Small businesses invited to tap into local controls, robotics and automation expertise

Small businesses looking for support with a marketing plan or with developing products focused on robotics, automation or controls are being invited to tap into local expertise.

Applications are now being accepted for an exciting grant program, which is a partnership between Durham College (DC), the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Spark Innovation Centre.

Through funding from the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), local companies can tap into a variety of services to receive assistance with:

  • development of a business/marketing plan
  • modification of control software
  • prototype design/development

The re-launched program builds on the success of last year’s inaugural program, which assisted 11 local companies with technical and business challenges. Successful applicants will have access to leading research and testing facilities on the shared DC-UOIT Oshawa campus, such as the college’s faculty expertise and the university’s ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel.

To qualify, companies must be incorporated and have less than 15 employees. Projects are eligible for up to $10,000 of support. Applications are assessed on suitability for the program and each organization’s capacity to complete its project.

  • Deadline for applications: Tuesday, September 12.
  • Projects must be completed by Wednesday, March 15, 2018.
  • Interested companies can apply using the downloadable application form and following the submission instructions.

“This is an opportunity for local small businesses to access tremendous resources,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, DC. “We look forward to once again partnering with small companies to help them solve their technical and business challenges and find ways to innovate and grow their businesses.”


Run for DC raises funds for the Building Something Amazing Campaign

On October 22, under warm, sunny skies, Team Durham College (DC) once again pounded the pavement at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, half-marathon and 5K to raise funds for the new Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE).

More than $17,500 was raised thanks to the fundraising efforts of Team DC, individual participants and the kindness of the family, friends and organizations who sponsored them. Additional matching funds were generously provided by silver sponsor the Durham College Alumni Association and participant sponsor Mason Bennett Johncox. Donations can be made until Tuesday, October 31, for those who still want to support the team.

This is the second year that employees, students and alumni banded together to participate in the Building Something Amazing campaign’s Run for DC in support of the CFCE and the promise of collaboration and innovation that it brings.

 


DC to host Student Job Fair for the Nuclear Industry

Durham College (DC) will host the inaugural Student Job Fair for the Nuclear Industry at the Oshawa campus on Saturday, October 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Held in partnership with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), the Canadian Nuclear Society and the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries, the event will connect students and recent graduates with more than 30 employers and support organizations in the nuclear field.

Students and graduates from a variety of disciplines, including engineering, human resources, business and office administration, computer science, IT and skilled trades, are encouraged to attend.

Admission to the event is free but registration is required. Attendees can register in advance online or onsite at the event. Free parking will also be available in Founders lot 2.

In addition to the job fair, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the nuclear science and technology community through a variety of breakout sessions. They will also have access to a Career Coach’s Corner for advice on job search strategies, resumés and interviews.

The job fair and Career Coach’s Corner will be held all day in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, Gyms 3, 4 and 5.

Breakout sessions will be held in the UOIT Science Building as follows:

  • Nuclear for Everyone mini course
    Presented by Canadian Nuclear Society
    9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
    Room 2130

  • Getting Involved with North American Young Generation in Nuclear
    9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
    Room 2120

  • Overview of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Chalk River Laboratories
    11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
    Room 2240

  • Careers in Nuclear
    Presented by Ontario Power Generation
    11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
    Room 2140

  • Planning a Career
    Presented by Women in Nuclear
    12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
    Room 2120

DC adds new weld shop to Whitby campus

This fall, Durham College’s (DC) Whitby campus was ready for more than 400 students enrolled in increasingly-popular welding and welding trades programs with a third welding shop. These programs include Trades Fundamentals, Mechanical Technician – Millwright, Mechanical Techniques – Plumbing, and Welding Engineering Technician among others. This additional welding shop has been completed and upgrades made to the other two shops. The expansion and upgrades are part of DC’s commitment to a state-of-the-art learning environment for students.

The new shop has 20 modular work booths to accommodate a standard 20:1 student to professor ratio in each class. This provides every student with their own workspace, fostering a sense of ownership that motivates them to maintain their area as they learn welding skills. In keeping with the welding programs’ approach to teaching, in which students follow along with the professor, the setup of the new shop also includes a centrally-situated demonstration area.

“Our practice of teaching students has always been to work alongside them,” said Gregg Peel, program coordinator and professor with DC’s, School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology (START). “Hand-on-hand, one-to-one instruction is something we ask all of our professors to do in the welding shops. Students work on their own with the professor visiting them often during the class to offer help, guidance and encouragement as they progress.” 

The shop expansion and upgrades also include the installation of a new state-of-the-art gas alarm system for safety.

DC’s welding and welding trades programs provide students with exceptional welding, fitting and blueprint reading skills sought by employers in the structural, pressure vessel and manufacturing industries. Students learn from professors with vast welding experience and receive expert knowledge and practical skills that foster their trade.


Province wide faculty strike – impact and supports at DC

As of October 16, full-time and partial load faculty at Ontario’s 24 colleges, including Durham College (DC) are on strike. All classes at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses and Pickering Learning Site, including apprenticeships, are cancelled, with the exception of Continuing Education courses, which will continue to run.

The Oshawa and Whitby campuses and the Pickering Learning site remain open. DC is committed to keeping students informed through a comprehensive list of FAQs that can be found on the website at www.durhamcollege.ca/strike. Anyone who has a question that is not answered here, please email dccares@durhamcollege.ca.

Students are encouraged to remain engaged with the campus. DC has many student supports in place to help students keep on track during the work stoppage, however, tests and assignments are not due at this time. We encourage students to take advantage of the many resources available to prepare for when classes start again. Please see FAQ titled: Study and open lab options for details.

Anyone coming to campus should be aware that picket lines have been established at entrances to the Oshawa and Whitby campuses and the Pickering Learning Site from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. While picketers are to keep traffic moving and allow free passage in and out of campus by non-striking individuals, visitors should expect some delays. It is important to be patient and stay respectful. Those operating a vehicle should do so in a safe and lawful manner.

DC is committed to students’ success and will do everything possible to ensure that all students have the opportunity to complete their fall semester. It is important to note, that no Ontario college student has ever lost their academic year because of a work stoppage.

During this difficult time, decisions and actions of the college’s community will reflect the college’s values of: integrity and transparency, respect, equal access and diversity, personal and team accountability and collaboration.

As a reminder updates and FAQs are available at  www.durhamcollege.ca/strike. For additional questions, please email dccares@durhamcollege.ca.


DC sport management students get top marks in charity event planning

On September 13, second-year students from Durham College’s (DC) Sport Administration (two-year)/Sport Management (three-year) program presented a cheque for $15,000 to Durham Outlook, the organization that operates St. Vincent’s Kitchen in Oshawa. The students raised the money by organizing a Hockey Helps the Homeless (HHTH) hockey tournament which took place on March 24 at the Campus Ice Centre at Simcoe St. and Conlin Rd. The funds will be used to support the construction of a brand-new facility to feed those in need.

Hockey Helps the Homeless is a national charity working toward a future where every Canadian has a place to call home. Although the charity has operated a collegiate division to help colleges and universities run events, the DC event was entirely unique in that it was part of the curriculum embedded in the course, Sport & Event Marketing, taught by Nadine Lamarche, a professor and program co-ordinator with the college’s School of Business, IT & Management.

A group of 15 of Lamarche’s students ran the event and did all the work including managing logistics, securing sponsors, negotiating ice-time rates, obtaining prizes for the silent auction, overseeing the risk-management aspect, and of course, managing the flow of tournament day. As sports and charity work are so closely linked, Lamarche has seen that this kind of marketing experience is very important for the professional development of students and gives them skills and connections that they will use in their future sport management careers.

With the success of DC’s HHTH event, faculty is moving ahead to provide even more opportunities for sport management students to become involved with non-profit organizations and benefit from the experiential learning that is a highlight of the DC student experience. Their next HHTH tournament is already on the calendar for March 23, 2018! More information is available on the Hockey Helps the Homeless website.


Closing ceremony marks the completion of DC’s partnership in Guyana

Aligning with DC’s internationalization focus, Durham College (DC) International’s three-year Caribbean Education for Employment (C-EFE): Driving World Connections project has officially come to a successful conclusion marked by a closing ceremony, hosted by the Government Technical Institute (GTI), the vocational institute in Georgetown at the centre of the project, and DC, in Georgetown, Guyana on September 15.

A DC contingent, including Katie Boone, manager, International Projects and Partnerships, Doug Hart, manager, Curriculum Design, Corporate Training Services and Phil Raby, professor/program co-ordinator, Broadcasting – Radio and Contemporary Media, travelled to Georgetown to participate in the ceremony. Boone spoke at the event and presented GTI with a plaque to recognize their partnership.

Jan Sheltinga, counsellor, Development Cooperation, High Commission of Canada, also spoke at the ceremony, congratulating the partners on their success while Guyana’s minister of education, Nicolette Henry, emphasized the importance of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to Guyana. Henry expressed her appreciation to the Canadian partners for their support.

Visitors in attendance were taken on a tour of the institute and its facilities by its principal, Renita Crandon Duncan, faculty members and students.

A special moment of the afternoon was the ribbon-cutting and official launch of GTI’s new Automotive Electrical/Electronics and Repairs Program – a direct outcome of the C-EFE project. Developed by DC and its partners, the College of the North Atlantic and the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, the program was designed in response to the growing needs of Guyana’s auto industry. The first cohort of students started the program this summer and will receive the National Vocational Qualification when they graduate.

Over the lifespan of the partnership, project initiatives have included: structured training for the Guyanese faculty to modernize their automotive curriculum under a competency-based model; technical training on new equipment as well as capacity-building in applied teaching strategies; support for GTI to build sustainable relationships with internal and external stakeholders; and fostering the growth of the leadership and change management skills of GTI’s administrative team. The project initiatives bolstered communication and teamwork between all of the partners resulting in more positive working relationships as reflected in GTI’s emerging institutional five-year strategic plan, developed with DC’s mentorship.

The C-EFE: Driving World Connections project was conducted with support from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and Global Affairs Canada.


DC creates stand-alone Service Animal Policy and Procedure

Linzie Mark is currently enrolled in her first year of Durham College’s (DC) Practical Nursing program. She is also diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and anxiety.

To help keep her grounded in the midst of a PTSD or anxiety attack, and on the advice of her doctor, Linzie relies on her service dog, a Border Collie named Eloise. While Eloise is still a seven-week new puppy, she is also in training, learning specific sensory techniques to help her partner. The two are inseparable, which means they go everywhere together, including the classes and labs Linzie attends every week.

Linzie and Eloise are just one service animal/partner pair that can be found on the college’s Oshawa and Whitby campuses and learning site in Pickering; the start of the 2017-2018 academic year brings with it the highest number of service animals ever at DC.

While many people are aware of the use of guide dogs to help those who are visually impaired, there is increasing reliance on service animals to assist those with less visible exceptionalities. Now more than ever, students are relying on the support of service animals to help with a growing range of exceptionalities, needs and challenges.

Recognizing this growing trend, and as part of the evolution of accommodation at DC, the college’s Accessibility Committee has drafted its first stand-alone Service Animal Policy and Procedure, to not only ensure compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) but to further inclusivity for the college’s students, employees and visitors.

Both documents clearly articulate the definitions and requirements for the use of service animals at the college. They also outline the expectations for those relying on the animals and for the college and its accommodation of those requests.

Drafts of both the policy and procedure are now in review and are expected to be finalized by the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

In the meantime the college will continue its efforts to increase awareness and understanding, not only of the role of service animals, but also best practices for those who may find themselves in contact with one of the animals in class and on campus.

 


Durham College publicly launches Building Something Amazing capital campaign

 As Durham College (DC) celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2017, it has also begun the construction of the new Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE), a state-of-the-art learning environment where students, employees and the broader community can work together in ways that transcend traditional concepts of education.

To achieve DC’s vision for the centre, the college has embarked on a capital campaign – Building Something Amazing – and on September 27, it publicly launched this fundraising initiative during a special event for donors and the college community.

“Projects of this magnitude do not happen without substantial investment,” said Linda Flynn, associate vice-president, Office of Development and Alumni Affairs. “After receiving funding from all levels of government, DC was tasked with raising an additional $5 million to complete construction of the CFCE. We are 75 per cent of the way to our goal but still have just over $1.2 million remaining to raise.”

Prior to enjoying a hard hat tour of the CFCE progress to-date, attendees heard from Cassie-Jean Dillon, a second-year student in Fitness and Health Promotion program, about what the CFCE will mean to her and the others who will have the opportunity to learn there.

Donor Elaine Mendicino was also on hand to share her story about why she is supporting the capital campaign. After losing her husband suddenly in 2011, she wanted to honour his memory. She chose to do so as a thank you to the college where she and her husband met and gained the skills they needed to thrive in their chosen careers. The Rob Hogan Student Commons will bear her late husband’s name as a testament to his memory and the promise of collaboration and innovation that the new CFCE holds.

“As a college, we have been extremely lucky to have the support of the local community and organizations to help us champion student success,” said Flynn. “Investing in the Building Something Campaign is yet another way people can choose to give back, creating a lasting legacy for generations to come.”

When completed, the multi-level CFCE will provide 75,000-square-feet of space that will serve as an educational access point for students, while bringing together local, Indigenous and global community groups and members of key business sectors when it opens in fall 2018.

For more information about the CFCE or to make a donation to the Building Something Amazing capital campaign please contact DC’s Office of Development and Alumni Affairs.


DC president Don Lovisa named Business Person of the Year

Durham College (DC) is proud to announce that its president, Don Lovisa, has been named Business Person of the Year by the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce at the prestigious 22nd annual Business Excellence Awards. The awards were presented on September 27 at a gala held at the Jubilee Pavilion.

“Receiving this award from the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce in Durham College’s 50th anniversary year is an incredible honour,” said President Lovisa. “Each day I go to work at what I believe is Canada’s best college. To be recognized for doing something I truly love is humbling and I share this achievement with my colleagues who join me each day to ensure that the college is able to live its mission that the student experience comes first.”

The Business Excellence Awards are held each year to recognize the success and outstanding contributions of companies and individuals within the Greater Oshawa business community. Winners are honoured in the following award categories: Business Person of the Year; Business Excellence; EnGen Award, which recognizes individuals under the age of 40 who are making their mark in the Greater Oshawa area and beyond; Innovation; Civic Pride; and New Enterprise.

In selecting President Lovisa as Business Person of the Year, the award jury considered his strengths in all areas of business as well as his leadership within the community.

President Lovisa joined DC in July 2007 as vice-president, Academic, following a successful 20-year career at Confederation College in Northwestern Ontario, where he held numerous positions including dean of the School of Business, Hospitality and Media Arts. He was named interim president of DC on May 16, 2008, and formally appointed president on January 1, 2009.

The college has thrived under President Lovisa’s guidance, realizing significant, strategic growth in students, learning spaces and reputation. During his tenure, DC has become the fastest growing college in Ontario, moving from less than 7,000 students in his first year at DC to more than 12,000 in fall 2017; one of the largest employers in Durham Region, with more than 1,500 employees; and has undergone a campus revitalization of nearly $180 million in renovations and new buildings.

Prior to entering the post-secondary sector, President Lovisa worked internationally, providing training, teaching and consultations in areas of globalization, market-driven economic transition, international trade, and entrepreneurship and business development. This impressive range of skills has proved beneficial for not only the college, but the greater community as well.

“Don has a vision of the deep, long-term impact education has for local and global communities, and leaders have aligned with him to invest in his inclusive vision, time and time again,” said Scott Blakey, chief administrative officer, DC. “His accomplishments support students and industries, and provide a visionary view into what the college represents for the local economy. The entire DC family is thrilled to see him recognized for his tireless work on behalf of the college and the greater community.”

Read more about President Lovisa’s achievements