June 28, 2007

OSHAWA, Ont. – Community and business leaders, dignitaries and other distinguished guests will be transported to Marrakech this September as Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) today announced that the exotic and beautiful locale, nicknamed The Rose City, will be the theme of their 2007 Legacy Gala.

A Moroccan theme will set the tone for this exciting evening designed to raise scholarship and bursary funds for students attending the college and university. The event will feature exotic attractions including traditional music, belly dancing, fire-eating, sword-swallowing and acrobats who will recreate the sights and sounds of one of the world’s most intoxicating cities. Dr. Peter Zakarow and his wife Marianne, Oshawa community leaders and tireless supporters of post-secondary education in Durham Region, will serve as honorary co-chairs of the event.

Dr. Zakarow is current chair of the Durham College Foundation, former chair of the Durham College Board of Governors and was a longtime champion for the creation of UOIT. In December 2004, the couple pledged $500,000 to establish the Dr. Peter Zakarow Auditorium at UOIT, the largest lecture hall housed within the university’s Science building.

“Thanks to the generosity of the Zakarow family, a state-of-the-art auditorium now accommodates 250 students and is complete with all the technology necessary for leading-edge laptop-based learning and teaching,” said

Dr. Ronald Bordessa, president of UOIT. “We are delighted that Dr. and Mrs. Zakarow are continuing to support higher education in Durham Region and at UOIT by agreeing to chair our sixth annual gala and help raise funds that will remove financial barriers for our students.”

The event will be held Friday, September 28 at Tosca Banquet Hall in Oshawa, which is owned and operated by the Albis family. Festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. and include a bustling market square where guests can barter or bid on striking gifts and enjoy an exotic dinner conceived and created by the Albis family and the head chef at Tosca Banquet Hall.

“This spectacular evening is one of Durham College’s biggest fundraising events and we look forward to an evening with both our individual and corporate donor partners that will help make the post-secondary dreams of our students a reality,” said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. “Through funds raised by the Legacy Gala, we provide financial support to students in need – helping them learn the market-ready skills needed to obtain employment and to make a difference in the world.”

The Legacy Gala is held each September to raise funds for the scholarship and bursary program at Durham College and UOIT. It brings together community members and businesses to acknowledge their contribution to each institution’s success while raising awareness about students’ need for financial assistance for post-secondary education. More than $1 million has been raised through the galas, with last year’s event raising close to $470,000.

“Having visited Marrakech in the past, I can attest to the vibrant colour and character of the city and I am looking forward to reliving the experience at the Legacy Gala,” said Dr. Zakarow. “Marianne and I are thrilled and proud to give back to the community and represent our entire family as the honorary chairs of the event, as our continuing commitment to provide support for students in the pursuit of higher education is shared by all members of our family.”

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About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 different full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of continuing education and part-time programs, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for close to 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of close to 95 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has close to 6,000 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and over 1,575 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.caor call 905.721.2000.

About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT’s 4,300 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario’s first laptop-based university, the university offers more than 30 challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of Business and Information Technology, Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Sciences. UOIT’s commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including five Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

Media contact:
Tony Doyle
Communications and Marketing
905.721.3111 ext. 2209
tony.doyle@dc-uoit.ca

 

 

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