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Future firefighters and fitness professionals teaming up at Durham College for hands-on learning experience

Students in Durham College (DC)’s Firefighter – Pre-Service Education and Training (PFET) and Fitness and Health Promotion (FHP) programs are participating in a unique, collaborative learning opportunity created in response to Canada’s fitness and first responder needs.

In this interdisciplinary opportunity, firefighting students will perform real-life fire simulations while fitness and health promotion students simultaneously measure their vital physiological responses to improve health, safety and performance. This project has been funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovation Work-Integrated Learning program and Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada’s Innovation Hub.

“There is an emerging need for fitness and health promotion professionals with technical training specific to the assessment of first responders,” said Dr. Michael Williams-Bell, professor, Faculty of Health Sciences and lead on the initiative. “Many fire departments within Ontario and Canada require incoming recruits to have a basic level of knowledge and skills, so training conducted through projects like this is crucial as we continue to lead the way for the next generation of firefighters.”

The project, in collaboration with Oshawa Fire Services and Ontario Tech University, has three phases:

  • Phase one: V02 Max Clinics led by FHP students who measure PFET students’ maximum oxygen consumption and analyze overall cardiovascular endurance.
  • Phase two: PFET extreme environment workshop that includes exercises like search and rescue in high heat and CPR in a simulated moving ambulance.
  • Phase three: Live fire training at the OFS burn tower facility where FHP students monitor the firefighters’ physiology and provide post-evolution analysis.

With the funding, FHP students will also expand the varsity athlete training clinics and work with coaches and sport science research experts to gain hands-on experience using new data analysis techniques.

“This unique collaboration will support the learning outcomes of the FHP and PFET programs and provide our students with first-hand industry experience that will increase their employability,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “We’re incredibly grateful for CEWIL Canada’s commitment to elevating the student experience at Durham College.”

Totalling $195,000, this marks the largest non-bursary award DC’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) has received from CEWIL Canada to date.

 

Durham College grad returns to Bistro ’67 for pop-up dining event following Top Chef Canada win

Trevane “Tre” Sanderson, winner of Top Chef Canada Season 10 and 2015 grad of Durham College’s (DC) Culinary Management program, returned to Bistro ’67 for a unique dining experience on Thursday, February 23.

Part of a two-night pop-up event sponsored by RBC, the sold-out “An Evening with Tre Sanderson, Winner of Top Chef Canada” events offered more than 140 guests the chance to enjoy a delicious four-course meal made up of many of Tre’s most-celebrated dishes from the competition, as well as the opportunity to meet the Top Chef himself.

Inspired by his Jamaican background and fueled by his passion to elevate Caribbean cuisine, Tre worked alongside current culinary students, sharing his skills and experiences and inspiring them with his success story.

“It wasn’t long ago I was in the same situation as them, fresh and green, ambitious, eager to learn and not scared to challenge themselves,” said Tre. “Once you’re in a comfort zone, you’re not being challenged so being able to work with these young chefs and see them asking questions is humbling.”

Funds from the RBC sponsorship will also support the Tre Sanderson Culinary Management bursary, which will help future culinary students pursue their paths at DC.

“We’re incredibly proud to have played a role in Tre’s journey and grateful for his dedication to giving back to the next generation of young culinary professionals,” said Kelly O’Brien, associate dean, Faculty of Hospitality & Horticultural Science. “And with the support of our title sponsor, RBC, we were able to host an incredible event that not only showcases Tre’s talents but also how Durham College’s programs can lead the way to a bright and inspiring future.”

Bistro ’67 opened its doors once again on Friday, February 24 for the second event. The food, service, ambience and décor all received rave reviews, and another sold-out crowd enjoyed a sumptuous meal designed by Canada’s Top Chef with precision and passion.

“This menu is the dream,” he said. “It’s my dream, to elevate Caribbean cuisine.”

Fine Arts students showcase their work at Durham Region headquarters

Durham Region’s headquarters has an inspiring new look thanks to our Durham College (DC) Fine Arts students.

A new public art installation representing the themes of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility was unveiled on Wednesday, February 15. With these themes in mind, DC’s talented artists crafted a selection of bold and colorful paintings, which are now on display at 605 Rossland Road East in Whitby.

“Public art meaningfully connects people with built environment, strengthens our sense of culture and creates a more beautiful community to enjoy every day,” said John Henry, regional chair and chief executive officer of Durham Region. “This new installation does all of that while celebrating the diversity of our region. It’s a visual reminder of our values, and it will help ensure everyone feels welcome and included here.”

Durham Region and DC partnered on this public art project with the goals of connecting people and places, creating beautiful spaces, and supporting the local creative community.

Fine Arts students in their final year participated in the project as part of their Community Collaboration – Service Learning course, in which they work with community groups and explore critical social and community issues.

“We were proud to partner with the Regional Municipality of Durham on this project, which gave our Fine Arts students an opportunity to apply their classroom learning in the real-world,” said Linda Flynn, DC’s associate vice president of Development and Alumni Affairs.

“I am deeply proud of their work which will be enjoyed by community members for years to come.”  

A Year in Review – 2022 at Durham College

It was another busy year at Durham College (DC)! From hosting events, launching new programs, establishing partnerships and winning awards, our DC community has truly been leading the way in 2022.

Here’s a look at some of our favourite highlights of the year.

Events

In-person events were back on the calendar this spring for the first time since 2019 with Convocation, which saw more than 3,500 students cross the stage and Open House welcoming the next generation of DC students. The Harvest Dinner also returned, with students from the horticulture, culinary, events management and hospitality programs working together to create a memorable evening for 105 guests.

We also led the way with a number of unique educational opportunities at DC. The STOP THE BLEED® event set a record with over 200 campus community members learning life-saving skills. And, later in the year, Grade 7 and 8 girls explored potential careers during the Expand the Possibilities 4.0: Young Women in Science, Technology and Trades Conference event.

News

The grand opening of the new Ontario Power Generation Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology marked a new era for the Whitby campus. Filled with numerous specialized labs and shops, it solidifies DC’s status as a top destination for students entering the industrial skilled trades.

DC’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship celebrated many funding achievements: the Social Impact Hub received a $25,000 grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada; Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada provided more than $100,000 in funding for two of its work-integrated learning projects; and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada granted $440,000 in COVID recovery funding.

Our commitment to social responsibility remained strong this year. The DC community teamed with the Global Guardian Project to send life-saving medical kits to Ukraine, and President Don Lovisa committed to fighting global injustice by signing the Sustainable Developments Goals accord. We also published our first Diversity Self-Identification survey.

DC and Metrolinx made history with a 10-year naming partnership that saw the former Oshawa GO Station renamed Durham College Oshawa GO. And our footprint continued to expand when we partnered with the Barrett Family Foundation, Invest Durham and Durham Region to break ground on the Barrett Centre for Urban Agriculture’s new urban farm project in north Ajax.

Programs

DC continued its push to evolve post-secondary education in a number of ways this year.

Two new technology-focused programs began in September, and eight certificate, graduate certificate and diploma programs will now be available in a flexible weekend delivery format. Another accelerated version of the Personal Support Worker program will allow students to graduate within six months while a new compressed Early Childhood Education program will enable students to graduate within 14 months.

Funding from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development allowed DC to launch three Pre-Apprenticeship programs to increase the number of Canadians who are job-ready in a skilled trade, and employment-seekers facing higher barriers to entry. Finally, DC announced a pair of new degree programs; the Honours Bachelor of Community Mental Health and the Honours Bachelor of Paralegal. Both programs will launch in September 2023.

Accolades

DC students are among the best and brightest, and they proved it all year.

Eight students won awards at the 2022 Virtual Skills Ontario Competition, five of whom travelled to Vancouver, leading the way to silver and bronze medal victories at the Skills Canada National competition.

Five Project Management students won first place in the Ontario Project Management Competition and two Game-Art students made waves at Ubisoft Toronto’s NEXT competition.

Two students were named Canada’s best new student chefs at the Taste Canada Awards Gala. Enactus DC won the RBC Future Launch Accelerator and ranked in the top 20 of all social initiatives at the Enactus Canada National Exposition. They had another triumph when they placed first at the Hong Kong Global Social Innovation Summit.

DC’s student-produced newspaper, The Chronicle, took home top honours in the General Excellence – College/University category at the Ontario Community Newspaper Association’s Better Newspapers competition.

Former students have also been making news this year. Cody Partridge, a 2011 graduate of the Music Business program, notched four wins at the Canadian Sync Awards. In the fall, 2015 Culinary Management graduate Trevane ‘Tre’ Sanderson claimed victory on the hit show Top Chef Canada.

The college received its own accolades as well. DC was named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the sixth consecutive year, and one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for the 12th time.

As we embark on the year ahead, DC will undoubtedly continue to lead the way in Durham Region and beyond.

Durham College receives Greater Toronto Top Employer award for 12th time

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.

    DC grad named Canada’s Top Chef

    Canada’s new Top Chef is a proud Durham College (DC) graduate.

    Trevane ‘Tre’ Sanderson, a 2015 graduate of DC’s Culinary Management program, claimed victory last month on the hit show Top Chef Canada. Facing off against 10 of Canada’s best chefs, Tre needed all of his culinary knowledge and passion to come out on top.

    “This moment, this win, was so memorable,” he said. “It was a proud moment and a big accomplishment.”

    Studying the culinary arts at DC was an easy choice for Tre, who has nurtured a love of food and cooking ever since childhood. His timing couldn’t have been better, as he and his classmates were the very first to learn their trade at the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food. Tre cited the unique education he received there, including DC’s field-to-fork and sustainable business practices, as a big factor in the success he has achieved so far.

    “DC gave me the confidence to get out there and go into my industry.”

    The up-and-coming chef’s career has been on the rise ever since he graduated, with successful stints at notable Toronto restaurants like Baro, Hotel X and Vela. Fresh off his Top Chef triumph, he hopes to return to DC in the near future and give back to the school and its students. Plans aren’t finalized yet, but he’d like to work with the current Culinary Management students, and even set up a pop-up restaurant, hopefully in time for Black History Month in February.

    He’ll have plenty of advice to offer to the young chefs at the Whitby campus.

    “Always challenge yourself, and never stay comfortable,” he said. “The moment you’re comfortable, you stop learning.”

    As for his own future, Tre has big plans, and opening his own restaurant will be just the beginning.

    “I want to start this culinary empire I’ve always dreamed of since I started cooking…keep pushing the boundaries and working with different chefs. I want to be a world class chef who people can look up to.”

    By becoming Canada’s Top Chef, Tre has demonstrated that anything is possible when you work hard, dream big and can lead with way with a great education.

    Durham College hosts first international delegation since 2019

    Durham College (DC) continued to deliver on its objective to enhance its global partnerships when delegates from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru visited the campuses in early November. The goal to establish and augment internationalization and global engagement initiatives resides in the college’s Academic Plan and is enabled through the college’s Internationalization and Global Engagement Plan.

    The visitors were here to continue their work on the Pacific Alliance Education for Employment program (PA-EFE), which supports the development of marketing and promotional campaigns to increase awareness of technical and vocational education and training in Latin America. The program is primarily focused on reaching women and marginalized populations.

    This is the first time that DC has been able to host an international delegation since before the pandemic, and the first time this group, which also included representatives from Fanshawe College and Vancouver Island University, has been together in person.

    “Although a lot of great work has been done online, it’s been wonderful to finally meet and work together in person,” said Jacqueline Towell, manager, International Projects and Partnerships, DC, adding that the delegates participated in four days of meetings and DC’s open house. “It’s much more meaningful being together, we can really see and hear everyone’s excitement.”

    Collaborating with other education organizations provides insights into new ways of working and learning from others’ perspectives. The global insights brought to DC from delegates spark new ideas, strengthen innovation and create connections.

    “To become global leaders, students need not only the core functional disciplines that professional schools offer, but also a deeper understanding of the broader architecture of global society and the forces that shape it,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, DC’s executive vice president, Academic.

    The Pacific Alliance Education for Employment contract further reinforces DC’s commitment to quality education, not only here in Canada, but all over the world. To learn more about DC’s international initiatives, visit the International Education office website.

    DC pair leading the way as Canada’s best new student chefs

    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.

    DC students apply their skills in dynamic emergency simulation

    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:

     

    New sustainable urban farm has secured land in Durham Region

    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.