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DC signs first-of-its-kind agreement with Canada’s leading cannabis healthcare service

Durham College (DC) and Emblem Corp. (Emblem), on behalf of its health and education subsidiary GrowWise Health Limited (GrowWise), are pleased to announce their signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to begin integrating cannabis-related learning into many of DC’s post-secondary programs and building professional development courses. The MOU is the first-ever agreement in the province of Ontario between a cannabis education service and a post-secondary institution.

“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity, both for GrowWise and for Durham College,” says Adam Saperia, president of GrowWise Health. “GrowWise is already a leader when it comes to education for patients. As interest in the cannabis industry grows, so too does the need for education, and GrowWise is ideally positioned to meet these professional educational demands for healthcare professionals and the wider market.”

The agreement builds on the college’s highly successful Medical Cannabis Fundamentals for Business Professionals course which was introduced in 2017 by DC’s School of Continuing Education in collaboration with GrowWise.

Today’s announcement paves the way for more cannabis-focused courses to be offered. It will also allow for DC to begin offering its students work placements with cannabis industry partners and opens the door for eventual applied research opportunities within the industry.

“As an institution we are continually striving to develop and deliver leading-edge learning solutions,” says DC president Don Lovisa. “As a proven developer of education and training for organizations of all types, today’s agreement will allow us to design and develop co-branded courses, both online and in-class, that will be offered directly to healthcare professionals, patients and other stakeholders in Canada’s emerging cannabis space.”

In addition to providing subject matter expertise as well as funding, GrowWise and Emblem will work collaboratively with DC to identify applied research and experiential learning opportunities both in the medical and recreational cannabis industries.

DC helps elementary students connect STEM competition with career options

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 DynamicsSM, 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.

DC collaborates with Parkwood Estate to recreate iconic George Tanaka gardens

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.

Kicking off the new year with a visit from the Stanley Cup

Durham College (DC) kicked off the new year by celebrating with Stanley – Lord Stanley that is. On Monday, January 8, the Stanley Cup – North America’s oldest and most revered championship trophy in professional sport – visited the college with DC alumnus and Keeper of the Cup Phil Pritchard.

DC students, employees and alumni were on hand to pose for photos with the one-and-only Stanley Cup and to speak with Phil. In true Canadian spirit, butter tarts and hot chocolate were also provided.

A graduate of DC’s Sport Administration program, Phil Pritchard has been taking care of the Stanley Cup since his first week on the job at the Hockey Hall of Fame more than 20 years ago. Now vice-president and curator at the famed hockey museum, Phil received a DC Alumni of Distinction award in 2016.

2017 campus Holiday Food Drive supports 150 families

The co-chairs of the annual campus Holiday Food Drive extend their sincere thanks to everyone who helped make the 2017 initiative a resounding success.

A longstanding campus tradition, the drive provides hampers and financial assistance to Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) student families in need.

“The need is real: we hear stories about students having to choose between buying books or food throughout the school year. It can be particularly difficult for them during the holidays when they have to decide between purchasing school necessities or gifts for their families,” says Brad MacIsaac, Co-chair, Holiday Food Drive. “We are thrilled that this year’s campaign helped families enjoy happier holidays with a record number of 150 food hampers, thanks to the generosity of our campus community.”

 “The success of the Holiday Food Drive would not be possible without everyone who came together for this great cause,” adds Kevin Griffin, Co-chair, Holiday Food Drive. “A heartfelt thank you goes out to all who donated non-perishable food items, contributed finances toward the purchase of fresh food, and helped us pack and deliver hampers on December 17.”

DC, UOIT, the Kinsmen Club of Oshawa, UOIT Student Union and Durham College Students Inc. organize the campus Holiday Food Drive.

DC signs collaboration agreement with Lakeridge Health

Durham College and Lakeridge Health have signed a five-year collaboration agreement focused on growing experiential learning, applied research and innovative education to address issues in health care.

“Durham College and Lakeridge Health have a long history of working together and this agreement illustrates the ways in which our values so closely align,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean of the college’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE). “This is an exciting new chapter in our relationship – one that will provide exceptional opportunities for our students and faculty and make positive impacts on the quality of health care our community receives.”

Under the agreement, the college and hospital will collaborate to explore and pursue the following five objectives:

  • Identify and develop initiatives focused on creating practical, scalable and sustainable solutions to health care issues.
  • Work with companies to develop, disseminate and potentially commercialize technologies.
  • Develop and coordinate joint experiential learning opportunities, applied research and innovative educational activities.
  • Contribute to seminars, workshops and academic initiatives that drive the business goals of both organizations.
  • Share access to facilities, equipment, systems, information and data within the boundaries of protecting confidentiality and personal information.

The collaboration agreement supports two specialized areas of research for ORSIE and Durham College: enabling technologies of the future and cultivating healthy lives and resilient communities. It also aligns with the college’s first degree program, the Honours Bachelor of Health Care Technology Management (BHCTM), announced earlier this year. The first program of its kind in Canada, the BHCTM program aims to address an identified need in the health care sector for professionals with a hybrid skill set of expertise in medical technologies, life sciences and business practices.

Lakeridge Health is a five hospital health system with approximately 15 community locations across Durham Region and 6,000 employees dedicated to providing excellence – every moment, every day. For Lakeridge Health, this partnership supports a pathway to innovation with a focus on excellent patient care and the potential to increase opportunities for experiential learning and applied research.

“Innovation is one of the core values of Lakeridge Health, and we are looking forward to working in partnership with Durham College to develop innovative health care solutions while working with students, faculty and community partners,” said Len Kleine, director of Business Development, Lakeridge Health, and one of the organizational leads for Innovation.

DC reaches 50 Acts of Kindness to wrap up milestone year

Riding a wave of holiday spirit across campus, Durham College (DC) reached its goal of 50 Acts of Kindness completed and shared by the end of its 50th anniversary year. Launched in April as part of DC’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the 50 Acts of Kindness project was designed to capture a snapshot of how members of our campus community give back.

Whether they were volunteering, donating to a food or clothing drive, helping a neighbour or surprising someone in need of a smile, DC students, employees, alumni and retirees proved that they’re both go-getters and go-givers!

Each act of kindness was submitted to the DC50 website along with a brief description of the act of kindness, participants involved and a photo. As each act of kindness was received it was then posted to the 50 Acts of Kindness webpage building a virtual college of goodwill and community.

DC is grateful to everyone who contributed generosity and good deeds to help reach 50 Acts of Kindness. Let’s keep the kindness flowing on campus and throughout the community as we enter 2018!

School of Justice & Emergency Services students give back

Students in Durham College’s (DC) Fire and Life Safety Systems Technician and Firefighter – Pre-Service, Education and Training programs recently volunteered their time and community spirit to raise $1,463 for Camp Bucko, which gives burn survivors ages seven to 17 the opportunity to attend camp for one week during the summer.

On Friday, December 15, they were able to present a cheque to representatives from the camp in the culmination of their planning and fundraising efforts. Raised during Fire Prevention Week, the funds are the result of multiple initiatives, which were organized by more than 100 students. These included a boot drive, fire fighter challenge where participants were given the chance to dress in fire fighter gear to complete an obstacle course and a meet and greet with Molly the Fire Dog.

Photo credit: Aly Beach, second-year Journalism – Print and Web student.

Durham College launches first-of-its-kind applied research AI Hub

Durham College (DC) is announcing the launch of the Durham College Hub for Applied Research in Artificial Intelligence for Business Solutions, to be known more commonly as the AI Hub. Housed within the college’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE), the AI Hub offers small and medium enterprises (SMEs) a much-needed access point to the rapidly growing field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

DC’s AI Hub offers industry partners access to technical expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and learning platforms, and students who are emerging leaders in their fields, so that through applied research projects they may uncover business insights and implement intelligent and autonomous solutions to increase their companies’ productivity and growth.

AI is transforming the ways in which business systems, consumer interactions and devices are being developed and used. By building upon Canada’s established lead in AI scientific research, DC’s AI Hub aims to ensure this emerging and vital competitive advantage for business can be understood, developed and adopted by SMEs.

The AI hub is focused on how “narrow AI” can be used to help SMEs unlock competitive advantage through the adoption of AI. Narrow AI refers to any software that uses technologies such as machine learning (ML), decision support, natural language processing and automation to recommend strategic options, make decisions autonomously and act in a manner that would be considered intelligent.

In addition to supporting SMEs, the AI Hub also provides DC students and alumni opportunities to gain highly sought-after AI and ML skills and experience to improve their competitiveness in today’s job market.

As part of the AI Hub’s establishment, DC also launched three internal projects to accelerate the college’s adoption of AI and commissioned a new GPU Accelerated AI Systems Lab for research and teaching purposes.

The college has also just announced its eighth AI applied research project launched in 2017. DC and Toronto-based flitePLAN International (flitePLAN) are partnering on a project using AI and advanced development techniques to address the financial and ecological benefits of fuel optimization in commercial aviation.

Companies interested in how AI and digital transformation can enhance their businesses are encouraged to visit www.durhamcollege.ca/theAIHub or contact the AI Hub team directly at theaihub@durhamcollege.ca or 905.721.3223.

DC Brewing Memories Coffee Tour Wraps Up

Durham College’s (DC) Office of Development and Alumni Affairs gave new meaning to the term ‘coffee break’ for alumni with their Brewing Memories Coffee Tour (BMCT).  The travelling series of events was part of DC’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2017 and saw the college host coffee breaks throughout the year at 50 workplaces that employ DC graduates. This month, the tour wraps up after more than 50 stops.

The BMCT was designed to provide opportunities for the college to re-connect with its graduates, hear their success stories, learn about their career paths and in turn, share with them the new and exciting things happening at DC – all while enjoying free coffee, tea and baked goods. Each attendee had the opportunity to share details of their program and received a commemorative ‘DC alumni at work’ sticker to be proudly displayed at their workplace.

The Office of Development and Alumni Affairs gathered with alumni in workplaces such as DC’s Oshawa and Whitby campuses, Durham Regional Police Services, Ontario Power Generation and Bombardier Transportation. The BMCT traveled outside of Durham Region, with stops at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and the HMCS BYTOWN Officers’ Mess in Ottawa.

The tour also gave international alumni the opportunity to connect by engaging with former DC students in British Columbia, Romania, Turkey, Japan and England. The five alumni came together through DC’s Global Class to share their memories of DC and updates on their careers. Participants also learned about new college developments and took questions from audience members watching live, both in-class and on the web for a truly unique BMCT stop.