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Durham College publicly launches Building Something Amazing capital campaign

 As Durham College (DC) celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2017, it has also begun the construction of the new Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE), a state-of-the-art learning environment where students, employees and the broader community can work together in ways that transcend traditional concepts of education.

To achieve DC’s vision for the centre, the college has embarked on a capital campaign – Building Something Amazing – and on September 27, it publicly launched this fundraising initiative during a special event for donors and the college community.

“Projects of this magnitude do not happen without substantial investment,” said Linda Flynn, associate vice-president, Office of Development and Alumni Affairs. “After receiving funding from all levels of government, DC was tasked with raising an additional $5 million to complete construction of the CFCE. We are 75 per cent of the way to our goal but still have just over $1.2 million remaining to raise.”

Prior to enjoying a hard hat tour of the CFCE progress to-date, attendees heard from Cassie-Jean Dillon, a second-year student in Fitness and Health Promotion program, about what the CFCE will mean to her and the others who will have the opportunity to learn there.

Donor Elaine Mendicino was also on hand to share her story about why she is supporting the capital campaign. After losing her husband suddenly in 2011, she wanted to honour his memory. She chose to do so as a thank you to the college where she and her husband met and gained the skills they needed to thrive in their chosen careers. The Rob Hogan Student Commons will bear her late husband’s name as a testament to his memory and the promise of collaboration and innovation that the new CFCE holds.

“As a college, we have been extremely lucky to have the support of the local community and organizations to help us champion student success,” said Flynn. “Investing in the Building Something Campaign is yet another way people can choose to give back, creating a lasting legacy for generations to come.”

When completed, the multi-level CFCE will provide 75,000-square-feet of space that will serve as an educational access point for students, while bringing together local, Indigenous and global community groups and members of key business sectors when it opens in fall 2018.

For more information about the CFCE or to make a donation to the Building Something Amazing capital campaign please contact DC’s Office of Development and Alumni Affairs.

DC president Don Lovisa named Business Person of the Year

Durham College (DC) is proud to announce that its president, Don Lovisa, has been named Business Person of the Year by the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce at the prestigious 22nd annual Business Excellence Awards. The awards were presented on September 27 at a gala held at the Jubilee Pavilion.

“Receiving this award from the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce in Durham College’s 50th anniversary year is an incredible honour,” said President Lovisa. “Each day I go to work at what I believe is Canada’s best college. To be recognized for doing something I truly love is humbling and I share this achievement with my colleagues who join me each day to ensure that the college is able to live its mission that the student experience comes first.”

The Business Excellence Awards are held each year to recognize the success and outstanding contributions of companies and individuals within the Greater Oshawa business community. Winners are honoured in the following award categories: Business Person of the Year; Business Excellence; EnGen Award, which recognizes individuals under the age of 40 who are making their mark in the Greater Oshawa area and beyond; Innovation; Civic Pride; and New Enterprise.

In selecting President Lovisa as Business Person of the Year, the award jury considered his strengths in all areas of business as well as his leadership within the community.

President Lovisa joined DC in July 2007 as vice-president, Academic, following a successful 20-year career at Confederation College in Northwestern Ontario, where he held numerous positions including dean of the School of Business, Hospitality and Media Arts. He was named interim president of DC on May 16, 2008, and formally appointed president on January 1, 2009.

The college has thrived under President Lovisa’s guidance, realizing significant, strategic growth in students, learning spaces and reputation. During his tenure, DC has become the fastest growing college in Ontario, moving from less than 7,000 students in his first year at DC to more than 12,000 in fall 2017; one of the largest employers in Durham Region, with more than 1,500 employees; and has undergone a campus revitalization of nearly $180 million in renovations and new buildings.

Prior to entering the post-secondary sector, President Lovisa worked internationally, providing training, teaching and consultations in areas of globalization, market-driven economic transition, international trade, and entrepreneurship and business development. This impressive range of skills has proved beneficial for not only the college, but the greater community as well.

“Don has a vision of the deep, long-term impact education has for local and global communities, and leaders have aligned with him to invest in his inclusive vision, time and time again,” said Scott Blakey, chief administrative officer, DC. “His accomplishments support students and industries, and provide a visionary view into what the college represents for the local economy. The entire DC family is thrilled to see him recognized for his tireless work on behalf of the college and the greater community.”

Read more about President Lovisa’s achievements

DC welcomes more than 12,000 students to campus for 2017-2018 academic year

Against the backdrop of its 50th anniversary, Durham College (DC) has welcomed more than 12,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students to its Oshawa and Whitby campuses and Pickering Learning Site for the 2017-2018 academic year. This represents an increase of more than eight per cent in overall domestic and international enrolment.

This year’s student population includes more than 7,000 new students (domestic and international) and close to 1,100 international students who have travelled from 61 countries around the world to study at DC – a number that is nearly double international enrolment last year.

“We are very pleased with the growth in the college’s enrolment this year,” said Paul Bishop, executive director, Strategic Enrolment Services and registrar, Durham College. “The increase can be attributed to an intensive collaborative applicant conversion plan executed by student recruitment and admissions, communications and marketing, and our academic schools, but also speaks to DC’s commitment to the student experience and its focus on experiential learning, applied research and the quality of the programs offered.”

New market-driven programs for 2017-2018 include Entrepreneurship and Small Business – Business – Transfer to UOIT Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), Massage Therapy and Mechanical Technician – Elevating Devices.

In total, DC offers more than 140 full-time programs through its nine academic schools as well as more than 500 educational pathway opportunities in partnership with universities in Ontario, Canada and around the world.

Community members gather to dine under the stars at DC’s third annual Harvest Dinner

On September 21, more than 130 community members gathered under the stars at the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF) for Durham College’s (DC) third annual Harvest Dinner.

Against the backdrop of the CFF fields and greenhouse, guests celebrated fall’s bounty with a multi-course, family-style meal featuring food that was planted, picked and prepared by the college’s students and faculty. Highlighting the CFF’s field-to-fork philosophy, the meal consisted of a charcuterie and cheese platter appetizer, followed by four courses representing the freshest produce and local ingredients. From cedar-planked Ontario whitefish to sweet pepper salad to King Cole duck breast, the meal offered flavours for every palate. A dessert of assorted pastries capped off the feast.

The event was the culmination of countless hours spent preparing in CFF fields, labs and classrooms. It was a true team effort that saw Horticulture – Food and Farming and Horticulture Technician students cultivate and harvest the produce used in the meal, Culinary Management, Culinary Skills and Advanced Baking and Pastry Arts students prepare the dinner and students from the Special Events Management, Hospitality – Hotel and Restaurant Operations and Hospitality Skills programs serve guests.

For those who missed the Harvest Dinner, CFF produce and other local ingredients will continue to be served at Bistro ’67, the CFF’s full-service, teaching-inspired restaurant. Fresh produce and student-prepared goods are also available at Pantry, the retail store within the CFF. For anyone looking to expand their own culinary skills, cooking classes and demonstrations are available through DC’s School of Continuing Education.

For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/cff. 

50 acts of folding for DC

In celebration of Durham College’s (DC) 50th anniversary, 50 origami paper cranes, all made by Sara Donner, administrative assistant, School of Health & Community Services (HCS), hang delicately in the HCS office window.

Each is a crisp and colourful work of art in the tradition of origami – ori meaning “folding,” and kami meaning “paper” – often associated with Japanese culture. The paper crane is considered to be the most classic design.

Sara taught herself the craft and also recently shared the skill with the HCS faculty:

“I am on the Social Committee for HCS and thought it would be a nice idea to teach our faculty how to make the cranes since our theme was health and wellness at our All School meeting,” said Sara.  “This was fun and challenging and I have a new found respect for teachers!”

To see the display, visit HCS at SW106 at the Oshawa campus.

 

Applications now open for FastStart’s Pitch It! Student Entrepreneurship Competition

Have you envisioned a way to help combat climate change? Do you have some ideas to ensure a sustainable agricultural system? Or, maybe your inspiration is going to change information technology (IT), media or fashion as we know it. If you’ve spent time on any of the topics listed below, it’s time to take your idea and Pitch It!

FastStart invites students at Trent University, Durham College, Fleming College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology to submit their innovative business ideas for the third annual Pitch It! competition for aspiring entrepreneurs.

The event will showcase up to five contestants pitching their idea from these various business categories:

  • Agriculture and food.
  • IT and media.
  • Clean-tech and the environment.
  • Trades and retail business.
  • Lifestyle and fashion.

Applications must be submitted by noon on Friday, September 22. The final Pitch It! competition will take place at Fleming College’s Sutherland Campus on Wednesday, October 4 and is open to the public. It is a Dragons’ Den-style pitch competition before a panel of industry judges. Participating students can meet other like-minded entrepreneurs, get help to bring their innovative idea to the market, and win $500!

Visit the Pitch It! website for more information or to download a submission form.

The Pitch It! competition is sponsored by FastStart, an entrepreneurial training partnership designed to increase the entrepreneurship skills and awareness of university and college students, and help them develop solid business plans and take products to market.

DC’s Brewing Memories Coffee Tour goes Global

On September 13, the Durham College (DC) Brewing Memories Coffee Tour went global, as alumni from five countries came together in real time to share 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.

Hosted by Global Class founder and DC professor Lon Appleby and DC president Don Lovisa, the event broke down worldwide borders, uniting the graduates who are currently residing in Turkey, Romania, Japan, London, England, and across Canada in British Columbia for a DC Brewing Memories stop unlike any other.

The participants were:

Matt Warburton, Vancouver, British Columbia
Graphic Design, 1983
2015 Alumnus of Distinction

Jennifer Iacob, Bucharest, Romania
Nursing, 2004
2011 Alumna of Distinction and 2012 Premier’s Awards nominee

Rustu Ataman, Istanbul, Turkey
Renewable Energy Technician, 2015

Cameron Munro, Tokyo, Japan
Business Administration – Operations Management (now Supply Chain and Operations Management – Business Administration), 2012

Bob Wheller, London, England
Graphic Design, 1983
2015 Alumnus of Distinction

Advice shared with those watching the Global Class broadcast, both online and in class, included recognizing the importance of lifelong learning, seizing opportunities and not being afraid to stand up and ask questions. For full biographies of each DC graduate, or to view a recording of the Global Class session, please visit the Global Class page.

Hosted by DC’s Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, the Brewing Memories Coffee Tour is a travelling series of 50 events, held in honour of the college’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2017. To-date 35 stops have been made across Ontario, giving DC the chance to re-connect with its graduates, to hear their success stories, learn about their career paths and share all the new and exciting things happening at DC – all while enjoying free coffee, tea and baked goods.

DC celebrates 50 amazing years with Homecoming Weekend

More than 1,500 members of the community helped celebrate Durham College’s (DC) 50th anniversary in a big way at the college’s Homecoming Weekend on September 8, 9 and 10. Students – past, present and future – along with DC employees, retirees, their families and more came together for three fun-filled days of music, meals and memories to commemorate the milestone birthday.

Beginning with a kick-off event that featured live music from local soul band Professors of Funk and rising Canadian country music star Eric Ethridge, the first stop on the Colleges Ontario Amazing 50 mobile exhibit tour and free pizza, ice cream and giveaways, the weekend crackled with energy from start to finish.

Media personalities also got in on the action. Steve Paikin, host of TV’s The Agenda, spoke to a packed room about former premier and Ontario college system founder Bill Davis. Then TSN’s Kate Beirness – former voice of the Durham Lords – gave the keynote address at the DC Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony that saw nearly 100 athletes, coaches and team staff from four historic DC teams honoured.

The weekend’s Family Day festivities drew DC supporters of all ages, while the Party Through the Decades on Saturday night took partygoers back in time with themed food stations, bars, displays and attractions, then treated them to a live performance by Juno-award-winning singer-songwriter Colin James.

Rounded out with a double feature of movies on the lawn outside the college’s Student Services building, varsity vs alumni games in volleyball, baseball and softball, and a special prix fixe dinner menu and brunch at Bistro ’67, there was truly something for everyone at DC’s Homecoming Weekend.

The year-long party continues next with DC’s 50th anniversary speaker series (details to be announced shortly), commemorative elements at the upcoming fall convocation ceremony on Thursday, October 26, fall Open House on Saturday, November 18 and a skating party that will wrap up the college’s amazing 50th year (date to be announced shortly as well).

To learn more about DC’s milestone anniversary, history and upcoming events, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/50.

DC Welcomes over 700 new International Students to Orientation

On August 31 and September 1, Durham College (DC) welcomed more than 700 new international students from 52 countries to the college’s International Student Orientation, demonstrating that the student experience comes first.

Held at the Oshawa campus, the event saw DC president Don Lovisa and Dr. Elaine Popp, vice-president, Academic, engage with this diverse group of new students as they learned about the many services and supports available to them as they begin their post-secondary journey in Canada.

Students received guidance on how to adapt to the college environment, attended workshops on finding part-time work in Canada and the Canadian classroom, learned about finding local housing, and gained information about building a future in Canada. They enjoyed lunch on both days, an afternoon at Lakeview Park in Oshawa and other activities, giving them the opportunity to get to know each other and employees from the International Office. A highlight was the Thursday afternoon “Race Around DC” event, a fun twist on the traditional campus tour, inspired by  “The Amazing Race Canada” complete with clues, mini-challenges and checkpoints at key campus locations designed to get the new students oriented and acquainted with all DC has to offer.

The number of international students attending the college for the 2017-2018 academic year will be 1,100 – a significant increase from the previous academic year in which 835 international students were registered. This year’s group of international students represents 55 countries.

“Durham College’s reputation for providing quality education has spread, resulting in a record number of applications from international students around the world this year,” said Larissa Strong, manager of International Student Support. “While students will be challenged to learn and grow in their chosen fields by their professors in the classroom, they will also find support outside the classroom as they adapt to their new learning and living environment. With services on campus including academic, career, and health care, international students will feel well supported as they strive to find their personal success.”

With additional students expected to arrive as the 2017-2018 academic year gets underway, DC prides itself on offering international students the highest-quality Canadian education; a safe and vibrant campus environment; and a fun and rewarding student life – with everything from clubs and cultural activities to sports and recreation – to balance studies with activities outside the classroom.

For more information, please visit the college’s International website.

Vote for DC in Toronto Sun 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards

Durham College (DC) is a nominee in the Toronto Sun’s 24th Annual Reader’s Choice Awards in the Best College section. Voting is open until Tuesday, September 12 so share your love for DC by casting your ballot.

After filling out your personal information you can vote for Durham College in the Consumer Services category.