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.

On June 19, Durham College’s (DC) Enactus president, Heather Brown, and her international team placed first at the Hong Kong Global Social Innovation Summit. As part of the competition, teams gathered to compete in a 24-hour hackathon to solve mental health, funding, and workforce challenges for Hong Kong-based corporations. Heather joined students from Malaysia and China to create sustainable and impactful solutions for Teen’s Key, an organization that supports vulnerable young women by providing education, medical testing, and employment experience in a safe space.

Enactus is a global organization that provides opportunities for students to launch initiatives to improve the world. Always up for a chance to help others, Heather says, “When I saw the final registration call through the Enactus network, I couldn’t resist getting involved. The experience was well worth it.”

Competition at the Summit was fierce, with teams of talented and engaged students attending from around the world. Each participant brought unique skills and perspectives, leading to innovative ideas and cross-cultural collaboration. With Enactus Hong Kong as the host, the competitors had to ensure their solutions serve institutions which operate in a different country from their home, requiring a lot of research, not only on the corporations but on the country itself.

In addition to the competition, Enactus Hong Kong provided students like Heather with workshops on financial inclusion, compassionate communication and mental health, industry consulting, and networking.

“Through the real-world cases we were solving, I discovered amazing organizations making social impacts, which I would never have had a chance to learn about without attending the Summit,” says Heather.

After a full day of challenging work, Heather’s team presented their solution to the judges. Their project idea took first place in the case competition, after proposing a merchandise-based social enterprise which would empower women with new skills to give back to the community and support other women in need.

If you are interested in learning more about Enactus, the Summit, and Heather’s experience, please visit her DC blog.

The Durham College (DC) Board of Governors (Board) is proud to announce Gary Rose as the new Board chair and Dr. Gail Johnson Morris as vice-chair, effective July 1, 2022.

As chair of the Board, Gary Rose brings over 30 years of experience in Finance and Nuclear Project Management. Currently serving as the vice-president of the New Nuclear Growth team at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Gary works nationally and internationally to support nuclear as part of the solution to achieve net-zero climate goals by 2050. As a devoted leader in the Durham Region community, Gary spent eight years as a trustee on the Whitby Public Library Board. During this tenure with the Whitby Public Library Board, Gary served on all committees and held the position of vice-chair and chair of the Board. Gary is also a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) and a Project Management Professional certification. Gary also has the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Gary first joined the DC Board in 2017.

As Board vice-chair, Dr. Gail Johnson Morris steps into the role with over 30 years of corporate experience, including c-suite and director roles at global finance services and health sciences companies. Today, Gail is the president and CEO of LeaderLink, a boutique strategy consultancy that supports boards and executive teams in building strategic capacity. Throughout her career, Gail has established herself as an advocate of practical, applied education and life-long learning. Gail earned her Bachelor of Arts from York University, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Royal Roads University, and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Walden University. Sharing her passion for learning, Gail also serves as a respected educator in the MBA program at Athabasca University and has taught many proud DC alumni at Trent University’s School of Business. Gail first joined the DC Board in 2018.

The Board is responsible for the governance of DC and is accountable to the students, employees and communities the college serves, ensuring the institution is effectively and appropriately managed to achieve its mandate.

As chair, Gary will be responsible for ensuring the Board meets its responsibilities and established directives through collaborative leadership, openness and transparency. To learn more about the roles of chair and vice-chair of the DC Board, read the Board policy.

Please join DC in thanking Kristi Honey for serving as the 2020-2021 chair of the Board. Congratulations to Gary and Gail on their new appointments.

With funding from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD), Durham College (DC) has launched 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. The programs are offered at no cost to participants, as tuition, tools, textbooks and safety equipment are covered with the help of government funding.

“Predictions from Colleges Ontario show that the province will face a shortage of more than 500,000 skilled trade workers by 2030,” says Dr. Rebecca Milburn, executive dean, School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology. “In response to this anticipated gap, DC is proud to partner with YMCA Durham as we lead the way in growing Ontario’s skilled trade labour force with our Pre-Apprenticeship programs.”

The college has selected three trades facing an immediate demand for employable workers and developed programs to train students from marginalized communities who want the necessary qualifications to enter or advance in the skilled trades. The following programs are currently underway, with 60 anticipated graduates by November 2022.

Electrical for Indigenous Peoples

According to the Electricity Sector Council Aboriginal Participation Initiatives Project, attracting workers to the electrical sector is an ongoing struggle owing to limited awareness of the available opportunities. However, the report also demonstrates a need for increased Indigenous participation in the electricity sector to help fill skill gaps and build a workforce in remote locations.

Furthermore, creating trained workers in the electrical industry will be crucial in the coming years, as the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum’s (CAF) Apprentice Demand: 2021 Labour Market Information Report predicts that 61,000 Ontario workers in Red Seal trades will retire in the next decade.

DC’s Pre-Apprenticeship Electrical program will provide another pathway to directly address the unemployment and underemployment of Indigenous Peoples in the skilled trades, while simultaneously tackling the expected labour market shortage.

Plumbing for Newcomers

Reports from the MLTSD indicate there will be over 9,000 plumbing jobs available in Ontario from 2019 to 2028. While there is a demand for plumbers, increased challenges to receiving the credentials make it difficult for newcomers to enter the trades. In fact, research from the CAF indicates that despite representing 20 per cent of the Canadian population, newcomers only make up three to five per cent of all apprentices.

DC’s new Pre-Apprenticeship program will help newcomers succeed in the industry by providing quality training and addressing the barriers faced such as a lack of knowledge of skilled trade opportunities and limited access to resources such as business networks or employer connections.

Welding for Women

The Government of Ontario’s labour market research shows that men make up the overwhelming majority of workers in the welding (95 per cent) trade. As an increasing number of Red Seal trades employees are set to retire, there is a demand to train unrepresented and underrepresented groups of Canadians, such as women. With the help of DC, those interested in pursuing a welding career will be given the support required to overcome gender-related barriers of entry while gaining the technical knowledge and hands-on skills needed to pursue a career in the industry.

For those interested in learning more, please visit our Pre-Apprenticeship program page.

By Andrew Neary, first-year Journalism and Mass Media student

The Rotary Club of Whitby’s 2022 Food Truck Frenzy gathered thousands of Durham Region residents to support local charities while providing student entrepreneurs with a platform to sell products and share their brands. Often missing markets due to the expenses of purchasing table space without guaranteed sales, six Durham College (DC) student entrepreneurs were recently given the opportunity to attend, as a result of FastStartDC’s purchase of vendor spaces – and I’m grateful to have been one of them.

With more than thirty food trucks and over 20,000 visitors in attendance, I spent the preceding weeks preparing enough cold brew coffee to serve hundreds of customers. At 7 a.m., on a brisk Saturday morning, I arrived at Iroquois Park to help the Rotarian volunteers and organizers set up (and to claim the most premium location for the student market tents). In addition to paying for the students’ tent space, DC also provided the tables and tents themselves, which are additional financial barriers that can prevent students from accessing markets.

The market preparations were ready to go at 9 a.m., when FastStart students started to arrive. Vidhi, of Art Blizz, travelled from London, Ontario with luggage cases packed with resin masterpieces from as small as a bookmark up to frame-ready canvas works. Melissa, of Nature’s Beauty By Queen, shared a luxury body care products table with Esther of Made in Shade. Next to them, Nicole and Stella offered handmade dog bandanas, collars and service dog patches under Sewing with Stella. Neighbouring Vidhi, Shantel’s L’Amour Jae displayed an exquisite range of candles in unique shapes and scents. Finally, while sharing information about the FastStart experience with prospective Durham College students and the community, I sold cold brew coffee that I roasted as Kettleboy.

During the two days, we bonded over discussions about operations and business needs while supporting each other through the unexpected. If a payment terminal froze, someone was quick to share their own. If anyone grew low on change, I acted as the bank and broke bills for customers. We pushed each other to engage with customers and share our stories as curious neighbours drifted by our stations, picking up exciting foods along the way. We learned from each other’s experiences and grew as owners, just as our businesses grew in exposure and sales.

At closing time on Sunday, everyone chipped in to help pack up the generously lent Durham College gear, shared links and resources. For the community, Food Truck Frenzy was an incredible success. It raised more than $75,000 for charity and marked the return of a landmark event that, like many of its kind, was forced on hold as a result the pandemic. For us, the Frenzy reinforced our belief that DC cares about the success of its students, inspiring hope for the future and gratitude for the present.

If you are interested in starting or growing your own business, please sign up for FastStart’s free services. The FastStart team genuinely wants to support you on your journey towards building a future as an entrepreneur with the skills you are learning as a student.

By Andrew Neary, Journalism – Mass Media student

Enactus Durham College (DC) is the proud winner of this year’s RBC Future Launch Accelerator and ranked in the top 20 of all social initiatives at the Enactus Canada National Exposition. Over the past year, the DC team maintained and grew three primary initiatives, which they presented at the online Canada-wide competition.

The lead project of the year, ConnectUs 4 Community (CU4C), saw DC students and faculty volunteers create an online platform that taught young people in grades 9 to 12 how to launch social initiatives in their communities while addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Through CU4C, EnactusDC inspired more than 800 students across 15 high schools to launch 100 social projects. As a result, RBC Bank recognized CU4C’s success with its $4,000 Future Launch Accelerator prize, ranking it as the best project in Canada for supporting youth.

Alongside CU4C, EnactusDC fostered innovation through Rcycle, an app aimed at educating people about recycling properly and rewarding them with points to spend at social businesses. The app is expected to be piloted at the college later this year. The Enactus DC team also promoted tools to manage mental health with the True Grit 21 Day Wellness challenge, which offers emailed motivational messages and activities every day for 21 days.

Under Heather Brown’s leadership, Enactus DC prepared a comprehensive competition submission which included a 12-minute video presentation and a detailed annual impact report to highlight this year’s projects. After receiving positive feedback, the team faced two rounds of panel questions, judged by a table of Canadian industry leaders and executives. Their work at the National Exposition paid off when EnactusDC tied their “best-ever” result from last year’s competition.

DC congratulates the Enactus team for their success and would like to thank the faculty for providing ongoing guidance to help lead students’ entrepreneurial efforts to national success.

Facing off against 300 student competitors from all regions of Canada, five Durham College (DC) students were awarded medals during the prestigious 2022 Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC), in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 26 and 27. In addition to the student competitors, more than 3,000 visitors, industry leaders and government officials were in attendance.

Bringing home silver from SCNC was Holly White in the Aesthetics category, Abigayle Hamilton and Emma Pace for Landscape Gardening and Jared Toomey for IT Networking. Christopher Santoli also received bronze in the Photography category. Prior to claiming their silver and bronze medal victories, all students competed at the 2022 Skills Ontario Competition and won gold or silver in their respective categories, allowing them to advance to the national competition.

“We are incredibly proud of these talented students – whose practical knowledge and dedication have just been rewarded at one of the most prestigious skills competitions in Canada – and their faculty mentors who supported them throughout the competition,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, executive vice president, Academic. “These victories and the recognition at both the national and provincial level are further proof that Durham College programs prepare our students for career success as they become the industry leaders of tomorrow.”

Skills Canada was founded in 1989 as a national not‐for‐profit organization that works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trade and technology careers among Canadian youth. SCNC is the only multi-trade and technology competition for students and apprentices in the country. By providing a forum where young Canadians can compete at the national level, SCNC provides hands-on work experience related to skilled trade and technology careers.