and skills.

The day coincided with National Aboriginal Day which was celebrated with a smudging ceremony performed outside the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (CRWC) by representatives from the Aboriginal Student Centre. Employees then gathered in the CRWC gyms where Don Lovisa, DC’s president, welcomed participants to the event and introduced Elder Dr. Shirley Williams, a member of the college’s Aboriginal community. Lovisa acknowledged DC’s presence in the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nations which was followed by Elder Shirley’s blessing for the event.

Lovisa touched on DC’s 50th anniversary theme, ‘The Start of Something Amazing’ and the PD Day theme of You Matter, emphasizing that DC employees are amazing and play a key role in providing excellent educational experiences for DC students.

Keynote speaker and ‘happiness expert,’ Neil Pasricha followed the president’s welcome, giving an inspirational and funny talk from his perspective on finding happiness at home and at work. Pasricha, who is the bestselling author of The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation, also reflected on his childhood in Oshawa throughout his presentation.

For the remainder of the day, employees took part in breakout sessions where they discussed current best practices in education with experts from DC, and also learned about using social media, incorporating helpful work practices, eating healthy and creating an appropriate work-life balance. An Aboriginal reconciliation workshop was also provided.

The event’s theme, the importance of playing your role, was present on social media with participants encouraged to tweet about their experiences with the hashtag #youmatter. Highlights, photos and videos of the day can be viewed on Twitter.

With more than 770 full-time employees and approximately 1,400 part-time employees, DC is one of the region’s largest employers and provides more than $800 million in positive economic impact annually. Events like PD Day are a great opportunity for DC employees to learn, network and appreciate their peers.

Durham College awards sixth honorary credential to Edith Alger

Durham College (DC) is excited to share that Edith Alger was awarded the college’s sixth honorary credential during its 2017 Spring Convocation, which took place on Tuesday, June 13 at Oshawa’s Tribute Communities Centre.

Edith, a long-time Oshawa resident and community philanthropist, received her diploma in Community Development. The honorary credential recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the college, Durham Region and beyond in the areas of leadership, innovation and partnerships.

“We are incredibly pleased to honour Edith with this award,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “She has played an integral role in the growth and development of DC, not only through financial contributions but also the donation of time and expertise. Her diploma in community development is well-suited given all she has done for organizations across the region.”

Edith’s roots within the community are deep, as she has dedicated her life to volunteering with and financially supporting many non-profit organizations focused on advancing education and improving access to healthcare. Her involvement with DC began when she served as a member of the Board of Governors from 1987 to 1992. In the late 1990s, she also served on the DC President’s Advisory Committee providing insight into the creation of the partnerships between the college and the newly established University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

She has supported students at both institutions through generous gifts towards construction of the Oshawa Campus Library and the purchase of new adaptive technologies for the joint Centre for Students with Disabilities. In 2011, she also donated funds towards construction of the Centre for Food, to help turn the college’s field-to-fork vision into reality.

Edith has also delivered Meals on Wheels, organized blood donor clinics for the Canadian Red Cross and coordinated events and day-programs at WindReach Farm. She has served on the Boards of Directors for the Durham Region Heart and Stroke Foundation, Hearth Place, Information Oshawa, WindReach Farm and the WindReach Farm Foundation, the YWCA and the Columbus United Church. She is currently serving as chair of the Board of Directors of the Durham Community Foundation and is a community advisor with the Community Innovation Lab, a hub providing programming and support for entrepreneurs at all stages of business development.

Edith and her late husband Bill have four children. One of them, as well as three of her grandchildren, are Durham College alumni.

 

Durham College celebrates student success at 2017 Spring Convocation

Durham College (DC) proudly celebrated as more than 3,700 students walked across the stage to receive their credential during the 2017 Spring Convocation ceremonies. Whether beginning their career or pursuing further education, these individuals will continue their journey knowing they have the skills they need to succeed.

Held from June 12 to 14 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, cheered on by family, friends and college employees.

Guest speakers at each ceremony included DC alumni and its immediate past vice-president, Academic:

  • Shelley Jones, lawyer and registered trademark agent and graduate of DC’s Legal Administration program;
  • Rob Leth, Global News sports anchor and graduate of DC’s Journalism program;
  • Judy Robinson, immediate past vice-president, Academic at DC;
  • Brent Lessard, co-founder of the online think tank rLoop and graduate of DC’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program; and
  • Nancy Shaw, CEO and general manager of the Oshawa Chamber of Commerce and graduate of DC’s Nursing Assistant program.

Emeritus Award

As part of the college’s commitment to building on its positive reputation, the outstanding contributions and exemplary service of retired faculty and staff members were recognized through the honorary designation of emeritus:

  • Ben Kelly, a professor in the School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology received the title of professor emeritus; and
  • Judy Robinson, immediate past vice-president, Academic received the title of vice-president emeritus.

Honorary Credential

DC also awarded its seventh honorary credential, a diploma in Community Development, to Edith Alger, during Tuesday afternoon’s ceremony. A long-standing Oshawa resident, Edith has volunteered with and financially supported many non-profit organizations focused on advancing education and improving access to healthcare in Durham Region, including DC.

Alumni of Distinction

Three past DC graduates also received Alumni of Distinction awards, in honour of the extraordinary contributions they have made to society while achieving career success:

  • Richard Gauder – Marketing Administration, 1984;
  • Joyce Hunter – Journalism – Print, 2003; and
  • Brent Lessard – Mechanical Engineering Technology, 2014.

The full videos of each ceremony will also be posted later this month for those who missed the ceremony or want to relive the moment.