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The Chronicle makes headline news at DC

Durham College’s (DC) student newspaper, The Chronicle, was awarded second place in the General Excellence category for college and university newspapers at the annual Better Newspapers Awards gala, sponsored by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA).

“We are thrilled our students have been honoured for the high quality of their journalism,” said Brian Legree, professor and co-ordinator of the Journalism – Web Print and Journalism – Broadcast and Electronic Media programs at DC.

 The gala, held on April 22 in Vaughan, Ont., marks the 17th time since 1986 that The Chronicle has been recognized by the OCNA with a General Excellence award. A variety of categories were used to critique each newspaper including overall design, front page, quality of content and diversity. Competition judge Patricia Lonegran credited The Chronicle’s students and employee advisors for producing an excellent newspaper.

“Readers receive a mix of relevant news, features and profiles,” wrote Lonegran. “The paper is well laid out with a clean design and good use of space. The Chronicle also includes well thought out editorials, with reasoned local opinion relevant to the reader, something that seems lacking in many of the entries.”

The Chronicle has been a source of information and entertainment for the campus community for the past 43 years, and continues to spread the news to students and employees.

For more information on The Chronicle or to read the latest stories, visit http://chronicle.durhamcollege.ca/.

Durham College at the heart of Oshawa’s success

And the best place in Canada to find a job is…Oshawa!

That’s the latest news from the Bank of Montreal, which ranked Canada’s major cities for its annual Regional Labour Market Report Card and placed Oshawa at the top of the list in terms of job creation; a jump of 27 spots compared to its 2015 ranking. Although historically known as an automotive city, Oshawa has blossomed into an education and health science hub in recent years, with Durham College (DC) making a significant contribution to the city’s improved economic climate.

DC is proud to be a part of the Oshawa community and to be playing a major role in the city’s continued growth and development. As home to the college’s largest campus and with more than 1,700 full- and part-time employees, Durham College is one of the largest employers in Oshawa and Durham Region.

At the same time, DC brings much more than just direct economic benefits to the communities where it operates. The college serves as focal point for new ideas, entrepreneurship and skills training. As a result, Oshawa and its neighbouring communities get the benefits of DC’s job-ready graduates, trained by industry leaders to take on the challenges of today’s new economy.

Economic activity in Oshawa and the surrounding area continues to grow. The upcoming refurbishment of the Darlington nuclear reactor, the expansion of highway 407 and the growing numbers of small and medium-sized businesses taking advantage of lower operating costs all provide opportunities for DC’s graduates to settle in Oshawa once their education is complete.

As well, DC will be making its own contribution to Oshawa’s growth in the coming months with the construction of the new Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE), which will replace the Simcoe building on the college’s Oshawa campus. With funding from the Government of Ontario and private sources, the new centre will feature state-of-the-art classrooms and learning environments, while housing DC’s Aboriginal Student Centre and the Entrepreneurship Centre, including the Spark Centre.

As it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2017, Durham College looks back with pride at its contributions to the communities it serves and looks forward confidently to a prosperous future for Oshawa and Durham Region.

Top employers come together to host Idea Summit

Eight of Durham Region’s largest employers came together with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) on Tuesday, May 10 for the region’s first-ever Idea Summit. The one-day conference, which was held at the Durham College (DC) Centre for Food, provided a platform for the development of a new strategy aimed at creating jobs and stimulating investment and innovation in the region.

360 Insights, AECOM, DC, General Motors of Canada, Lakeridge Health, Ontario Power Generation, Spark Innovation Centre, and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, were all in attendance along with the OCC and the leadership from chambers of commerce and boards of trade across Durham Region. The chief executive officers from each of the employers committed a combined 90 employees and partners to be part of the full-day discussion, which was full of energy, engagement and discussion about how to move the community forward.

A number of objectives were identified as priorities for the coming months, which will be guided by the steering group of CEOs to ensure momentum is sustained and results realized. Among the objectives is to establish a common and clear vision for Durham Region that is endorsed and supported by all levels of government, business and other organizations, and the broader community; ‘collision’ (or hackathon) events that bring different community partners together to discuss and find solutions for issues of importance to the community; and the establishment of a mentoring network of senior leaders for small- and medium-sized start-ups and entrepreneurs. The CEO steering group will identify individuals and groups to take leadership on specific actions, and will be looking to the broader community for support moving forward.

Although Durham Region benefits from a highly skilled and well-educated workforce and has some of the lowest industrial and commercial land prices in the Greater Toronto Area, the region lags its local counterparts in job creation. At present, statistics show there are only 67 jobs in the region for every 100 employable workers, compared to 86 in Halton Region, 91 in York Region, 100 in Peel and more than 124 in Toronto. The summit is the first step in what is expected to be an ongoing process designed to create the conditions necessary to increase job growth and investment in the area via a long-term dialogue that will provide recommendations to all levels of government on ways to improve Durham Region’s competitiveness and help attract investment opportunities.

To ensure diversity among attendees, each partner was asked to provide 12 representatives from within their organization, resulting in a strategic dialogue focused on the importance of innovation, economic and social diversification for the region and its surrounding areas.

The day began with a keynote address by John Baker, president and chief executive officer of Desire2Learn, a highly successful online learning systems software company, followed by facilitated sessions and a moderated panel discussion on growing innovation and entrepreneurship.  The panel discussion featured three successful Durham-based entrepreneurs: Jason Atkins from 360 Insights, Jeff Quipp of Search Engine People, and Russ Montague of Nerd Block and ShirtPunch.

“It is clear that Durham Region is in an early maturation stage of an innovative economy and therefore it is critical that our local business leaders come together to develop a new community vision to drive innovation, growth, productivity and workforce development,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC, speaking on behalf of the participating organizations. “Together we are proud to play a role in this community-wide effort, which will lead to positive change and innovation throughout the region.” 

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Media contact:

Bob Neufeld
DC Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 6219
robert.neufeld@durhamcollege.ca

OPG, Durham College and UOIT partnership investment

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) will continue its support of post-secondary students in Durham Region by renewing a decade-long partnership with Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). The $5-million investment will support capital expenditures, educational programs, equipment, scholarships and bursaries for students at both institutions.

“We believe this partnership creates educational and research opportunities for students who go on to become leaders in our industry and our community,” says Jeffrey Lyash, OPG President and CEO. “OPG is proud to continue our partnership with Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.”

“We are offering students access to the highest level of curricula in technical areas specific to the current nuclear industry,” says Don Lovisa, Durham College, President. “This renewed funding commitment will enable us to enhance our equipment and facilities and provide our students with a learning environment designed to prepare them for immediate entry into the workforce.”

“This partnership provides support for students facing financial barriers,” says Tim McTiernan, UOIT, President. “OPG’s investment provides our students with much needed access to high-quality education. It also demonstrates our university’s significance as an educator of Canada’s energy leaders.”

The funding, to be provided in annual installments over the next five years, will help with the acquisition of training and mock-up equipment for both the college and university. The funding will also support the university’s nuclear-engineer-in-residence position with its Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science.

DC will continue to align its science, apprenticeship, skilled trades and technology programs to meet employment criteria outlined by OPG in order to produce qualified graduates that meet the entry requirements for operations and maintenance programs within the energy industry.

Under the terms of the partnership, the college and university will work together on the implementation of bridging programs between the two institutions. This will enable DC students to enter UOIT degree programs with advanced standing in order to produce graduates with a greater range of technical skills and knowledge.

The collaboration between the three organizations began in November 2005 to meet the need for ‘career-ready’ workers available for employment in the Canadian nuclear industry and provide training opportunities for OPG employees to build their skills through industry-related college and university programs.

Collaborative Nursing program’s Arlene de la Rocha receives prestigious 2016 HUB Fellowship

For nine years, Arlene de la Rocha has played an instrumental role in developing the Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Honours program curriculum at Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). On May 6, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) presented de la Rocha with one of its highest honours.

Professor de la Rocha was recognized with the prestigious 2016 HUB Fellowship for her demonstrated transformational leadership capacity and commitment to empowering nursing students to find a path that will develop their leadership strengths, whether at the clinical point-of-care or in traditional leadership positions. As the winner of the 2016 fellowship, de la Rocha, who is currently enrolled in her PhD in Nursing at Queen’s University will have the opportunity to participate in a week-long, one-on-one placement with RNAO’s chief executive officer Dr. Doris Grinspun.

“Receiving the HUB Fellowship is more than an honour – it’s the chance of a lifetime,” said de la Rocha. “Observing and working with Dr. Grinspun will provide me with invaluable insight into how she leads, motivates and empowers others, and I look forward to sharing all that I learn from her with my colleagues and students.”

Her leadership as a nursing educator includes her effort to bring greater realism to nursing education in a laboratory setting, which includes working with a research team aimed at introducing the use of technology such as iPads at the point of care for patients. She has also implemented a capstone project for fourth-year nursing students to help them identify emerging health issues.

“Arlene has established herself as a passionate, effective leader and we are thrilled to see her being recognized by the Ontario nursing community, said Judeline Innocent, executive dean, School of Health & Community Services, DC. “As an educator, innovator, researcher and mentor, she embodies the spirit of the HUB Fellowship in all facets of her career.”

Sponsored by HUB International, RNAO’s home and auto insurance provider, the fellowship recognizes an individual’s contributions to RNAO’s mandate: Speaking Out for Nurses, Speaking Out for Health. Nominated by their peers, recipients are chosen for their achievements in nursing and their commitment to RNAO.

 

Kids enjoy a free day of discovery at Science Rendezvous 2016

Close to 700 aspiring young scientists and community members discovered how fun science can be during Science Rendezvous 2016, hosted May 7 at Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s (UOIT) shared Oshawa campus.

Event highlights included:

  • A chance to wear a virtual reality headset with an attached motion sensing device to experience how we will interact with computers and the Internet in the future.
  • Cool catapult challenges.
  • Experiments – Candy Bombs, Dry Ice Rainbows, Glowing Crystals, Magic Monster Slime
  • A tour of ACE, a performance-testing facility featuring one of the largest and most sophisticated climatic wind tunnels on the planet.
  • Creating a cloud in the bottle with the help of a bicycle pump and a little bit of rubbing alcohol.

Other exciting, hands-on events included INVENTours and Science Cavalcade; Science Jeopardy; mini-workshops; the opportunity to explore LEGO Robotics and help solve the Graffiti Mystery in the Forensic Fun Zone; and milkweed planting.

This year’s activities included Mission: Monarch Migration, which highlighted the important role milkweed plants play in the transformation of the monarch caterpillar into an adult butterfly.

Participants planted 50 milkweed plants on campus to conserve the butterflies’ habitat, and they learned how to plant their own butterfly/pollinator gardens at home to attract butterflies. Science Rendezvous organizers handed out 150 milkweed plants for participants to add to their own gardens. They have also set up a Mission: Monarch Migration Facebook page, where participants can:

  • Share photos of their growing plants and the monarchs they attract.
  • View photos showing the growth progress of the milkweed plants on campus.
  • Find additional information about monarch butterflies.

The day concluded with a game of Science Jeopardy, where participants answered questions based on the knowledge they gained throughout the day by visiting the different exhibits.

Science Rendezvous is a free, all-day event that promotes science awareness for all ages. It is part of the nationwide Science Rendezvous celebration held at post-secondary institutions across Canada.

Durham College shines at Skills Ontario competition

Durham College (DC) announced today that four of its students were among the big winners at this week’s Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OTSC), picking up two gold medals, a silver and a bronze in the Horticulture, Computer/IT and Carpentry categories. The event, which was held in Waterloo, Ontario, is sponsored by Skills Ontario, a non-profit organization that promotes the skilled trades as a first-choice career option for the province’s young people.

Jamie Marangon and Zachary Slaughter, both in their second year of the two-year Horticulture Technician program, won gold in the Horticulture and Landscape category. Together they beat out several teams for the top prize in constructing a garden based on plans and criteria provided to them during the competition.

“Once again, Durham College students have shown that they can compete with the best and come out on top, thanks to the high-quality training they receive here at DC combined with their dedication to their studies,” said Susan Todd, executive dean of the School of Science & Engineering Technology at Durham College. “On behalf of the entire DC community, I would like to recognize all of our participating students for their hard work and congratulate Jamie and Zachary on their tremendous success.” 

Congratulations are also in order for DC students Bryan Chamberlain and Sam Phillips. Chamberlain, a graduating student in the three-year Computer Systems Technology program, won a silver medal for the second consecutive year in the IT Network and Systems Administration category.  For his part, Phillips, a second-year student in Construction Carpentry – Sustainable, picked up a bronze in the Carpentry category

“Winning two medals in two years is quite an accomplishment,” said Judy Spring, executive dean of DC’s School of Business, IT & Management. “We’re very proud of Bryan for representing DC so successfully at this competition.”

Marangon and Slaughter will now take part in the Skills Canada competition, taking place from Sunday, June 5 to Wednesday, June 8 in Moncton, New Brunswick. Overall, 16 DC students put their skills to the test in this week’s OTSC event in various categories, including auto service technology, carpentry, heating system technician, plumbing and welding. The competition gives students the chance to compete against their peers, while also demonstrating that skilled trades are an accessible, interesting and enjoyable career option.  

 

DC thanks placement host employers for another great year

A special group of Durham College (DC) supporters were honoured at the Centre for Food on May 2 when the college paid tribute to the employers who take part in its field placement and practicum programs.

Each year more than 5,000 students are given the opportunity to put their classroom experience to practical use in workplaces throughout Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). More than 600 businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies serve as hosts for DC students in sectors including business, health, justice, science and technology.

When addressing attendees, Dr. Elaine Popp, vice-president, Academic, DC shared that field placements are a two-way street. They give students the opportunity to gain self-confidence and practical knowledge, while providing employers with a chance to share their knowledge with potential new members of their workforce.

“It is our sincere hope that you enjoy a sense of satisfaction and pride in knowing that you are helping to provide our students with the skills and expertise they need to take on an active role in your industries,” said Dr. Popp. “It’s a classic win-win situation and all of us at DC are keen to see it continue to grow and expand in the years ahead.”

That sentiment was echoed by Dr. Judeline Innocent, executive dean of the DC School of Health & Community Services, who shared  that employers have told her they enjoying working with DC students because they arrive well-prepared and ready to ask questions.

“That inquisitive nature is important to the health-care sector,” said Innocent. “Throughout my career, I’ve seen first-hand how someone with fresh eyes and a curious attitude can encourage new ideas and ways of thinking. Sometimes, inspiration comes from sources where we least expect it.”

A highlight of the evening were the remarks delivered by both DC students and graduates who spoke about the importance of building trust and support with their co-workers during their placements.

Joshua Cranney, a graduate of the Paralegal program, spoke about the value of his placement and the self-confidence he gained while working in the real world.

Sarah Harrison-Edge, who is in her final semester of the Communicative Disorders Assistant program, felt both welcomed and appreciated during her field placements.

“It was like I was already a part of the team because everyone valued my ideas, appreciated my input and were thankful for my help,” said Harrison-Edge. “I plan to and was encouraged to keep in touch with everyone I met at both agencies.”

The event also highlighted some of the organizations that have been involved as employer hosts for several decades, such as the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences and Distress Centre Durham. Stephanie Ball, executive dean of the School of Justice & Emergency Services, summed up the impact of all of the college’s employer hosts, both past and present.

“Quite simply, when it comes to producing graduates who are smart, savvy and job-ready, we couldn’t do it without you,” she said.

For more information on being an employer host at Durham College, contact the field placement/practicum coordinator at the Durham College academic school which offers programs in your organization’s area of expertise.

DC hosts sixth annual Research Day

On Thursday, April 28, Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) hosted its sixth annual Research Day at the Oshawa campus. Staff members from ORSIE were joined by the DC Leadership Team, student and faculty researchers and local business partners to share the importance of applied research on campus. With a focus on projects in areas of local and provincial economic importance, such as agriculture, health care, energy efficiency and wearable technology, the dynamic forum allowed DC’s research community to showcase its most up-to-date applied research and innovation projects.

This year’s event featured the first public unveiling of the As Real As It Gets (ARAIG) wearable gaming suit. Developed by Inventing Future Technology Inc. (IFTech), an Oshawa-based startup company, in collaboration with DC and the Spark Centre, ARAIG is designed to take the immersive gaming experience to a whole new level by stimulating an individual’s senses with localized directional feedback.

“The research culture at DC supports and encourages individuals at all levels of experience to take part in and lead interdisciplinary research projects, which provides excellent learning opportunities for our students,” said Elaine Popp, vice-president, Academic. “For a student studying in the Computer Programmer or Game Development program, imagine the excitement and pride they would feel in being a part of the interactive, wearable technology we saw demonstrated here today.”

The keynote address for the event was delivered by Dr. Darren Levine, manager of the Innovation and Research Unit, Commissioner’s Office in the Social Services Department at The Regional Municipality of Durham. Dr. Levine stressed the importance of unlocking creative potential by having employers give their employees the courage, space, tools and resources to share their ideas – resulting in possibilities for change, improvement and research.

Research Day concluded by honouring both student and faculty researchers for their contribution to applied research projects on campus.

The following students received the Outstanding Student Researcher Awards:

Several DC faculty members were also honoured for their work in promoting applied research:

“Research and innovation has always been at the heart of what we do as one of Ontario’s leading post-secondary institutions,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “The applied research opportunities offered at DC, in conjunction with our FastStart DC and Accelerator programs, are invaluable to students entering the workforce as employers are looking for graduates with innovative skills that meet market demands.”

ORSIE continues to be instrumental in ensuring academic quality and building successful partnerships. A broad range of research and scholarly initiatives will continue to be supported for the benefit of faculty, students, industry and the community.

DC students tackle sustainability challenge at inaugural DC Hackathon

Durham College (DC) students got a chance to flex their problem-solving muscles and confront a major sustainability challenge this week when they took part in the first-ever DC Hackathon on April 26. The event, which took place at the college’s Oshawa campus in conjunction with DC’s annual Research Day, was hosted by FastStartDC, an entrepreneurship training program offered by the college, and co-sponsored by a number of local organizations including Spark Centre, Bereskin & Parr, GM Canada, ORION, and Durham Regional Economic Development,  the organization tasked with promoting economic growth and development in Durham Region.

For the uninitiated, a hackathon is a short, intensive session where teams are given a problem, and bring their own skills and resources to solve challenges. With support from the college’s sustainability office, the DC Hackathon focused on the impact of climate change and how current patterns of human activity can be changed to promote better environmental sustainability. More than 60 students from DC’s various academic schools participated in the event, where they were divided into teams and encouraged to come up with whatever ideas were feasible to solve the challenge. Whether it was building an app, creating a plan of action, presenting an oral report or designing a product prototype, all options were on the table.

“Our first-ever hackathon was a huge success and really underscored DC’s commitment to give our students the opportunity to take on high-level research challenges,” said Rebecca Holmes, entrepreneurship co-ordinator at FastStart DC. “Sustainability is very important to the college and the students enjoyed meeting their counterparts from many different programs as they worked together and created innovative new ideas to solve the challenge, all in a single day.”

The students weren’t alone as they developed their potential solutions. Holmes said advisors from the hackathon’s sponsors and representatives from other local industry groups were on hand to serve as volunteer mentors for participants, providing advice and serving as a valuable resource throughout the day’s activities.

“I think the day was amazing, it was a lot of fun,” said Brittany Charlton, third-year Law Clerk Advanced student. “I got to meet a lot of new people and tackle a challenging environmental problem. I’d definitely take part again if it were to come up next year.”

All teams who participated in the event were eligible to win valuable prizes, including $1,000 cash, three passes to Discovery 16, a major innovation-to-commercialization conference taking place next month in Toronto, and a swag bag filled with a variety of high-tech goodies. The final results will be announced on Thursday, April 28 as part of DC’s Research Day events.

“Thanks to our sponsors and all the students who participated in today’s event,” said Holmes. “And for those who missed the deadline and weren’t able to participate, rest assured that the FastStart DC team is already planning to make the hackathon an annual event.”