With the Chinese New Year soon upon us, Durham College celebrated the year of the dragon by welcoming a new community partner to its Oshawa campus on January 18.  

President Don Lovisa was joined by Michael Chan, Ontario minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and Tao (Thomas) Qu, president of the Durham Chinese Canadian Culture Centre (DCCC) to open the Durham Chinese Canadian Culture Centre (DCCC) Career Bridging Centre at an event held in the Student Services building.

Featuring a traditional Chinese lion dance, the opening saw students, faculty and staff enjoy an eye-dotting ceremony and traditional refreshments while learning more about what the new centre will mean to the college and Durham Region.  

In addition to remarks from Minister Chan and President Lovisa, attendees also heard from  John Henry, mayor, City of Oshawa and Xiaoguang Shi, overseas affair consul, Chinese Consul General in Toronto, who offered their perspectives on what the centre means to the local community and well beyond.

Located in the Simcoe building, it will act as an important new resource for international students, supporting them in their career endeavours and playing a key role in the DCCC’s commitment to provide cultural exchange and integration programs; newcomer services; and education and training to Chinese Canadians living in Durham Region.

“Now that the centre is open, it will be a place where students can go to make decisions about their futures,” said James Sun, a first-year student enrolled in the Mechanical Technician – Mechanical Maintenance and Control program. “I encourage all international students to take advantage of the many supports it will provide to ensure our student experience is great – from the time we arrive in Canada ready to study until the day we graduate, ready to work.”

A registered, non-profit organization in Canada, the DCCC is a family, education and inter-culture oriented community organization that devotes its efforts to serving Chinese Canadians and the general public of Durham Region.