Bistro ’67 nominated for Business Excellence Award from Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce

Durham College’s (DC) on-campus restaurant, Bistro ’67, has been nominated for a Business Excellence Award from the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce in the category of sustainability.

Each year, the awards recognize organizations that excel in all areas of business and leadership within the community. DC was previously recognized in 2020, when the AI Hub and W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF) received awards for innovation and sustainability, respectively.

This year’s winners will be announced on Tuesday, September 24.

“We make a really great effort towards sustainability initiatives in Bistro ’67 and throughout the CFF,” said Lori Saint, General Manager of the CFF. “We’re very appreciative that all of our efforts have been noticed.”

She pointed to Bistro’s Feast On™ and LEAF certifications as examples of their commitment to sustainable and locally produced dining.

“We couldn’t be any more local for a lot of our products because they’re coming from the urban farm we have here on campus,” she noted.

She also cited their zero waste initiatives. This year, Bistro ’67 has been focused on finding new uses for food waste. In one such case, vegetable scraps from the Bistro kitchen are dried, frozen and turned into a powdered broth for sale in The Pantry.

“Sustainability is something that we focus on every single day and it’s very rewarding to be recognized for that.”


“We actively identify workforce trends and stay ahead of them”: How Durham College develops new programs to meet industry need

DC launches four new programs in fall 2024

This September, Durham College (DC) will welcome the first intakes of students in four new programs, designed to prepare them for today’s competitive job market with the skills and industry-specific knowledge they need to succeed.

The Law Clerk diploma, Professional Selling and Business Development graduate certificate , Clinical Bioinformatics graduate certificate, and the Public Relations graduate certificate programs are DC’s newest offerings – contributing to the college’s impressive repertoire of more than 145 programs, all developed to meet employer and industry needs.

“There is a heightened demand for professionals in these fields and we are proud to develop programming with a forward-focused perspective that prepares students to be career-ready in these industries,” said Dr. Jean Choi, Vice President, Academic and Students at DC. “We actively identify workforce trends and stay ahead of them by following a rigorous program development process that includes labour market analysis and consultation with industry professionals and leaders.”

DC’s new Clinical Bioinformatics graduate certificate program is addressing the growing demand in the health sciences, particularly in emerging fields like genomics and proteomics. These fields, which have evolved from advancements in gene sequencing, enable scientists to use big data to identify and analyze diseases and disorders, leading to the development of targeted drug therapies and precision medicine.

“Research indicates a significant need for experts in clinical bioinformatics who can effectively utilize genomic and proteomic data to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes,” said Choi.

Graduates of this program can pursue careers in clinical data analysis, clinical research, or genetic counseling within the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

“We also know that there are increasing employability rates in the public relations sector and legal fields, and in the sales industry the acceleration of digital trends has elevated the need for sales professionals to adopt new strategies to drive business success,” Choi added.

As industries rapidly evolve and employer needs continue to shift, DC remains committed to a proactive approach to program development. The college is preparing students who will fill labour shortage gaps and support growth across sectors, enabling graduates to take on rewarding careers in new and evolving fields.

Discover more than 145 in-demand programs by visiting DC online today.