Learn on the job: co-op opportunities at Durham College Posted on March 4, 2026 at 11:05 am. At Durham College (DC), some of the most valuable learning happens outside the classroom. Co-operative Education (co-op) allows students to engage in paid work opportunities directly related to their studies, giving them hands-on experience, professional skills, and clarity about their career path before graduation. Students in programs with a co-op option can apply to join the co-op stream and, once accepted, start pursuing a co-op job tailored to their field. Most work terms take place in the spring and summer, helping students gain experience while keeping their academic progress on track. Support is built into every step of the co-op journey. The Experiential Learning Hub provides guidance on resumes, interview preparation, and job searches, with co-op coordinators at both the Oshawa and Whitby campuses ready to assist in person or online. This ensures students are equipped to succeed and confident as they enter professional environments. “Our co-operative education is designed to connect students with meaningful work that complements their learning and supports employer needs,” says Jordyn McCormack, Industry Liaison, Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “When students and organizations are aligned, the benefits are immediate and long-lasting.” Employers also gain from co-op partnerships. Students bring current knowledge, enthusiasm, and practical skills to the workplace, often contributing from day one. Many organizations can access support programs, such as the Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit and the Student Work Placement Program, to offset hiring costs. “Durham College students arrive with strong technical skills and industry knowledge, which allows them to contribute quickly to our teams,” says Andrew Steven, Senior Manager, Supply Chain Planning and Inventory, Celestica. For students, the experience extends beyond technical expertise. Kirill Testov, a Supply Chain and Operations Management alumnus now working as an analyst at Celestica, reflects: “Co-op helped me translate classroom learning into real work. I gained confidence in communication, time management, and adapting to a fast-paced environment — skills that continue to shape my career today.” Through co-op, students explore career options, build professional networks, and graduate with practical experience that positions them for success. For employers, it’s a chance to engage emerging talent and shape the next generation of professionals. Learn more about co-op opportunities at Durham College and how you can gain experience, develop your skills, and prepare for the career you want. Durham College students deepen their learning traveling around the globe Posted on April 15, 2025 at 2:36 pm. Opportunities for experiential learning abound at Durham College (DC). Faculty-led Classrooms Abroad (FLCA) opportunities give students the chance to travel to other countries to enhance and apply the skills they’ve learned in the classroom, all while seeing a new part of the world and making new friends. Earlier this year, four such trips created lasting memories for DC students and Faculty Members. Costa Rica – Exploring global perspectives in Behavioural Science Our Behavioural Sciences students took their knowledge of applied behavioural analysis to Central America. Visiting schools, special education centers and health care facilities in Costa Rica, they gained insight into the teaching methods and types of therapy used within a broader global context. In three communities, they explored the differences in resources available in urban versus rural areas and the impact that may have on the services provided. “We immersed ourselves in another culture to better understand how they work closely with their families and clients, to develop cultural humility and see how clinical approaches can be adopted from different lenses,” explained Nehal Siam, Faculty Member. “It’s important for students to work outside of their comfort zones, and on this trip, they travelled to novel environments where they didn’t speak the language and found ways to engage with the staff and the participants, and exchange knowledge and information.” The trip was generously funded by Global Skills Opportunity, the Government of Canada’s Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program. Denmark – Discovering innovations in elder care By pioneering innovative housing solutions and cutting-edge technology that empower seniors to live safely and with dignity, Denmark has moved to the forefront of dementia care. Personal Support Worker (PSW) students met with seniors, healthcare professionals, and technology leaders while Journalism and Video Production students captured compelling stories, photos, and videos to share back home. They returned home with invaluable insights and new ways to support seniors living with dementia in Ontario. “I think that experiencing a different culture and learning from the practices in Denmark will have a lasting impact on the care I provide and my clients that I work with,” said first-year PSW student Alicia Timleck. “I hope to see the innovative practices we saw In Denmark be implemented into future Canadian elder care.” On Tuesday, April 22, the students will share their experiences at a “Community Conversation” event from noon to 2 p.m. in the Rotary Global Classroom. Local community members will be on hand to discuss the future of elder/dementia care in Ontario. Fourth year Journalism and Creative Writing student Ganga Rajesh was inspired by the trip and looks forward to sharing the story at the event. “It was life changing. In conversations with caregivers and residents, I heard stories of love, loss and resilience, stories of the elderly creating their own new, happy world with the people they met in the care home. It touched my heart and crossed all borders,” he said. “The experience made me understand why my professors always emphasized that journalism isn’t just about reporting facts. It’s about feeling, listening, and giving voice to those who might not otherwise be heard.” Italy – Immersed in classical architecture Second and third-year students in the Architectural Technology program travelled to Italy, where they studied art and architecture in the cities of Rome, Pompeii, and Foligno. There, they studied the roots of architecture by examining works of antiquity and renaissance in contemporary cities. They also learned about the importance of preserving historical buildings as cultural property as well as the materials and techniques used to build and maintain buildings. “Students had a chance to see life in the ancient world that led up to our civilization. They were able to study Ancient Rome and imagine life in the streets and see how things have changed well into modern times,” said Faculty Member Stan Zalewski. “They saw truly historical and significant works and walked amongst art and architecture in a completely different cultural context.” Peru – Tasting tradition in South America Culinary Management students travelled to one of the top culinary destinations in the world, Peru, to learn about traditional cuisine techniques, ingredients and baking and dessert recipes at the Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola (USIL). They also explored the Minka Market and downtown Lima to discover the country’s rich cultural history. “The trip exposed them to new techniques, ingredients, and ways of thinking about food. They realized that there isn’t just one ‘right’ way to approach cooking, and this broadened mindset will be invaluable in their future careers,” said Faculty Member Tanya Heck, who also benefitted from the journey. “Traveling alongside students creates opportunities to develop stronger relationships that extend beyond the classroom. These connections have led to more meaningful mentorship, engagement, and a deeper understanding of student experiences and aspirations.” Whether it’s through international summer programs, study abroad semesters, or FLCAs, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the world while studying at DC. Learn more about international learning opportunities. Supply Chain students embrace experiential learning Posted on March 19, 2025 at 2:44 pm. Hands-on learning is a priority at Durham College (DC) and recently, students in the Supply Chain programs took advantage of two dynamic opportunities to put what they’re learning in the classroom to the test. Global Manufacturing Sustainability SAP ERPSIM Challenge In this competition, student teams managed a virtual manufacturing company using SAP S/4HANA – the same enterprise resource planning software utilized by businesses around the world. Over three weeks, teams made critical real-time decisions in areas such as procurement, production, sales, inventory management, and sustainability initiatives. Their goal was to maximize their company’s financial valuation while maintaining sustainable business practices. The DC team of Supply Chain Management – Global students Manik Badhwar, Deniesha Goldbourne, Ayokunle Ayodele, Ogooluwa Olafusi and Ravi placed sixth out of 22 teams from around the world. “The competition was a great opportunity for me to apply the many concepts I had learned in my program,” said Badhwar. “It was one of the most memorable experiences of my time at Durham College—one I will never forget.” For Supply Chain Program Coordinator Jennifer Souch, the team’s success in the competition was proof that their effort, dedication, and teamwork had paid off, and that her students are ready to launch successful careers. “They demonstrated their ability to apply supply chain and enterprise resource planning knowledge in a practical setting,” said Souch. “Employers highly value hands-on experience and participating in a global competition of this caliber sets them apart in a competitive job market. It highlights their ability to make data-driven decisions, collaborate effectively, and adapt to complex business challenges—all essential skills for success in the industry.” Collaborative Online Integrated Learning (COIL) initiative DC and Inholland University partnered to give students a unique opportunity to collaborate with their peers on the other side of the world. Hundreds of students from each school took part in analyzing the fresh-cut flower and timber supply chains and providing actionable recommendations aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By taking part in the project, our DC students enhanced their intercultural communication skills, gained experience working in diverse, virtual teams and strengthened their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Working in concert with the SDGs was particularly helpful, as it challenged the students to consider real world problems that exist globally and how they might address them, according to Faculty Member Allana Persaud. “Companies are looking for solution-oriented people. It’s one thing to know how to run a supply chain. It’s another thing to know how to proactively manage a supply chain with risk management, ensuring that you’re always looking ahead,” she said. The initiative was an invaluable opportunity for experiential learning that will give the students an edge in the job market. “If you’re in an interview and you’re asked about your experience, and you don’t have any, this project is something practical you can build upon,” said Chinasa Chukwuezue, one of the participating students. Online game development for Barrett Centre uses student skills and provides real-world experience Posted on January 10, 2025 at 1:22 pm. What if you could help children learn that the food doesn’t just appear on their dinner plates but grows on farms? What if you could make that heavy lesson fun? What if you could provide students from two creative programs with a real-world learning experience along the way? Now a collaborative partnership between the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture and programs in the Faculty of Media, Art and Design is doing just that, by enlisting student talent to build educational games for the Barrett Centre’s website, in a multi-semester project. The Barrett Centre is already a pretty fun place to visit as a kid. Hosting sessions with local schools as well as community organizations, the farm offers tours where children can see vegetable growing in action, as well as play farm games like “Maple Tree baseball” with different cards that help (seeds, light, soil, rain) or hinder (lawnmower, deer) plant growth—kids take their cards and run to a base. If the group on base has all the conditions they need to help a plant grow, they are safe. But if seed meets lawnmower instead, they are out. It’s that same spirit of creativity and fun that the Barrett Centre’s Community Engagement Coordinator Jennifer Hoban is hoping to extend online. Their web portal was developed in 2023 and already includes resources about sustainable urban agriculture, a community forum, Barrett Centre experts on call, and a blog with stories from the community. Students can already jump on to continue their experiences from home and the games are expected to make the site even more interactive, especially for kids and parents looking for educational tools. “The Barrett Centre facilitates farm and food literacy at our Ajax Urban Farm, and online through the Urban Agriculture Community Portal. Both before and after students visit the farm, they can continue their education on the portal.” said Hoban. “This project started with an intention of wanting to support this community by connecting the physical and digital learning spaces through gamification.” The project began with a capstone student group from the Project Management Graduate Certificate program, where students generated several plans for how games could be integrated onto the Barrett Centre’s education initiatives. It was then carried forward with a five-week field placement at the Barrett Centre, where students started to brainstorm types of games that might work. Now the creation process has moved ahead, with students in the Interactive Media Design program and Web Development each hard at work in their own domains, the former to design an interface for the game that the latter students will build. Program Coordinator and Professor Linda Cheng said that she runs the class like an agency to facilitate student collaboration. Several games are in various stages of development, and each will go through planning, prototype and testing. As for the creativity, she’s leaving that to the students. “When we launch, it will be a surprise. There are three different games, each approach is different, and the knowledge players gain will be different,” she said. She wants students to feel complete ownership of the project as they work to meet the practical needs of the Barrett Centre, and also to have the opportunity of receiving feedback from a real-life client, plus communicating directly as they would in any real-world agency. For her part, Hoban just has one requirement for the finished product. “The goal of these games has to be educational and fun,” she said, adding that the target audience is Grades 1 and 2. “It‘s all about using the online games to facilitate food literacy education.” Durham College students celebrate great showing at provincial marketing competition Posted on December 17, 2024 at 4:32 pm. Durham College (DC) celebrated a fine performance at the Ontario Colleges’ Marketing Competition (OCMC), held this year at St. Clair College in Windsor. The largest and most prestigious marketing competition for college students, OCMC has been running for over 30 years and features case competitions in a variety of sectors, as well as a Quiz Bowl that tests students on their knowledge of marketing concepts and current events. DC saw wins all the way through the event. The DC Quiz Bowl team placed second overall, led by Mahalia Clarke, Tianna Walden, AJ Bello and Raven Sy. Several teams placed in the case competitions: Tyler Dunstan and Mason Wright placed third in the Entrepreneurship category, Rylee Poleon and Raven Sy placed fourth in International Marketing and Julianne Nascimento and Dianna Trevisan placed fifth in Direct Marketing. For third-year Marketing students Mason Wright and Tyler Dunstan, this was their second trophy win at OCMC. Paired for last year’s OCMC by coaches who thought they would work well together, the two are now good friends. They will also compete for a second time in the Scotiabank Vanier College National Marketing Case Competition in February 2025. Wright credited the team’s coaches for DC’s impressive showing at OCMC, as well as his and Dunstan’s success. “Our coaches did a fantastic job of putting us into categories where we could succeed. And we have our coaches to thank for pairing us together, because it has been an amazing experience with Tyler. We just seem to work very well together. OCMC brought us together originally, because we are very similar people, but we had never crossed paths as students.” Coming together under the leadership of Faculty of Business professor Alison Sprayson, the teams trained for many months, practicing weekly on cases in their categories to produce a sample solution and presentation which was then critiqued by a specialist coach. While the extra-curricular requires a time commitment, Dunstan said he found a major advantage in developing closer relationships with his professors. “I love that one-on-one interaction that you get with the professors who are your coaches, sitting down and dissecting all that you’re doing,” he said. In Wright and Dunstan’s case, professor Sheldon Koufman coached the team for their first OCMC where their focus was on Retail, and Jay Fisher for this year’s focus on Entrepreneurship, a topic that Dunstan said was an added challenge. “It was a big learning curve, just because the intricacies are different between marketing for a big company and a small business. Having those weekly practices with Jay really helped us to be comfortable with the subject.” By the time they got to the event, all the teams had been through the format many times, which allows students 30 minutes to work on a solution and 15 minutes to make their presentation. Wright said that while the competition itself was intense, participating with so many fellow students who also shared his enthusiasm for marketing made the event special, with teams wishing each other good luck as they departed for their presentations.“ And then when we came back, we had people waiting for us, cheering, giving us hugs, asking us how it went. Throughout the day, the support, teamwork and overall collaboration was absolutely amazing. Durham College school spirit was at the forefront of everything we did on that weekend,” said Wright. Durham College students set to gain work experience while supporting local shelter Posted on November 29, 2024 at 12:19 pm. Durham College (DC) is partnering with the Regional Municipality of Durham to support people experiencing homelessness, while providing valuable work experience opportunities for DC students. The 1635 Dundas Street East project in Whitby aims to provide safe and inclusive housing solutions to help individuals and families who need it most. A 45-bed low barrier shelter with wraparound supports was opened in the building at the end of March 2024, and has provided a safe and supportive environment to over 100 unique individuals. Phase 2 will focus on creating housing units with onsite access to health and social supports and services. A recent meeting in early November about DC’s role in the project focused on how students could be involved. “It was a great meeting, lots of excitement and innovative ideas about how students on field placement can support shelter patrons,” said Lorraine Closs, a professor in the Faculty of Social & Community Services’ Social Service Worker program and research lead with the Social Impact Hub in the Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE). “We have a long-standing, strong partnership with the Region of Durham. We’ve done a number of multi-year research projects together.” As well as sharing a formal conceptual design of how the housing space will be expanded in Phase 2, the Region also discussed the services that might be needed and how students across DC faculties could help work with them. With a vision to create a multidisciplinary, holistic support for the new shelter, the Faculties of Social & Community Services; Health Sciences; Hospitality and Horticultural Science; and even Media, Art & Design are all potential candidates for work-integrated learning opportunities. Closs is hopeful that one or two may even be able to start as early as January. A Steering Committee will decide which DC programs get connected first based on the needs of the shelter. Lisa McIntosh, Social Services Director Income & Employment Support for Durham Region, says that having DC on board will help the region to achieve its goals for the project. “By fostering community partnerships, we create opportunities for individuals to support one another and work toward a deeper understanding of how we can collectively make a difference. Durham Region looks forward to working with Durham College to enhance 1635 Dundas Street East’s ability to help individuals regain stability. 1635 Dundas Street East exemplifies the strength of community.” In addition to helping to support services and patrons at the low barrier shelter, the potential placements will offer fantastic hands-on learning for students, said Closs. “There are so many opportunities for students from many faculties to use the skills they are learning in class and put them in to practice in real life.” She added that a bonus will be the empathy that arises from this sort of practical experience. “Research has shown that students who do a work integrated learning experience with the homeless population really change their perceptions and overcome bias and stereotypes.” The partnership will also provide applied research opportunities through the Social Impact Hub, one of five research centres at DC. Potential topics to investigate include the impact of these learning opportunities on students and their perceptions of homelessness, benefits of student interaction for shelter patrons, and the impact college involvement in service provision has on community member resistance to shelters. Closs, who has already been twice recognized with a DC Researcher Award of Excellence in 2019 and 2023, has submitted multiple research project applications, including for multi-year project funding. There’s also exciting research potential in documenting the pathway that the team is currently pursuing, to serve as a blueprint for other community collaborations. For students, Closs says the partnership will be a win-win. “This project can also help students become aware of their own privilege. It’s an opportunity for them to support a vulnerable group of people and make a difference in their lives.” 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.” DC journalism student, Andrew Neary, receives three awards for his work inside and outside the classroom Posted on March 20, 2024 at 9:13 am. Andrew Neary, a dedicated and passionate journalism student at Durham College (DC), has recently been recognized with three impressive awards, spanning from national recognition for his dedication to work-integrated learning to campus acknowledgment of his academic success. The recognitions include the 2023 as Experiential & Work-Integrated Learning Ontario (EWO) Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Student of the Year for the College category, the Co-operative Education & Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada Emery-Dufault Student of the Year 2023 Award, as well as DC’s Alumni Association Scholarship for Academic Excellence for his first year of study in DC’s Journalism – Mass Media program. Neary was notified of all three awards within the span of a week while finishing a Faculty-led Classroom Abroad trip in Guatemala. “We had a seven hour bus ride into the mountains and halfway through we stopped at a restaurant, and right before we were getting back on the bus, Danielle (Harder), got an email saying that I had gotten the EWO WIL Student of the Year award – and that was wild – and then on our last day in the community she got another email saying I had gotten the CEWIL Student of the Year award,” Neary recalls. “It was just this amazing vibe, and as soon as I got home, I found out I had gotten the Alumni Scholarship as well for my program, and I just thought to myself, what is happening right now?” Neary’s recognition as EWO WIL Student of the Year is a testament to his outstanding performance and commitment to work-integrated learning through his dedication and achievements in blending theoretical knowledge with practical experience. And for those who know him, it comes as no surprise that Andrew’s significant contributions to experiential learning initiatives within the local community and his commitment to professional growth and development landed him the CEWIL Emery-Dufault Student of the Year Award. Neary shared how DC’s Journalism – Mass Media program taught him about photography, which led to many of these opportunities. “My CEWIL experience over the summer last year was doing a lot of photo and video work, and before starting the program I hadn’t even touched a DSLR camera before,” he says. “And because of that, I started a personal photo-video company that I received a grant for last summer that has helped me work on and pay for things for school and my personal life, all because of the skillset developed in my program but also because of these work-integrated learning opportunities.” Neary’s active involvement in three work-integrated learning initiatives provided him the opportunity to film and document City of Oshawa firefighter trainings. The first was a MITACS project through DC’s Experiential Learning Hub and in collaboration with the Social Impact Hub, that created a virtual reality simulation to safely train firefighters under extreme search and rescue circumstances. Plus, two simultaneous CEWIL projects with the same group members that included documenting the impact breathing control exercises have on trauma recovery for firefighters, as well as highlighting the recovery time after a firefighter undergoes strenuous activities by monitoring body responses such as heart rate. Neary also worked on EnactusDC’s Founders Drive, a CEWIL project led by Danielle Harder, a Professor and Program Coordinator for DC’s Faculty of Media, Art and Design. She commended Andrew’s commitment to embracing every opportunity offered to him. “Andrew has made college happen for him rather than to him. He is first and foremost a kind and caring person, whether he is supporting a classmate or just being a good global citizen concerned with amplifying the voices of those who need uplifting,” she says. Having the ability to use his photography skills all summer as a work-study student, and working on the CEWIL projects is how Neary said he learned the skills to be a photographer. He also credits the hands-on experience he gained to helping him secure an upcoming internship. “I’m about to do an internship with the CBC in two weeks and I think it’s because of what I learned at DC through these experiences,” he says. “They asked if I could go out and do my own photos and videos, and I can because of the extra-curricular training I received through work-integrated learning.” But Neary’s dedication is just as strong inside the classroom. DC’s Alumni Scholarship for Academic Excellence recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance and leadership potential throughout their studies. “On top of that, he brings a worldly and constructive approach to every role he takes on, whether it’s as the creator of the Founders Drive podcast, as a communications intern on a research project, or as a leader on the recent Faculty-led Classroom Abroad to Guatemala,” added Harder. The recognition of Andrew’s achievements underscores DC’s commitment to fostering an inclusive campus environment that nurtures student success. Through the college’s emphasis on hands-on learning and immersive experiences, DC empowers students like Andrew to excel academically, make meaningful contributions to their communities, and make tangible impacts in their chosen fields. Neary says those thinking of entering the journalism field have endless opportunities to get involved at DC, sharing “Don’t let college happen to you, take every opportunity you can and if there’s ever an opportunity to do experiential learning, it can make a huge difference. It builds on what you learn in the classroom and exposes you to things you never thought possible.” Work study students enliven L Wing with original artwork Posted on August 11, 2023 at 12:00 pm. Four Durham College (DC) Fine Arts students have spent the summer transforming the L Wing with their artistic talent. “We have an amazing group of students who have been hired to enliven our hallways by producing some original artwork and collaborative pieces,” explained Sean McQuay, professor and coordinator of the Fine Arts program. Heading into the third and final year of their program, Elijah McKenzie, Meghan Costello, Jennifer Rammler and Jordan Dolman jumped at the opportunity to put their artistic stamp on the walls of DC for years to come. The quartet have been hard at work since late spring, and many of their 18 pieces will be completed in time to be enjoyed by returning students next month. Work on the others will continue throughout the fall semester. “The point is to bring life into the halls and make this feel like the art wing that it is,” said Costello. “I think it’s really special that we’re doing work that we’ll get to see every day throughout the year, and our classmates and other students will also get to see it.” One eye-catching piece is a colorful and anatomically correct version of the familiar “I Heart DC” logo. But the artists were not instructed to simply promote the school. Instead, they were encouraged to treat the walls as their personal canvas and create work that’s meaningful to them. McKenzie is particularly proud of a piece that depicts an open mouth emitting smoke. “I wanted to represent how people want to get their voice out,” he said. “It’s nice to have a variety of different styles and themes.” He has also collaborated with Costello as she creates a mural depicting a skeletal figure emitting light from within. Rammler has been hard at work on a mural that celebrates the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, while Dolman has focused on pieces that he hopes will radiate positivity. “I’m just making them colorful and full of love and putting all that energy out there,” he said. “I always try to start with good vibes and just go with it.” Providing a work study opportunity like this is a dream come true for McQuay, his fellow professor Keir Broadfoot and the entire Media, Art and Design (MAD) Faculty. Though the work of Fine Arts students has long been displayed throughout Durham College (DC), this is the first time they’ve been allowed to redecorate the wing they call home. Though the students are being paid for their work, they’re also gaining invaluable experience in the conception, planning and implementation of the kind of art project they hope to work on in the future. “We wanted to give them the opportunity to do the planning and conceptualization on their own, so they can have as much experience as possible working on a large-scale project,” said Broadfoot. It’s a rare opportunity that isn’t lost on the students, according to Rammler. “I don’t even know of any art schools that would have such a convenient and open opportunity to do artwork for the school, and get paid for it, while you’re still students,” she said. A summer of hard work will yield some great artwork for students to enjoy, and another example of how DC is leading the way in experiential learning. The L Wing is open to everyone. Next time you’re on campus be sure to visit and enjoy the new artwork. <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="width: 0px;overflow: hidden;line-height: 0" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span> Future firefighters and fitness professionals teaming up at Durham College for hands-on learning experience Posted on March 3, 2023 at 9:33 am. Students in Durham College (DC)’s Firefighter – Pre-Service Education and Training (PFET) and Fitness and Health Promotion (FHP) programs are participating in a unique, collaborative learning opportunity created in response to Canada’s fitness and first responder needs. In this interdisciplinary opportunity, firefighting students will perform real-life fire simulations while fitness and health promotion students simultaneously measure their vital physiological responses to improve health, safety and performance. This project has been funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovation Work-Integrated Learning program and Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada’s Innovation Hub. “There is an emerging need for fitness and health promotion professionals with technical training specific to the assessment of first responders,” said Dr. Michael Williams-Bell, professor, Faculty of Health Sciences and lead on the initiative. “Many fire departments within Ontario and Canada require incoming recruits to have a basic level of knowledge and skills, so training conducted through projects like this is crucial as we continue to lead the way for the next generation of firefighters.” The project, in collaboration with Oshawa Fire Services and Ontario Tech University, has three phases: Phase one: V02 Max Clinics led by FHP students who measure PFET students’ maximum oxygen consumption and analyze overall cardiovascular endurance. Phase two: PFET extreme environment workshop that includes exercises like search and rescue in high heat and CPR in a simulated moving ambulance. Phase three: Live fire training at the OFS burn tower facility where FHP students monitor the firefighters’ physiology and provide post-evolution analysis. With the funding, FHP students will also expand the varsity athlete training clinics and work with coaches and sport science research experts to gain hands-on experience using new data analysis techniques. “This unique collaboration will support the learning outcomes of the FHP and PFET programs and provide our students with first-hand industry experience that will increase their employability,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “We’re incredibly grateful for CEWIL Canada’s commitment to elevating the student experience at Durham College.” Totalling $195,000, this marks the largest non-bursary award DC’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) has received from CEWIL Canada to date.
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