Info for
Quick links
Download our Mobile app
Icon for Apple. App Store Icon for Android. Google Play

DC launching new pre-apprenticeship program to encourage women in skilled trades

Although Canada’s need for skilled workers is no secret, according to Statistics Canada women’s representation in the trades remains low, accounting for only five per cent of all skilled trades workers in the country. To help fill this gap, Durham College (DC) will launch a new, all-women Elevating Devices Mechanic (EDM) pre-apprenticeship training program at the end of February.

“Ontario is expecting to see a high demand for skilled workers such as elevator constructors/mechanics and crane operators over the next 10 years,” said Christine Murphy, manager, Access Programs and Employment Services, DC. “These professions offer exceptional opportunities for employment yet women are still not entering them in any significant number. We want to get the word out about these careers, encourage women to pursue them and prepare our students to seize these opportunities in the job market.”

The need for certified EDMs is high due to the ongoing high-rise boom in cities, aging infrastructure in need of modernization and increased safety and maintenance standards. EDM is also one of many skilled trades facing a transitioning workforce as baby boomers retire in record numbers.

As one of only two organizations in Ontario to offer an EDM apprenticeship program, DC is known for its training expertise in this area, making the women’s EDM pre-apprenticeship program a natural fit for the college.

Through the program, which will see up to 15 women enrolled in full-time studies, students complete the in-school apprenticeship training for EDM Level 1; gain exposure to a secondary trade through an Industrial Mechanic Millwright course; and gain industry experience through a placement opportunity. Students will also receive safety and workplace preparedness training tailored for women entering a skilled trade.

To deliver this training, DC is partnering with the Microskills Community Development Centre (MCDC). MCDC will instruct students on a variety of topics, including recognizing and responding to unsafe scenarios; personal integrity and ethical practices; maintaining personal and professional boundaries; forms of harassment and strategies to address the situation; problem solving for work-life balance conflicts; and job mobility and developing leadership potential.

The program is being funded through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, which seeks to increase the number of new participants enrolled in apprenticeship programs while addressing skilled-trade shortages.

DC hosts annual Career Week on campus

When it comes to determining next steps after graduation, students at Durham College (DC) got a head start on the path to success last week when the college hosted its annual Career Week on campus.

“Our annual Career Week is an excellent opportunity for students to connect with employers and for employers to discover bright, new talent in their own community – it’s a win-win,” said Tara Koski, director, Career Development and Co-Operative Education at DC. “We are thankful to our business partners and alumni who took time to participate in our events and provide invaluable guidance to the thousands of students in attendance.”

Taking place from February 1 to 5, the event, which was co-ordinated by the Career Development office, took place at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses. The initiative saw students meet with potential employers, network with industry experts, access helpful resources, learn from the real-world experiences of successful DC alumni and much more.

This includes the annual job fair, which saw more than 2,000 students meet with more than 75 potential employers at the Oshawa campus, including Ontario Power Generation, Canada’s Wonderland and Loblaw Companies Ltd. who are currently hiring for full-time, summer and seasonal work. In addition, attendees gained valuable feedback from recruiters and enjoyed a free LinkedIn photoshoot.

The second annual Mentoring Lounge, held during the job fair, gave students an opportunity to mingle with business leaders, local entrepreneurs, alumni and special guests including Cameron Munroe, DC graduate and operations manager at CLS Catering Services, and Rob Leth, sports anchor at Global News – Toronto.

Students also received additional words of wisdom during the Alumni in the Pit event. DC alumna Hannah Elkington, a police officer, who graduated from DC’s Police Foundations program in 2014, and alumnus Kyle Merkley, a music supervisor, who graduated in 2009 from the Music Business Management program, offered post-graduation insight to students preparing to make the transition from college to career.

Venture for Canada (VFC), a not-for-profit organization that recruits, trains and supports recent graduates in order to help them find employment at top Canadian start-up companies was also on hand at the Oshawa campus to meet with students on potential employment opportunities.

The Whitby campus also hosted the Tradesmart Career Fair, with 29 trades professionals in attendance, along with the Culinary and Hospitality Fair, which took place at the Centre for Food and focused on current culinary and hospitality students.

The Career Development office offers coaches who assist, guide and encourage DC students and graduates with learning about their chosen career path; discovering what employers are looking for in new recruits; translating their academic experiences into resumes and professional letters; and job interview preparation. This includes the DC Hired site, which allows students to view job postings and employer links; explore job opportunities on campus; and book coaching appointments.

For more information please visit the Career Development website.

DC alumni share their post-graduation success and inspire students about life after college

Two Durham College (DC) alumni wowed students with stories of their remarkable journeys from college to career at the Alumni in the Pit event on February 2. The initiative provides post-graduation insight to students as they prepare to transition from college to career.

This event featured, Hannah Elkington, police officer, who graduated from DC’s Police Foundations program in 2014, and Kyle Merkley, music supervisor, who graduated in 2009 from the Music Business Management program. While Elkington and Merkley hold very different careers, they offered similar advice about creating solid relationships as a foundation for success.

“I was lucky to have role models who took a chance on me and helped me get to where I wanted to go,” said Elkington, who was hired by York Regional Police immediately after graduation.

Now, a role model herself, Elkington gives back through her job in policing as well as ongoing work in her native country of South Africa. She and her family moved to Canada in 1998 during the height of Apartheid, but her parents always inspired Hannah, and her two sisters, to remember their roots and pay forward their good fortune.

“It’s about really seeing people, and inspiring them to do what they never thought possible,” said Elkington.

Merkley, who graduated top of his class, brought his ambition and drive into every opportunity he was afforded – even when stocking refreshments in the green room at different events.

“You get out what you put in,” said Merkley, who as a music supervisor is hired by film, television and video game industries to select and/or create music used in movies, shows and games.

“It’s so important to get involved with and apply yourself to all aspects of your industry even though you don’t know at the time what you might get out of it,” said Merkley. “When networking, you’re not meeting ‘single-serve’ people, you’re building lasting relationships that could benefit your career down the road.”

Merkley’s ability to be a chameleon in his industry led him to work several part-time jobs, including a gig on the set of the major motion picture Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, which eventually led him to his current boss and his dream career.

“During the college years, it’s easy for students to become so focused on learning, assignments, exams, extracurriculars and field placements – which we certainly encourage – that post-graduation preparation can sometimes take a back seat,” said Elaine Popp, vice-president, Academic at DC. “Alumni in the Pit is a great initiative that inspires our students and gets them thinking about life after college from those who, just a few years ago, were standing in their shoes.”

DC firefighting students test their training in extreme weather workshop

Firefighting doesn’t typically bring to mind snow, sleet and ice. Yet for first responders in Canada, treacherous, freezing conditions are as much a part of the job as smoke and flames. In spite of this, safety concerns and other limitations have made hands-on cold weather training tough to come by for firefighting students.

On January 26 and 27 that all changed for students in Durham College’s (DC) Firefighter Pre-service, Education and Training (PFET) program when they participated in an Environmental Stress Simulation Workshop. Held inside the climatic wind tunnel of the Automotive Centre for Excellence (ACE) at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, the two-day workshop saw students execute a series of drills designed to test their physical and mental capabilities under intense environmental conditions.

With ACE providing simulated weather conditions in a safe, controlled setting, students executed several drills. This included dragging a 110-pound mannequin around an icy chamber; riding a stationary bike through blustering snow; performing hot room victim search-and-rescue procedures in the dark; and battling wind and rain while practising dismounts from a full-size firetruck, extending hose lines and performing forcible entries — all while wearing full personal protective equipment and a self-contained breathing apparatus. Lastly, they performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a simulated moving ambulance that took them on a winding, bumpy ride.

Seizing the opportunity to work in a setting unique to their field, students in DC’s Fitness and Health Promotion (FHP) program also got in on the action. FHP students outfitted their PFET peers with state-of-the-art body metrics compression shirts in order to measure their heart rate, breathing rate and breathing volume. The data was then used to determine how their bodies reacted under the adverse conditions.

“Firefighting has tremendous physical demands,” said Michael Williams-Bell, a professor with the FHP program. “Providing students with an understanding of how their body reacts to typical job tasks will enable our firefighting students to make better decisions when responding to an emergency.”

Emerging frost-covered from a sub-zero chamber, PFET student Tyler Austin was surprised by how the cold affected his performance. Even as a seasoned ski patrol officer used to working in frigid temperatures, Austin found the cold-weather drills challenging. “It was interesting to see how much the cold affects our equipment and breathing apparatus,” said Austin. “I realized I had to slow down and use my skip-breathing techniques. Being able to simulate what it will be like out there on a cold winter day was a great way to get hands-on experience that backs up all our theory work.”

That’s exactly the kind of insight PFET instructor Rick Bowler hoped students would gain; in the 16 years he’s been teaching at DC, he’s never seen anything like the Environmental Stress Simulation Workshop.

“Firefighting is a fiercely competitive field, so offering students truly innovative experiences like this demonstrates how committed DC is to helping them gain a real, competitive advantage,” said Bowler. “I always have certain goals in mind for my students’ experience and this has surpassed any of them by far.”

As part of DC’s ongoing commitment to aligning its programs with the needs of students, employers and job market conditions, the School of Justice & Emergency Services and the School of Health & Community Services will now review the workshop and the possibility of making it an ongoing part of the PFET and FHP curricula.

DC’s Horticulture students blossom at Landscape Ontario Congress

Despite the cold weather happening outside, Durham College Horticulture Technician students recently had an opportunity to put their green thumbs to use when they showed off their skills at Landscape Ontario Congress.

Taking place from January 12 to 14, the annual event, now in its 42nd year, is Canada’s largest green industry trade show and conference, showcasing cutting-edge suppliers, educational sessions and keynote speakers. In addition, post-secondary students enrolled in horticulture programs at colleges across Ontario, are invited to build a student garden for the conference, allowing them to experience real-world timelines and pressures while adding green space to the event.

During their second semester, DC’s Horticulture Technician students collectively decided on the theme and design of their garden. To honour the first harvest of the fields at the Centre for Food (CFF), they chose an agriculture theme, which included vegetables and wild flowers grown in the college’s greenhouse. Using knowledge acquired during their studies, students planted the seeds and timed the growth of the various plants to ensure they reached maturity during the show. The evergreen components of the garden were generously donated by Kobes Nurseries Inc. in Bowmanville, Ont.

The students then pre-built some of the garden’s elements during the fall, giving them time to work out any kinks and prepare for the installation of the display in January. In keeping with the rural theme, the display’s structure and fencing was made of rough-cut Hemlock wood secured with mortise and tenon joinery in place of typical hardware.

“This project provides invaluable experience and networking opportunities to our students,” said Shane Jones, program co-ordinator of the Horticulture Technician program. “They thrive in a professional atmosphere year after year, uphold high standards and conduct themselves respectfully and professionally. It’s an honour to stand with them as representatives of Durham College.”

In addition to creating and displaying a garden at the event, the students also attended the tradeshow on January 14 as active participants before disassembling their garden. In addition to the hands-on experience of designing, growing and building their display, they also had the opportunity to mingle with industry professionals and students from other colleges.

“Once again, Durham College students have done an excellent job communicating the values of the college to an audience of more than 13,000 horticultural professionals,” said Tony DiGiovanni, executive director, Landscape Ontario. “The Durham College garden reflects the strong connection between the landscape and food.”

Durham College honours outstanding students; recognizes award donors

For many students, time spent obtaining their post-secondary education is often a balancing act, with school commitments in one hand and employment, family responsibilities and other demands in the other. This is why the annual Durham College (DC) Student and Donor Recognition evening is such a special event.

On Monday, January 25, the college not only honoured 198 students for their outstanding academic achievements, but also recognized the numerous individual, organizational and corporate donors who provide financial assistance to help relieve some of the post-secondary pressure.

“To our award recipients, I offer sincere congratulations,” said DC President Don Lovisa. “Your willingness to work hard and your dedication to learning will serve you well when you graduate and as you launch into your careers.

“And to our donors, your investment in our students shows the value you place on a Durham College education, and for that we are truly thankful. Through your ongoing support we can continue providing the best possible education in the best possible learning environment while contributing to the future success and prosperity of both the college and the community.”

Lovisa also paid special tribute to the Oshawa Folk Arts Council, which celebrated its 20th anniversary as a donor to DC. Each year, for the past 20 years, the council has generously contributed two memorial awards to help support student success: the Anna Racz Memorial Award and the Jan Drygala Memorial Award.

Several new donors were also recognized during the ceremony for choosing to invest in DC through a scholarship or bursary. These included:

Scholarships:

  • The Jack and Marg Sills Memorial Scholarship.
  • The Ontario Water Works Association Scholarship.
  • The Ontario Water Works Equipment Association Scholarship.

Bursaries:

  • Aramark Canada Ltd. Award.
  • Brooklin Horticultural Society Bursary.
  • CIBC Endowed Bursary.
  • Dick Huang Memorial Bursary.
  • Estates of Kathleen Nawrot and Jean Kroll.
  • Owasco Volkswagen Bursary.
  • Trillium Automobile Bursary.
  • Roughley Insurance Brokers Ltd. Bursary.
  • Travis Pepper Award.

Centre for Food unveils donor wall to recognize generosity of community

Seven years ago, an idea was planted at Durham College (DC) to create a facility that would change the way our local communities eat and grow food as well as meet the growing demands of the local culinary, hospitality, tourism, agriculture and horticulture sectors.  The idea sprouted into a vision and, with the generous support of many donors, has come to fruition and continues to blossom.

On Monday, January 25, a donor wall was unveiled at the Durham College (DC) Centre for Food (CFF) to honour its donors as well as establish a distinct marker where all donors could be recognized for years to come.

“Our vision for the Centre for Food was to bring ‘field-to-fork’ to Durham Region, while creating a place where students would receive an exceptional, hands-on learning experience,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “Thanks to the support of our donors, we have been able to substantially grow our vision and make great strides in advancing our programs, grounds, research projects, facility and offerings to our students and the community.”

To complement the warm and natural atmosphere of the CFF, the wall was designed using walnut name plates and metallic inlays in platinum, gold, silver and bronze that denote the amount of each donation.

“On behalf of everyone at DC, I would like to truly thank all our donors for believing in our vision and helping us to establish a state-of-the art facility that supports both the success of our students and the economic development of our communities,” said Linda Marco, associate vice-president, Office of Development and Advancement. “This is exciting for all of us here at the college and testament to your collective support and commitment to the CFF.”

Three donors in particular were acknowledged for a contribution of more than $1 million to the CFF. They were:

  • The Region of Durham
  • The Town of Whitby
  • The Estate of Lois Sleightholm

Lovisa also announced that a new $1 million donation towards the CFF has recently been confirmed, and details will be shared publicly in the coming months.

The CFF has the capacity to accommodate 900 students, and is Durham Region’s first-ever post-secondary presence focused on field-to-fork. In addition to Bistro ’67 – a green-certified teaching restaurant, the CFF houses Pantry, a retail store featuring fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals created by students in the college’s culinary programs. The grounds feature an apple orchard, gardens, farm fields and greenhouses that support academic applied-learning and research while growing fruits, vegetables and other produce for use in its kitchens, laboratories and Bistro ‘67.

Song and reflection mark DC’s Aboriginal Awareness Day

The fourth annual Aboriginal Awareness Day, held in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre at Durham College (DC) on January 21, drew students, employees, community members and local elementary school groups into a lively celebration of Aboriginal culture. Presented by DC’s Aboriginal Student Centre, Suswaaning Endaajig, the event also focused on education and reflection.

During his welcome remarks, DC president Don Lovisa presented Chief Kelly LaRocca of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation with a signed copy of the Indigenous Education Protocol, developed by Colleges and Institutes Canada, in recognition of DC’s commitment to Indigenous education. Chief LaRocca then shared insights into Aboriginal history, including the broad scope of the Mississaugas’ traditional territories upon which the college is situated.

Throughout the day, attendees were invited to grow the college’s Truth and Reconciliation Tree by writing what reconciliation means to them on a paper leaf and hanging it from a branch. The tree will be moved to the Aboriginal Student Centre where people can view it and add their own message.

 “We want today’s festivities to both entertain and inform,” said Julie Pigeon, Aboriginal student advisor for DC. “Aboriginal Awareness Day is an opportunity for us to invite the community to explore the rich diversity of Aboriginal culture in addition to continuing important conversations related to the history, particularly around reconciliation.”

The day’s events also included a traditional prayer and Smudging ceremony led by Elder Shirley Williams and Gerard Sagassige and performances by the All My Relations drum circle, Inuit throat singer Naulaq LeDrew, the Smoke Trail Singers and Dancers, storyteller Darrell LaFrance and drummer/singer Kim Wheatley.

The Aboriginal Student Centre strives to recognize and support students through various activities and teachings with the assistance of Elders from all backgrounds. It uses a holistic approach to education by focusing on student’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

LEGO robots roll onto campus: they came, they built, they conquered

LEGO robots once again took over the shared Durham College (DC) and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) campus on January 16, as the institutions co-hosted the annual FIRST LEGO League’s (FLL) Ontario East Provincial Championships. FIRST is an acronym that means For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.

Nearly 400 students; more than 1,000 parents, siblings and coaches; and 200 volunteers, judges and referees gathered at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre for the competition.

“As a college that prides itself on innovation, it is inspiring to watch some of Ontario’s brightest young minds enjoy using science and technology to analyze current challenges, develop novel solutions and bring their ideas to life using modern machinery and robotics,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “Once again, we were pleased to welcome competitors and their families to our shared campus to participate in this fun-filled competition.”

The event encouraged students between the ages of nine and 14 to apply math and science concepts to research, design, build and program autonomous robots using LEGO Mindstorms software. In addition, it showcased the 2015 FLL project mission titled TRASH TREK. The mission challenged students to evaluate trash from collection, to sorting, to smart production and reuse. After choosing a piece of trash as their focus, competitors identified a problem with the way it is currently handled,  found out what was being done to solve the problem and designed an innovative solution of their own, which they presented to the judges.

“The shared campus of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Durham College is an ideal venue for a competition, which encourages critical thinking and inspires young students to push the boundaries of innovation,” said President Tim McTiernan, UOIT. “We are proud to support creative ways of learning by co-hosting the FLL competition each year.”

At the end of a day filled with tough and thrilling competition, team Ctrl-Z from Bayview Glen School in Toronto was crowned the winner and awarded the opportunity to compete in a choice of five international championships taking place this spring in Arkansas, Australia, California, the Philippines and Spain.

“We always have a great time when we bring the FLL tournament to DC and UOIT,” said Dave Ellis, director, FIRST LEGO League Ontario. “The Ontario East Provincial Championship is a key part of the overall season each year; we really appreciate the support offered by both academic institutions as we work to foster a love of science, technology, engineering and math concepts.”

Awards list

Champions Award Team Name
Champions Award 1st Place
Champions Award 2nd Place
Champions Award 3rd Place		 Bayview Glen
High Tech
Comet Warriors
Playoff Award High Tech
Gracious Professionalism
Teamwork
Inspiration		 The Garment Grabbers
GAB Legenz
Robobic Quintet
Robot Performance Award Maniacs mechanics
Strategy and Innovation WASD
Programming Sibling Rivalry
Mechanical Design  Intelligent Robo
Presentation  Sixers
Innovative Solution Richland Huskies
Research  UTS FOREV3R
Judges Award Les Popcorns!
Rising Star Award     Adam Beck Quark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about FLL, please visit http://www.firstroboticscanada.org/.

2016 Summit on Talent and Skills in the New Economy held on campus

The college was joined by its campus partner, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, in hosting the 2016 Summit on Talent and Skills in the New Economy, which was presented by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU). In addition to Premier Wynne sharing her thoughts in a panel discussion, the day also included keynote addresses from MTCU Minister Reza Moridi and Education Minister Liz Sandals.

“We’ve all come together with a common goal of helping Ontario’s workforce adapt to the demands of a technology-driven knowledge economy,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “This particular goal resonates with me because of its strong alignment with Durham College’s commitment to producing graduates with the professional and technical qualifications required to meet the ongoing advancement and changes in today’s labour market.”

The day featured presentations and panel discussions on topics such as building a highly skilled workforce and the value of partnerships between employers and post-secondary institutions with a view to skills development. This included the ‘What Do Youth Think? Perspectives from Student Leaders on Pathways’ panel, which was moderated by Lovisa. All the discussions will help inform the work of the Premier’s Highly Skilled Workforce Expert Panel.

Students in DC’s Culinary Management program were also given the opportunity to prepare food for the summit’s mid-morning break, enabling them to showcase the college’s commitment to field to fork through its Centre for Food, to the more than 300 guests in attendance.

“As we look toward the future, I truly believe that events such as today’s skills summit, which has brought together such a strong group of leaders, will enable us to bridge the gap between education, training and skills development and ensure our economy is both prosperous and competitive – now and in the future,” said Lovisa.