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Durham College invites the community to experience field-to-fork produce and dining at Farm Fresh Thursdays

Savour the tastes of the summer season at Durham College (DC)’s Farm Fresh Thursdays featuring produce grown and prepared at the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF) in Whitby.

On Thursdays, visitors have several options to enjoy fresh-picked seasonal fare from DC’s farm. They can purchase produce at the Produce Pavilion or they can skip the cooking, taking home prepared foods from the Pantry retail store or ordering from a feature menu at the Bistro ’67 patio.

“Launching Farm Fresh Thursdays this year has been a really great opportunity for us to showcase all the delicious products that are coming off of the farm here at the Center for Food,” said Lori Saint, General Manager of Centre for Food located at 1604 Champlain Ave.

Some items available at the Produce Pavilion can’t be found in grocery stores, like a recent feature of tri-coloured peas and serviceberries, a small blueberry-like berry.

“I think the team here loves the idea of challenging themselves to come up with fresh, new ideas to really highlight the produce in a different way and maybe in a way that people wouldn’t expect,” said Saint. “Visitors are going to love the flavour combinations and hopefully they’ll be inspired to use produce in a new, fun way at home.”

For example, the Pantry recently featured a beet galette—a savoury tart—highlighting in-season beets. Students in the Culinary Management, Culinary Skills and Hospitality – Hotel and Restaurant Management programs work in CFF’s kitchens helping prepare the items in the Pantry as well as on the Bistro patio, Saint adds.

Urban Farm Field Supervisor Andrew Guay said Horticulture – Food and Farming students gain a wealth of knowledge from working on DC’s innovative farm and growing produce from start to finish.

“Having the farm on campus allows us to engage with the community in thoughtful and impactful ways when addressing issues such as food security, food literacy, and food sustainability,” said Guay. “Not only can we teach community members about the benefits of growing locally and the impact of nutrient-dense produce, but we can also show that proof of concept when we serve those produce items in Bistro ’67.”

On Thursdays until October 10, stop by the Galen. W. Weston Centre for Food at 1604 Champlain Ave. in Whitby and visit:

  • The Produce Pavilion featuring fresh DC produce from 2 to 6 p.m.
  • The Pantry with extended hours now open until 6 p.m. and where we will have specialty items featuring produce also available at the Produce Pavilion.
  • ​The Bistro ’67 Patio which opens at 5 p.m. on Thursday nights with a fresh menu each week showcasing produce from our fields. Reservations are accepted until 7:30 p.m. and walk-ins are welcome.

Shoppers can take advantage of the Farm Fresh Rewards program this summer. They’ll receive one stamp for every $5 spent at the Produce Pavilion. For every 10 stamps collected, receive a free appetizer on the Bistro ’67 Patio or 25 per cent off purchases at the Pantry. Join our mailing list for weekly updates.

The Produce Pavilion accepts credit and debit only, while the Pantry and Bistro ’67 accept credit, debit and cash.

Looking back at a great year for DC with the 2023-24 Annual Report

Durham College (DC) is proud to release our 2023-2024 Annual Report.

Throughout its pages, you’ll see many examples of our ongoing commitment to building a college that is sustainable; future-proof; people-focused, equity-driven and community-connected.

“I am so proud of the achievements of the last year, made possible by our students and employees as well as the Board of Governors, alumni, and industry and community partners,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, President, Durham College. “As we look to the future, I am excited by the endless opportunities for success that lie ahead.”

Please read through the report and find out why we’re widely recognized as a leader in post-secondary education.

Centre for Success and Adult Dual Credit students recognized at annual Completion Ceremony

Over 300 students have breathed new life into their academic futures after completing the Centre for Success (CFS) and Adult Dual Credit (ADC) programs at Durham College (DC).

The programs are a collaborative effort between DC and several school boards: Durham District, Durham Catholic District, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland, and Clarington Catholic. The CFS program supports secondary school students at risk of not graduating, while ADC is meant for adults working to complete their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Students benefit from smaller class sizes in the college setting and participate in post-secondary courses, earning dual credits that count towards both their high school diploma and their post-secondary credential.

For all the students, the programs represent a second chance for both academic success and a fulfilling career.

“It’s life-changing for them,” said Sue Hawkins, Director, School College Work Initiative & Academic Upgrading at DC. “These are people who thought they would never graduate, and now they’re moving on to post-secondary education with confidence. It’s an amazing transformation to watch.”

This year’s students celebrated their success with a special ceremony at DC’s Oshawa campus last month. A number of students stepped up to the podium to share their thoughts on the momentous day, including Jada Jonkers, who spoke of her struggles with procrastination in high school.

“We had to face the harsh realities of our unique situations and determine which path we would be taking to make our futures better,” said the CFS student. “I’m so proud of all of us for choosing to make this commitment to become a better version of ourselves.”

ADC student Douglas Sleeper shared similar sentiments. The 24-year-old was inspired by the memories of his late father and uncle to put in the hard work needed to complete the program. In doing so, he found a new passion for the skilled trades and will attend DC this fall to study Mechanical Engineering Technology.

“The program was very insightful,” he said. “After my experience, I have better time management skills and studying tactics, along with a better understanding of what it takes to succeed in a college program and accomplish my goals.”

Drag Queen Story Time at Campus Library celebrates diversity and inclusion

To celebrate Pride Month, the Durham College (DC) and Ontario Tech University Campus Library welcomed Oshawa drag queen Violet S Parks for a special event.

Members of both campus communities filled the Library’s Fireside Reading Room for Drag Queen Story Time. The festivities began with a Q&A session where Parks spoke about her own journey of self-discovery as a member of the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) community. She also touched on her passion for performing, the appeal of Story Time events, and the importance of accepting everyone as they are.

She then gave a reading of popular children’s books that entertained the attendees before wrapping up with a dance and a photo session with her new fans.

The performer was happy to see so many members of the campus community come out in support of the event, many of them sporting brightly coloured attire in the spirit of Pride.

“It’s really fun to see people come together as a community and celebrate love and empowerment, and acknowledge that there’s diversity out there, that love is love, and that we can all prosper. We can all hold hands and walk forward together,” she said. “I think everyone should take a little bit of pride away from today’s event.”

That pride was shared by Marisa Mei, DC’s Sexual Violence Education and Prevention Coordinator. Representing the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OEDI), she was pleased that the campus community embraced the event.

“It’s really inspiring to me that our college continues to be a strong leader in our community and that we are playing a vital role in helping to increase visibility and representation of 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and communities. Supporting events like Drag Queen Story Time that help to address and challenge harmful stereotypes, myths and prejudice affirms our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion,” said Mei.

To encourage further learning and understanding, a collection of Pride Month resources is available on the Library website.

Durham College celebrates thousands of career-ready graduates at Spring Convocation

Durham College (DC) celebrated one of its largest graduating classes in its history during Spring Convocation, held this week in eight ceremonies over four days at the Tribute Communities Centre.

Nearly 5,000 career-ready graduates – including the first graduating classes from the Web Development, Cloud Computing and Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Science programs –  crossed the stage to receive their degrees, diplomas and certificates, ready to fill the needs of high-priority industries.

The first Convocation ceremony included a significant milestone in DC’s history with the official installation of its sixth President, Dr. Elaine Popp, who began her role on March 1, 2024.

“I’m very proud and honoured to have been officially installed as President this week and to celebrate alongside our impressive graduating class,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, President, Durham College. “The future is bright for Durham College graduates, and I am confident that the quality education they received has equipped them with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in in-demand careers.”

DC’s Class of 2024 includes graduates:

    DC’s 2024 Alumni of Distinction recipients, Shelby Nelson, Class of 2000, and Adam Ruppel, Class of 1997, were also celebrated this week and recognized for their outstanding achievements and contributions to their fields.

    In addition, guest speakers at the ceremonies included notable DC alumni who, since graduating, have made significant contributions to our local and global communities:

    • Chris Cull, DC Alumni, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Techniques, Class of 2007
    • Jenifer Stewart, DC Alumni, Horticulture – Food and Farming, Class of 2021, and Carpentry and Renovation Technician, Class of 2023
    • Brent Colmer, DC Alumni, Music Business Management, Class of 2014
    • Stacey Fox, DC Alumni, Human Resources Management, Class of 2000
    • Shelby Nelson, DC Alumni, Sports Administration, Class of 2000 and 2024 Alumni of Distinction Award Recipient

    For more information about Spring Convocation, visit www.websiteredesign.durhamcollege.ca/convocation.

    Future-Focused: DC Launching Strategic Planning Process

    Durham College (DC) is kicking off a strategic planning process to develop its next Strategic Plan, which will launch in spring 2025.

    For the past five years, DC’s work has been guided by its current Strategic Plan, which focused our commitment to serve our students, employees and communities. Now, as the plan concludes next March, preparations to develop DC’s next Strategic Plan are underway.

    This planning process is an opportunity to shape the future of DC and is a collaborative effort requiring input from students, employees, alumni, donors and community partners.

    “Together, we will consider how student and industry needs have changed, how we as an organization have evolved and how the landscape of higher education has shifted,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, DC President. “The result will be a roadmap for tangible goals and objectives that will inform decision-making and resource allocation and will guide our efforts leading DC to even greater heights.”

    A number of teams will be involved in bringing the new Strategic Plan to fruition. The Strategic Plan Steering Committee, consisting of Executive Leadership Team members, will ultimately oversee the project. A Strategic Plan Working Group with broad cross-college representation will lead the planning process, including facilitating consultation activities. They will work closely with two other groups: an external partner – The Potential Group – who will provide guidance on strategic planning methodology, as well as a Strategic Plan Resource Team who will provide institutional support.

    This work will take place over the next several months and include four phases:

    • Phase 1 (July to September) – scoping, planning and setting initial direction, including a comprehensive environmental scan.
    • Phase 2 (October to December) – engaging our community and gathering insights through focused consultations, interviews and surveys.
    • Phase 3 (January to March) – refining the feedback through interactive, small-group sessions with key contributors, including students, employees, alumni, donors and community partners. 
    • Phase 4 (April to May) – developing the final Strategic Plan, which will be launched at our all-employee event in May.

        More information will be shared in the coming months, including the plan for upcoming consultations and the opportunities for key contributors to share their voices in this process.

        “This is a pivotal time for Durham College as we set the direction for our future,” said Dr. Popp. “I am excited to collaborate with our DC community as we move forward in building a sustainable, future-proof, equity-driven, people-focused and community-connected college.”

        DC celebrates the Presidential Installation of Dr. Elaine Popp

        Durham College (DC) has officially installed Dr. Elaine Popp as the sixth president in the school’s 57-year history.

        The official Installation was led by the Board of Governors and held during the first Convocation ceremony at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa on Monday, June 17. The formal event officially acknowledged Dr. Popp’s role and was an opportunity for her to deliver the Oath of Office directly to the community she serves.

        Since taking on the role of President on March 1, 2024, Dr. Popp has been guided by her clear vision of DC as a sustainable, future-proof, people-focused, equity-driven and community-connected college that meets the needs of students and anticipates industry expectations.

        “I am deeply honoured to be installed as President, and in this role, I carry a profound sense of responsibility and appreciation,” said Dr. Popp. “As we build upon Durham College’s strong foundation, I am committed to supporting a culture where excellence, innovation and collaboration flourish, as we create a future that honours our past, celebrates our present and embraces our full potential.”

        Under Dr. Popp’s leadership, DC will spearhead the transformation of education and foster an environment where students continue to learn, grow and thrive.

        Funding boost to Durham College’s AI Hub expands capacity

        Durham College (DC) is expanding the capacity of its centre of research excellence in artificial intelligence (AI) – the AI Hub – to provide tangible and transformative solutions to real-life business challenges, thanks to a $172,000 grant.

        The funding, announced by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), will support the purchase of two high-performance servers specifically optimized for Generative AI, performance graphics and analytics. These state-of-the-art servers will facilitate large data processing, significantly reducing the time required for data analysis and processing and allowing for increased support of the AI Hub’s diverse external clients across various industries.

        Over the past five years, DC’s AI Hub has partnered with more than 100 multi-sector organizations – with 70 per cent from the private sector – to deliver high-quality research and development and innovation services aligned with their needs.

        “The emergence of AI tools has significantly impacted the industry landscape, introducing new capabilities and reshaping business models across various sectors,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, Associate Vice President, Innovation and Research. “This grant will allow DC to advance its ability to support businesses with innovative services that grow the economy and develop talent, further underscoring the AI Hub as a one-of-a-kind facility in Ontario.”

        In addition, the new tools provide DC students an opportunity for ongoing experiential learning. The AI Hub has a strong track record of engaging students in applied research and more than 250 students have been hired and trained as student research assistants. By using the advanced technology available, students gain hands-on experience, knowledge and enhanced skills to secure meaningful employment post-graduation. To date, 22 students have been directly hired by AI Hub partners, a testament to the skills gained through their on-campus learning.

        Regional Chair’s Classic celebrates Roger Anderson’s legacy, raises money for community

        Durham College (DC) students in financial need will benefit from the great generosity shown at the 2024 Regional Chair’s Classic in Memory of Roger Anderson.

        On Thursday, June 13 at Deer Creek Golf and Country Club in Ajax, 200 golfers and generous sponsors joined Regional Chair John Henry for the 26th tournament, which also supports students at Ontario Tech University and patient-focused programs at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.

        With $260,000 raised this year, the total amount of funds raised since the tournament’s inception is now more than $7.9 million.

        “Every year, this tournament raises money for our students in need and for Ontario Shores Centre’s invaluable youth programs,” said Regional Chair John Henry. “I can think of no better way to honour Roger Anderson’s legacy of service than by spending a beautiful day on the golf course in support of these great causes.”

        DC President Dr. Elaine Popp joined Henry; Tracy Clegg, CEO, Ontario Shores Foundation; Sarah Rasile, Director, Alumni and Donor Engagement, Ontario Tech University; and Roger Anderson’s son Warren for the cheque presentation to share their gratitude on behalf of their respective institutions.

        Next year’s event is set for Thursday, June 12, 2025.

        Durham Dragons paddling for a good cause

        This weekend, 25 members of the Durham College (DC) community will take to the water at the Port Perry Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, June 15.

        The Durham Dragons team is comprised of DC staff, students, faculty, and alumni. Some of them are veterans of dragon boating, while others are picking up paddles for the first time. But they’re all determined to have fun, represent DC and raise funds for the Port Perry Hospital Foundation and Scugog Lake Stewards.

        “The feedback has been fantastic. People are loving it,” said team captain Lori Wilson, Test Centre Coordinator and a long-time dragon boater who regularly competes with the Pickering Dragon Boat Club.

        In a dragon boat race, the drummer sits at the front and keeps the paddlers in sync, while another member of the team steers from the back. The remaining team members paddle the boat as hard as they can in the hope of outpacing their opponents.

        A joint team of paddlers from DC and Ontario Tech University competed until 2019, but this will be the first race for the Durham Dragons. They’ve been getting a crash course in the sport from their experienced coach, Catie Sahadath, a para-athlete on Canada’s national dragon boat team and Associate University Librarian, Scholarly Resources at the DC and Ontario Tech Campus Library.

        “Dragon boating is my very favourite thing, and it is very special to me to be able to introduce the sport to new folks, especially to my colleagues here at DC,” she said. “Each practice I am amazed at how energized and fun the group is. They have taken to the sport really quickly, and everyone has such a positive, supportive attitude.”

        With hard work, the guidance of their coach and expert steering from DC alumna Rola Elbayrakdar, Wilson and team are ready for the race, and guests are welcome to attend the event at Palmer Park in Port Perry.

        “It will be a fun day to come out and cheer us on.”