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DC students earn best of the best recognition at Digifest

Durham College (DC) Interactive Media Design students Christopher Chai and Zachary Weaver are the proud winners of the Interaction Design category in the Best of the Best Student Showcase at Digifest, Toronto’s three-day international festival celebrating digital creativity. The students’ winning design, the fully interactive Unreal Museum Showcase, was an engaging way for participants to experience history and learning.

The unique Best of the Best Student Showcase brought together exciting work from the brightest student minds across Ontario, and at the forefront of it all was the Unreal Museum Showcase. Powered by the Unreal Engine and Leap Motion Gesture Control, users had the opportunity to explore and interact with the museum displays in an immersive, fully 3D environment.

Taking a new, extremely hands-on approach to learning, guests were encouraged to touch, manipulate and control exhibition objects at their own pace. From ancient Roman history to the fine arts, the Unreal Museum Showcase made learning a very real, very fun experience.

Requiring a partnership to operate, one user controls a pair of 3D hands with a gesture sensing device, while the other navigates the museum with an ordinary video game controller. The hands can touch and hold on to fully rendered models of sculptures, ancient weapons and other pieces, or activate media such as sound clips or videos by pressing virtual buttons within the application.

“Digifest was the first time I was able to show off something I was really proud of,” said Chai. “It was great seeing all the visitors playing about with the project, they all seemed so engaged – especially the smaller kids.”

Chai and Weaver’s Unreal Museum Showcase was one of 30 student projects from 10 institutions across Ontario, spanning categories such as graphic communication, interactive gaming, mobile app development, visual and interactive art, and web design. Hundreds of the most renowned Canadian and international designers attend the Student Showcase every year, making it an incredible opportunity for students to expose their creativity to the biggest names in their industries.

Creating and presenting the Unreal Museum Showcase was a serious challenge, but the two winners came prepared. The Interactive Media Design program gives students all the tools and skills needed to become masters in the world of animated and digital design.

Annual Roger Anderson Charity Classic raises $327,000

The 19th annual Roger Anderson Charity Classic golf tournament was held on June 9 with sponsors, donors, volunteers and participants coming together to raise $327,000. Funds will be used to support students in financial need at Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, and child and youth programs at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Science.

One of Durham Region’s most popular and well-established fundraising events, the day started with Durham Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer Roger Anderson greeting the 230 golfers representing various local organizations. With high spirits from a great turnout, players and volunteers enjoyed a day filled with sunshine, laughter and, of course, plenty of time on the green.

“Supporting youth is crucial as we continue developing our communities,” said Anderson. “It’s wonderful to see golfers come out each year to raise money for an important cause while also having some fun on the course.”

For nearly two decades, the tournament has enabled community members to get involved and make a positive difference for students and youth across the region, while enjoying a fun day of golf with friends and colleagues.

The tournament has raised more than $5.8 million since its inception.

Three representatives from the benefiting organizations attended the cheque presentation, offering thanks on behalf of their communities for the hard work and dedication of the organizers and everyone involved who helped to make the tournament such a great success.

Tournament organizers give recognition and gratitude to all sponsors for their generous and continued support of the tournament.

DC students successfully represent Ontario at Skills Canada National Competition

Durham College (DC) is proud to announce the success of two second-year Horticulture Technician program students at this year’s Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC). The event, held in Moncton, N.B. from June 5 to 8 saw Jamie Marangon and Zachary Slaughter finish fourth in the Landscape Gardening category.

Both Marangon and Slaughter qualified to participate in the SCNC in May when they won gold in the Horticulture and Landscape category at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition, held from May 2 to 4 in Waterloo.

“I don’t have the words to express how proud I am of Zac and James’ achievements or how professionally they represented Durham College and Ontario at the Skills Canada National Competition,” said Shane Jones, a professor with the Horticulture Technician program who also coached the students for both the national and provincial competitions.

As the only national, multi-trade and technology competition for students and apprentices in the country, the SCNC sees more than 500 young people from across Canada participate in more than 40 skilled trade and technology competitions, providing an opportunity for them to gain hands-on work experience related to careers in both skilled trades and technology.

CFF wins Environmental Achievement Award

Durham College (DC) added another award to its long list of honours for supporting environmental sustainability at the Durham Environmental Advisory Committee’s annual Environmental Achievement Awards. Tanya Roberts, DC’s sustainability co-ordinator, was thrilled to have the efforts of both the sustainability and Centre for Food (CFF) teams recognized as she accepted the Eric Krause Innovative Plans/Policies/Initiatives Award (Eric Krause Award).

Held on May 12 at the Regional Municipality of Durham Headquarters in Whitby, the 2016 Environmental Achievement Awards, each named in honour of past environmental leaders, were presented to those in public, private and non-profit organizations in the Durham Region who exemplify positive environmental change. Of the six prestigious awards, The Eric Krause Award recognizes initiatives that encourage positive change in the natural environment and was awarded to DC’s state-of-the-art CFF for its commitment to conserving energy and protecting the environment.

Within her role, Roberts works with key students and employees who are dedicated to sustainability initiatives and was overjoyed to accept this award alongside those who share a dedication to the environment.

“It felt great to witness the college’s efforts and the Centre for Food being acknowledged within the community and chosen to receive this award. It’s great to get the message out,” says Roberts. “It’s a very unique building in the Durham Region and offers an amazing learning and growing atmosphere for students.”

The college’s sustainability initiatives include designing and implementing new programs and activities to reduce campus energy, water and paper consumption; maximize waste diversion; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and encourage a sustainable mindset.

With the capacity to accommodate 900 students, the CFF is the region’s first post-secondary presence focused on field-to-fork, a concept that is based on the harvesting, storage, processing, packaging, sale and consumption of food, particularly for local consumers. Through a diverse range of programs featuring modern equipment, technology and faculty expertise, students are able to embrace the field-to-fork concept, which is shaping the future of local food and farming industries to help maintain Ontario’s strong agricultural tradition.

Moving forward, the CFF hopes to continue inspiring positive environmental change and maintaining excitement towards a better future. For more information about DC’s sustainability initiatives, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/livinggreen.

DC students wrap up a victory in PAC's packaging challenge

Students from Durham College (DC) and other post-secondary institutions across Ontario answered the call of the Packaging Association of Canada’s (PAC) Just One Package Student Competition on May 18, with the goal to reduce waste and eliminate the need for single-use packaging in retail. Two Graphic Design students, Gwenda Thomas and Jasmine Isidoro, earned second place for their submission, as staff from PAC retail members Canadian Tire, Costco, Home Depot, Sobeys, Walmart and Wegmans joined the audience to judge challenge submissions.

This year, contestants worked with medium or large products to create packaging that appeals to consumers, is environmentally friendly, and has the flexibility to be used in multiple product settings. Competitors were allotted 15 minutes to present their projects to event attendees and a panel of retail experts for feedback. After the presentations, entrants set up tables in common areas for more in-depth explanations and full exposure to guests.

The audience voted to determine Best of Show, 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, which all received recognition awards. However, the winners weren’t the only ones rewarded; retailers found new solutions to reduce packaging waste, audience members got valuable education, and inventive students gained access to primary markets for their products, recognition for their efforts and the chance for employment. All participating students and schools received a small monetary reward for participation and contributing solutions to the important issues facing the packaging industry.

The Just One Package Student Competition was presented during PAC’s Innovation Challenge as a special luncheon feature event, and served as an excellent avenue for students to display their talent and ingenuity to industry leaders. Every year a new and unique challenge is issued, pushing competitors to their creative limits and inspiring original, innovative designs.

Siemens Canada tours DC’s Integrated Manufacturing Centre

Durham College (DC) recently welcomed leadership from Siemens Canada (Siemens) to tour the Integrated Manufacturing Centre (IMC) at the college’s Oshawa campus.

DC President Don Lovisa and Sue Todd, executive dean, School of Science, Engineering & Technology (SET), along with faculty from SET, were joined by Siemens President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Hardt, Bershu Nkwawir, vice-president, Sales, Ontario and Tom Murad, head of Siemens Canada Engineering and Technology Academy. 

The tour was an opportunity for the college to showcase the IMC, 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.

“It was an honour to welcome Robert, Bershu and Tom to our campus,” said Lovisa. “The tour was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our facilities, including the 8,000-square-foot IMC while demonstrating how DC is training students for tomorrow’s economy. In addition, it provided an opportunity to learn more about the strategic hiring process at Siemens, first-hand knowledge and information that will be invaluable to our students as they prepare to enter the advanced manufacturing industry post-graduation.”

The tour also offered an opportunity to visit DC’s Biomedical Engineering Technology lab, where students gain hands-on experience with a variety of biomedical patient simulators and test and measurement devices. This fully equipped lab houses anesthesia equipment; bedside and central monitoring; dialysis machines; infusion pumps; patient monitor information and database systems; and physiological measurement devices, enabling students to build projects from the bottom up using equipment found in their respective industries.

“The automation industry is ever-changing,” said Todd. “By working with innovative companies like Siemens, as well as input from industry experts on our program advisory committees, we can continually adapt our curriculum to ensure our graduates are prepared to meet the demand of companies in Canada and across the globe.”

Funded by the provincial government, the IMC was built in two phases. The first phase, which included automation and robotics, was completed in 2002. The second phase, completed in 2005, added computer numerical controlled lathes, mills and a rail robot to the facility. The modern training facility is used by multiple SET programs including Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electronics Engineering Technology and Water Quality Technician,

Students take their learning beyond the labs by completing field placements, as well as participating in integrated research projects with support from DC’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This community integration, as well as input from experts on Program Advisory Committees, keeps the curriculum current in these ever-expanding industries.

One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of gas and steam turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure and automation, drive and software solutions. The company is also a foremost provider of medical imaging equipment and a leader in laboratory diagnostics.

DC Student's small farm has big ambitions

In 2015, Durham College (DC) Horticulture – Food and Farming first-year student Alisha Kingsley found a job on Kijiji. Hoping to earn some experience in her chosen field before starting at DC, she connected with Jason Atkins and Brenda Brown, two Whitby residents who wanted to grow and enjoy home-grown food with friends and family throughout the year. The duo planned to build a greenhouse that utilized a 760-gallon aquaponics system to feed crops placed in raised beds, and Kingsley was brought in to ensure its success.

She was appointed to supervise every aspect of the project including construction operations and material, installation of the water and feeding systems and daily maintenance and care of each crop. It was a task she happily accepted and one that has proven to be an ongoing challenge, making it the perfect way for her to hone her skills and master her trade. Kingsley has faced a number of setbacks that only a project like this could present – excavating the pit where the greenhouse now stands took 100 hours alone – but she views every one of these experiences as an opportunity to learn.

“My DC education has run parallel with the practical experience from the ‘mini farm’, and my main goal in both is to learn,” said Kingsley. “I’ve learned about the families of crops, their needs, and what I need to do to grow delicious food.”

Construction of the greenhouse was completed some time ago, but Kingsley’s work hasn’t finished. Troubleshooting occupies a large portion of her time as she cares for each individual crop, monitoring its needs and special nutrition requirements and maintaining the aquaponics system that feeds the greenhouse. As the warm weather begins to arrive, Kingsley must be on the lookout for pests and disease that could damage the crops, while her upcoming summer project with Atkins and Brown will shortly bring the added challenge of leaving the greenhouse and growing plants outdoors.

“Alisha was the best thing that could have happened to this project. We all underestimated what it would take to build a greenhouse,” remarked Brown. “One scoop of dirt, one piece of wood, one pane of glass at a time, it came together. Alisha’s ability to problem solve has proven to be invaluable in the flexibility required to get it done.”

Using all the knowledge she gained through this project and her first year of studies, Kingsley is working with Atkins and Brown to create a permaculture garden complete with fruit trees and perennial crops, doing so in such a way that ensures the plants grow harmoniously and no materials are wasted.

“After finishing my first year I now understand all aspects of my due diligence as a farmer and I can make educated decisions building a business of my own. Making the decision to attend DC has set my farming plans in motion,” she said.

DC students showcase their talent at foundations and fine art exhibition

Students enrolled in Durham College’s (DC) art programs prepared a glowing display for the ninth annual DC student work exhibit at the Whitby Station Gallery. The exhibition ran until May 22, with a special reception and awards presentation on May 19. Admission to the Station Gallery is free and open to all lovers of art in the community.

This year’s display featured more than 200 stunning works across a variety of mediums, spanning all three years of DC’s Fine Arts – Advanced program, and the one-year Foundations in Art and Design program. Student volunteers joined Fine Arts program co-ordinator Sean McQuay and gallery curator Olexander Wlasenko in greeting nearly 250 guests during the opening weekend and hundreds more over the course of the show.

Shows from previous years have been very popular with the public, making the student gallery a fantastic way for DC students to show their creativity and talent to the community. Every year, the event proves to be one of the best retention and recruitment tools available to each of the participating programs by showing students just how far their ability and enthusiasm will take them.

DC’s Foundations in Art and Design program acts as a stepping stone for students, introducing them to basic techniques and principles of aesthetic appeal, allowing the choice to branch into any aspect of visual art. Similarly, the Fine Arts – Advanced program offers a wide range of knowledge in visual arts by encouraging students to experiment with a variety of mediums, materials and techniques, giving budding artists the confidence and skills required to lead a successful career in arts and visual communication.

DC recognizes International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia

On May 17, Durham College (DC) formally recognized International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia (IDAHOT) by raising the pride flag at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses for the first time. 

Students and employees were encouraged to gather in front of the flag poles at the Student Services building, where they were joined by representatives from multiple community partners including PFLAG Durham and the AIDS Committee of Durham Region.

Meri Kim Oliver, vice-president of Student Affairs, DC, spoke about why acknowledging the day was important to the DC community. “The symbolism of raising a flag marks a point when we acknowledge the past and grieve for the ways in which we have interacted,” said Oliver. “It marks the present and optimism based on the changes that have allowed for today’s activities to take place and signals a future in which we will persevere to end discrimination based on homophobia, transphobia and biphopia.”  

DC strives to foster and sustain an environment of inclusiveness that empowers everyone to achieve their highest potential without fear of prejudice or bias. The Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion and Transitions, which organized the event on campus, is dedicated to ensuring that students feel welcome and supported during their post-secondary education.

 “The Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion and Transitions is focused on celebrating diversity,” said Allison Hector-Alexander, manager, DC Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion and Transitions. “We’re not here to encourage tolerance – we tolerate something we dislike. We’re here to generate awareness and encourage acceptance, ensuring every individual feels like they have a voice.”

Since 2004, May 17 has been recognized as IDAHOT, marking the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. First recognized in Montreal, IDAHOT is now celebrated in more than 130 countries, uniting millions of people in support for the upholding of human rights for all, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

Collaborative Nursing faculty member helps develop nurse licensing exam

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) recently selected June MacDonald-Jenkins, a Nursing program faculty member, to help develop its standardized licensing exams for entry-level registered and practical nurses (RN and PN).The Nursing program is offered collaboratively by Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

MacDonald-Jenkins participated in the NCSBN’s National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) item (exam question) writing panel March 7 through 10 in Chicago, Illinois.

“It was an honour to take part in the NCLEX Item Writing panel,” said MacDonald-Jenkins. “This was a wonderful opportunity to network with other nursing professionals on a national and international level, and to demonstrate the University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s and Durham College’s commitment to preparing students for the NCLEX exam.”

Nursing boards in the U.S. and Canada use the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN to determine whether a candidate is prepared to enter the nursing field after graduating from an accredited nursing program.

Each year, hundreds of nurse educators, clinicians and managers help create the exam by participating in development panels. The NCSBN selects qualified volunteer applicants based on experience working with entry-level nurses, clinical specialty and nursing expertise to fill the following positions:

  • Item writers: Create the questions administered in the exams.
  • Item reviewers: Examine the questions the item writers create.

Canadian nurses represent 20 per cent of the volunteers invited to participate.

Volunteers are approved by their provincial/territorial regulatory body. The panels take place throughout the year in Chicago.