Durham College students support PARA Marine Search and Rescue through experiential learning partnership Posted on June 24, 2026 at 3:42 pm. Durham College (DC) students are applying their skills through a new partnership with PARA Marine Search and Rescue, a local organization dedicated to saving lives on Lake Ontario. PARA Marine Search and Rescue is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization operating across Durham Region’s waterfront. Working alongside agencies including the Canadian Coast Guard and local police services, the organization provides critical search and rescue services throughout Lake Ontario and surrounding waterways. Through a series of work-integrated learning projects, students from the Photography, Video Production, and Event Planning programs are contributing their expertise to help strengthen PARA Marine’s community awareness and outreach efforts. Students are creating photography, video, and written content that highlights the organization’s mission, while others are supporting event planning and public relations initiatives designed to increase community engagement and support. Faculty members are already seeing the impact of the collaboration. “This partnership demonstrates the value of experiential learning by connecting students with community organizations that are making a difference,” said Brian Stephens, Program Coordinator, Photography. “Through these projects, students gain industry-relevant experience while helping PARA Marine strengthen its outreach and deepen community engagement efforts throughout the region.” Students have the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a professional environment while building portfolios, expanding industry-relevant skills and gaining experience working with a community organization. Several initiatives have already been completed ahead of the partnership’s official launch this fall. Students from DC’s Event Planning and Photography programs participated in and documented PARA Marine’s involvement in the Pickering Easter Parade, while others from the Video Production and Photography programs also captured the organization’s annual pool training exercise, which featured PARA Marine Search and Rescue, Toronto Search and Rescue Marine and the Durham Regional Police Marine Unit. The resulting photos and videos will help support PARA Marine’s communications efforts and strengthen its ability to connect with residents, partners and potential donors across the region. The collaboration reflects DC’s commitment to providing high-impact experiential learning opportunities while creating positive community impact. By connecting students with organizations addressing real community needs, the college helps learners develop career-ready skills while contributing their talents to meaningful local initiatives. Future phases of the partnership are already being explored, including the development of a boat-driving simulator that would provide PARA Marine volunteers with a safe and cost-effective training environment to strengthen their vessel handling skills. Learn more about DC’s Photography, Video Production and Event Planning programs. Students shine at successful Harvest Dinner Posted on September 25, 2024 at 11:57 am. An iconic Durham College (DC) tradition continued on September 19, made possible by our talented and hard-working students, staff and faculty members. Each year, the Harvest Dinner marks the arrival of fall with a unique dining experience under the stars at our Whitby Campus. It’s the result of countless hours of preparation in the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food’s (Weston Centre) fields, labs and classrooms, and an invaluable opportunity for experiential learning. Students in DC’s Culinary programs worked tirelessly in the Bistro ’67 kitchen to prepare the delicious food that was served at the event, and those from the Horticulture programs harvested all of the produce that was featured on the menu. Event Planning students helped set up and provided terrific service throughout the evening, while Hospitality volunteers handled bartending and serving duties. “It was such an incredible example of teamwork,” marveled Lori Saint, Weston Centre General Manager. “It was so rewarding to see it all come together.” The evening was particularly rewarding for Paige Daniel and Ashley Sedgwick, two Culinary Management students who jumped at the chance to take part in the popular event. Both were given the unique opportunity to introduce different courses of the meal to the eager attendees, describing each menu item in delectable detail. “Harvest Dinner is so fantastic for bringing together students and faculty”, exclaimed Sedgwick, who helped out in the kitchen. Being part of the Harvest Dinner was an opportunity for the student to further immerse herself in the field-to-fork-to-field philosophy of DC and the Weston Centre, which she enthusiastically supports. “The focus on sustainability we have here is something that really speaks to me personally,” she said. “Zero waste and sustainability is super cool and I love learning about it.” For Daniel, who interacted directly with the guests as a server, the highlight was seeing the happiness and satisfaction on their faces. “The atmosphere was beautiful,” said Daniel. “I was very thankful to be part of an amazing event and see it come to fruition.” Weston Centre Interim Service Manager Megan Simmons had a unique perspective on the event, having taken part in it during her time as a DC student. The Event Management alumna came full circle by overseeing the front-of-house operations at this year’s dinner, working with current DC students to ensure everything went off without a hitch. “It’s a good demonstration of how everything works together, and gaining that experience of accomplishing a shared goal is really valuable,” she said. “Coaching the future generation of hospitality and event professionals has been an absolute honour.”
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