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Research project empowers parents with cognitive challenges

Durham College’s (DC) Social Impact Hub is at the forefront of a groundbreaking community-engaged research project designed to identify gaps and determine how to improve support for parents with cognitive challenges.

Research shows that while many such parents are able to hold jobs and live independently with minimal support, the average global rate of custody removal for those that become parents is significantly higher than any other group of children.

“Parents with cognitive challenges should not have to prove themselves capable of parenting and yet, they do,” explained Amanda Cappon, DC faculty member who led the project with DC faculty member Kay Corbier. “They are held to a level of scrutiny higher than any other parent, which was the motivation for this project – to challenge the stigma of being a parent with cognitive challenges and mitigate trauma to families.”

The project, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) through the College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF), brought together a wide network of collaborators, including the Starfish Parent Support Program, the Regional Municipality of Durham, Durham Children’s Aid Society, Lake Ridge Community Support Services, and Brock University. Students from DC were hired as research assistants, gaining hands-on experience in community collaboration and applied research while contributing to positive social impact.

Raising Resilient Families: Empowering Parents with Cognitive Challenges highlights the importance of early intervention, community collaboration, and support systems rooted in respect and dignity, influencing lasting change that promotes the well-being of families and prevents unnecessary disruption.

At the heart of the project was a deep commitment to amplify the voices of parents with cognitive challenges, ensuring their lived experiences shaped the project at every step. The multi-phase project included:

  • Interviews with parents and service providers to identify barriers, strengths and gaps in support.
  • Training to over 30 staff from local service providers in the evidence-based Step-by-Step Parenting Program, developed by team member Dr. Maurice Feldman, to build awareness of the unique needs and challenges of parents with cognitive challenges and enhance their skillset for supporting them.
  • Collaborative sessions with parents and service providers to design supports, such as a post-birth plan and parent support group model.

The Raising Resilient Families Final Report identifies the need for systemic change — enhanced supports for parents, tailored training for service providers, and policies that reduce bias and promote equity. The project team will actively share the knowledge gained from this project over the next few months, aiming to spark further conversations and actions that will positively impact practice and the lives of families in our communities.

“The role of parents is critical, as they have the ability to quite literally shape future generations,” said Deanna Cooper, Research Associate and DC Alumni. “As individuals with cognitive challenges embark on their journey of becoming parents, we’re committed to improving the individualized support they may need to foster a safe and healthy environment for their children.”

Durham College research links nutrition education to enhanced wellness and nutrition literacy

Does knowing more about nutrition help people make more nutritious choices? That’s the question that Dr. Erin Dancey, a faculty member in Durham College’s (DC) Fitness and Health Promotion program and research lead with the Social Impact Hub, set out to answer in a recent study evaluating the changes in nutrition literacy in students taking introductory nutrition courses.

Turns out, yes. In this case, the nutrition courses had a positive impact on students’ nutrition literacy, with both domestic and international students showing significant improvements in their ability to understand and apply information about healthy nutrition. The nutrition courses covered various aspects of healthy eating and dietary behavior in alignment with Canada’s Food Guide.

Other findings that stood out included an upward trend in wellness, especially among international students. However, the study also revealed food insecurity, referred to as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life, emerged as a negative impact on academic success. 

Supported by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, the study recruited students in the Fitness and Health Promotion program who were taking an introductory nutrition course, plus students from the Dental Hygiene program enrolled in a similar course. The study was inspired by the observation that a lot of international students seemed to struggle to navigate new food pathways, such as where to find nutritious food.

Students participated by responding to standard questionnaires on the topics being explored, including nutrition literacy, household food security and a wellness inventory. They took the questionnaires as a baseline at the start of the course and again at the end to measure growth in their knowledge.

Dancey says the findings of this study have important implications for educational planning and support systems at DC and beyond. “The biggest takeaway from this study was the negative correlation between food insecurity and academic success and the importance of increasing access to food resources for at risk students. Learning more about nutrition literacy, understanding what constitutes healthy food, where to access it, and how to prepare it are all important for students to know,” said Dancey.

At DC, Dancey notes that nutrition literacy resources are available at the Campus Health and Wellness Centre and The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture, for example through their FoodIQ campaign that includes a food security and literacy toolkit.  Calling attention to these existing resources and looking for places to develop more and increase nutrition content in courses will help to make nutrition literacy more mainstream.

Meanwhile, Dancey is also working on exploring nutrition literacy in other contexts, with a current study supported by DC’s Social Impact Hub that looks at the impacts of a newcomer community kitchen program created by the Community Development Council of Durham. The study will be published on the Barrett Centre Portal in the new year.

 

Want to take action now to support food security at Durham College? Donate to the Food Access Bursary! Last year, 1,150 students benefitted from generous donations from DC employees, alumni and the Durham College Student Association. This year, the Durham College Alumni Association will match donations to the Food Insecurity Bursary up to $10,000, and donations are welcome until December 31. Gifts of more than $20 are eligible for a charitable donation receipt for income tax purposes in the 2024 tax year.

 

Reflecting on the Success of Surviving Addiction: In Conversation

The Social Impact Hub at Durham College hosted an inspiring and impactful event, Surviving Addiction: In Conversation. This gathering brought together students, faculty, community members, and thought leaders to explore the complexities of addiction, mental health, and recovery.

The event featured a screening of the first episode of the Surviving Addiction docuseries, a project born from the collaboration between filmmaker and Durham College graduate Chris Cull, Durham College’s Social Impact Hub, and the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine. This powerful series highlights the humanity behind addiction and its profound impact on individuals and their loved ones.

Our guest speaker, Chris Cull, shared his moving personal story—his journey of overcoming a decade-long opioid addiction and his efforts to advocate for change. His words reminded us of the importance of breaking down stigma, amplifying voices of recovery, and fostering systems of support for those affected by addiction.

We’re so proud of the role Durham College students played in this project, contributing their skills to bring Chris’s vision to life. Their work not only enriched their educational experience but also created meaningful, lasting impact in our community and beyond.

A Time for Reflection and Action
As we came together during National Addictions Awareness Week, the event emphasized the need to continue the conversation about addiction recovery and mental health. Awareness is only the first step—we must work together to ensure that individuals struggling with addiction can access the resources and support they need.

At the Social Impact Hub, we are committed to raising awareness of the resources available in our community, including the incredible work being done by organizations like CAMH Foundation, Campus Health and Wellness, and others who share this mission. Your voices, your questions, and your engagement during the event reinforced that we are stronger together in this fight.

Looking Ahead
We are excited to announce that Season 2 of Surviving Addiction will begin production in 2025 with the support of CAMH Foundation. This next chapter will continue to bring important stories to light, furthering our collective understanding and compassion.

Thank You
To everyone who joined us—thank you for being part of this critical conversation. Your presence, participation, and thoughtful dialogue remind us of the power of community in driving change. We extend our gratitude to our partners and supporters: DCSA, DCAA, Campus Health and Wellness, and the Social Impact Hub.

Together, let’s continue to advocate, raise awareness, and provide hope for those navigating the journey of addiction and recovery.

Durham College students set to gain work experience while supporting local shelter

Durham College (DC) is partnering with the Regional Municipality of Durham to support people experiencing homelessness, while providing valuable work experience opportunities for DC students.

The 1635 Dundas Street East project in Whitby aims to provide safe and inclusive housing solutions to help individuals and families who need it most. A 45-bed low barrier shelter with wraparound supports was opened in the building at the end of March 2024, and has provided a safe and supportive environment to over 100 unique individuals. Phase 2 will focus on creating housing units with onsite access to health and social supports and services.

A recent meeting in early November about DC’s role in the project focused on how students could be involved.

“It was a great meeting, lots of excitement and innovative ideas about how students on field placement can support shelter patrons,” said Lorraine Closs, a professor in the Faculty of Social & Community Services’ Social Service Worker program and research lead with the Social Impact Hub in the Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE). “We have a long-standing, strong partnership with the Region of Durham. We’ve done a number of multi-year research projects together.”

As well as sharing a formal conceptual design of how the housing space will be expanded in Phase 2, the Region also discussed the services that might be needed and how students across DC faculties could help work with them. With a vision to create a multidisciplinary, holistic support for the new shelter, the Faculties of Social & Community Services; Health Sciences; Hospitality and Horticultural Science; and even Media, Art & Design are all potential candidates for work-integrated learning opportunities. Closs is hopeful that one or two may even be able to start as early as January. A Steering Committee will decide which DC programs get connected first based on the needs of the shelter.

Lisa McIntosh, Social Services Director Income & Employment Support for Durham Region, says that having DC on board will help the region to achieve its goals for the project. “By fostering community partnerships, we create opportunities for individuals to support one another and work toward a deeper understanding of how we can collectively make a difference. Durham Region looks forward to working with Durham College to enhance 1635 Dundas Street East’s ability to help individuals regain stability. 1635 Dundas Street East exemplifies the strength of community.”

In addition to helping to support services and patrons at the low barrier shelter, the potential placements will offer fantastic hands-on learning for students, said Closs. “There are so many opportunities for students from many faculties to use the skills they are learning in class and put them in to practice in real life.” She added that a bonus will be the empathy that arises from this sort of practical experience. “Research has shown that students who do a work integrated learning experience with the homeless population really change their perceptions and overcome bias and stereotypes.”

The partnership will also provide applied research opportunities through the Social Impact Hub, one of five research centres at DC. Potential topics to investigate include the impact of these learning opportunities on students and their perceptions of homelessness, benefits of student interaction for shelter patrons, and the impact college involvement in service provision has on community member resistance to shelters. Closs, who has already been twice recognized with a DC Researcher Award of Excellence in 2019 and 2023, has submitted multiple research project applications, including for multi-year project funding. There’s also exciting research potential in documenting the pathway that the team is currently pursuing, to serve as a blueprint for other community collaborations.

For students, Closs says the partnership will be a win-win. “This project can also help students become aware of their own privilege. It’s an opportunity for them to support a vulnerable group of people and make a difference in their lives.”

Durham College study examines impact of exercise on physical and mental health for forensic patients

Researchers at Durham College (DC) are partnering with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences and the Abilities Centre in Whitby to examine barriers to exercise for forensic patients and how community-based exercise could impact their physical and mental health.

Dr. Erin Dancey, a faculty member in DC’s Fitness and Health Promotion program, is leading the three-year project through the college’s Social Impact Hub. The research is made possible through a $350,000 College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CHIR) which was announced on September 13.

“We’re interested in the impact of exercise on not just physical fitness, but as a means to increase social connections and improve mental health and wellness and quality of life,” said Dancey. “We met with Ontario Shores and they were already trying to think about ways to get their patients exercising more and the Abilities Centre is close and aims to provide an inclusive space for all individuals in the community, so it all came together.”

The overall goal of the project is to develop exercised-based treatment options that will reduce health disparities and inequities experienced by Canada’s forensic patient population, people who have been found not criminally responsible for an offence or unfit to stand trial by the courts due to mental illness and are hospitalized and receiving treatment to improve their mental health.

Forensic patients with mental illness are more sedentary, have reduced levels of physical fitness and are at a higher risk for obesity as compared to the general population for several reasons including the impact of medication on metabolic health and barriers to exercise while accessing care in a hospital setting.

While other studies have demonstrated the benefits of exercise for people living with mental illness, there is limited research focusing specifically on forensic patients.

“It’s interesting, important research for patients in an institutional, hospitalized setting because it has the potential to improve their quality of life,” said Dancey.

The first phase of the research project will look at barriers to engaging in community-based exercise for patients receiving forensic psychiatry care at Ontario Shores. In the second phase, patients participating in the study will engage in community-based exercise at the Abilities Centre and the researchers will investigate the impact on physical fitness, quality of life, social isolation, mental health and sleep quality.

At DC, Dancey will work with Faculty of Heath Sciences faculty member Dr. David Copithorne and Jennifer Bedford, a faculty member in the Faculty of Media, Art and Design. The project also comes with experiential learning opportunities for students from both faculties.

“We will hire Fitness and Health Promotion students as well as Community Mental Health students as research assistants so they will gain experience with the research ethics approval process, data collection, fitness assessment and prescription, and working with a vulnerable population and community partners,” said Dancey. “We’re also going to hire Media, Art and Design students to help create a video outlining the project findings as well as infographics that will share our results with a broader audience.”

Benefits of the research may include creating a low-cost treatment for people living with mental illness that can be used in combination with medication which could be expanded to patients in the general psychiatry and outpatient clinics at Ontario Shores and elsewhere. It also provides the Abilities Centre and other similar community recreation centres with new tools and ways to support a marginalized group, people living with mental illness.

Funding allows Social Impact Hub to study and improve mental health care for Black communities

Researchers at Durham College’s (DC) Social Impact Hub are launching a project to study and improve mental health care for Black communities thanks to a $360,000 federal grant.

Announced on September 13, the grant is from the College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF), funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada (2022), 35.4% of Black Canadians experience significant psychological distress, but only 1.2% of them seek the aid of mental health services. With that in mind, ‘Bridging the gap: Developing Culturally Responsive Mental Health Care with and for Black Communities’ will explore the experiences of Black patients and frontline workers in emergency, acute and community mental health settings. Beginning this fall, researchers will collect data and work with members of the Black community, caregivers, and frontline workers to co-create resources from a culturally responsive lens.

The project will be led by researchers from the Social Impact Hub with a team consisting of Black community-members and academics.

“This is a very important project,” said Dr. Crystal Garvey, lead researcher and a faculty member in DC’s Nursing – Collaborative Bachelor of Science (BScN) program. “Historically, when decisions are being made for members of the community who have to access the healthcare system, they’re made by leaders and experts who are not representative of the groups they are serving or making decisions for. What makes this research different is that it is a co-creation piece, where those who actually use the services and are navigating the system will now have a say in what bridging the gaps look like”

The Social Impact Hub is partnering on the project with the Health Research Council for People of African Descent, the Regional Municipality of Durham, Black Health Alliance and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.

DC students will have the opportunity to contribute to the new initiative, with three being hired each year. Two students from the Faculty of Health Sciences will provide support as research assistants, while one student from a Media, Art and Design program will assist in documenting and promoting the project.

“We have some really amazing stakeholders that are going to be engaged in this project. I am deeply grateful that they are ready and willing to listen, and that’s the first step to changing any narrative,” said Dr. Garvey. “I am so appreciative and humbled by our community leaders who are involved in this project. They are being intentional with giving space to voices who historically have been ignored or silenced. Because of this project we all now have a seat at the table to engage in sincere discourse to create the authentic change needed.”

Dr. Garvey and her fellow researchers hope to gain the trust of the Black community and encourage them to seek mental health support before crisis hits.

“I hope that we can be the community that breaks down barriers and makes sure that mental health care is being received equitably and fairly,” she said. “This research, in collaboration with community support and involvement, is going to change the status quo and belief systems associated with mental health.”

“I say with all confidence that it’s going to be a game changer.”

DC’s Social Impact Hub helps alumnus launch Surviving Addiction docuseries

Durham College’s (DC) Social Impact Hub has partnered with DC alumnus, Chris Cull, to launch his docuseries, Surviving Addiction, which shares different perspectives of those touched by addiction and the humanity behind people’s individual experiences.

Cull, a graduate of DC’s HVAC Techniques program, is an advocate for mental health and addiction awareness, as well as the founder of Inspire by Example, a digital library of lived experiences aimed at providing hope and resources for those impacted by addiction.

“Having spent over eight years living with opioid addiction and now 10 years working in mental health and addiction, I’ve experienced being the person living it, being the family member of someone with a substance use disorder, and the frontline healthcare worker who advises on federal, provincial and local strategies in the mental health and addiction field,” said Cull. “Within all of that, I’ve learned the different ways in which addiction can impact someone and I wanted to create this docuseries as a way to reach those who are currently struggling.”

The Social Impact Hub is one of DC’s applied research centres, and its work is focused on identifying creative solutions to complex social problems such as addiction and building relationships with community agencies tackling social justice issues.

“We’re extremely proud to support the creation of Surviving Addiction,” said Colleen McKay, manager, Grants and Special Projects, Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where the Social Impact Hub resides. “Working with community partners like Chris is crucial to inform the collaborative efforts of our project teams who work on various applied research and knowledge mobilization initiatives.”

Collaborative projects between DC’s Social Impact Hub and the community also provide a learning opportunity for DC students. Denice Quimbo, research associate in the Social Impact Hub and recent DC graduate says working on this project has given her and current students invaluable experience by applying their skills on a project that positively impacts viewers.

“Along with two students in DC’s Journalism – Mass Media program, we helped film the docuseries over the summer, which provided us a chance to use the skills we learned in the classroom,” she said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work on a project that I believe will make a difference in the lives of those who are watching.”

Cull agreed that the support provided through the Social Impact Hub helped bring his vision to life. “Working with the Social Impact Hub has been an amazing experience,” Cull shared. “The students approached the project with hungry curiosity and were instrumental in shaping what the project has become. I’m exceptionally grateful for all of the support that helped drive my vision.”

The first episode of Surviving Addiction is available online and new episodes will be added on an ongoing basis.

DC’s Social Impact Hub leads the way with collaborative Collective Impact event

Durham College’s (DC) Social Impact Hub was pleased to host community partners, researchers, faculty and students at the Collective Impact: Shared Vision for Social Innovation event on Thursday, May 12. Held virtually, the event welcomed 127 attendees from across Durham Region and beyond, offering the chance to share social innovation research and partnerships at DC, identify challenges and opportunities for further collaboration and learn how to become involved in future initiatives.

Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and carried out in partnership with the Regional Municipality of Durham and the City of Oshawa, the event featured a presentation from Kiersten Allore-Engel, manager of community safety and well-being, the Regional Municipality of Durham, and a panel discussion involving community partners. Moderated by DC professor and researcher Crystal Garvey, who also acted as the event’s Emcee, the panel addressed a variety of important social innovation topics, including:

  • Indigenous perspectives: Chief Emily Whetung, Curve Lake First Nation
  • Black Mental Health and Anti-racism: Allison Hector-Alexander, The Regional Municipality of Durham
  • Human Trafficking: Krista MacNeil, Victim Services of Durham Region
  • Access to Justice Hub: Laurie Marshall, Durham College
  • Inclusivity and self-advocacy in the workplace: Jesse Dick, DC Alumni
  • Housing and mental health: Doreen Hume McKenna, Lakeridge Health

“As a leading post-secondary institution and applied research centre, we are dedicated to fostering new relationships with our partners in order to develop actionable solutions to barriers faced right here in our community,” says Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “Durham College is proud to play a role in social innovation, and together with our community partners, we’re leading the way to a better world for all.”

Following the presentations, attendees joined break-out sessions to further discuss the challenges and explore socially innovative potential solutions that could be leveraged in areas such as mental health and homelessness, supporting people with disabilities and victims of crime, experiences of racism, truth and reconciliation and more.

Social innovation refers to a process, initiative or product that seeks to address a societal challenge by improving upon or redesigning the systems that make up our society. This type of work involves collective action through community partnerships, leading to valuable outcomes that benefit groups of people, not just the individual.

As DC’s fifth applied research centre, the Social Impact Hub launched in June 2021, and aims to leverage faculty expertise, student talent and strong community partnerships, to identify creative solutions to complex social challenges through leading-edge social innovation projects and initiatives.

“Events like Collective Impact provide an inspiring and collaborative space for our researchers to create meaningful partnerships and synergistic ways to engage with service providers, community agencies and students to develop ideas that can lead to a better world for all members of society,” says Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Ongoing projects at DC in this area of research include:

  • Social Innovation in Applied Research: Mobilizing Knowledge and Co-designing a Path Forward
  • Raising Resilient Families: Empowering Parents with Cognitive Challenges
  • Building Bridges Together: Co-production of Financial Empowerment Strategies with People Experiencing Low Income
  • Innovation Through Co-production: A Holistic Approach to Supporting Social Competency in Pre-school Children
  • Enriching Firefighter Training Through the Development of a Novel Virtual Reality Training Simulation for Personalized, Precision Skill and Resilience Training

For more information on the Social Impact Hub, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/socialimpacthub or to collaborate or contact the hub, please email socialimpacthub@durhamcollege.ca.

ORSIE provides support for applied research through access to funding opportunities, faculty expertise, state-of-the-art research facilities, and student learning experiences. In partnership with industry and community agencies, projects are carried out by DC faculty experts and students and administered by ORSIE. Since its inception in 2009, ORSIE has undertaken 438 research projects and initiatives. To connect with ORSIE, please reach out online.

Durham College’s Social Impact Hub receives $25,000 Connection grant from SSHRC

Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) is pleased to announce it has received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Connection grant for $25,000.

The funds will support DC’s goal of enhancing experiential learning opportunities through the creation of a student research assistant position, as well as increasing social innovation knowledge mobilization by hosting a collaborative event this spring. The goal is to demonstrate the recent successes and importance of social innovation applied research activities to identify and solve community challenges.

Connecting with stakeholders will serve to raise awareness of socially innovative applied research activities led by DC’s Social Impact Hub and to share the knowledge and insights gained through previous and current projects. To enhance knowledge sharing, Public Relations, Video Production and Journalism – Mass Media students will create a promotional social media campaign, as well as supporting material, such as video clips and interviews with researchers, to be presented at the collaborative event. Leading the students is a group of DC faculty members who, as co-applicants on the grant, have contributed time and expertise to the project’s various components. Faculty members include Teresa Goff and Jennifer Bedford from the School of Media, Art & Design; Lorraine Closs from the School of Health & Community Services; and Nicole Doyle, School of Justice & Emergency Services.

As the college’s fifth applied research centre, the Social Impact Hub seeks to identify creative solutions to complex social problems through leading-edge projects and initiatives. Launched in June 2021, the Social Impact Hub has tackled a number of pressing issues facing the community, including enhancing virtual mentorship to reduce social isolation of youth, addressing issues that impact parents with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, co-creation of financial empowerment strategies with individuals experiencing low income and the unique co-design of a youth-led housing hub.

Hosted in DC’s innovative Rotary Global Classroom, in partnership with the Regional Municipality of Durham and the City of Oshawa, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions to:

  • Identify social challenges in the surrounding community.
  • Share social innovation expertise and research activities at the college with the broader community.
  • Create new partnerships and synergistic ways to engage with stakeholders.

By increasing awareness, the Social Impact Hub can leverage faculty and stakeholder expertise and resources to support the exploration of further collaborations and contribute to shared community goals.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Connection grant,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, ORSIE. “This event will strengthen Durham College’s commitment to innovation while identifying collaborative strategies for sharing social impact research activities in order to address the gaps and inequalities that exist within our society.”

To learn more about the Social Impact Hub, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/socialimpacthub.

Durham College is pleased to once again be named one of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges for 2021 by Research Infosource Inc. As the facilitator of all applied research at DC, ORSIE provides support through access to funding opportunities, faculty expertise, state-of-the-art research facilities and student learning experiences. In partnership with industry and community agencies, projects are carried out by DC faculty experts and students and administered by ORSIE. Since its inception in 2009, ORSIE has undertaken 411 research projects and initiatives. To connect with ORSIE, please reach out online.

Durham College receives more than $106,000 in funding to support first-ever postdoctoral fellowship

Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) is pleased to announce its first-ever postdoctoral fellowship, thanks to a Mitacs Accelerate grant totaling $106,666, including a contribution and collaboration with the City of Oshawa’s Fire Services through TeachingCity Oshawa.

Working with principal investigator Dr. Michael Williams-Bell, professor and research coordinator in DC’s School of Health & Community Services, Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. David Brian Copithorne joins the ORSIE team for a two-year term to support an innovative new project using virtual reality to simulate uncontrolled fire scenarios and improve training for firefighters and other Public Safety Personnel using immersive, life-like simulation.

“It’s an honour to be chosen as the college’s first postdoctoral fellow,” said Dr. Copithorne, who received his PhD from the University of Western Ontario. “The work we are undertaking using novel virtual reality simulation training is really going to enrich the firefighting training experience.”

Thanks to technology found in DC’s Mixed Reality Capture Studio, the physiological and psychological responses of firefighters that often occur during uncontrolled fire scenarios will be elicited. This will allow participants to be better prepared by learning to manage stressors and optimize their performance and well-being in real-life emergency situations, without the risk of injury, an outcome the City of Oshawa is looking forward to.

“We congratulate Durham College on its first-ever postdoctoral fellowship and we are excited to partner on this collaborative project,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter. “The virtual reality simulations developed by DC will complement real-life training scenarios and help Oshawa’s firefighters master their skills.”

The grant has also funded two undergraduate intern positions, which are being overseen by Dr. Williams-Bell.

“The Ontario government is proud to support initiatives where the talent and expertise of Ontario’s PhD graduates is being leveraged to solve real-world problems through research and innovation,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “By investing in research internships, we are preparing the next generation of talent with the experience they need to get good jobs after graduation. We’re also supporting employers, who are looking for students and graduates with hands-on experience so they can make an immediate impact in the workforce.”

The addition of a post-doctoral fellow is one more way DC is expanding its applied research innovation and reach. “This is a very exciting opportunity for the college,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, ORSIE. “As with all of our projects, faculty and students benefit from hands-on experiential learning, working to solve real-world challenges, while our partners are able to take advantage of our expertise and technology.”

This is the third Mitacs Accelerate grant the college has been awarded. “We are proud to support Durham College’s first postdoctoral fellowship and its commendable dedication to driving research and innovation in Canada,” said Mitacs CEO Dr. John Hepburn. “Dr. Copithorne’s virtual reality research will improve training for firefighters and safety for workers. We are very pleased to leverage provincial and federal funding to drive innovations that improve the lives of Canadians.”