December 12, 2008

Recipients honoured for their remarkable contributions and years of service

OSHAWA, ON. – For three decades, Durham College students and the broader college system have benefited from the leadership and experience of Norm Fenton and Garry Cubitt. Their outstanding service was recognized this week with an announcement by Colleges Ontario that they have been named recipients of prestigious provincial awards that recognize their commitment to education and training.

Fenton, a professor with the School of Applied Sciences, Apprenticeship, Skilled Trades & Technology, is a recipient of a Colleges Ontario Award for his efforts in bringing online apprenticeship training in northern Ontario communities, while Cubitt, in his third term with the college’s Board of Governors, is being honoured for his steadfast work in promoting improved student movement between college and university. They are two of only seven recipients named by Colleges Ontario from across the province.

“We are tremendously proud to have Norm and Garry honoured by Colleges Ontario as both are richly deserving of these awards,” said Don Lovisa, president of Durham College. “When you look upon their years with Durham College, they have served as pioneers and made a difference on campus for our students, our community and the broader college system.”

Fenton is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes an individual who has provided leadership to his or her institution and/or the college system and fostered change that has resulted in substantial improvement locally or provincially. For nearly three decades Fenton has ensured the best possible education for his Industrial Mechanic Millwright apprentice students and instrumental in establishing online learning options at the college’s Whitby campus, in partnership with Sault College, to provide apprentices in Ontario’s northern communities with alternative training opportunities.

Cubitt, chief administrative officer for the Regional Municipality of Durham, has received the William G. Davis Community Award, which honours community members who have made exceptional contributions to the college sector. During a 35-year association with Durham College, Cubitt has tirelessly contributed through his positions as an instructor, partner and member of the board. He passionately believes it should be easy for students to move between a college and university education and has played a leading role in the development of formal partnerships for students to transfer post-secondary credits in order to obtain both a diploma and degree in less than the traditional time.

The Colleges Ontario Awards were established in 2000 to recognize individuals, organizations and volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of Ontario’s college system. The awards are also presented in categories such as student leadership and student innovation.

“The awards recognize passionate and innovative leaders,” said Linda Franklin, president and chief executive officer of Colleges Ontario. “The winners are people who are helping colleges to deliver the best education and training possible.”

The other award winners announced this week are:

• Jennifer Howarth, president of the Students’ Administrative Council at Cambrian College. Her extensive volunteer activities included a campaign to promote a respectful learning environment at the college;
• Martin Smith and the Niagara Environmental Corps of Niagara College, for their work helping students to address environmental challenges;
• The student mentors in the Learning Disability Summer Transition and Orientation Program at Canadore College. Their efforts help students with learning disabilities make the transition to college life;
• Hydro One, which has invested $3 million to promote Engineering Technology programs at four Ontario colleges; and
• The College Mathematics Project at Seneca College, for its work addressing the achievement rates in first-year college mathematics programs.

The awards will be presented on Monday, February 23 at a luncheon ceremony held at the Colleges Ontario 2009 Conference in Toronto, Ontario.

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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 100 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for more than 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of 95.6 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,300 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:
Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
Durham College
905.721.2000 ext. 2513
melissa.levy@durhamcollege.ca

Heather Howe
Special events and public relations co-ordinator
Colleges Ontario
416.596.0744 ext. 249
howe@collegesontario.org

 

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