2010 Alumni of Distinction

Margaret Campkin Nursing, 1985 Since graduating from the Nursing program in 1985, Margret Campkin has dedicated herself to the nursing profession through her work and by furthering her own education in the field as well as providing education for future nurses. Campkin joined Lakeridge Health Corporation as a registered nurse just two months after her graduation. Starting in the Medical Isolation unit, Campkin then moved to Critical Care before becoming a clinical education leader in the Critical Care/Telemetry department. She was promoted to her current role as patient care manager of the Critical Care department in March 2009. As manager, she is responsible for leading the critical care team in their daily operations of patient flow; planning and facilitating critical care nursing education and training to all staff members; providing ongoing support with human resources; and conducting practice reviews. Campkin returned to the Durham College campus in June 2007, this time as an instructor in the Critical Care Nursing (e-learning) program, teaching part-time while continuing her work at Lakeridge Health. A supporter of lifelong learning, Campkin graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Ryerson University in 2003 and is currently studying for her Master’s degree in Nursing at Ryerson with a focus on leadership in education and health policy. Throughout her career, she has been recognized with numerous awards and fellowships including the Lakeridge Health Corporation Leadership Award in 2003. Campkin is also a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, and both the Canadian and American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

Wayne Clark General Business – Office Administration, 1971 A 1971 graduate of the General Business – Office Administration program, Wayne Clark has provided exceptional administrative service to a variety of sectors in the workplace. A native of Oshawa, Clarke worked in the provincial Registrar General’s office before joining Scotiabank as branch administrator of three of its Toronto banks. In 1976, Clarke moved to the Royal Bank of Canada but kept the title of branch administrator when he worked at three of their Toronto-area offices, in addition to working in their Internal Audit Department. After 15 years in the banking sector, Clarke spent five years as an independent financial planner before joining Halloway Developments Limited/Land Development and Property Management Company in 1992. Since then, he has served as a property tax and assessment administrator for Halloway’s portfolio of five shopping plazas, 13 multi-residence rental buildings and five public storage sites in the Durham Region. An active citizen in the community, Clarke is past president and current member of the Board of Directors for Durham Region Home Builders Association (DRHBA), where he is also a member of the association’s Legislative Affairs Committee. Under his presidency in 2000 to 2001, the DRHBA was named the Association of the Year by the Ontario Home Builders Association.

Eugene Dupuis Sports Administration, 1979 Since graduating from the Sports Administration program in 1979, Eugene Dupuis has spent more than 25 years in the advertising sector with the country’s largest suburban newspaper chain, in addition to being involved in numerous community initiatives, associations and sports organizations for the past 35 years. After completing his studies at Durham College, Dupuis made his way to Ottawa, Ont. where he helped launch the CKQB Virgin Radio 106.9 FM (formerly CJSB – The Bear) radio station in 1982 as the promotions director. He helped the station grow and capture the leading market share in its listening area. In 1985, he returned to the Greater Toronto Area where he helped develop the Metro Home Show, the first-ever consumer show held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Dupuis joined Metroland Publishing in late 1985 where he served as manager and director of sales within several divisions of the newspaper chain. He currently works as an advertising consultant with Metroland, developing advertising programs for a senior client list. An avid member and volunteer for a wide range of community organizations and committees, Dupuis works with Boy Scouts of Canada, Darlington Soccer Club and the Rotary Club. In 2001, he founded the Achievement Institute where he implemented his executive coaching program, Time and Self-Management: The Masters Program that was recognized by the Ontario Society for Training and Development as one of the year’s best new training programs.

Ron Motum Chemical Technology, 1974 A 1974 graduate of the Chemical Technology program, Ron Motum spent more than 34 years in the chemical technology and operations sector, including 25 years at the Region of Durham in Whitby, Ont. Motum began his career while still a student with Durham College in the summer of 1973 with Bristol Myers Products Canada Limited as a quality control technician. Following his graduation, he moved to Industrial Electroplating Limited as a plant chemist before settling at the Region of Durham’s Works department in 1975. After spending 12 years as an operations technician, Motum worked as a laboratory co-ordinator for three years and a senior level operations technician for two years before being promoted to technical support supervisor. From 1992 to 2007, Motum was responsible for a staff of 26 and for the public works programs including sewer use, bylaw enforcement and water treatment. Following a short retirement in December 2007, Motum returned to the working world as a professor at Durham College, providing training for licensed distribution, collection and plant operations staff and teaching in the college’s Water Quality Technician program. With long-serving involvement in numerous associations, Motum has been a member of the Water Environment Federation and Water Environment Association of Ontario since 1976 and an associate member of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technologists and Technicians since 1974. A Cub Scout leader and past president, secretary and member of the Whitby Kiwanis Club, Motum was the 1995 Chairperson of the Oshawa/Whitby Kiwanis Music Festival.

Christopher Russell Police Foundations, 2006 Since graduating from the Police Foundations program in 2006, Christopher Russell has bravely served his country overseas and at home, continuing a lifelong dedication to protecting the freedom and safety of others. Before enrolling at Durham College, Russell spent his summers at the Department of National Defence, joining the ranks as a company cadet warrant officer at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden, Ont. in 2004 where he supervised 1,500 cadets while organizing field operations. In 2005, Russell achieved the rank of officer cadet with 1913 Ontario Regiment Army Cadet Corps with the Canadian Forces (Army) Reserve. Russell was responsible for weekly loop training and weekend training at CFBs across Ontario as well as the instruction, training and supervision of more than 150 youth in the 1913 Cadet Corps. Russell then joined the Canadian Forces Military Police in 2007 as a corporal and patrolman at CFB Petawawa, Ont. In September 2008, he was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan where he handled, processed and guarded detainees; escorted injured Afghans by medical air lift; and conducted forensic identification before being seconded to the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS) for highly sensitive investigations. As a result of his work and service in Afghanistan, Russell was awarded the General Campaign Star Medal for service, the Sacrifice Medal for injuries sustained and the CFNIS Commanding Officers Commendation. Russell has provided his specialized services to the community, as a volunteer of more than 280 on-call hours and 20 hours of on-scene service for the Victim Services of Durham Region.

Michael Whitaker Public Relations, 1977 A 1977 graduate of the Public Relations program, Michael Whittaker has been instrumental in building some of Atlantic Canada’s best known food brands and products. In 1981, Whittaker joined Grinners Food Systems (franchisor of Greco Pizza). Under his marketing direction and campaigns, Greco grew to more than 130 franchises and is now the largest pizza chain in the Atlantic region. As Grinners Food Systems grew, so too did Whittaker’s role as he was named general manager in 1994 and CEO, president and partner in 1996. During his time with Grinners, Whittaker also sat on the board of directors for both the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) and the Canadian Restaurant Foodservice Association. Whittaker moved into his current roles as president and partner of Trucorp Investments Limited (parent company of Grinners and Bonte Foods) in 2005. In 2006, he added the title of president of Bonte Foods Limited, the Dieppe, New Brunswick-based manufacturing arm of Trucorp. Under Whittaker’s leadership, Bonte Foods has become one of Atlantic Canada’s most distinctive and versatile food manufacturers. In addition, Whittaker is co-owner of Haystacks Media Production, a full-service production facility providing services in print and electronic media development, production and research. He is also co-owner of OPCO Restaurants, an operating company that owns eight Greco Pizza/Captain Sub restaurants and a Robins Donuts franchise. In 1995, he was awarded the President’s Award of the CFA for his outstanding contributions to Canadian Franchising and was named one of Atlantic Canada’s top 50 CEO’s in 2004 by Atlantic Business magazine. Whittaker is also a major supporter of organ donation, dedicated to creating awareness around the cause. With the support of the Canadian Transplant Organization, he helped implement a campaign promoting organ donation through more than two million pizza boxes and three million flyers.