Durham College (DC) is proud to be named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers of 2025, earning the honour for the ninth consecutive year. This achievement highlights DC’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and the innovative efforts students and employees are making to create a greener future on campus and beyond.

Sustainability is a core value at DC, shaping how the college operates, educates and partners with the community.

“Our goal is to lead by example – showing our students and employees what it means to act with environmental responsibility, so they are empowered to build a more sustainable future,” said Amanda Blenkhorn, Director of Ancillary Services and Chair of the college’s Green Impact Team. “I’m incredibly happy that we aim to promote environmental stewardship and continue to champion sustainability at every level.”

From waste reduction initiatives to experiential learning opportunities for students, DC marked key milestones over the past year that support environmental progress on campus and in the community:

Greener Learning Spaces
The opening of the following innovative spaces reinforced DC’s commitment to sustainable learning:

• Opening the Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre, a state-of-the-art facility that will prepare students for careers with electric vehicles and cleaner transportation and welcome the first cohort of students from the new Electric Drive Vehicle Technician program this fall.
• Diverting over 6.3 metric tonnes of food through the biodigester in The Centre for Organic Regeneration, supports a zero-waste culinary model and challenges students to be creative with all aspects of food.
• Promoting urban farming and sustainable food production at The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture’s Urban Farm in Ajax enhancing experience and education.

Driving Collaboration and Innovation
DC fosters a culture of environmental responsibility that extends beyond the classroom:

• In March, 2025, Enactus Durham College competed in the Central Regional Exposition, where the Second Sole project team earned the title of Canadian Tire Environmental Sustainability Central Regional Champions. They tackled the issue of single-use gloves waste by repurposing the material into useful products like hockey pucks and shoe soles. Building on this success, DC’s Green Impact Team is exploring ways to partner with Enactus Durham College and expand the project to areas across campus to reduce the college’s environmental footprint.
• The RBC Urban Agriculture Program provides funding to 10 DC student-led projects that support urban agriculture – any farming or food production done in an urban area.
• The Social Impact Hub supports additional student and staff-led community initiatives, focusing on applied research and experiential learning. These projects address complex social challenges, including climate change, through innovation and collaboration.

Sustainable Campus Grounds
DC’s Facilities team adopts greener practices across both campuses, including recent work of:

• Removing invasive poplars and repurposing them as giraffe food via a partnership with the Toronto Zoo.
• Planting three new pollinator gardens.
• Installing new bike racks and repair stations to support eco-friendly commuting.
• Launching a reusable container program for on-the-go meals on campus.

By investing in sustainable infrastructure, empowering student initiatives and improving campus operations, DC is working toward a greener future – one innovation at a time.

Durham College’s recognition is part of the 2025 Canada’s Greenest Employers competition, organized by the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. Read DC’s Greenest Employer profile online.

For a remarkable 14^th time, Durham College (DC) has been recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers.

This distinction recognizes DC’s supportive culture as well as our commitment to the growth and well-being of our valued employees.

“We take great pride in being recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, President. “Employees are the heart of our community. When they thrive, so do our students. We foster a culture that inspires our colleagues to do great things, and we are always pleased to witness their growth both individually and collectively.”

The innovation and dedication of our employees shone through in a number of ways in this year’s application, from our work in applied research to solve industry and social challenges; to our community connections and work which this year, helped more than 100 charities; to the launch of new scholarship opportunities and programs that support our students and help ensure career-ready graduates.

We also received commendation for the DC pension plan with employer-matched contributions, parental leave top-up, tuition assistance, and mentorship and development opportunities.

These are just some of the reasons why DC employees routinely express their commitment and enthusiasm for the work they do and the difference they make in students’ lives.

Looking ahead, Dr. Popp is determined to maintain DC’s well-earned reputation as an exceptional place to work and grow a career.

“We will continue to nurture, embrace, and most importantly, maintain this incredible culture where people care. This dedication is what truly sets us apart.”

For more on what makes DC a great place to work, visit our Greater Toronto Top Employers profile.