Continuing its tradition of excellence and commitment to employee feedback and family-friendly policies

Durham College (DC) is proud to be named one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2023 marking the 12th time the college has received this honour.

“We are grateful to be recognized once again as a Greater Toronto Top Employer, which confirms what we already know: that DC is an exceptional place to work and learn,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “Our success is a true testament to the dedication, innovation and expertise of our employees who continue to lead the way across all departments and Faculties, resulting in a unique and transformative education and college experience for our students.”

Among many reasons for selection as a Top Employer, DC was recognized for its commitment to receiving employee feedback and ideas. Employee testimonials were also featured throughout the application, showcasing the college’s collaborative sense of community.

This year’s application also highlighted some of the amazing initiatives underway at DC. From launching the Social Impact Hub, the Centre for Organic Regeneration and the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Agriculture, to opening campus facilities like the Ontario Power Generation Centre Skilled Trades and Technology, DC and its employees truly are leading the way.

The selection committee acknowledged DC for its:

• Diversity and inclusion – A number of initiatives, including a college-wide census, providing learning experiences that embrace the Indigenous ways of knowing and acknowledge the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and supporting the Black North Initiative, are among the work designed to support and encourage diversity across DC.
• Family-friendly policies and excellent maternity and parental leave benefits, which include paid leave for mothers, 35 weeks of paid leave for partners and adoptive parents, and 93 per cent salary top-up benefits.
• Tuition assistance for employees and their dependents.
• Defined benefit pension plan with employer-matched contributions.
• Retirement planning assistance and maintained connections through the Retiree Association.

More information can be found on DC’s Greater Toronto Top Employers profile.

Durham College (DC) is home to the country’s best new student chefs, according to Taste Canada.

Second-year Culinary Management students Adreanna Russell and Sahil Ahuja took home the top honors at the 2022 Taste Canada Awards Gala in early November. The pair beat out teams from seven other schools to win the Cooks the Books student cooking competition.

“I can’t even tell you how big that moment was for us,” said Ahuja.

As the winners, Russell and Ahuja split a $3,000 educational bursary, along with over $2,000 worth of prizes.

“Once we realized we won, we were in shock,” said Russell. “It was such an honor for us, and a great opportunity.”

The students were tasked with designing a dish featuring a cut of Canadian beef. Under the skilled eye of faculty member Peter Lee, they chose corned beef tongue with mustard jus, pickled cabbage and glazed carrots.

“We chose beef tongue because we wanted to try something different, use an underutilized cut and show everyone it can be delicious,” explained Lee. “If you look at a raw beef tongue, even a cooked tongue, it doesn’t look very appetizing. But it’s absolutely delicious.”

In addition to showcasing their culinary talents, the event was also a great networking opportunity. The DC chefs made the most of it by connecting with students and instructors from other college’s, including the second-place team from Top Toques Institute, as well as professionals from the Canadian food industry.

Both students credit the experimental learning they have received at DC for pushing them to new heights as they prepare for their careers.

“I’ve enjoyed every second here at Durham. All the chefs are industry professionals who have given me the best experience,” said Russell. “They’ve connected me with people outside the college for job opportunities; those have been the best jobs I’ve had in my life and career.”

Ahuja considers himself lucky to be at DC, having come all the way from India to study here in the hopes of one day opening a restaurant.

If a career as a chef appeals to you, check out DC’s in demand food and hospitality programs.

Problem-solving, collaboration and practical skills were put to the test for students from eight DC programs who participated in a high-intensity, real-world emergency simulation.

Students from the Faculties of Social & Community Services, Health Sciences and Media, Art & Design, as well as the collaborative DC and Ontario Tech nursing and Registered Practical Nursing-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing bridge programs, worked together during a dynamic exercise in real-time that saw volunteers simulate an emergency involving a vehicle and an illegal gathering.

“This is an invaluable experience for students where they learn by acting and responding as they would in real emergencies,” said Jason Vassell, Faculty of Social & Community Services. “We are grateful to partner with community leaders and services to support this effort. It is another example of how Durham College is leading the way to support the next generation of emergency responders, journalists and more.”

The experiential scenario is a highlight for the students involved.

“This experience was an amazing opportunity for me as a student to really practice the skills I have learned. It felt like a real-life situation and made me feel like an actual firefighter,” said pre-service firefighting student Sierra Cunha. “It had my adrenaline running the whole call. I would recommend everyone do this if they have the opportunity.”

Applying in-class knowledge to a realistic scenario was helpful, said 911 Emergency and Call Centre Communication student Brehanna Gassman. “What I took away from this experience is that everything does not always go as expected,” she said. “There were times when our radios were not working properly, and we were able to work under pressure to resolve these issues as best we could. We kept optimistic and confident no matter what was thrown at us, and in the end, I believe this made us such a strong team.”

Students from the following DC programs participated:

• 911 Emergency and Call Centre Communications
• Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations (graduate certificate)
• Firefighter – Pre-service, Education and Training
• Journalism – Mass Media
• Nursing Collaborative RPN to BScN Bridge
• Paramedic
• Police Foundations
• Protection, Security and Investigation

The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture breaks new ground

On Thursday, October 6, Durham College (DC), the Barrett Family Foundation, Invest Durham and Durham Region announced the establishment of The Barrett Centre for Urban Agriculture’s new urban farm project.

The vacant land, located in north Ajax, is owned by Durham Region and has been reserved for future water supply infrastructure requirements, but until such time will serve as this new, temporary urban farm site in order to benefit surrounding communities.

“Durham Region is a destination of choice for investment in urban, indoor and vertical farming. Our innovation community is using forward-thinking to adopt sustainable practices that will help combat critical issues like climate change, food access and food insecurity,” says John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Regional Municipality of Durham. “Durham College is a recognized leader in urban agriculture education and we are thrilled to unveil the development site for this incredible centre of innovation—one that will have a profound positive impact on communities, locally, nationally and globally for generations to come.”

In September 2021, DC launched The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture (The Barrett Centre) thanks to a $5-million donation from The Barrett Family Foundation. The Barrett Centre’s vision is to become an internationally recognized hub of excellence in urban agriculture practices, research, education and training. It will address some of society’s biggest challenges including food insecurity, access to safe and stable supplies of fresh food, economic stability and regeneration of land for local food production. This dynamic new urban farm is one of the initiatives of The Barrett Centre, and will be a community-based living lab, replicating and scaling the successful farming operations already established at DC’s Whitby campus.

“Durham College is excited to establish this new partnership made possible by the support of the Barrett Family Foundation and the Region of Durham,” said Kelly O’Brien, associate dean, Faculty of Hospitality & Horticulture Science at Durham College. “As we establish the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Agriculture, together we will lead the way to a more resilient, inclusive, collaborative and diverse food system for Durham Region, Ontario and beyond.”

As a leader in agriculture, the Region of Durham is known for its innovative and sustainable thinking. DC is confident this new urban farm will add to Durham Region’s agricultural strategy in developing a strong locally-sourced food supply for years to come.

For more information about The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture visit www.durhamcollege.ca/barrettcentre.

Three students from Durham College’s (DC) Horticulture – Food and Farming and Horticulture Technician programs are leading the way to food security in the Durham Region with the installation of a market garden located at a new Whitby warehouse facility and benefiting Community Care Durham’s (CCD) Food Box Program.

Completed in collaboration with the college’s Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture, Colliers Real Estate Management Services and Fiera Real Estate, the garden was designed and is currently maintained by students Abigayle Hamilton, Christine Barretto and Paul Fritzsch alongside field supervisor, Andrew Guay, with the dual-purpose of creating a relaxing and aesthetically-pleasing space for warehouse employees to enjoy, while also providing fresh food to community members in need.

“This project underscores how reinventing green spaces within our communities through regenerative agricultural practices can support local food production so those in need have access to a safe and stable supply of fresh food,” said Kelly O’Brien, associate dean, Faculty of Hospitality & Horticultural Science, Durham College. “We are proud of how our students are becoming leaders in the community, demonstrating how fresh food can be both accessible and affordable with a bit of outside-the-box thinking.”

The space includes raised-bed planters with numerous herbs, including basil, lemongrass, chives, lavender, thyme, sage, kale, nasturtium and ornamental leopard’s bane, while the gardens feature produce like snap peas, sweet peppers, tomatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, arugula, purple cabbage and butternut squash. Everything grown is donated directly to CCD.

“With the support of the building owners, Fiera, Colliers had the opportunity to transform an unused space into something that gives back to tenants and the local community,” said Lindsay Brooks, property manager, Colliers Real Estate Management Services. “We are beyond thrilled to have partnered with the team at Durham College. Their thoughtful approach to our project, budget and vision far exceeded what we could have expected. They were truly able to bring our vision to life and really capture our goals.”

For nearly a decade, the Weston Centre has been a community destination point. Home to eight full-time programs of study in the Faculty of Hospitality & Horticultural Science, as well as the award-winning, full-service restaurant Bistro ’67 and its retail store Pantry, the centre plays host to students, restaurant guests, customers and corporate business partners. With field-to-fork and sustainable practices at the forefront, the centre offers a holistic learning environment unlike any other in Canada, where students expand their knowledge and skills through an innovative curriculum, hands-on labs and real-world work experiences.

Last year, DC launched its newest food sustainability venture, the Barrett Centre, with a vision to become an internationally recognized hub of excellence in urban agricultural practices, research, education and training, to address some of society’s biggest challenges including food insecurity, access to safe and stable supplies of fresh food, and economic stability.

For more information about the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture visit www.durhamcollege.ca/barrettcentre.

Jocelyne Pelletier, an Indigenous student success coach at Durham College’s (DC) First Peoples Indigenous Centre, was recently granted a 2021 Pickering Civic Award in the Heritage category. Held annually for 17 years, this award recognizes individuals, groups or businesses who demonstrate a significant contribution to the preservation, conservation, education or promotion of the city’s heritage.

“I first learned about the award when one of my peers contacted me to ask for my permission to be nominated,” says Pelletier. “I was so excited to receive a letter from Mayor David Ryan, congratulating me and letting me know I had received my first Civic Award for outstanding achievements, including the work I did to plan and erect a memorial at City Hall honouring the first 215 Indigenous children found in Kamloops.”

As a member of the Indigenous Relationship Building Circle, Pelletier has played a critical role in providing guidance on community initiatives which acknowledge and celebrate the contributions, history and cultures of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples. Pelletier is a member of Serpent River First Nation and the granddaughter of a residential school survivor; she has worked to educate others on the Intergenerational traumas experienced by many in the community and the systemic consequences of this country’s history of colonialism. As a result of her efforts, Durham Region has its first commemorative orange crosswalk, installed in October 2021 for the lost generations and to serve as a space to heal and learn.

When asked what this award means to her, Pelletier spoke of her recent accomplishments and her hopes for the future.

“This award allows me to reflect on my work and advocacy regarding social justice concerning Indigenous issues and the relationships needed to move forward in honouring truth before reconciliation,” says Pelletier. “For the City of Pickering, acknowledging Indigenous voice is crucial in those relationships. There is much work to do regarding Indigenous issues; this is a small step but a significant achievement. I hope to continue my role in the Indigenous Building Relations Committee with the City of Pickering in whatever capacity.”

Congratulations to Jocelyne Pelletier on receiving this well-earned award, and for leading the way.