2024 – A Year in Review at Durham College Posted on December 20, 2024 at 11:16 am. Durham College (DC) enjoyed an eventful year in 2024. We welcomed a new President and largest incoming cohort, we celebrated our largest graduating class ever, opened up our campuses to thousands of prospective students and cheered on our athletes. We made great strides in research, furthered our connections with our local and global community, kept in touch with our alumni and watched with pride as our students and employees thrived. Read on to explore some highlights from this remarkable year. News DC ushered in a new era with the appointment of Dr. Elaine Popp as President. With an eye to the future, we began development of our next Strategic Plan, which will launch in spring 2025. Our state-of-the-art electric vehicle (EV) lab, opened in 2023, was named the Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre, in recognition of the generous support of philanthropists Edmond and Sylvia Vanhaverbeke. The main building of the Whitby campus was named in honour of former DC president Don Lovisa. A $300,000 grant from Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) will allow us to continue supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with our consultation and IP investment program. Our Campus Health and Wellness Centre launched new resources in support of the mental health of our students. DC researchers are partnering with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences and the Abilities Centre in Whitby to study the impact of exercise on physical and mental health for forensic patients, thanks to a $350,000 College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) grant. Researchers at the Social Impact Hub utilized a $360,000 grant from the CCSIF to launch a project to study and improve mental health care for Black communities. Accolades Durham College was named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the eighth time, a Greater Toronto Top Employer for the 14th time, and one of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges. DC received twice the recognition at the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) Awards of Excellence. We received a bronze in the Excellence in Sustainable Development category, and Program Coordinator Laura Maybury earned a bronze in the Leadership Excellence Award for Faculty. Journalism student Andrew Neary received three impressive awards, including Experiential & Work-Integrated Learning Ontario (EWO) Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Student of the Year, Co-operative Education & Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada Emery-Dufault Student of the Year, and DC’s Alumni Association Scholarship for Academic Excellence. Police Foundations graduate Maya Austin received the Joe Moylan Award of Excellence, given each year to a remarkable Police Foundations graduate from an Ontario college. Our DC students brought home 10 medals from the Skills Ontario 2024 competition. Alexander Harley won gold in Auto Service Technology and moved on to the Skills Canada Nationals Competition in Quebec, where he finished fourth. The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture was recognized at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, receiving an Honourable Mention in the Urban Agriculture Excellence category from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). Programs DC partnered with Sheridan, St. Clair and Fanshawe College to support women in the skilled trades. With over $2 million in federal funding, the partners will spearhead initiatives focused on elevating awareness and providing opportunities for women in exploring career education, networking and apprenticeships within the Red Seal skilled trades. That commitment continued with the Introduction to Millwrighting program, which provided 10 women with personalized support and training to help them prepare for the millwright aptitude test. An all-Indigenous group of 11 students successfully completed the five-week program. Our Journalism program marked its 50th anniversary with a special event in the Rotary Global Classroom. Six alumni took part in a panel discussion, sharing stories from their careers in the ever-changing industry and offering advice to today’s students. DC’s Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture and the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) partnered on a Dual Credit program that gives Ajax high school students the experience of working on a farm. Four new programs will launch in fall 2025, including the Electric Drive Vehicle Technician (EDVT) program, focused on creating skilled technicians capable of maintaining and servicing electric and hybrid vehicles. Other new programs include Environmental Technician, Interior Decorating, and the Immigration Case Management graduate certificate, furthering our commitment to meeting industry and community needs by producing career-ready graduates. Events We celebrated Employee Appreciation Day with President Popp’s first address to the DC community in her new role. At Spring Convocation in June, we celebrated one of our largest graduating classes in history, while Dr. Elaine Popp was officially installed as President. Fall Convocation was equally special with over 2,200 graduates crossing the stage. Our Open House events in the Spring and Fall welcomed thousands of prospective students and their families who learned about our 145+ career-driven programs and toured our state-of-the-art facilities. The President’s Breakfast celebrated the donors who generously support our students. The Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) opened its doors for the ORSIE Impact Expo, a celebration of the innovative research work happening at DC. Over 300 students completed the Centre for Success (CFS) and Adult Dual Credit (ADC) programs, overcoming unique challenges to achieve academic success. Experiential Learning Our students enjoy scores of opportunities to gain hands-on experience and put their skills to the test. Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations students are taking advantage of a new virtual reality (VR) scenario program to develop their communications skills and practice some of the challenging situations they’ll face in their profession. The Faculty of Media, Art and Design’s 48-Hour Storytelling Challenge gave students a chance to showcase their artistic skills in a variety of mediums. Talented musicians hit all the right notes during Oshawa Music Week, an annual celebration of the local music community organized by Music Business Management students. Students from the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant (OTA/PTA) and Journalism – Mass Media programs teamed up to produce the Rehab Matters Newsletter. OTA/PTA students brought their expertise on rehab while the journalism students provided guidance on writing and editing. A number of Faculty-led Classroom Abroad trips allowed DC students to immerse themselves in new cultures while enhancing and applying the skills they have learned in the classroom. Athletics A successful winter season resulted in provincial bronze medals for the men’s basketball and women’s indoor soccer teams. In a strong fall season, our women’s softball team became both national and provincial champions. The women’s rugby team also became provincial champions, while the men’s baseball team earned provincial bronze. DC’s Esports team triumphed over their rivals from Ontario Tech University in the annual Campus Clash. We announced the formation of a sitting volleyball team, a new accessible sporting option for DC students. The women’s volleyball team prioritized their mental health by partnering with HONE Athletics to use a unique digital mental health platform to increase team communication and well-being through weekly check-ins. We look forward to another great year at Durham College in 2025. Office of Research Services, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) hosts impactful event Posted on October 30, 2024 at 4:12 pm. <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span> Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) opened its doors for an exciting event last week. The ORSIE Impact Expo on Friday, October 25 invited industry, business and community partners to explore and celebrate the innovative work they’re doing at DC. Close to 150 visitors filled the Centre for Innovation and Research to discover DC’s hub for research and development, new products, processes and services, and experiential learning. They also explored its four applied research centres, including the AI Hub, Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation, Mixed Reality Capture Studio and the Social Impact Hub, as well as the Institutional Research Team and the Experiential Learning Hub. The Centre for Craft Brewing Innovation didn’t miss out on the fun, travelling from the Whitby campus to bring samples of their non-alcoholic products. DC’s Associate Vice President, Innovation and Research, Debbie McKee Demczyk was proud to welcome so many attendees to the event. “We’re so excited to share all of the cutting-edge ideas, products, and innovations that are being created right here,” she said. Another big draw for the crowd was world-renowned keynote speaker Hamza Khan. A bestselling author and proven educator, he kept the audience intrigued and entertained with his powerful presentation on leadership. Hailing from the Greater Toronto Area, and having worked with DC before, he was eager to take part in the special event. “This was a very meaningful opportunity for me. DC was one of my first clients when I started in the early 2010’s. They’re one of the first companies that said yes to me, that took a chance on me, and so this felt like coming home,” he said. “This is a community of students, staff, faculty, partners and friends, who are all galvanized around the same idea, which is leading the way.” Though he spoke for an hour, Khan arrived at a simple and powerful conclusion for his listeners. “Put people first.” With those words in their ears, visitors spent the rest of the morning exploring, enjoying interactive tradeshow displays, and networking with peers and DC leaders. It was an event that made DC proud, including President Dr. Elaine Popp. “We’re fostering an environment conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship, promoting adaptability and agility, and encouraging a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement,” she said. “I’m excited about the future of DC. We are determined to be a future-proof college and spearhead the transformation of education. ORSIE is leading that charge.” Office of Research Services, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) hosts impactful event Posted on October 30, 2024 at 3:41 pm. Durham College’s (DC) Office of Research Services, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) opened its doors for an exciting event last week. The ORSIE Impact Expo on Friday, October 25 invited industry, business and community partners to explore and celebrate the innovative work they’re doing at DC. Close to 150 visitors filled the Centre for Innovation and Research to discover DC’s hub for research and development, new products, processes and services, and experiential learning. They also explored its four applied research centres, including the AI Hub, Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation, Mixed Reality Capture Studio and the Social Impact Hub, as well as the Institutional Research Team and the Experiential Learning Hub. The Centre for Craft Brewing Innovation didn’t miss out on the fun, travelling from the Whitby campus to bring samples of their non-alcoholic products. DC’s Associate Vice President, Innovation and Research, Debbie McKee Demczyk was proud to welcome so many attendees to the event. “We’re so excited to share all of the cutting-edge ideas, products, and innovations that are being created right here,” she said. Another big draw for the crowd was world-renowned keynote speaker Hamza Khan. A bestselling author and proven educator, he kept the audience intrigued and entertained with his powerful presentation on leadership. Hailing from the Greater Toronto Area, and having worked with DC before, he was eager to take part in the special event. “This was a very meaningful opportunity for me. DC was one of my first clients when I started in the early 2010’s. They’re one of the first companies that said yes to me, that took a chance on me, and so this felt like coming home,” he said. “This is a community of students, staff, faculty, partners and friends, who are all galvanized around the same idea, which is leading the way.” Though he spoke for an hour, Khan arrived at a simple and powerful conclusion for his listeners. “Put people first.” With those words in their ears, visitors spent the rest of the morning exploring, enjoying interactive tradeshow displays, and networking with peers and DC leaders. It was an event that made DC proud, including President Dr. Elaine Popp. “We’re fostering an environment conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship, promoting adaptability and agility, and encouraging a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement,” she said. “I’m excited about the future of DC. We are determined to be a future-proof college and spearhead the transformation of education. ORSIE is leading that charge.” Bistro ’67 nominated for Business Excellence Award from Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce Posted on September 6, 2024 at 2:06 pm. 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 Posted on August 26, 2024 at 12:42 pm. 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.
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