Durham College (DC) Personal Support Worker (PSW) students kicked off the new year by learning skills that go beyond the classroom. In a new collaboration with DC’s Centre for Food (CFF), PSW students were able to gain practical experience in food preparation and safety, a valuable skill within their industry.

To enhance the curriculum, program faculty worked with CFF enabling PSW students to complete a Food Safety Certificate through the Durham Region. This opportunity gives PSW students the chance to prepare a meal in class, a daily task in both community living and senior living settings as well as provide instrumental experience for their future career.

Prior to attending their session, students reviewed a video created by the faculty at the CFF, providing them with an overview of safe meal preparation procedures and standards, filmed by DC’s Media Services.

PSW students were then able to prepare a budget-friendly meal developed by the CFF. After their hard work, students were able to enjoy their meal and reflect on the experience. For some, it was their first time operating a gas stove, for others, it was their first time cutting an onion, PSW staff and students thoroughly enjoyed their experience – and their meal!

Durham College (DC) was proud to host more than 400 of Ontario’s brightest young minds, along with their teachers, families and friends, on January 13 as they competed in the annual FIRST® LEGO® League Ontario East Provincial Championship.

Known by its acronym that means For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, FIRST is a U.S.-based, not-for-profit public charity that inspires young people to be science and technology leaders. Leadership and innovation was on full display at this year’s competition, held in DC’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre at the college’s Oshawa campus, as teams of students, ages nine to 14, showcased their hard work and skills.

Teams first presented research projects to judging panels before unleashing their robots, which the students designed, built and programmed using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technology, on to table-top playing fields.

This year’s competition theme, Hydro Dynamics^SM, challenged teams to consider water – how we find, transport, use or dispose of it – and answer the question, what might become possible when we understand what happens to our water? Each team was asked to identify a real-world, water-related problem then create an innovative solution and share it with others. In keeping with the theme, the robot playing fields and challenges also focused on water.

While students were on campus, DC president Don Lovisa also encouraged them to think about the broader connections between the Hydro Dynamics theme and career opportunities on their horizon.

“Where could this year’s Hydro Dynamics challenge lead?” he asked. “How about Civil Engineering Technology, carrying out the design and technical functions related to our infrastructure and environment, which includes water resources. Or keeping water safe, both for consumption and returning to our lakes and oceans, as a Water Quality Technician. These are two of many post-secondary STEM options offered right here at DC.”

At the end of a day filled with fierce and fun competition, the Comet Warriors team from Kingston was crowned the winner and awarded an opportunity to compete at the FIRST LEGO League World Festival taking place in Detroit, Michigan, from April 25 to 28.

As a sponsor and host of FIRST LEGO League, DC offers students what is often their first experience in a college environment and helps them to envision where their passion for robotics, technology and engineering can take them to pursue a post-secondary education.

For more information about FIRST LEGO League, please visit www.firstroboticscanada.org.

In celebration of the ongoing partnership between Durham College (DC) and Parkwood National Historic Site (Parkwood), students from the college’s Horticulture Technician program have recreated Parkwood’s iconic Japanese garden. Designed by Canadian landscape architect George Tanaka in 1963, the recreation made its debut at the Landscape Ontario Congress trade show, which took place in Toronto from January 9 to 11.

DC has presented garden concepts before but given the college’s relationship with Parkwood, working together to develop and deliver educational curricula, and the fact Parkwood is celebrating its 100th anniversary, it was decided the college would recreate the Tanaka design.

Commissioned by Sam McLaughlin, to convert the estate’s existing greenhouses, Tanaka was well known for combining his Japanese heritage with elements native to the Canadian landscape. Designed to be “simple and unassertive”, his Japanese garden is a staple at the historical site, occupying one of five greenhouse spaces.

McLaughlin was in his 90’s when the Japanese Garden greenhouse was designed and it became a contemplative retreat for him, mere steps from the house. He was often found wandering and enjoying the space.

Using original elements retrieved from the garden, which will be restored back to its original exterior this spring, and working in tandem with the heritage docents at Parkwood, the students put together their interpretation of Tanaka’s vision.

Following a two-day installation at Congress, more than 13,000 visitors to the trade show were able to take in the students hard work, while enjoying a piece of local Oshawa history.