Durham College (DC) celebrated the grand opening of two new modern and collaborative learning spaces – PROTO and an Electrical Vehicle (EV) Lab – on Wednesday.

Together, these new state-of-the-art spaces span 9,060 sq. ft inside DC’s Whitby campus’ main building. PROTO provides clients, industry partners, student engineers and skilled trades faculty members and students an opportunity to collaborate and develop creative solutions and prototypes to address industry challenges. The EV Lab – which makes DC one of only a few Ontario colleges with a dedicated EV learning space – equips students with the specialized skills required in the evolving automotive industry. 

“PROTO and the EV Lab are propelling Durham College forward as a leader in innovation and transformative education,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College.  “The opening of these new spaces further demonstrates our commitment to driving change, generating big ideas and continuously adapting to meet the needs of our evolving industries.”

DC’s Whitby campus has developed exponentially over the past 30 years, becoming a skilled trades and automotive industry hub driven by student and faculty collaboration and partnerships with the local community.

“Our government is proud to support Durham College’s cutting-edge electric vehicle lab and PROTO, which will equip students with the hands-on experience and skills they need to secure in-demand jobs in the automotive industry,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “Through collaboration with companies to solve real-world problems, students will be prepared for the workforce when they graduate, while at the same time strengthening our province’s position as a global leader in the manufacturing of electric vehicles and their batteries.”

With new spaces like PROTO and the EV Lab, students will gain unique opportunities through hands-on learning to enhance their expertise, strengthen their employability and help form meaningful connections with industry and community partners.

“Adapting and growing with industry demands and educating students just like me on the newest technologies and industry practices is what Durham College is known for,” said Electrical Techniques graduate and Canerector Scholar, Kathryn Fullerton, who spoke at the grand opening. “These new spaces will prepare students for the workforce and ensure they have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful.”

Durham College (DC) proudly opened its doors once again to host the Skills Ontario Summer Camp, welcoming 18 campers from Grades 7 to 9 to explore future career opportunities in the skilled trades at DC’s Whitby campus.

Led by Skills Ontario from August 14 to 18, the camp focused on inspiring the next generation of skilled trades students, through hands-on activities, interactive workshops and shop tours.

Campers experienced a different trade each day and gained a broad introduction to many areas of the college, including the automotive, carpentry, welding and plumbing shops located in the DC’s state-of-the-art Ontario Power Generation Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology (CSTT) and the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (Weston Centre).

Led by Skills Ontario staff and DC employees, campers learned virtual welding skills and measuring techniques, how to change a tire on the rim and build a birdhouse and a hula hoop before testing their own vehicles in a C02 dragster car racing competition. They also took to the Weston Centre fields for a day to learn about the college’s field-to-fork philosophy and sustainability practices, before harvesting, cleaning and pickling their own vegetables.

“With the growing demand for skilled trades professionals across the province, the Skills Ontario Summer Camp is a great opportunity to spark an early interest for young people in the world of skilled trades,” said Rebecca Milburn, principal of DC’s Whitby campus and executive dean of the Faculty of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship and Faculty of Hospitality & Horticultural Science. “It’s incredible to witness the campers’ curiosity and enthusiasm. Durham College is proud to play a role in inspiring a lifelong passion for learning in the next generation of students.”

Skills Ontario summer camps are sponsored by the Government of Ontario and Magna, dedicated to inspiring youth to explore skilled trades and technologies. DC is proud to partner with Skills Ontario and help shape the young minds of tomorrow.

For more information on future camps, please visit the Skills Ontario website.

Ryanna Law and Blake Dawson made Durham College (DC) proud at the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) World Championship in Orlando, Florida.

After first excelling in their MOS exams (which are embedded into a number of DC’s Faculty of Business programs), the pair qualified for the competition with stellar showings at the MOS Canadian Championship in June.

Competitors travelled from across the globe to represent their countries at the event earlier this month. Law (Accounting – Business) put her PowerPoint 2019 skills to the test while Dawson (Marketing – Business Administration) gave it his all in Word 2019. Each student was tasked with completing an exam, as well as a project, in their respective MOS program. They were graded on the results they produced as well as their speed.

Only the top ten in each category were revealed, and though neither DC student cracked that threshold, it was still a positive experience.

“I was grateful to be there,” said Dawson, who is already looking forward to next year’s event. “It was definitely fun. The support I received was great.”

For Law, the experience of testing her knowledge and skills against other students from around the world is one she won’t soon forget, and heartily recommends.

“If you have the opportunity to go to this competition, or any other competition, definitely take it,” she said. “Being able to show your skills is so helpful in proving yourself for future career opportunities.”

After their hard work, the pair and their fellow competitors were able to enjoy some time as tourists, including a trip to Walt Disney World.

Law, Dawson and the other members of Team Canada competed under the watchful eye of Lysa Amaral, director of Brand and Global Marketing for CCI Learning, which organizes the Canadian MOS events. She was impressed with both DC students, crediting Dawson for his critical thinking, attention to detail and tenacity, while lauding Law for her thoroughness, responsiveness, professionalism and leadership.

“These skills and traits are indicative of what Durham College instills in their students,” she said.

 With programs that incorporate important technical skills like MOS programs, DC continues to lead the way in preparing students for the job market.

Durham College (DC) is promoting food literacy and fighting food insecurity.

The Campus Health and Wellness Centre (CHWC) and the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture have teamed up for ‘Food IQ: Growing Minds, Growing Plates’. The multifaceted initiative seeks to educate DC students on the importance of accessible, affordable healthy food and preparing nutritious meals.

“Durham Region as a whole is having food insecurity and food literacy issues. Some individuals struggle with making economical food choices while keeping nutritional value in mind due to the increased cost of living,” said Jennifer Elliott, CHWC director, noting that such issues are especially prevalent among young students living on their own for the first time. 

Brenna Bizley, partnership manager for the Barrett Centre, agrees that improving food literacy in youth is critical.

“We need to teach students that purchasing fresh fruit or vegetables provides more of a nutritional benefit than spending that same amount of money on processed food that might be more familiar to them,” she said. “Hopefully that will build some awareness and momentum around healthy eating and making healthy choices.”

With that in mind, the CHWC and the Barrett Centre have expanded the DC Farmer’s Market by bringing it to the Oshawa campus, allowing more students to access fresh produce. The Durham College Student Association (DCSA) is providing coupons to help all students benefit from the market. Unsold produce has been donated to the DC Food Bank and used in other programming, including cooking classes and as snacks for students.

CHWC wellness coaches attend the market every Tuesday to promote food literacy activities, mindful eating and healthy habits, while also ensuring that students know about resources that can help them, like financial support and the DCSA food bank.

Additional programming will be available for the Fall semester. Munchie Mondays will teach students how to prepare budget conscious snacks, while Mindful Farm Fridays invites them to join wellness coaches at the Whitby campus for mindfulness practice. The CHWC’s eating disorders psychotherapist will provide education and counseling on important topics like body dysmorphia.

Plans for more programs and activities are in the works, like budget planning and grocery shopping tips.

Food literacy is important for everyone, but especially for the younger generation, according to Elliott.

“Developing food literacy skills, such as understanding nutrition, cooking, and meal planning, can lead to healthier eating habits. This, in turn, promotes better physical and mental health among students,” she said. “Our hope is that this can instill lifelong habits of responsible and conscious eating. Students are more likely to carry forward the knowledge and values they acquire during their college years, making a positive impact on their own lives and the lives of others.”

Four Durham College (DC) Fine Arts students have spent the summer transforming the L Wing with their artistic talent.

“We have an amazing group of students who have been hired to enliven our hallways by producing some original artwork and collaborative pieces,” explained Sean McQuay, professor and coordinator of the Fine Arts program.

Heading into the third and final year of their program, Elijah McKenzie, Meghan Costello, Jennifer Rammler and Jordan Dolman jumped at the opportunity to put their artistic stamp on the walls of DC for years to come.

The quartet have been hard at work since late spring, and many of their 18 pieces will be completed in time to be enjoyed by returning students next month. Work on the others will continue throughout the fall semester.

“The point is to bring life into the halls and make this feel like the art wing that it is,” said Costello. “I think it’s really special that we’re doing work that we’ll get to see every day throughout the year, and our classmates and other students will also get to see it.”

One eye-catching piece is a colorful and anatomically correct version of the familiar “I Heart DC” logo. But the artists were not instructed to simply promote the school. Instead, they were encouraged to treat the walls as their personal canvas and create work that’s meaningful to them.

McKenzie is particularly proud of a piece that depicts an open mouth emitting smoke.

“I wanted to represent how people want to get their voice out,” he said. “It’s nice to have a variety of different styles and themes.”

He has also collaborated with Costello as she creates a mural depicting a skeletal figure emitting light from within. Rammler has been hard at work on a mural that celebrates the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, while Dolman has focused on pieces that he hopes will radiate positivity.

“I’m just making them colorful and full of love and putting all that energy out there,” he said. “I always try to start with good vibes and just go with it.”

Providing a work study opportunity like this is a dream come true for McQuay, his fellow professor Keir Broadfoot and the entire Media, Art and Design (MAD) Faculty. Though the work of Fine Arts students has long been displayed throughout Durham College (DC), this is the first time they’ve been allowed to redecorate the wing they call home.

Though the students are being paid for their work, they’re also gaining invaluable experience in the conception, planning and implementation of the kind of art project they hope to work on in the future.

“We wanted to give them the opportunity to do the planning and conceptualization on their own, so they can have as much experience as possible working on a large-scale project,” said Broadfoot.  

It’s a rare opportunity that isn’t lost on the students, according to Rammler.

“I don’t even know of any art schools that would have such a convenient and open opportunity to do artwork for the school, and get paid for it, while you’re still students,” she said.

A summer of hard work will yield some great artwork for students to enjoy, and another example of how DC is leading the way in experiential learning.

The L Wing is open to everyone. Next time you’re on campus be sure to visit and enjoy the new artwork.

Durham College (DC) has partnered with Supply Chain Management Association Ontario (SCMAO) to provide students with a jumpstart to their job search.

While they complete their studies, students in DC’s Supply Chain programs will also be making progress towards earning their Certified Supply Chain Management Professional (CSCMP) designation. Offered by the SCMAO, the designation can be earned by completing a number of modules and workshops that cover the finer points of the supply chain industry. Though not required by employers, the CSCMP stamp of approval undoubtedly gets their attention when considering applicants.

“Being able to pursue their CSCMP designation is a definite leg up for a student. It’s a well-recognized designation in the world of supply chain management,” explained Nancy Martin, associate dean, Faculty of Business.

DC graduates from Supply Chain and Operations – Business, Supply Chain and Operations Management – Business Administration, and Supply Chain Management – Global will be exempted from a variety of the CSCMP program components, as long as they maintain a 60% average.

Providing students with a head start on their career journey is just one of the ways DC is leading the way, according to Kevin Baker, executive dean of the Faculty of Business.

“In almost every one of our programs, we’re connected with an external association which represents people working in that field,” he said, pointing to examples like the Microsoft Office Specialist certifications that are embedded into a number of business programs.

“These are designations that employers recognize, and together with the knowledge and skills students gain in their program, this accreditation will help them stand out in today’s competitive job market as career-ready graduates.”

Learn more about a recent Supply Chain Management – Global graduate, Rejoy James, online.

Access to educational resources will help tackle food insecurity, inspire sustainable practices

Community education and engagement is the focus of a new food security and sustainability initiative launched by Durham College’s Barrett Centre for Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture (Barrett Centre), in partnership with the Town of Ajax through their new corporate giving program, the Ajax Partnership Fund.

The Barrett Centre’s new Food Literacy Innovation Zone aims to address challenges in food security and supply chains through the lens of urban agriculture by educating local community members about nutrition, gaining access to food and incorporating local and healthy food into their lifestyle.

“Food insecurity and supply chain constraints can lead to a lack of nutritious food that is accessible to the community, especially those who may be unable to locate a variety of food close to home,” said Brenna Bizley, partnership manager at the Barrett Centre. “Having educational materials in conjunction with the Barrett Centre Ajax Urban Farm will have an exponential impact on the community as people learn about the impact of food on their health and the importance of growing locally.”

The Zone, which is now under construction, will be based out of the Barrett Centre Ajax Urban Farm in North Ajax. At the farm, three garden models will be designed – a pollinator garden, home garden and balcony garden – and will act as a template to inspire community members to grow their own food at home. There will also be knowledge sharing through resources and materials to support and enhance food literacy via direct community engagements and the Barrett Centre Community Portal, coming in fall 2023.

“Ajax Council and the Town of Ajax are proud to support the Barrett Centre’s new Food Literacy Innovation Zone through the Ajax Partnership Fund. Thank you to Durham College for partnering with the Town to be able to offer these important resources to our community. This investment reinforces Ajax’s commitment to being a municipal leader in green and sustainable practices to ensure a healthier Ajax for all,” said Mayor Shaun Collier.

 To recognize the farm’s launch and the partners who have supported the Barrett Centre projects to date, DC and the Town of Ajax will host an Open House event in October 2023, where community members will have the chance to explore the farm and Food Literacy Innovation Zone.

Durham College (DC) is proud to announce a partnership with Blue Door aimed at impacting social change by empowering those facing barriers to autonomous and full-time employment within the skilled trades. Thanks to funding from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, this collaboration provides participants with access to a program called Construct, where they receive professional and personal development opportunities to transition them to independent and profitable employment in the construction industry.

“DC is thrilled to collaborate with Blue Door on this three-week training program and we’re very proud of what the participants accomplish throughout their training,” said Rebecca Milburn, principal of DC’s Whitby campus and executive dean of the Faculty of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship. “At DC, we’re preparing the next generation of skilled trades workers to help support the needs of our growing communities. Our expert faculty prepare the participants for the high-demand workforce with hands-on learning and intensive support so they can successfully enter the skilled trades industry.”

Expert faculty from DC’s Building Construction and Carpentry and Renovation programs are providing training to 20 participants this summer in the college’s state-of-the-art carpentry shop.  In addition to the participants building several construction projects, they will also receive Health & Safety Training, First Aid & CPR, and Working at Heights training certificates. While participants discover the world of carpentry in the Construct program, they also receive immense support and guidance from DC faculty while making connections with unions and employers.

“This partnership with Durham College allows for participants in the Construct program living in Durham Region to receive skills-based and experiential training from faculty at the college,” said Rudi Genovese, director, Social Enterprise at Construct. “The certifications and training gained will set up our participants to obtain meaningful job opportunities that will start building their career in the trades. By connecting participants with Durham College, Construct is able to support them in building strong relationships and career paths in their community.”

This carpentry pilot training program is expected to continue in the future and create a ripple effect within Durham Region to help empower the most vulnerable with profitable and rewarding careers. Visit DC online to kickstart your career in the skilled trades today or explore the Blue Door Construct program for training details.

To help connect those considering Durham College (DC) with current students, DC has launched a new Student Ambassador program. More than a dozen students from various Faculties and programs are now available to answer questions, share their unique perspectives and describe their student-life experiences to help prospective students make a more informed decision about Durham College.

“The Student Ambassador program will help incoming students and those considering DC make peer-to-peer connections, an invaluable offering that provides authentic insights, experiences, and opinions from some of the college’s best students,’” says Debbie Johnston, associate vice-president, Academic, Enrolment and International Education. “We’re thrilled to see this new program unfold and to share everything DC has to offer in a new and impactful way.”

Student ambassadors are prepared to discuss a wide range of topics including DC’s campus and learning environments, opportunities to get involved while at college, support services available to students, academic workload and so much more.

“I would have loved the opportunity to connect with a current student going through the college experience when I was applying to Durham College, which is why I decided to be a student ambassador,” says Kathryn Fullerton, a first-year student in DC’s Faculty of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship. “I hope to be able to answer peoples’ questions, ease their minds, and make the experience as stress-free as possible.”

The program is accessible through the DC website and provides a safe space to share authentic questions and experiences. New DC applicants who would like to connect with an ambassador simply need to create an account, message the ambassador of their choice and they will receive a response within 48 hours.

The new program will not only provide information and fresh insights to prospective students, but it will also help them build new connections with peers to boost their sense of belonging and become more confident about choosing DC for their post-secondary education.

Would you like to connect with an ambassador? 15 students are ready to hear from you today.

Today marks the release of Durham College’s (DC) 2022-2023 Annual Report, Leading the Way.

The report is filled with examples of the past year’s notable initiatives, programs and events that demonstrate how, at DC, we’re leading the way.

It also includes several videos of our students who share their perspectives on the welcoming and supportive community we have worked hard to establish.

“Every day, our employees, students, Board of Governors, alumni, and industry and community partners bring our mission to life,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “I am so proud of our achievements this year and look ahead with energy and enthusiasm.”

Please explore the report and find out why the future is bright at DC.