Durham College (DC) welcomed Premier Doug Ford to the Whitby campus on Friday to highlight a number of innovative facilities and programs in our Faculties of Hospitality and Horticultural Science and Skilled Trades and Apprenticeships.

The Premier was accompanied by Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance and member of provincial parliament (MPP) for Pickering-Uxbridge, and Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier.

DC president Don Lovisa guided them on their visit, which began in the greenhouse space where they learned about the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) growing system, a hydroponic growing technique adapted to aquaponics. Other highlights included the Zip Grow Farm Wall and the Freight Farm hydroponic system that grows up to 700 heads of lettuce a week.

Horticulture students Abigayle Hamilton and Paul Fritzsch shared some of their knowledge and experience with the guests, and the Premier rolled up his sleeves to plant some parsley.

Finally, they visited the Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology where they saw the elevator lift used to train students in the Mechanical Technician – Elevated Devices program and took a photo with a group of Level 1 plumbing apprentices and faculty member Peter Sutus.

The visit was a great opportunity to show the Premier how DC is contributing to Ontario’s skilled workforce, according to Lovisa.

“If you experience something, you remember it, and that’s why campus visits are so important,” he said. “Visits like these are important to building relationships, understanding, and helping people see what we do firsthand and showing them how we are leading the way.”