Durham College partners with Ajax Fire to deliver lifesaving elevator rescue training Posted on July 3, 2025 at 11:38 am. Durham College (DC) welcomed Ajax Fire and Emergency Services to its state-of-the-art Ontario Power Generation Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology for a unique, hands-on emergency elevator rescue training session this spring. Hosted by DC’s Corporate Training Services (CTS) and delivered by Elite Elevator Services, the two-day training program gave 18 first responders access to real-life simulations that are often difficult to replicate outside of active emergency situations. With nearly 20,000 passenger elevators across more than 10,000 buildings in Ontario, emergency rescue training is crucial – and DC is stepping up to meet that need. “We’re proud to partner with community organizations like Ajax Fire and Emergency Services to accelerate Ontario’s workforce,” said Robin Young, Director, CTS. “By offering TSSA-certified emergency elevator evacuation training and immersive, hands-on instruction from industry professionals, we’re ensuring first responders gain the critical skills and confidence needed to respond safely and effectively in real-world emergencies.” The training took place in DC’s Elevating Devices Shop – Canada’s largest elevator shop space — located at the college’s Whitby campus. The facility is outfitted with fully operational hydraulic, traction, freight elevators, and escalators, allowing first responders to better understand the complex mechanical systems behind the buttons passengers push every day. It also serves as a learning environment for students in the Mechanical Technician – Elevating Devices program, where they develop practical skills through immersive, real-world training. “The opportunity to train our staff on this specialized equipment at Durham College is truly exceptional,” said Chris Porter, Deputy Fire Chief, Ajax Fire and Emergency Services. “Gaining enhanced knowledge and hands-on experience in elevator rescue enables us to serve our community more effectively, perform safe, efficient rescues and operate seamlessly as a coordinated team.” The training emphasized safety, communication, and mechanical literacy — all critical for successful rescues that protect both people and property. “Our team members specialize in a range of technical disciplines, including elevator rescue,” Porter added. “But the training doesn’t end here — we’re committed to continuous learning to ensure our responders remain current, confident, and ready to respond to our community needs.” For more information about DC’s Corporate Training Services, visit www.corporatetrainingservices.ca. Durham College celebrates 2025 Alumni of Distinction recipients Posted on May 28, 2025 at 9:42 am. This year, Durham College (DC) welcomes five individuals to the long list of outstanding graduates who have been recognized as the college’s Alumni of Distinction. The 2025 Alumni of Distinction recipients Jeremy Burns, Aaron Dale, Chris Cull, Shawn Small and Paula Sojo, will be celebrated at DC’s Spring Convocation. “We are so proud to celebrate this group of inspiring DC graduates,” said Ariel Sully, Associate Vice President, Advancement and Alumni Relations. “Each of them has found success in a career path using their own experiences to guide and assist others.” Jeremy Burns Penelogy and Youth, 2005 Law and Security Administration, 2004 Aaron dale Police Foundations, 2005 As Canadian Armed Forces veterans, Burns and Dale have a personal understanding of the gaps in support for military veterans. Together, they co-founded the Military Veterans Wellness Program (MVWP), a pioneering initiative designed to support Canadian military veterans in their transition to civilian life and improve public safety. The program is now part of mandatory training for Toronto police officers and more than 18,000 people have participated in the training in Canada. MVWP has been adapted internationally and is in the process of implementation in Australia, Ukraine, and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). Burns graduated from the Penology and Youth program in 2005 and the Law and Security Administration program in 2004, while Dale graduated from Police Foundations in 2005. Both have served as Toronto Police Service officers for the past six years. CHRIS CULL Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technician, 2007 A 2007 graduate of Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technician, Cull’s inspiring achievements in health sciences are rooted in his personal transformation from opioid addiction to recovery and advocacy. Collaborating with DC’s Social Impact Hub, he created his 2023-2024 docuseries, Surviving Addiction, which highlights the humanity behind addiction and how it affects individuals and those surrounding them. A motivational speaker, filmmaker, and policy consultant, he has advised numerous institutions, including but not limited to, the Ontario Health Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, the Government of Canada, and the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs. In addition, he is a member of the World Health Organization's Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Mental Health, Neurological and Substance Use Conditions. SHAWN SMALL Sports Administration, 1998 Founder and President of RISE Integrated Sports + Entertainment, Small has built an agency that champions diversity, inclusion, and innovation in sports partnerships. Throughout his career, he has spearheaded major sponsorship initiatives for organizations, including Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Northern Super League, and the Canadian Elite Basketball League. An industry leader, he regularly shares his insights as an event speaker, panellist, and awards judge. Beyond driving measurable success for sports organizations, Small is dedicated to mentorship, helping to guide the next generation of sports leaders. He has also made an impact on DC students, previously teaching in the program that shaped his own professional journey in 1998, Sports Administration, and serving as a member of the Program Advisory Committee. PAULA SOJO Photography, 2025 Video Production, 2024 At the age of 18, Paula Sojo was diagnosed with a severe case of Crohn’s disease, resulting in 17 surgeries and a permanent ostomy. Determined to help others, she teamed up with her brother to found Ostome Fashion, a thriving business that provides fashionable and empowering options to all ostomy users. With help from family, friends, and mentors, she has not only changed her life but also promoted representation and acceptance and empowered her community. Sojo is a 2024 graduate of the Video Production program and will cross the Convocation stage for a second time this spring as a 2025 graduate of DC’s Photography program. Thousands of graduates will celebrate their achievements next month at DC’s Spring Convocation, which takes place from Monday, June 16 to Thursday, June 19 at the Tribute Communities Centre. Schulich Builders Scholarships supports Durham College students in launching in-demand careers in the skilled trades Posted on November 4, 2024 at 11:48 am. Ten Durham College (DC) students are pursuing rewarding careers in the skilled trades through life-changing support from the Schulich Builders Scholarships for the Skilled Trades. Five students received $20,000 scholarships for one-year programs and five received $40,000 scholarships for two-year programs through The Schulich Foundation whose goal is to help to combat the shortage of skilled trades in the province and amplifying their importance and value to the community. Applications for a third round of scholarships will open to students in 2025. Kaeli Caguicla, a Mechanical Technician – Elevating Devices, is among DC’s $40,000 winners. She explains that her father originally encouraged her to pursue a career in accounting, but she took an automotive class in high school and found she loved being in the shop and working with her hands and on tangible problems with solutions. Caguicla selected her program after attending a DC Open House and speaking with faculty in the Elevating Devices program as well as hearing from her neighbour who works in the industry and is passionate about it. “It’s been a blast so far, I’ve never enjoyed school so much,” she said. “I truly look forward to most of my classes. I come to school early and leave late. It’s been really fun.” Earning a Schulich Scholarship has made a big impact on her life covering not only her tuition costs, but other costs like books, food and GO Transit transportation fees for the Scarborough resident. “I’ve known for a while I would have to pay for my own post-secondary schooling and for my whole life, for birthdays and Christmases, I never spent the money and saved it up into a bank account,” she explains. “But when I was in Grade 12, due to a family situation, all that money was gone so I was kind of stuck—I didn’t even have enough for one year—but then I found out about the Schulich Builders Scholarship and went through the process and received it and it really lifted the pressure off my shoulders, it was really great.” She said that the scholarship also made it easier for her father and her grandparents to accept her decision to pursue a career in the skilled trades. “They were proud of me because I won this scholarship.” Josh Peacocke, a Power Engineering Techniques – Fourth Class student and $20,000 scholarship winner, said he always knew he was going to pursue a career in the trades but wasn’t sure which trade he wanted to pursue until attending a trades fair at the Tribute Communities Centre. “They had a bunch of stands set up and they had a power engineering booth and I thought it was pretty neat,” he said. Peacocke said he liked that the program was only a year and that he would receive nine-month reduction of qualifying experience time. After acquiring three months of experience and completing Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) exams, DC graduates may qualify for their Fourth-Class Operating Engineer Certificate of Qualification. He said he heard about the scholarship through his guidance counsellor and was surprised when he found out he won. “I just couldn’t believe it this happened to me,” he said. “I told my parents, my mom cried and she said this is life changing and my dad, he was pretty proud of me.” Peacocke said there are several benefits to winning the scholarship. “It’s a motivation to go to school and to finish everything and to do very well and I’m trying significantly harder because I know there’s money on the line. It was also very financially helpful paying for school, I didn’t know how much the books were. I paid a little over a $1,000 for my first semester books.” Whitby campus Principal and Faculty of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Executive Dean Rebecca Milburn congratulated the scholarship winners. “The skilled trades are the backbone of our economy in key industries like construction, manufacturing, automotive, and infrastructure maintenance and development and I want to thank the Schulich Foundation for supporting our students as they prepare to enter these fields,” she said. “The trades sector continues to offer sustainable, high-demand career opportunities and it is critical that we develop the next generation of skilled workers who will drive innovation and growth in Ontario.” Durham College 2024 Schulich Builders Scholarship $40,000 winners: Devon Babich (Cobourg) – Welding Engineering Technician Kaeli Caguicla (Scarborough) – Mechanical Technician – Elevating Devices Blake Hutchinson (Oshawa) – Electrical Engineering Technician Dimitre O’Reggio (Pickering) – Electrical Engineering Technician Jarod Tieche (Pickering) – Mechanical Technician Millwright Durham College 2024 Schulich Builders Scholarship $20,000 winners: Tori Dimytruk (Whitby) – Trades Fundamentals Amjad Masri (Oshawa) – Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technician Josh Peacocke (Brooklin) – Power Engineering Techniques – Fourth Class Darcy Short (Whitby) – Trades Fundamentals Tyler Webb (Toronto) – Trades Fundamentals Interior Decorating, Immigration Case Management among four new programs launched by Durham College Posted on October 25, 2024 at 11:23 am. Four new programs are launching at Durham College (DC) in fall 2025 to meet industry and community needs and ensure graduates are career-ready and in-demand. Applications are now open for the Electric Drive Vehicle Technician diploma program, Environmental Technician diploma program, Immigration Case Management graduate certificate and Interior Decorating diploma program. “At Durham College, our role is to ensure that we are preparing students with the necessary skills and knowledge to fill evolving and in-demand careers,” said Dr. Jean Choi, Vice President, Academic and Students. “Consulting with industry professionals and leaders is an important part of our rigorous program development process so we’re confident these new programs align with the expertise employers are seeking.” Demand in the immigration field, for example, has increased in recent years as Canada has welcomed millions of newcomers. DC is meeting the demand for legal support skills in the highly specialized area of immigration, refugee and citizenship law by launching the Immigration Case Management program – one of only two available at a public college in Canada. “Law firms are craving legal assistance,” said Ana Bernal, program coordinator for Immigration Case Management. “Immigration law firms, community centre and centres for that help newcomers are looking for people with specialized knowledge because employers are finding it difficult to train new employees in this complex field.” Explore all the new programs at DC: Electric Drive Vehicle Technician (EDVT) – This four-semester diploma program is one of only two in Ontario and meets the demand for technicians to service electric and hybrid vehicles. It’s focused on both traditional mechanical expertise and specialized EV knowledge with students training at DC’s state-of-the-art Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre. Environmental Technician (EVTN) – Through this four-semester diploma program, students will train to play a key role in helping conserve Canada’s ecosystem and protecting the health of communities from environmental contaminants. They will learn to evaluate, monitor and control potential risks to the environment and public health and assist in environmental protection and sustainability efforts. Immigration Case Management (IMCM) – This two-semester graduate certificate empowers students with specialized knowledge and skills required to support people engaged in the immigration, refugee and citizenship process. Students acquire specialized legal skills aimed at supporting law practitioners, government agencies and community centres with immigration-related case load. Interior Decorating (INDR) – Students in this four-semester diploma program will explore the design process, space planning and decoration of both residential and commercial environments. They will learn to work with clients and tackle creative challenges to enhance quality of life through the curation of functional, accessible and beautiful environments. Connect with our Start at DC team today to explore these new programs and all of DC’s 145+ career-ready programs. Durham College powers up Ontario’s workforce with new Electric Drive Vehicle Technician program Posted on October 16, 2024 at 10:24 am. As the demand for electric and hybrid vehicles continue to rise, so does the need for skilled technicians capable of maintaining and servicing these advanced systems. Responding to this industry need, Durham College (DC) has launched its new Electric Drive Vehicle Technician (EDVT) program, one of only two offered in Ontario. With the automotive sector rapidly transitioning to greener technologies, DC’s program is designed to equip graduates with the expertise needed to thrive while meeting the province’s demand for electric vehicle (EV) professionals. “With the automotive sector undergoing a significant transformation, Durham College is committed to offering new programs that align with industry trends and provide students with career-ready skills,” says Dr. Rebecca Milburn, Executive Dean, Faculty of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship and Principal at Whitby campus. “What makes the Electric Drive Vehicle Technician program unique is its focus on both traditional mechanical expertise and the specialized knowledge required for electric and hybrid vehicle systems. Our graduates will be well-positioned to succeed in this growing field.” For more than two decades, Canada’s clean transport industry has been the fastest-growing industry within the country’s clean energy sector. With significant investments, totaling over $17 billion since 2020, the Canadian and Ontario governments have prioritized EV manufacturing, positioning Ontario as a future hub for this innovative industry. Emerging professionals in DC’s EDVT program will build on their understanding of conventional vehicle systems inside the college’s state-of-the-art Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre and develop expertise in diagnosing and servicing electric and hybrid vehicles from various manufacturers. Homer Manlangit, Faculty member, says the two-year diploma program is specifically designed to equip learners with the technical knowledge required to succeed. “To ensure their success post-graduation, students will work with the latest tools and technologies used in the industry, while gaining practical experience in areas such as high-voltage electrical systems, electric drivetrains, and battery management,” he says. “The program also covers the fundamentals of hybrid vehicles, and we teach students how to service and maintain these increasingly popular vehicles, which combine traditional internal combustion engines with electric power.” In addition to technical skills, students will develop critical problem-solving abilities by working on real-world scenarios in state-of-the-art shops, simulating the complexities they’ll encounter in the field. By the time they graduate, they’ll have completed a 56-hour EV capstone project that fuses learning from previous coursework in electric and hybrid vehicle technology, offering a hands-on, project-based experience. DC’s EDVT program reflects the college’s commitment to sustainability and remaining future focused as an industry leader and is currently accepting applicants for September 2025. Those interested in creating a greener future and launching a career in this in-demand field are encouraged to apply online today.