Durham College (DC) alumni talked hockey, health care and their roads to success during the third-annual Alumni in the Pit, which took place on November 3.

The event saw Nicole Blackman, a registered nurse and Dylan Wade, director of partnerships and business development for the NHL Alumni Association, return to campus to share their experiences following graduation as they answered questions and provided guidance to students who are about to set out on their own career paths.

 “75 per cent of your day is spent working,” said Blackman, who graduated from DC’s Nursing program in 2004. “With that stat in mind it’s important to make sure you are doing something you love.”

“Patience is key,” added Wade, a 2007 graduate from DC’s Sports Business Management program. “You’re not going to get what you want if you don’t ask for it but also know it may not happen overnight.”

Blackman began her education in a completely different program but soon discovered her passion was nursing. She didn’t have the required grades to get into DC’s Nursing program so she completed academic upgrading and was subsequently accepted. She credits her college professors and the relationships she formed with helping her succeed and began looking for her first job five months before graduation – something she advises all soon-to-be grads to do. Her path has taken her to a remote community in Ontario’s far north to focus on Aboriginal health and back to the Durham Region again and she has continued to pursue her education along the way.

“I want to stress that learning never ends,” she said. “Be humble when you start out, seek guidance, ask lots of questions and take advantage of professional development activities. And don’t forget to start an RRSP, that’s where my first paycheque went!”

Wade also began his post-secondary studies in another program, and, like Blackman, realized he wasn’t on the right path. DC’s Sports Business Management graduate certificate was the solution and, after completing one semester in class, he embarked on a four-month field placement with the University of Hawaii; something he credits with helping him launch his current career. Upon completion of the placement and, after reaching out to his contacts, he landed his dream job with the NHL Alumni Association, where he’s remained working for the past eight years.

“I’m not necessarily the norm in the working world,” he said. “I’ve stayed in one spot and worked my way through the ranks. When my job has felt stagnant, I’ve advocated for a change and sought out mentorship from both within and outside the organization. My position with the association has changed because I put together a rationale and made a case for growth and more responsibility.”

Despite coming from very different programs both alumni agreed that finding your true passion, hard work and gratitude are the keys to success.

“We’re thrilled we could reconnect with two fantastic representatives from the college’s growing alumni community,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “This event gives our students the opportunity to learn first-hand from graduates who have been in their shoes and have successfully made their way in the working world. We’re so pleased that DC’s programs and employees have had such a positive impact on their careers.”

On Tuesday, October 27 FastStart DC was pleased to host the Craft Beer and Entrepreneurship Event at Durham College’s (DC) Centre for Food (CFF). Over 50 guests attended to sample ales, lagers and stouts produced by local craft breweries from Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), while also celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of the participating producers who are driving the craft beer movement.

Attendees learned how to properly taste and evaluate the beers, which were paired with small bites prepared by the CFF’s culinary students and heard stories of lessons learned from some of the most successful craft producers in Ontario, including Steam Whistle founder Greg Taylor. A craft brewer panel, where each of the other participating brewers discussed their entrepreneurial experiences in starting their small business, also took place.

“This event was a great opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of these brewers, who have taken their entrepreneurial dreams and made them a reality,” said Chris Gillis, manager, Applied Research Business Development, Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE). “The lessons learned and struggles these brewers have faced are no different than any enterprise starting out. We hope that when other entrepreneurs face similar challenges, they can draw on the insight and knowledge shared during the event to push themselves to succeed. The event was also an excellent opportunity to sample some of Ontario’s best brews and learn more about the growing craft beer industry.”

For anyone who missed the event but wants to learn more about beer appreciation, Durham College Continuing Education offers the Prud’homme Beer Series. Participants will take an in-depth look at the history, styles and taste profiles of beer as well as cooking with beer and food pairings.

For more information please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/coned or call 905.721.2000 ext. 3330.

After years of hard work, dedication and volunteering, four Durham College (DC) graduates saw their dreams become reality as they were sworn in as constables with the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS).

Christine Barnett, a 2011 graduate of the Victimology program, Ryan Roffey, a 2009 graduate of the Police Foundations program, Ryan Sheridan, a 2013 graduate of the Police Foundations program and Sunil Madhaven, a 2010 graduate of the Law and Security Administration (now Protection, Security and Investigations) program all attribute their success to the dedicated professors and the structure of their respective programs in DC’s School of Justice & Emergency Services.

“The field placement at the end of the two-year program really helped me with networking and getting to know the right people to help me in my future,” says Madhaven.

“I felt very confident going into the Ontario Police College because I already had a great background in these subjects as a result of the Police Foundations program,” says Sheridan. “The professors at DC provided me with amazing support in my pursuit of a position with the DRPS.”

For more information about programs in DC’s School of Justice & Emergency Services please visit http://www.durhamcollege.ca/academic-schools/school-of-justice-emergency-services.

Senior students from Durham College’s (DC) Broadcasting – Radio and Contemporary Media program are hitting it out of the park with their series The Untitled Sports Show, which airs on Rogers TV Durham.

Creator and producer, Nick Konarowski is joined on-air by classmates Mike Bryen and Phil McCabe as well as Sport Business Management graduate Christian Skirdine.

Together, these DC students use skills from their respective programs to explore the world of sports in Durham Region. The Untitled Sports Show is a mixture of in-studio sports chat and on-location segments with athletes. Konarowski pitched the idea to Rogers TV in the spring and the team of DC students filmed the show throughout the summer. The first 30-minute episode was aired on September 27.

In addition to profiling the guest athletes, they take the opportunity to learn from them – with a little friendly competition too. The guest athlete is asked to teach the students and their audience an element of their sport. The co-hosts then split into two teams to try it out themselves. 

“We had Toronto Argonauts kicker Swayze Waters teach us how to kick a field goal,” said Konarowski. “Mike Bryen won that challenge.”

Konarowski graduated from Trent University with a bachelor of arts but decided to return to school at DC in the hopes of turning his hobby into a career. He shares his passion for sports with the Durham community as a new episode of The Untitled Sports Show airs each week.