A dedication to sustainability drives innovation at Durham College (DC) and, for the eighth consecutive year, DC has been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers by MediaCorp Canada Inc.

This achievement recognizes the breadth of environmental initiatives across DC’s campus community such as courses that include social and environmental sustainability themes, applied research projects that benefit the broader community and campus-based infrastructure and programs focused on key areas like water, energy, waste reduction and transportation.

In the past year, DC has celebrated a number of milestones highlighting our commitment to the environment including:

• Opening the Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre, a cutting-edge education space at our Whitby Campus where motive power technician students as well as our community partners can engage with hands-on, experiential learning programs related to electric vehicles.
• Launching the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture’s Ajax Urban Farm, a community-based living lab focused on tackling challenges related to food insecurity and building more resilient, inclusive, collaborative and diverse food systems.
• Achieving our third silver rating from the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) which recognizes DC’s on-campus sustainability initiatives.

Amanda Blenkhorn, Director, Ancillary Services at DC said the college is on a journey where environmental stewardship and sustainability are a part of the culture within the campus community.

“For example, we’re closing the field-to-fork-to-field loop by processing food waste in a biodigester at our Centre for Organic Regeneration at the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food. Our goal is to inspire engagement and action in our community through our innovative initiatives.”

Canada’s Greenest Employer is part of the 2024 editorial competition organized by Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. Read DC’s Greenest Employer profile here.

Durham College’s (DC) Music Business Management (MBM) students hosted their annual event – Oshawa Music Week – which promotes local musicians and elevates the local music community through performances, exposure and showcases.

The five-day event, which runs the first week of April, features live music performances across the Durham Region, a music business summit and networking opportunities and is a dynamic way for students to gain hands-on skills and experience.

“All students have different needs and interests. Some want to be administrators, some want to be event planners, artists, managers. Some want to be venue owners, some people want to run shows,” said Tony Sutherland, an MBM faculty member. “An event like this allows students to try their hand at different facets of the industry.”

Eyrica D’rozario, a second-year student in the MBM program was tasked with doing the promotional work, including managing and developing social media content, posters and video promotional material for the week.

“There were so many moving parts, it takes a big team,” D’rozario said. “That’s what was so special about the program, was that it was so collaborative. You are going to talk to everybody, you are going to meet everybody, and you will make some of the best memories in this program.”

Barry Waite, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Media, Art and Design says this event is beneficial for both current students and those looking to come to DC.

“It’s the best example of experiential learning at the college,” Waite said. “The real value is it gives them an opportunity to see the business side of things and all different aspects of the music business.”

Waite said this event is an excellent way to show students how they can take their interest in the arts and turn it into a career. During many of these events, Waite said he hears many DC students say things like: “We didn’t know you had a program like this.”

Many of the students participating in or organizing the event are performers themselves or are career professionals in the music industry. Even faculty involved in the event are experts of the music industry and are committed to helping these students be successful.

“My background has always been within the music industry,” Sutherland said adding that this event helps students gain the skills to negotiate and reach out to people in the industry.

“It helps them in building a portfolio,” he said. “It helps them to build those bridges to a music industry, which is what they’re going to graduate and work in.”

After months of hard work, students at Durham College (DC) were excited to showcase their innovative projects at DC’s annual IT Student Expo on April 3.

In the gymnasium, dozens of booths were set up so students could give live demonstrations of their capstone projects and discuss how their work could potentially benefit their peers and the general public. The expo highlighted work from students in several IT-related programs including Artificial Intelligence Analysis, Design and Implementation, Computer Programming and Analysis, Computer Systems Technology, and Cybersecurity.

Among the presenters were Computer Programming and Analysis students Dallas Smith, Glasford, and Henry Peng who worked together to develop an app called My Transit to help make using GO Transit much easier and more streamlined.

The idea began with complaints from Smith’s girlfriend about her regular commute.

“For example, if she sees her train is canceled or delayed, she can stay with her friends longer and she doesn’t have to rush and leave to get to Union,” Smith said, as he pointed to a delayed train on the app. “That’s kind of where my idea for the app came from, I made it for her but then I realized we could do more with it.”

My Transit also allows the user to purchase tickets through the app instead of having to use a Presto Card and users can save their frequent trips on the app.

“It will track that exact trip and it will tell you the platform the train will be on, an hour in advance. In the stations you only know 10 minutes prior so this will tell you earlier and it has live updates.”

Moving forward, the students said they were hoping to connect with GO Transit and share their app with them.

Andrew Graham and Sebastian Castelan Rodriguez had money on their minds when designing PennyPilot, software for computers and phones that allows users to input their spending to track a variety of metrics about their spending habits.

“As a college student you probably have a lot of friends who are, let’s just say, not very good at managing their money,” Graham said. “The idea behind PennyPilot is to give people access to actually being able to manage their money and in a way that is fun and entertaining.”

Amelia Eric-Markovic was inspired by her mom forgetting her grocery lists to a create Homie, an IOS app to help users keep on top of small, tedious tasks. It contains an event calendar, a to-do list and a shopping list so you never have to rely on paper.

“Homie is here to help you organize every facet of your life, whether it’s assignments or just your typical tasks,” she said. “It’s managing your life as a student and as a student with a life outside of this as well.”

Eric-Markovic’s dream is to work with Apple and she’s hoping her skills earned through the Computer Programming and Analysis program combined with coding and design work on her IOS app will land her an internship with the company this summer.

DC faculty who supported the students said the IT Student Expo teaches them to market and advertise their creations.

“The thing that we find with this event is it’s this gigantic confidence boost for students who are already capable but don’t realize it,” said Kyle Chapman, a professor in the Faculty of Science, Engineering & Information Technology (SEIT).

Stephen Forbes, a professor in the same faculty said the event is a great display of how students have matured and gained experience over the semester.

Stephen said, “Here at Durham College, we try to focus on getting them to build not only the technical skillset, but what we call durable transferable skills.”

Last month, students from the Faculty of Media, Art and Design (MAD) put their storytelling skills to the test in a fun extracurricular competition.

The MAD 48-Hour Storytelling Challenge presented students with a difficult but rewarding task. They were given the weekend to tell a compelling story on the topic of ‘Spring,’ using the medium of their choice.

“It was up to them how they could tell a story using that one word,” explained Student Support Technician Megan Pickell, who organized the event. “It was open to interpretation. The majority did take it as the season, spring.”

Participation was optional, but the students were excited to showcase their artistic talents while adding to their portfolio.

The MAD programs teach a variety of disciplines and the 37 submissions represented almost all of them, from painting, animation and photography to podcasting, short film, music and beyond.

Once time was up, the artists assembled for a live screening event, where the impressive turnout included family and friends. Judges had the difficult task of selecting a winner, and they ultimately chose Fine Arts student Cadance Mercer’s original painting, “Foxes in a Field.” She received a $500 gift card of her choice.

Winning was a welcome surprise to Mercer, who was impressed with the quality of the submissions.

“I really wanted to win, as the only thing I get competitive with is my art,” she said. “Then I did! It was crazy and awesome.”

Creating her entry was a painstaking process, beginning with a sketch on paper before moving to canvas.

“I decided to paint a fox and her kits because to me they represent spring. I have foxes in my yard all the time, especially in the spring.”

In addition to the judge’s choice, the audience also had their say. The Audience Favourite prize went to the short film “Reminiscence” by Video Production students Sohan Maharjan, Denzel Kanhai, Ayomide Kuye and Timur Shapauov. They won a $250 gift card.

“The fact that our film was loved by most of the audience motivates me to keep creating more visual stories,” said Maharjan. “I am very thankful to the whole MAD team for organizing this challenge.”

Creating the film was a true team effort according to Kuye.

“Teamwork makes the dream work, and I couldn’t have asked for a better team,” he said.

The event was a great success according to Pickell, drawing lots of interest and giving students an invaluable opportunity to hone their skills and present their work to a discerning audience. It’s likely to become an annual tradition, and Maharjan believes students would be wise to take part.

“It creates an environment for enthusiastic students to display their talents, gain recognition from peers, and foster connections within the community.”

You can enjoy all the student art for yourself in this video.

Durham College (DC) is supporting a ground-breaking joint initiative designed to help women enter the skilled trades by breaking down barriers, providing essential skills training and empowering women to thrive in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Introduction to Millwrighting: 5-Week Program for Women was a joint initiative between the Millwright Regional Council and the national non-profit Build a Dream and supported by DC, Ontario Power Generation and UBC Millwright Local 2309 Toronto.

Starting in early February, 10 women received personalized support and training to prepare them to wright their millwright aptitude test so they could begin a millwright apprenticeship.

Sue Hawkins, Director of School College Work Initiative and Academic Upgrading at DC, explained that DC’s role was to provide academic upgrading support during the five-week program.

“This initiative is a testament to the power of partnerships among individuals passionate about breaking down barriers for women,” said Hawkins. “We are honoured to be part of such a ground breaking program that challenges stereotypes, fosters inclusivity, and paves the way for a brighter, more equitable future in the skilled trades industry.”

DC has supported similar programs in prior years, including a program to help Indigenous students enter the millwrighting trade.

Mya Benjamin was one of the participants who celebrated her graduation from the millwrighting program for women on March 8.

“As a proud participant of the Introduction to Millwrighting Program, I’ve not only acquired essential skills but also redefined what’s possible for women in the trades,” she said. “The program has empowered me to step confidently into a male-dominated field and make my mark. I’m grateful for the support and encouragement I’ve received, and I’m excited to pave the way for aspiring women in the trades, proving that gender is no barrier to success.”

Are you interested in a skilled trades career? Explore programs available at DC including our Mechanical Technician – Millwright program.

If you’re missing prerequisite courses for a college program, need help improving your grades or attaining your high school equivalency, consider DC’s free academic upgrading services. Learn more online or consider attending one of our upcoming information sessions.

For more than 2,000 visitors, Spring Open House at Durham College (DC) was the place to be last weekend.  

On Saturday, March 23, prospective students and their families filled the halls and classrooms of our Oshawa and Whitby campuses and learned why DC is the best choice for their post-secondary education. Braving some unseasonably cold weather, they explored our state-of-the-art facilities, met our expert faculty and learned about our career-driven programs and support services.

“We’ve been really busy,” said Jaden Brough, a Membership Services Agent with the Durham College Student Association (DCSA) who explained all the valuable benefits that DC students enjoy, from health insurance to mental health assistance. “The students have been really soaking in the information.”

Guests were free to explore the campus on their own or join guided tours. In Oshawa, the bus tour was a popular choice, ferrying visitors to destinations like the Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE) and the Campus Ice Centre.

Students who couldn’t wait to begin their DC journey were able to apply on the spot, and 166 applicants did just that. As a bonus, they had their application fee waived and received some DC swag.

The impressive scope of the event was recognized and appreciated by guests like Sandra Chin-James, who accompanied her son Macalib to the Oshawa campus as he finalized his post-secondary plans.

“Everything has been great,” she said, noting that they had received a lot of information about student life and his program of interest.

Having been accepted into the Music Business Management program, Macalib took advantage of the opportunity to familiarize himself with the school before confirming his acceptance. By the end of the day, he was ready to do just that.

A talented musician who plays multiple instruments, he’s eager to begin his studies.

“I love music, and I want to learn more about the business side.”

DC will welcome prospective students once again for Program Information Nights on Tuesday, May 7 (Oshawa) and Wednesday, May 8 (Whitby). Campus tours and information sessions can also be scheduled online.

Student artists shared their passion with the Durham College (DC) community at ‘Art in The Pit’.

Third-year Fine Arts students displayed examples of their remarkable work while helping attendees develop their own artistic talents. The free event featured activities like origami, sticker stations, drawing prompts, colouring pages, trivia, prizes and more.

For many of the students, it was the first time they had ever shared their art with an audience. That made it an invaluable opportunity for them according to Dani Crosby, Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Media, Art and Design.

“It’s about understanding yourself and how you’d like to share your art with the world in a barrier-free way,” she said. “It’s creating little entry points for creativity that are about social engagement, not monetization.”

‘Art in The Pit’ was produced in collaboration with the LivingRoom Community Art Studio. A charity dedicated to community development through the creation and sharing of art, LivingRoom is comprised of artists who take part in classroom discussions and provide an example to DC students of how they can connect and engage with the public as artists.

One of the goals for the day was encouraging all DC students to get in touch with their creative sides, and Crosby was encouraged to see how many visitors took part in the event and how her Fine Arts students interacted with them.

“It’s very cathartic for anyone to create something without thinking in terms of quality or skill level. There’s value in simply sitting down, disengaging from whatever might be stressing you out and engaging in this particular setting,” she said. “There’s a very therapeutic quality to it.”

The benefits to the Fine Arts students themselves were considerable as well. For Elijah Mackenzie, it was a great way to prepare for future events.

“Opportunities like these give you a good gauge on what it’s going to be like at art vendors and festivals, because it’s essentially the same thing,” he said.

His classmate Meghan Costello agreed.

“It’s really good practice engaging with people and talking about art, because sometimes we get used to being in a classroom,” she said. “Speaking with students who normally don’t engage with art on a regular basis has been really fun.”