Durham College (DC) is pleased to announce the Phase IV Whitby campus expansion initiative has received a very generous donation of $100,000 from Brookfield Residential. After touring DC’s existing and new skilled trades training facilities, leading North America-wide new home builder, Brookfield Residential immediately saw the value of the project. The 60,300-square-foot addition will allow 750 more apprentices and students to study construction and industrial skilled trades and professions each year. The new Skills Training Centre is on-schedule to open in September 2021.

“Our vice-president of construction, Erminio Labriola, is a DC alumnus, and I’m so pleased that he connected us with the college,” said Sid Kerrigan, president, Brookfield Residential (Ontario). “With an ageing workforce and strong business opportunities across southern Ontario, the availability of skilled tradepersons is a critical factor in our decision-making. We’re pleased to help solve a wide-spread employer need and support such an important institution in a community in which we build.”

DC’s Building for Skills campaign has now raised well over $5 million towards its $10 million goal, thanks to municipal and regional government, businesses, unions, organizations and individuals.

“We’re so grateful for Brookfield Residential’s support,” said DC President Don Lovisa. “Our current facilities simply aren’t big enough to handle the demand from apprentices and post-secondary program applicants for skilled trades training. Many of the programs we teach on the Whitby Campus are highly relevant to the building construction sector, and companies like Brookfield Residential are making a wise investment now to ensure they will have the talent they need in the decades to come.”

For more information on how to support Building for Skills, please contact Jennifer.Clark@durhamcollege.ca.