TripAdvisor, the largest travel website in the world, honoured Durham College’s (DC’s) Bistro ’67 with a Certificate of Excellence recently. This achievement was a result of the consistently high reviews the restaurant receives on the travel website. With a 101 reviews to date, Bistro ’67 is ranked as the second-most popular restaurant in Whitby, Ont., out of 235. The restaurant also proudly maintains a four-and-a-half out of five star rating.

More than 90 per cent of reviews on the website feature positive comments, complimenting everything from the food, the wait staff, to the field-to-fork philosophy. Bistro ’67 is truly a one-of-a-kind in Durham Region.

The restaurant features an open concept with modern design. The menu is constantly changing, keeping up with homegrown ingredients from across the Durham Region to bring fresh and inspiring dishes to the table. As an added bonus, a television is featured in the dining area, allowing patrons to watch as DC’s skilled culinary students carefully prepare diners’ selections.

Bistro ’67 lives within DC’s Centre for Food (CFF), Durham Region’s first-ever post-secondary presence focused on the field-to-fork concept. This process is based on the harvesting, storage, processing, packaging, sale and consumption of local, home-grown food. Since the CFF opened, DC has taken this concept and applied it to a diverse range of culinary and hospitality programs.

CFF recently announced the renewal of its partnership with celebrity chef Jamie Kennedy. Kennedy is a pioneer in farm-to-field practices and has helped students in various programs at the CFF since 2012. With this commitment, he will interact with students in the classroom, labs and fields; work with employees; and participate in student-run special events.

To learn more about Bistro ’67, including menu, pricing or booking reservations, visit www.bistro67.ca. To read excellent reviews about the restaurant, visit the Bistro ’67 page on TripAdvisor.

Anna Chase, a third-year student in Durham College (DC)’s Graphic Design program, has made her mark on Oshawa’s downtown core with her art piece “The Games”. Featured on the crosswalk at the intersections of Athol and Mary Street and Athol and Albert Street, Chase’s art piece was selected during a Call for Artwork, as part of the City of Oshawa’s Public Art Program.

Created with the theme of Pan American culture, sport, teamwork and collaboration in mind, Chase designed an illustration of a boxer and weightlifter in poses representing strength and athleticism.

“I’m thrilled to have my work showcased for everyone to see as they attend the Pan Am games,” said Chase. “It’s great to have this kind of exposure and another piece to add to my portfolio as I enter my final year at DC.”

The piece is located at the intersections connected to the General Motors (GM) Centre, which will be hosting both the boxing and weightlifting events during the games.

Once again students in Durham College’s (DC) School-College-Work Initiative (SCWI) have achieved academic excellence. The most recent term saw a success rate of 90 per cent, a four per cent increase over last year for the more than 1300 secondary school students who completed a dual-credit program with DC.

“It was another outstanding year for our School-College-Work Initiative students,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “The opportunity to complete college credits while also working towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma sets students up for success. This year’s results demonstrate what happens when great educators come together and students show a passion for learning.”

The SCWI program focuses on helping at-risk secondary school students receive their diploma while completing college credits at the same time. Dual credit courses are a great choice for students who are at risk of not graduating; enrolled in a Specialist High Skills Major; enrolled in an Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program; or are under 21 years old and out of school, but close to earning their OSSD.

More than 100 dual credit courses are offered at DC on a variety of subjects, including but not limited to, skilled trades, apprenticeship, health, art, science and business. Students from secondary schools in the Durham Catholic District School Board; Durham District School Board; Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board; Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board; and Trillium Lakelands District School Board are eligible to participate.

“This initiative has one of the highest success rates among students I’ve ever seen,” said Gail MacKenzie, manager, Strategic Initiatives, School of Interdisciplinary Studies. “The dual credit program allows students to achieve their potential and really motivates students to achieve their best.”

For more information regarding the dual credit program, visit the DC Centre for Success website or contact the School-College-Work Initiative coordinator.

Building on a long-standing partnership of offering pathway programs to assist students in making the transition from diploma to degree, Durham College (DC) and Trent University have signed a new agreement that will fast-track students to a college diploma in Journalism and a university degree in Media Studies in only a four-year timeframe.

The new pathways program agreement was signed July 8, 2015 at Trent University Durham by Don Lovisa, president of Durham College and Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent University president and vice-chancellor. It will allow graduates of DC’s two-year Journalism – Web and Print and Journalism – Broadcast and Electronic Media programs to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies at Trent University in Peterborough or at Trent University Durham, where the Media Studies degree is being offered for the first time in fall 2015.

“This is another example of our progressive and long-standing partnership with Trent University,” said President Lovisa. “Developing new pathway programs for our students ensures they get the best of both a college and university education – technical, professional and theoretical training along the way to earning a diploma and degree. That means when they graduate they are better-positioned with employers and for finding professional success.”

This agreement marks the first partnership between Trent and DC’s School of Media, Art and Design. There are now more than 14 diploma-to-degree pathways in place between DC and Trent University, providing degree completion opportunities for graduates of the college’s business, General Arts and Science, computing, Environmental Technology, Police Foundations and Pharmaceutical and Food Science Technology programs. The two institutions are also currently working on two additional pathways from the School of Media, Art and Design at DC into Media Studies at Trent University, to be finalized in fall 2015.

Durham College (DC) was recently ranked among the top 20 performing Canadian post-secondary institutions on Facebook and Twitter by Engagement Labs – a technology and data company that provides full-service, next-generation social technology solutions for marketers.

The colleges and universities were graded based on an eValue score, which measures the institution’s social media and digital marketing efforts and awards a score out of 100. Criteria includes the level of engagement, the unique reach content received and how frequent, fast and well the organization responds to conversations generated on their social media sites.

This is the second time in 12 months that DC has been recognized for having one of the top social media presences within Canadian post-secondary institutions, having been noted as one of Canada’s top 10 social colleges of 2014.

“We’re always looking for innovative and meaningful ways to connect with prospective and current students,” said Carol Beam, executive director, Communications and Marketing at DC. “For us, communication is a two-way street and it’s just as important to engage with our stakeholders as it is to share information. This helps us establish an inclusive and transparent community both on campus and online.”

In 2014, DC launched a major multi-platform social media Experience DC campaign – the most progressive marketing campaign in the college’s history. Fourteen students from all walks of life provided an authentic perspective of college life at DC.

The campaign was so successful that it will run again throughout the 2015/2016 academic year, but has expanded to include employees.

Many of DC’s employees and departments, including DC President Don Lovisa, are already active on social media to provide a more exclusive look at all the exciting programs, highlights and events happening on campus.

Join the conversation! Follow DC on Twitter and/or like us on Facebook to share your thoughts, ask questions, learn more about the college and stay current with important dates and events.

On Thursday, July 2, Durham College (DC) dean Kevin Baker embarked on the Ride for Inclusion, an epic road trip taking place during the month of July, covering 10,000 km to raise awareness and promote the integration of young people with intellectual challenges into mainstream society. It’s one man and his motorcycle in rain or shine tackling one of the world’s best-known biking routes.

As the father of a son who is on the autism spectrum, Baker has witnessed first-hand the need for greater inclusion and as a dean he has seen the power of inclusivity in action through the college’s Community Integration through Cooperative Education (CICE) program. CICE promotes the inclusion of young people who are otherwise excluded from post-secondary education and, ultimately, paid employment and independence.

“This ride gives me the opportunity to combine several passions of mine in support of a very important cause,” said Baker. “As a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast I am thrilled to be tackling this highly envied route but, more importantly, I am excited that I can raise awareness and funds for the CICE program.”

After departing from Whitby, the official ride begins in Deadhorse, Alaska on Monday, July 13 and concludes in Key West, Florida on Wednesday, July 29.

To learn more about the Ride for Inclusion visit: www.rideforinclusion.com/. For more information about Durham College or the Community Integration through Cooperative Education program visit: www.durhamcollege.ca.