Durham College hosts provincial leaders to highlight healthcare programs

Durham College (DC) welcomed three provincial leaders to its Oshawa campus for an in-depth look at how the college is helping ensure that Ontario’s healthcare system will be supported by a highly skilled, frontline workforce for decades to come.

On May 22, the Honourable Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security; the Honourable Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and Acting Minister of Infrastructure, and MPP for Durham; and Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministers of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, and Children, Community and Social Services, toured Durham College’s state-of-the-art simulation labs and clinical learning spaces used by students in the Practical Nursing, Personal Support Worker (PSW) and Paramedic programs.

“It was a pleasure to welcome Minister Quinn, Minister McCarthy and MPP Coe for a firsthand look at how Durham College is preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals through career-focused, hands-on learning,” said DC President, Dr. Elaine Popp. “We value our strong relationship with the provincial government and were proud to demonstrate how our students are gaining the skills and experience needed to make an immediate impact in their careers and our communities.”

Students from the Faculty of Health Sciences programs showcased the training opportunities and industry-standard equipment that are supporting their education. The demonstrations included an explanation of the importance of sterile technique in caring for a wound, the proper method for transferring a patient to a wheelchair, and treating an adult experiencing heart attack symptoms.

“Ontario’s colleges play a critical role in preparing the next generation of nurses, PSWs, and paramedics that protect the province’s health-care system,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “It was a pleasure to visit Durham College to tour their world-class health-care simulation labs and clinical spaces where students are learning the hands-on, in demand skills they need for successful careers as they save and improve lives across Ontario.”

For Elias Faiz, the unique experience underscored his commitment to preparing for a future career in nursing.

“The program has been great. It’s everything I was looking forward to,” said the first-year Practical Nursing student. “The instructors are excellent, the lab rooms are up to date and we have amazing equipment.”

Personal Support Worker student Lucy Williams also took part in a demonstration to display the effectiveness of the experiential learning techniques that are incorporated into her program.

“It’s one thing to sit in a classroom, but it’s so much more helpful to be in a lab setting where you can use equipment and figure out the mechanics of everything,” she said.

Durham College remains committed to delivering high‑quality programs that directly support the growing need for skilled nursing, PSW, and paramedic professionals.