durham college alumni magazine · 2 reflections | fall 2011 another academic year is underway and...

FALL 2011 | VOL. 74

reflectionsDURHAM COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE

THE

PIANO MAN

CADENCE (LEIPSIG)

GRACES THE STAGE

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, DURHAM COLLEGE

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

REFLECTIONS | FALL 20112

Another academic year isunderway and with itcomes many exciting andnew initiatives! We werevery pleased to welcomemore than 8,400 full-timestudents to our campusesthis fall, many of whom arethe first-ever students in arange of new programs we

have introduced to continue meeting the needs ofemployers and our communities. In addition, ourstudents arrived to find millions of dollars inrenovations that have transformed outdated areasinto terrific new learning and social space.

As we finished those renovations, we turned ourfull attention to making Phase 3 expansion a reality

at our Whitby campus. This shovel-ready project willinclude a ‘green-certified’ teaching restaurant andsupport students studying in the fast-growing areasof agriculture, culinary, and hospitality. The final stepis to secure funding, including communitydonations, to support this important project.

As you read through this issue of Reflections, Ibelieve you will be proud of our growing alumnifamily. I know I am. From musicians like DerekGiberson and Cadence Grace, to entrepreneurssuch as Laura Vaillancourt and Michael Maynard,our graduates continue to use the skills theylearned at Durham College to find success and theirplace in the world.

These are just a few examples of how our alumniachieve excellence in their careers and communities.For each of these success stories, I am sure there

are many more and I look forward to reading aboutthem in upcoming editions of Reflections. Whetheryou are just beginning your career or graduatedyears ago, I encourage you to be in touch and let usknow how you are doing. We’d love to feature youand everything you have accomplished in anupcoming issue.

Sincerely,

Don Lovisa

President, Durham College

I hope you enjoyed the hotweather and sunshine ofthis past summer as muchas I did. It seems like a distant memory now thatwe’re busy with anotheracademic year, eventhough it was only a fewshort weeks ago.

October is once againupon us and I’m eagerly anticipating our annual fallconvocation ceremony where I will happilywelcome a new class of Durham College graduatesto our alumni family.

For more than 40 years our graduates have madeus proud with their accomplishments in theirchosen careers, their personal successes and theimpact they have made in their communities. Asyou read this edition of Reflections, you will learnabout several former students, possibly people youwent to school with, who have taken their collegeeducation and have set and achieved professional

and personal goals by working hard and followingtheir dreams.

In addition to the stories included in these pages,I look forward to new stories of success andtriumph that will fill future pages of Reflections.With more than 55,000 alumni, I can only imaginewhat new heights they will reach.

We are always happy to hear about yoursuccesses. Our doors are open so drop by and sayhello, or send us a message and let us know howyou’re doing.

Cheers,

Lillian Jacoby

Legal Administration, class of 1976

President, Durham College Alumni Association

4 Keys to his success

6 Cadence graces the stage

8 No disputing grad’s success

9 Messaging man

10 From burgers to budgets

11 Turning events into business

12 Creating technology today, saving lives tomorrow

13 Getting results

14 Satisfying student demands

15 Butting out on campus

16 Recognition for recreation

17 All-day kindergarten gets A+

18 Welcoming new Hospitality Management program

19 Whitby campus LEEDs green evolution

20 High on gymnastics

22 Spearheading senior sports

23 Alumni update

REFLECTIONS

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FALL 2011 CONTENTS

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HE WALKS OUT ON STAGE IN FRONT OFthe live audience; takes a seat at the grandpiano; thinks for a split second, and thenlets the music flow from his soul, throughhis fingertips and onto the keys. Musiciansregularly improvise with their instruments,but to improvise for a live audience withexpectations is different. It’s an experienceJournalism graduate Derek Gibersonintroduced to audiences last year inOshawa and Toronto.Giberson is a professional keyboardist

who plays everything including rock,rhythm and blues, soul, funk, jazz,traditional blues and a little classical. Healso offers piano lessons and recentlybegan freelance writing for Muzik Etc., an

industry magazine written by professionalsthat features product reviews, industrynews and professional advice.“Without journalism, I wouldn’t have had

the confidence to start writing for themagazine,” Giberson admitted.The writing requests he receives take a

lot of self-motivation and initiative. “I prettymuch only work under pressure,” he said.“So when there is a deadline looming, Ihave no trouble because panic sets in. Thewriting itself is not too difficult, it’s justgetting out there and finding it.”When Giberson graduated from the

Journalism program five years ago, printjournalism jobs were difficult to come by.

Instead, he was pulled into the musicindustry by demand, as there is a fairly lowsupply of professional keyboard players.Giberson has thrived in the music industry,where he now finds himself working withtop professionals including Ricky Tillo,guitarist for Lady Gaga; Al Webster,drummer for Colin James and AmandaMarshall; and Dale Russell, who playedguitar with The Guess Who for 17 years. Intotal, Giberson plays more than 170 showsa year.“I also play a weekly show in Toronto

with a guy named Chris Caddell. He hasplayed as Sass Jordan and Colin James’sguitar player and his band, The Wreckage,opened for Bon Jovi and Kid Rock at the Air

KEYS TO HIS SUCCESSby Laura Baird


PHOTO BY AMANDA WAGNER


PHOTO BY MIKE DELESHOCK

Journalism graduate and musician Derek Giberson (opposite) plays at one of the more than 170 shows he performs a year. He relaxes during a promotional photo shoot (above).

Canada Centre last summer,” Giberson said.“Being in this position is something that

I’m really, really proud of. It’s a really goodplace to be from a professional standpoint.It’s a pretty big step that I have made inthe last year from playing just the regularclub gigs because the people I’m workingwith are pretty well-respected in the musicindustry.” On top of working alongside big names,

Giberson played on the grand piano, at theMcLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa in February2010.“That was strictly an improvised show,”

Giberson reveals. “I basically sit down at apiano and just start playing whatever

comes to me – which is something I do by myself a lot, but to do it in front of anaudience that has a certain expectation, or lack of expectation because they don’tknow what to expect – that was a big step.I was glad to start that and have it besuccessful in both Oshawa and Toronto.”Aside from his career in the music

industry, dabbling in professional andmusical writing and teaching, Gibersonspends time with his seven-year-old sonand five-year-old daughter, who loveslistening to her dad play.“I would really love to do more of the

solo piano shows in the future. I have alsohad a taste of producing and that is

something I would like to do more of,” hesaid. “Something else I want to continueto do is to write for other musicians. I don’tfeel I could do anything else but music. Ithink if I tried to pursue something else, I would have spent the rest of my life lookingover my shoulder wondering what if?Essentially, music is the thing I love the most.”To learn more about Giberson, view a list

of show times and locations or listen to arecording of his improvised music, pleasevisit http://derekgiberson.ca.

CADENCE GRACES STAGEby Crystal Hartog


PHOTO COURTESY OF CADENCE GRACE

MUSIC BUSINESS MANAGEMENT GRADUATE CADENCE GRACE SHOWSRHYTHMIC FLOW THROUGH HER NEW ALBUM, UNBREAKABLE.

Music Business Management graduate Cadence Grace Leipsig, now a singer-songwriter, shoots her first music video, Living in our Love.

“IT’S A GOOD DAY, RIDING DOWN THEhighway, singing along, our life is a songand it’s a sweet one when you’re ridingshotgun. Now that you’re in it, don’t wantto miss one minute, not one minute ofliving in our love.” – excerpt from Living inour Love. Living in our Love is one of the many

unique life tales woven into a song by 25-year-old singer-songwriter and Whitbynative, Cadence Grace Leipsig known inthe music industry as Cadence Grace. Her single has been enjoying play on radiostations across Canada, and its musicvideo, now airing on Country MusicTelevision (CMT), has been getting greatreviews.The 2006 Music Business Management

graduate has spent the last seven yearsworking in the music business. In thebeginning, her focus was on publishingand writing music and an early partnershipwith music publishers Ole helped land hersongs in more than 40 television showsand movies including CTV’s Degrassi,MTV’s The Hills and Disney’s Go Figure.After three years of growing up and

finding her own voice, she decided tocarve a new path for herself, the one shehad always wanted. Her success in

publishing gave her the confidence topursue a career as an artist and her bigbreak came in 2009, when she appearedon CMT’s Karaoke Star as a finalist in thesinging competition.Although she lost the competition, the

attention she gained led her to Nashvillewhere she independently wrote andrecorded her debut country albumUnbreakable, earlier this year. The albumconsists of 10 tracks that she says trulyexpress who she is. She hopes her workwill help define a new generation ofCanadian country music. Representing afresh new look and sound, she is alreadyearning respect from those in the industry.“Cadence (Grace) is a courageous singerwith a fresh vision for country music. She has an exceptional voice and style to boot. The Canadian/United Statesmarkets will soon be introduced to aunique artist of the highest calibre,” saidDouglas Romanow, producer of FireEscape Recording.Since starting the recording process for

her record, she has also establishedCadence Grace Enterprises. Having aregistered business is a legal way to keepthe financial and management aspects ofher career separate from her personal life

and gives her more opportunities to applyfor grants and loans.“Educating myself about the intricacies

of the music business was one of the bestdecisions I’ve made,” Cadence said.“Being able to read and draft my own legaldocuments; create my own businessadvertisements and album artwork; designand maintain my own website – those areall valuable skills I feel help me tocontinually move forward.”The program also gave her the tools to

write and produce her own music. Hercreativity and skills are displayed throughher website, www.cadencegrace.com.She designed the website with a countryhoedown atmosphere as a sneak peek intoher life’s journey.In her hometown of Whitby, she is

known as a triple threat because she canact, dance and sing. She has been beltingout tunes since the age of two and begansinging lessons when she was 11. Sincethen singing has been her main passionand has led her to where she is today.“My hopes are to eventually assist other

artists through my business and help themaccomplish their dreams, just as I amdoing now,” she said.


PHOTO COURTESY OF DIGITAL COCOON

Cadence poses during a professional photo shoot for her album, Unbreakable.

MEDIATOR, AUTHOR, CONSULTANT, educator and political strategist. For MichaelMaynard, work has always been abouthelping people. As an expert in conflict and dispute

resolution, Maynard provides mediation,alternate dispute resolution (ADR)consulting services, training and coachingto businesses, families, organizations andindividuals. As an educator, he has developedand taught a number of post-secondarylevel professional development andorganizational training courses and as anauthor he has co-written an instructionalbook titled Choices in Approaching Conflict:Understanding the Practice of AlternativeDispute Resolution.Maynard also taught and developed

ADR courses for Durham College’s Schoolof Justice & Emergency Services, whichled him to open Maynard Mediation andConflict Management in December 2009.“From the moment I ventured into the

world of alternative dispute resolution, Iknew I had found my calling,” Maynardsaid. “Everybody has a role to play in theworld and the role of peacemaker hasalways been mine.”As a mediator, Maynard steps between

feuding neighbours or combatant membersof communities, workplaces or organizationsand helps them redirect their efforts tocreate positive, mutually beneficial,win/win outcomes for everyone involved.Before graduating from Durham’s Legal

Administration program in 2007, Maynardwas asked to join the Toronto office of oneof Canada’s largest law firms as a litigationlaw clerk in May 2007. After earning hisadvanced diploma, he stayed with thefirm, working in litigation and disputeresolution and later in governmentrelations and ethics, all the while workingtowards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Lawfrom Carleton University in Ottawa.

Maynard enjoys challenging himself,taking charge of his potential and workingon projects he believes are important.These among others, are the reasons hedecided to start his own business. Being

close to home and spending more timewith his wife and two-year-old son, whileusing his expertise to provide significantservices to his community, are also bigfactors.

He also provides dynamic and intelligentcommunications skills and a politicalcampaign consulting service as the ownerand principal consultant at GreyfeatherStrategies. There he applies his creativethinking and strategic planning skills, offeringadvice and strategic support to aspiring andveteran politicians during elections.Owning a business also comes with a

tremendous workload, cautionedMaynard. “In addition to doing the job, there’s

business administration, marketing andbeing fully accountable to yourself and allaspects of the work. On top of that, otheremployees are looking to you for solutionsto their problems and answers to theirquestions.”“But with any challenge also lies the

reward of overcoming that challenge,”Maynard said. “Every day I do somethingimportant; help a family resolve a problemfor instance. I feel really good about it,from top to bottom. It really doesn’t getmore rewarding than this.”

NO DISPUTING GRAD’S SUCCESSby Shannon De Mello


Mediation is a way to resolve disputes between two or more parties by helping them negotiatetheir own settlement.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL MAYNARD

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHOTOCROMO

“It really doesn’t get more rewarding than this.”


WHEN MOST PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD telecommunications, they immediatelythink of a telephone. This is one misconceptionthat John Middleton, a 1986 graduate ofthe Electronic Technician program findshimself explaining often, having worked in the telecommunications industry foralmost 26 years.Middleton noticed at an early age that

the electronic engineering field was growingrapidly and that there were endless jobopportunities which ultimately led him tothe Electronic Technician program.“The program was very hands-on and

practical, which prepared me for theindustry,” said Middleton. “It was alsointense because at that time we had to buildour own computers but the enthusiasmand level of interest the professors had inthe program made it worthwhile.”As he progressed in his career,

Middleton continued his education andwent on to earn his Bachelor’s degree inBusiness Administration and Master’sdegrees in Business Administration andScience. In between studies, he also hadthe opportunity to work for many bignames such as CIBC, AT&T, Nortel, JuniperNetworks and Alcatel-Lucent.

Two years ago, Middleton landed aposition with Acision, a world leader inmobile data, as the regional director of thecompany’s first Canadian office. Middletonwas the first person to be brought onboard for the office which opened inMississauga in 2010. He immediately hadto organize the new office, hire a team andstart launching products to Canadiancustomers. His title has since beenupgraded to manager, Canadian Operations.“There is a big market in Canada and a

lot of growth in the Canadiantelecommunications industry, with a hugeopportunity for product evolution to go all-IP next generation networks,” saidMiddleton. “Smartphones are taking overfast in Canada, with more peoplepurchasing smartphones, it’s predicted thatas many as 68 per cent of Canadians willhave one by the end of 2013.”Currently an estimated 65 per cent of

Canadians have regular cell phonescompared to 80 per cent of Americans. Asthe market evolves, there will be a hugeopportunity for Acision to grow withinCanada according to Middleton. Acision isa dominant global player in messaging andcontinues to strengthen its NorthAmerican presence by helping both tier

one and regional operators build out theirmessaging environments. More than 35per cent of all text messages sent in theworld are managed by Acision messagingsolutions and Canada is a growingcontributor to that number.“Acision is the best in the industry for

messaging products and mobile data. I see tremendous potential in thetelecommunications industry and it willcontinue to grow,” said Middleton. “Acisionis the leading company in the field and itwas a great opportunity for me to helpthem grow into Canada and for meprofessionally.”The global company is based in the

United Kingdom with offices in Nieuwegein(Netherlands), Prague (Czech Republic),Sao Paulo (Brazil), Singapore and Dubai (United Arab Emirates). He has also travelled all over the United Statesand Europe.“In life you have to continue learning

all the time,” said Middleton. “Thetelecommunications industry is alwayschanging, and that’s something that I’vealways liked about the industry. I love what I do and I’m one of the few peoplewho can say that I have my dream job.”

MESSAGING MANby Shane McKenna

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN MIDDLETON AND IM

AGE CREATED BY SHANE MCKENNA

Durham College graduate John Middleton has been appointed manager of Acision Canada’s operations. Acision, a world leader in mobile data, hired him to openand oversee the company’s first Canadian office.

MERYAN MADDEN IS THE DEFINITION OF DETERMINATION. In 2001, she enrolled in the three-year Business Administrationcourse at Durham College. During that time, she was workingpart-time at McDonald’s’ Ritson Road, Oshawa location, attendingclasses and raising two children with her husband. After threebusy years, Madden graduated at the top of her class in 2004.“Once I decide to do something, I have to finish it,” said

Madden. “Having a goodsupport system including myfamily, friends and professors,made it easy.”Today, Madden can still be

found at McDonald’s, butinstead of working with burgers,she is working with budgets asa general accountant for WilsonFoods, which overseesMcDonald’s Oshawa market.She is required to balance thegeneral ledgers; sign off onpayables; produce monthlyreports for the managers,supervisors and owners; and ensure all in-house payroll is correct.Before she obtained her

accountant position, she facedmany challenges includingbecoming a certified generalaccountant (CGA). Benefitingfrom the Durham College diploma, Madden began at the fourthlevel of the CGA program, which at the time had five levels. Aftercompleting all of the CGA courses, she went on to receive aBachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from LaurentianUniversity in Sudbury, Ont. The combined education earned her a CGA designation. While

working to become a CGA, she faced 20 to 30 hours of studying a week. This was not an easy task considering heralready busy schedule.

A typical day for Madden started at 5:45 a.m. when she wouldwake up, get the kids off to their grandmother’s and then beginwork at 7 a.m. Eight hours later she would pick up the kids from school, prepare dinner, help with piano practice and thenspend three to five hours studying. All of this on top of regularappointments, recitals and special occasions. Finally, in October2010, Madden received her degree from Laurentian and the next

month was admitted into theCGA profession.“My family and friends knew

that I had a very busy schedule,”said Madden. “They were verysupportive and kept my spirits up.”Throughout her years as a

student, she worked part-time at McDonald’s performing someadministrative tasks. With theCGA goal in mind and a retiringaccountant on the horizon, Maddenwas approached for the soon-to-be-vacant accountant position.“A large part of my success is

owed to the Durham Collegeprofessors – they were amazing,”said Madden. “I reflect back onDurham College with a lot ofgood memories.”After 10 years of school,

Madden’s hard work anddedication has unquestionably

paid off. She took on the challenges of raising a family, getting an education and working part-time without hesitation. Herperseverance throughout her years at Durham College certainlydid not go unnoticed by her fellow students.“I am so proud of her,” said Vicky Tallon, a former classmate.

“She is an inspiration to both young and mature students.”

FROM BURGERS TO BUDGETS

by Kaitlyn Da Silva


McDonald’s, located on Ritson Road in Oshawa, is a second home to graduate Meryan Madden, certified general accountant.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION GRADUATE MERYAN MADDEN HAS FOUND HERCALLING AND IS LOVIN IT

PHOTO COURTESY OF MERYAN MADDEN

DURING THE DARKEST DAYS OF THErecent economic downturn, entrepreneurLaura Vaillancourt thought a turn of eventswas in order. That’s when she and herpartner, Louise Fradet-Clark, launched theevents and public relations (PR) servicesbusiness, A Turn of Events. The twowomen focus mainly on planning corporatefunctions like conferences, seminars andsymposiums.Along with her partner, Vaillancourt, a

1986 Public Relations graduate, alsoprovide clients with PR and marketingservices. Vaillancourt has experience inmarketing, selling advertising and workingin PR for the not-for-profit sector.“We’re like a package deal for

companies,” said Vaillancourt. “You have to supply what the market demands. Thepublic relations and advertising skills that Ilearned at Durham College continue to getimplemented wherever I go.”Before her event-planning career began,

Vaillancourt took the liberty of turning alocal sidewalk sale in downtown Oshawainto a fundraiser just outside her husband’s

store. The event was three days long andraised money for The Hospital for SickChildren (SickKids). A local radio stationwas also set up outside the store to coverthe event, which helped raise bothawareness and money.“It was really satisfying, because my

family has a real connection to SickKids,”said Vaillancourt, whose sister spent a longtime there as an infant. “So that event wasin honour of my family, for the generosityof SickKids. It was time to give back.”She started gaining her PR experience

while at Durham College. Between firstand second year, Vaillancourt scored awork placement at PR firm BursonMarstellar in Toronto. After graduating, she worked at a conference productioncompany in Toronto called the Institute forInternational Research. Later in her career, she was able to

branch out into the non-profit sector while working at the Eastview Boys andGirls club shortly before she co-founded A Turn of Events.

The interpersonal and writing skills shelearned in school and throughout hercareer are among the most valuable skillsshe’s attained, while her wide range ofjobs have all laid the foundation for runningher own business now, she added. “I really value my writing skills. They are

needed so much in the world of PR,” shesaid. “When I went into the course, Ithought of myself as a writer, but prettymuch had to throw all of my rules out andre-learn how to write for the business world.It’s a skill that’s used every single day.”Earlier this year, A Turn of Events

planned the 2011 Oshawa Mayor’s Gala forSeptember. The black-tie event wasexpected to see 350 guests and raisemoney for the 54-year-old OntarioPhilharmonic symphony, based in Oshawa.A Turn of Events has been open for a

year and a half and the company continuesto expand. “We hope to get morecompanies, provincially and nationally,”said Vaillancourt.


PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURA VAILLANCOURT

TURNING EVENTS INTO BUSINESSby Krista Duke

Laura Vaillancourt (left) and her business partner, Louise Fradet-Clark,work together at their office in downtownOshawa to plan corporate events.

IMAGINE A HEALTH-CARE SYSTEMwhere information about medical devicesand technology is readily available; where anurse in an intensive care unit could savelives by tapping into an informationdatabase available in the same room as apatient; or an administrator could see whatother hospitals around the province arepurchasing. It’s no small feat but thanks to a research project being conducted byDurham College professor Richard Tidman,these dreams could one day become reality.Tidman is the principal investigator for

the Bio-Medical Devices Knowledge Portal,a health-technology managementapplication based on global standards for unique device identification andinformation exchange. Established byDurham College and the private medicalsector and funded by the Colleges Ontario Network for Industry Innovation (CONII) and the Federal EconomicDevelopment Agency for SouthernOntario, the portal’s main objective is toprovide a standardized framework forexchanging information about medicaldevices to clinicians, risk managementworkers, biomedical engineeringtechnologists and administrators. “This project has the potential to change

the future of health care,” said Tidman. “It will have a profound impact on us all aspatients and taxpayers. There is no singleway in modern medicine, unless someonedevelops an absolute breakthrough in aclinical practice, that we can provide moregain to patient care than to managemedical device technology better.”According to Tidman, it would also

maximize the technology investment,

improve its integration and generallyimprove the delivery of care in everyforeseeable application. “It would shortenpatients’ length of stay in hospitals whiledecreasing wait times, improving quality of life and decreasing the cost of a single-payer system,” he said.While the current system requires nurses

to contact clinical/biomedical engineers forquestions on the devices used by patients,the portal would be able to provide real-time information to users at thepoint-of-use in hospitals, clinics andpractitioners’ offices. Studies indicate thatup to 30 per cent of a nurse’s time is spenton an issue with technology rather than onpatient care and up to 80 per cent of abiomedical engineering technologist’s timeis taken up answering clinical questions.“Our portal is based on two needs, the

technical information needs of the clinicianand the decision-making information needsfor everybody within the taxpayer fundedside of health care,” said Tidman.For example, if a nurse has questions

about a vital signs monitor, they mustcontact the device’s manufacturer or an in-house biomedical engineeringtechnologist. Using the portal, the nursecould access answers immediately at thepoint-of-care. This could not only preventimproper use of the device, but helpminimize complications in the future andfree up time that the nurse could spendwith the patient.To create the portal, Tidman applied

experiences and skills learned throughouthis 29 years in the industry. His careerbegan following a chance meeting with abiomedical engineer who had just returned

from the Vietnam War. From this encounter,Tidman found his vocation but only afterextensive federal exams and courses atthe DeVry Institute did he becomecertified. A Master’s degree in BusinessAdministration – Healthcare Administrationcompleted his student career. Today, he teaches in the Biomedical

Engineering Technology program atDurham College, a position he has he heldfor seven years. However just like hisentrance to the industry, his teachingcareer began on pure chance.“Durham College called me one day to

find out what I thought should be involvedin the curriculum,” said Tidman. “Whenthey finally got funding (for the program),they asked me out of the blue if I wantedto teach. I really hadn’t been thinking toteach at all.”Tidman is hoping the portal will be able

to manage medical device technology in aholistic way throughout the entire supplychain, something not currently being done.Many of the problems of eHealth,including extended length of stays, costoverruns and non-sustainability, are directlyrelated to the effective management ofmedical technology that the health-caresystem depends on. The portal will ensurethat physicians, clinicians andadministrators can maximize the benefitsof this medical technology for the taxpayerfor years to come.

CREATING TECHNOLOGYTODAY, SAVING LIVES TOMORROW by Christopher Cabral


PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER CABRAL

Professor Richard Tidman is working on a project that has the potential to revolutionize the Canadian health-care system.


ALMOST EVERYONE IS TOLD TO FOCUSon one thing at a time, but imaginefocusing on three things at once – not that easy. Durham College’s Office ofResearch Services and Innovation, created in 2007, does just that, focusingon three core sectors: institutionalresearch, applied research and newprogram development. Its research workbenefits students, the college and thegreater community.Institutional research focuses

exclusively on the internal affairs of thecollege including enrolment growth andgraduation rates, providing advice tomanagement on which programs areattracting and retaining students, amongstother things. For instance, if the college’sprograms were not trending in the rightdirection, staff members would researchto find out why and develop a strategy forimprovement. It is also used to supportnew program development and helpreview existing programs.

“A program review is done every five toseven years allowing all programs withinthe college to be examined,” said DebbieMcKee Demczyk, director, Office ofResearch Services and Innovation. “Thisprocess allows us to take an in-depth lookat the program and recommendimprovements, making it more attractiveto students.”Applied research can entail making a

product or process better and looks atproviding research for real-worldproblems. One of Durham College’scurrent partnerships is with Green WorksSolar Power and the creation of aprototype solar tracking system. Thisdevice would be installed on the groundto hold solar panels and move them north, east, south and west in relation tothe sun. Instead of being fixed in oneplace like most solar panels, they tilt tofollow the sun and absorb as much lightas possible.

Another of the office’s roles is to ensurestudents can fill jobs in a rapidly changingmarketplace. That’s where research helpsin new program development by lookingat programs the college should offerbased on market and employer needs.“This fall the college is offering 10 new

programs based on the research compiledover the years and on what employerswant to see in graduates,” said McKeeDemczyk. “We ask these employersbecause we want to make sure that our students will have job opportunitiesupon graduation.”“Everything that we do supports

economic development so we can providestudents with a positive and memorableexperience,” said McKee Demczyk.“Therefore, they can become entrepreneursand valued employees of the companiesthey’re with.”

GETTING RESULTSby Justyn Frizzell

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGAN PARKER

Based on the research conducted by the Office of Research Services and Innovation, Mitchell Owen, a third-year Mechanical EngineeringTechnology student, adjusts the batteries in the housing of the Extractor, a pool skimming device, so it can run all night on stored solar energy.


OPENING ITS DOORS IN 1967, DURHAMCollege welcomed 200 students to whatwas then a small and intimate school. With14 staff and a handful of programs in appliedarts, business and technology, it’s a starkcontrast to the school we have today,with more than 8,400 students. A growingnumber of those students are not fresh out of high school or in their early twenties – they’re mature students lookingfor a second career, academic upgrading or specialization.To meet the growing student population,

Durham College introduced its five-yearStrategic Enrolment Management (SEM)plan in January 2010. With a goal ofattracting 10,000 students by 2015, theplan’s focus is on program mix, studentsuccess and retention. When it comes to program mix, the

college is looking to add programs that meet current demands for workers and graduates. To that end, a number ofnew programs were planned for this fall,including Construction Carpentry –Sustainable, Emergency ServicesFundamentals, Digital Video Production and Victimology.“We want to make sure we’re offering

the right mix of certificate, diploma,advanced diploma and graduate programsas well as a variety of apprenticeshipprograms,” said Stephanie Ball, dean of theSchool of Justice & Emergency Services

and co-chair of the SEM committee. “Weare also developing programs that not onlyhave pathways from one program toanother and to universities, but are indemand within the province and thecountry and are meeting student needs.”Reaching new heights in enrolment won’t

come easy. More students means moresupport services and many areas of thecollege will have to pitch in to help. Thisincludes everything from academic advice,to financial counselling, to disabilityassistance. Services like these contributedirectly to student success.“I was having a hard time getting

organized,” said Eric George, a graduatefrom the Computer Systems Technologyprogram. “It wasn’t so much that I neededhelp learning the material it was keeping ontop of upcoming labs and assignments andbeing able to prioritize.”Connecting a student like George to the

right supports helps ensure he achieves hisacademic and personal goals.“The whole point of having this multi-

faceted approach is to enable us to look atthe larger picture so that we’re not justexpanding to take on another 2,500students and forgetting about the supportswhich come with the increased expansion,”said Ball. As important as student services are,

the role Durham College’s faculty membersplay in attracting and retaining students is

equally as important in the SEM plan. Fromtheir initial meetings during fall and springopen houses, professors are the first line ofcontact for potential and incomingstudents. This student-professor connectioncan have a significant impact on thestudent’s eagerness to learn and Ball sayshaving enthusiastic and knowledgeablefaculty who can make that connection iswhat keeps students coming back.“SEM is hard to see when you look at

the broad concept,” said Ball. “But whenyou look at our day-to-day activities, it’ssimple, not some abstract idea.” To get faculty and staff on board, the

college introduced various methods ofcommunication for the launch and roll outof the SEM plan. The SEM committeehands out coffee vouchers to employeesfor actions like assisting with summerplacement students, fostering communitypartnerships and course curriculumupdates. To make others aware of thesimple actions it takes to get on board withthe plan, voucher recipients are mentionedalong with the deed performed in regularupdates on ICE, the college’s intranet site.“We want to create a culture that

supports our students, and this is how it’sdone,” said Ball. “A lot of people are alreadyparticipating in SEM activities, they justdon’t know it.”

SATISFYING STUDENT DEMANDS by Ashley Breedon

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY BREEDON

e new Student Services building supports students in their education efforts while fostering lifelong learning.


Smoke Free signage that appearson campus and the ten-metreline that appears at entrancesand exits.

THE SMOKE FREE CAMPUS MOVEMENTis cleaning the air at colleges anduniversities across North America. Atparticipating schools, students are notpermitted to smoke on campus and tobaccoproducts are not sold in campus stores.Currently more than 130 post-secondaryschools across the United States andCanada are smoke free, including theUniversity of Alberta in Edmonton, Alta. andthe University of Calgary in Calgary, Alta.At Durham College and the University of

Ontario Institute of Technology, the Region ofDurham’s smoking restrictions apply. Theserestrictions prohibit smoking in all buildingsand within 10 metres of all entrances andexits. However, the idea of a smoke-freecampus is being explored cautiously.Opinion is split on either side of the

smoke-free spectrum. Some students, andgroups such as Leave the Pack Behind andthe Health and Safety Committee, feel asmoke-free campus will make for an overallbetter environment. They consider issueslike the fact that 8.4 per cent of Canadianshave asthma, and second-hand smoke cantrigger an asthma attack. On the other hand,some people feel that the 10-metre distanceis a big enough restriction to keep smokeaway from non-smokers.Mary-Alice Harvey, a nurse with the

Health Centre, would like to see the campusgo completely smoke free, but she alsounderstands the difficulties of doing that.“There are some students that, for

whatever reason, want a smoke-freecampus. It could be that the smoke bothersthem or they have dealt with some of theeffects of cigarettes on a personal level,”said Harvey. “And for some of those people,a 10-metre perimeter is not sufficient tokeep them away from smoke.”Harvey is also aware that a smoke-free

campus environment will not be easy to accomplish without consensus from the students.“Some students feel that they pay to

attend this school and with that they shouldbe given the right to smoke,” said Harvey.“There are also certain areas of the campusthat are not run by the college or university,so it would be difficult to get those areas tocomply with the ban, especially if they arebenefiting from tobacco sales.” Those areas include privately owned

student residences. Another issue is how ano-smoking policy would be enforced andwhere the funding would come from to payfor staff to do the job.If the ban were to occur, smokers would

be offered help to quit. Smoking cessationcounselling is already available for allstudents who want to kick the habit.

BUTTING OUT ON CAMPUSby Alexis Wiekamp

PHOTO BY ALEXIS WIEKAMP

PHOTO BY ALEXIS WIEKAMP

TOM LANNAN’S 35 YEARS OF SERVICEfor the town of Port Colborne was no walkin the park. After graduating from DurhamCollege’s Sports Administration program,Lannan was hired as the assistantdirector of Parks and Recreation in PortColborne, where he worked for 20 years.The last 15 years of his career, the 1975graduate was the city’s deputy director ofParks and Recreation. In recognition of hiswork, the city named a new sportscomplex after him.“There were a lot of different things I

looked after while working in Parks andRec,” says Lannan. “I ran two arenas, amarina, Nickel Beach, two indoor pools, a path system that runs through NiagaraRegion and 250 acres of parks andcemeteries. The last three or four yearsthat I worked, we also took over theoperation of a historical building thathouses our local theatre and the co-ordination and operation of the city’sspecial events, with the biggest one being

the city’s signature event, Canal Day.”When he retired in June, 2010, he was

awarded a mahogany plaque for all his hardwork and dedication to the city of PortColborne. He will also be receiving anhonorary picture in city hall. The picture willbe either of the marina lakefront or of theThomas A. Lannan Sports Complex. Lannan had a big part in the opening of

the sports complex and in the developmentof the marina. He came up with some of thesport facility’s expansion ideas and handledthe maintenance of the plan. They weretwo projects that he put extensive timeand effort into and he counts that contributionamong his greatest achievements. He is now reaping the rewards of all his

hard work by getting the most out of hisretirement. Since packing up his office, hehas travelled to Disney World, Chicago,Vegas and Vancouver. Next he plans to goto Eastern Canada and then Europe.The mayor of Port Colborne, Vance

Badawey, told Niagara This Week,

“Regardless of the capacity in which Tomwas working, he was the go-to person.Bottom line, Tom cared.” The Sports Administration program at

Durham College was a huge help in hiscareer. According to Lannan, he would not have had a job a month after graduationwithout it. He was a part of the secondgraduating class and feels his mostmemorable professor, Don Fraser, helpedhim succeed by offering much guidanceand support. At the time of Lannan’sgraduation, Durham College was the onlycollege in Ontario to offer the program. He remembers the college didn’t have a gym or a residence back when he attended classes. “I feel very blessed to have worked in

parks and recreation,” says Lannan.“There’s nothing else I would have ratherdone. If I hadn’t gone to Durham Collegefor Sports Administration, I would haveworked at the Maple Leaf Flour Mill,where I worked before college.”

RECOGNITION FOR RECREATIONby Sarah Taylor


PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM LANNAN

Sports Administration graduateTom Lannan has a chance to relax

after retiring as Port Colborne’sParks and Recreation director this

past June.


With the introduction of all-day kindergarten, children have more opportunity to learn through play with the support of both a teacher and early childhood educator.

FOR PARENTS, FINDING AFTER-SCHOOLcare for young children is both stressfuland time consuming. For teachers,instilling a love of learning in active childrencan sometimes be a tall order. Forchildcare providers, the desire to open achild’s eyes to the joy of play can also bedifficult. For early childhood education(ECE) graduates, the battle to find a jobyou love can be just as stressful.Thankfully, all of these problems have thepotential to be reduced, since Ontariointroduced all-day kindergarten. Introducing full-day learning has brought

relief for many people in the DurhamRegion where all-day kindergarten wasintroduced in 2010 and has beenparticularly beneficial for ECE students. “For the graduating student it’s a

positive step, because employmentopportunities are expanding and willcontinue to expand until full-day learning isin all schools,” said ECE professor Ann-Marie Ulrich.While not much is changing in the

program curriculum, ECE students are

becoming more familiar with the idea ofworking in kindergarten classroomsalongside a teacher. Students areresearching what this change means forthem as childhood educators and whattheir designated roles will be in theclassroom.

Teachers are still responsible for creatingand applying the kindergarten curriculum,but due to the higher volume of studentsin the classroom, they need more help.That is where ECE graduates step in. “Students are becoming familiar with

full-day learning documents because we’reembedding them in the curriculum now, sostudents will know the outcomes ofkindergarten when they go into the field,”

said Ulrich. “There are some challenges for the teachers with full-day learningbecause now they have a new partner andthere is still a lot of confusion about theirresponsibilities. It was such a quick roll out so they are still trying to figure outwhat roles the two different professionalswill play.”One of the most exciting things about

this change to full-day kindergarten is theamount of growth there will be in theindustry. Not only will more jobs beavailable, but it seems safe to assume thatmore people will be interested in studyingearly childhood education. “The ECE program has always been

popular, but I do believe it will continue togrow even more. I think it will also offersome recognition for those alreadyworking in the field, about what they doand how important it is,” said Ulrich. “Thestudents leave with the philosophy thatplay is the best way to learn. Kindergartenclassrooms are play-based, so it is aperfect fit.”

ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN GETS A+by Sara Lennox

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARA LENNOX

“For graduating students, it’s a positive step because the employment opportunities areexpanding and will continue toexpand until full-day learning is in all of the schools.”

RECEPTIONISTS, SERVERS,bartenders, cooks and housekeepers –they all provide guests with customerservice at hotels, bars and restaurantsaround the world. And they’re usuallysupervised by one person: a hospitalitymanager.That’s one position that Robert Grieve,

lead faculty member of the newHospitality Management – Hotel,Restaurant and Tourism program knowswell, having worked in the hospitalityindustry for more than 20 years, mainlyin hotels and resorts.The program launched in September

2010 and prepares students foremployment in the growing hospitalityindustry across the Durham Region. “There are university-level courses

and some other colleges who offer thehospitality management program butwith Durham College and the size of thepopulation base here there is a realopportunity,” said Grieve. “A lot of people

are going to end up working in thisindustry either by choice or because thatis what they fall into, so it made sensefor Durham College to offer this program.”The two-year diploma program prepares

students to work in a managerial positionat any business where customers come in looking for a hospitality experience. The course builds skills in three mainareas: business management, customerservice and eco-friendly hospitality practices.Students also get a first-hand learning

experience in the food lab. “In the lab,students actually slice, dice and cook,”Grieve said. They also complete an 80-hour placement component in their fourth semester in a hospitality-driven facility to help them develophands-on skills.In its first year, the program was full

with 46 students enrolled and manymore on the waiting list, which may bethe best evidence of the need for theprogram in Durham Region.

“We are never going to be a massivefactory school; the program wants to bevery small and student-centred,” Grieveexplained. “We are also looking atbuying our supplies from the localcommunity because the program has alocal focus as well as an eco-concentration.”“The hospitality industry is realizing

customers want businesses to beenvironmentally friendly, a large part ofthe course will focus on that so whenstudents go out into the industry theycan bring something new to the table,”said Grieve.Enrolment is expected to grow in the

near future and to accommodate thegrowing number of students the collegehas some changes in store.“On the books right now is the plan to

build a new food and hospitality buildingon the Whitby campus that will befocused entirely on hospitality andculinary studies,” said Grieve.


PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANE MCKENNA

WELCOMING NEW HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMby Shane McKenna

ESTABLISHING A STRONG STAKE IN THEgreen evolution, Durham College is takingthe environmental frontier by storm and itgoes way beyond tossing a soda can or anewspaper into the recycling bin. Through the use of a third-party

verification and rating system calledLeadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign (LEED), Phase 1 of Durham College’sWhitby campus expansion is utilizingseveral technologies aimed at improvingsustainability and performance including afocus on materials selection, energy efficiencyand indoor environmental quality.

LEED offers four levels of certificationand Phase 1 of the college’s Whitbycampus has set its sights on gold. Byincorporating numerous green strategiessuch as low-flush toilets and an increaseduse of windows and skylights to reducethe need for electrical lighting, this high-level designation will translate into a decrease in the building’s overallenvironmental impact. In fact, according to Durham College President Don Lovisa,energy efficiency has already improved by 35 per cent. Noting that the college’s green evolution

is not a new concept, Ralph Aprile,associate vice-president, Facilities andAncillary Services, says Phase 1 shouldreceive the official certification before theend of 2011. “Thinking green is something we’ve

been doing here since I started 26 yearsago. It’s always been a part of our mindsetand where we’re going,” said Aprile. “It’snot a hard decision to make when there issuch an abundance of renewable resources.”Organizations must weigh many factors

when attempting to obtain LEEDcertification. For example, when selectingmaterials they need to consider theproduct’s performance and its long-termviability. This ties directly into the overallenergy efficiency of the building throughthe use of items such as high-thermalvalue windows, which work to insulateindoor environments from the outsideelements. As Aprile explains, the certificationrequirements encompass the overallbuilding process. Producing electricity through the use

of more than 350 solar panels and sixwind turbines, Phase 1 has also achievedthe status of being energy neutral, whichmeans it supplies the energy it is consuming,something supported by a geothermalsystem at the Whitby campus, which uses water from the earth to heat and coolthe building.Students enrolled in the college’s

environmentally distinctive programs alsoreceive hands-on learning experiencesthrough these initiatives. The ability towork with and manage the various buildingcomponents is invaluable to propertraining and education.“Students have access to Phase 1 from

a controlling and studying point of view,tracking energy and modelling energytechnologies. That’s what makes DurhamCollege unique, that living lab,” said Lovisa.

WHITBY CAMPUS LEEDSGREEN EVOLUTIONby Ashley Breedon


PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY BREEDON

SPORTS ADMINISTRATION graduate Angela Feurstein sprang at the chance to work full-time forGymnastics Ontario immediately after graduating in 2002.Her love affair with gymnastics

started in her teen years when shewas an avid gymnast and competitor.As part of the Sports Administrationprogram at Durham College, Feursteinwas required to complete a workplacement. Familiar with her love of gymnastics, a good friendrecommended she try to complete herplacement at Gymnastics Ontario. She not only landed the placement

with Gymnastics Ontario but she also made the job stick when she wasoffered a full-time position as coachingco-ordinator after completing herplacement. As co-ordinator sheorganized gymnastics coaching coursesthroughout the province; maintainedthe massive coaching database; andhelped plan the annual coachingconference. Four years later, Gymnastics Ontario

chief executive officer, Holly Abrahamoffered Feurstein the job of Trampolineand Tumbling program manager. Thatposition included being in charge of thecompetitive trampoline and tumblingcoaches and judges across the province.During that time, Gymnastics Ontariobecame ISO certified, the first-eversport organization to receive that

organizational stamp of approval. Shortly after, Feurstein found herself

in need of a change and anotheropportunity arose.“My mentor Kellie Hinnells had moved

to Ottawa to become the executivedirector of the Ottawa GymnasticsCentre and when a position becameavailable on her team, she offered it to me,” she said. Today, Feurstein is the operations manager at theOttawa Gymnastics Centre, where she continues to exercise her passionfor gymnastics. “The position I accepted has evolved

into the operations manager positionand I’m constantly being given newchallenges and projects,” Feurstein said.Her favourite pastime and second

passion is photography. Lucky for her,her current job gives her the freedomto pursue that passion as well. Hinnellsappreciates Feurstein’s love ofphotography and encourages her totake pictures at competitions andevents to post on the centre’s website. As part of her role, Feurstein recently

organized an events team to travel andparticipate in several festivals throughoutthe city to promote the OttawaGymnastics Centre and educate thepublic about what the centre offers. In addition to her day job, Feurstein

enjoys her evening job with the OttawaSport and Social Club, promoting it as

HIGH ON GYMNASTICSby Erin Stevenhaagen


PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANGELA FEURSTEIN

Angela Feurstein is all smiles as operationsmanager of the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre.


recess for adults. As evening leaguefacilitator, she finds herself doingeverything from equipment drop-offsat schools to replacing an absent eventco-ordinator. That may mean watchingfour hours of floor hockey to monitorthe players and make sure they haveeverything they need. Although this jobis mainly supervising, she is doingwhat she is passionate about in bothroles – promoting active living.

“The Ottawa Gymnastics Centre isheading in a new direction and I’mhappy to be a part of it,” said Feurstein.“I would never have had this experienceor opportunity had I not taken SportsAdministration at Durham College.”

Sports Admininstration graduate AngelaFeurstein shows off her gymnastics talent.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANGELA FEURSTEIN

Exciting new programs for September 2012• Accessibility Coordination (graduate certificate)• Artisan Agriculture• Community Services and Child Studies Foundations• Emergency Management (graduate certificate)• Energy Management and Sustainable

Building Technology• Fire and Life Safety Systems Technician• Food Processing Safety Techniques

• Horticulture Technician• Legal Research and Information Management

(graduate certificate)• Library and Information Technician• Recreation and Leisure Services• Science and Engineering Fundamentals• Trades Fundamentals• Web Applications for Mobile Computing

(graduate certificate)

WWW.DURHAMCOLLEGE.CA/NEW I 905.721.3000


STAYING HEALTHY CAN BE HARD FORanyone, especially those approaching theirsenior years. Sports Administrationgraduate Laurence Bishop has spent thelast five years trying to make it a littleeasier. The independent sports consultanthas gone from producing seniors’ sportevents at provincial and national levels inCanada, to producing them at a nationallevel in the United States, overseeing theNational Senior Games Association (NSGA).A non-profit member of the United

States Olympic Committee, the NSGA isdedicated to motivating senior men andwomen to lead a healthy lifestyle andensure healthy aging through the seniorgames movement. “When you consider that the United

States has more than 116 million peoplewho are 50 years of age or older, the NSGAhas a lot of people to motivate,” said Bishop.He acts as a consultant to management

concerning all aspects of the NSGA’snational events and programs. This includeseverything from budget development tolocal organizing committee relations andsite selection for future events. “We are servicing the single largest

demographic event in U.S. history – thebaby boom,” explained Bishop. “This grouphas redefined each stage in life throughthe years and you can predict they willredefine the next step as well.”The programs engage about a quarter of

a million people. Of these, nearly 27,000participants qualified in state competitionsfor the 2011 Summer National Games inHouston, Texas in June where 10,000athletes were expected to compete. Thelargest sporting event in the world forseniors should generate more than $40million in economic activity for theHouston region.Prior to joining the NSGA, Bishop

worked on two major seniors’ events forthe Ontario Senior Games Associationwhich promotes wellness for seniors 55years of age and older living in the province.Most recently he was executive director ofthe 2010 Canada 55+ Games in Brockville.These games bring together relativelysmall groups, representing their respectiveprovinces or territories and attracted morethan 2,000 competitors to Ontario lastsummer. Depending on their success atthe Canadian National Championships,participants earned the right to move

on to the NSGA’s 2011 Summer NationalSenior Games. While supervising the entire operation

of the 2010 Canada 55+ Games, Bishopdecided to travel to Palo Alto, Calif. in 2009 to observe the national Americancompetition. During his stay, he attendedan organizer’s social function where hestumbled upon another Durham Collegegraduate and head of the local organizingcommittee for the Houston games. Littledid he know that the chance encounterwould lead to a working relationship.While at a Japanese disco, Bishop

ended up sitting next to DJ Mackovets,who noticed that Bishop was Canadian.They struck up a conversation andMackovets mentioned that he hadattended Durham College for SportsAdministration and asked if Bishop hadever heard of it. “I told him that not only had I heard

of Durham College, but that I’m also agraduate of the same program,” saidBishop. That meeting led to Mackovetsrecommending Bishop for his currentposition with the NSGA. “It’s cool, we’ve developed a good

working relationship. It’s the proverbialexample of a small world,” said Mackovets

who was happy to recommend Bishop forthe job. “He’s passionate about the seniormovement and the NSGA.” Once Bishop started the position, the

two got together for four-day stretches, oncea month to co-ordinate their efforts for thegames. Mackovets oversaw the local sideof organizing the national NSGA summergames in Houston, while Bishop looked atthe event from a national perspective.Mackovets, a 1980 graduate, is highly

recognized in the event planning world,with impressive experience in organizingtop-level events. To name a few, he wasinvolved in organizing the Atlanta Olympics(1996), three Super Bowls (2000, 2004 and2006) and the U.S. National Figure SkatingChampionships (2003).“This is a new world for me (working in

the United States versus Canada),” saidBishop. “I’ve learned so much from DJ,working with him these last few months.”

SPEARHEADING SENIOR SPORTSby Kristen Carey

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NSGA

(from left to right) Sports Administration graduates DJ Mackovets (class of1980) and Laurence Bishop (class of 1993), sit together at their monthly meeting in Houston, Texas this past March. The two Durham College graduates collaborated on hosting the National Senior Games Association’s(NSGA) 2011 Summer Games.


1969

RONALD HOOPER (Business – Marketing)lives in Bowmanville with his wife Joan. They recently celebrated their 40th weddinganniversary. Hooper was part of the first graduating class of Durham College. He is thepresident of Hooper’s Jewellers Ltd. which recently celebrated its 65th anniversary indowntown Bowmanville and has two growndaughters. One attended Durham College’s Police Foundations program and is now working in the family business (third generation). He is also a municipal councillorfor the Municipality of Clarington, currently inhis second term. He has been involved withthe Clarington Board of Trade, BowmanvilleBusiness Improvement Areas and the Canadian Jewellery Buying Group.

1987

SANDRA SMITH (nee Cotter) (Business –Data Processing) lives in Lindsay with her husband Mike. She has a daughter, 29-year-oldAmie, and a son, 18-year-old Morgan. Smithworks at the Ministry Of Community and Social Services in Lindsay as a caseworker.

1991

TIM PAYNE (Electronic Engineering Technician) lives in Barrie. Payne is a damage prevention technologist for Canadian Locators Inc.

KENNETH WEIR (Graphic Design) lives in Marlborough, Mass. with his daughters, 17-year-old Ashley and 14-year-old Kaitlyn. Weir is a staff instructor for AB SCIEX in Massachusetts.

1996

DEBORAH CLARKE (nee Brock) (Journalism,1996 and Graphic Design, 2000)lives in Oshawa with her husband Wade andthree sons, seven-year-old Caeden, five-year-old Levon and three-year-old Finley. She worksat Hornet Media as a creative director.

1997

MICHAELA HELLIWELL (nee Chambers)(Graphic Design) lives in Pickering with herhusband Randy and their two children, six-year-old Ethan and three-year-old Rowyn.Helliwell was an associate art director before opening her own photo studio, whichspecializes in boudoir photography for diversewomen of all ages.

SHARLTON HERCULES (Sports Administration) lives in Toronto and works at bp health clinics as a sports injury therapist.

1998

KIANDA MAUCH (nee Snaith) (RegisteredNursing) lives in Whitby with her husbandWes. They are the proud parents of their newson, Fletcher, born on January 29, 2011.

2005

WILLIAM LISCOMBE (Power EngineeringTechnician) lives in Newcastle with his wife, Julie and their two children, four-year-old Abby and two-year-old Gavin. Liscombe works at Ontario Power Generationas an authorized nuclear operator in training.

2006

MONICA CARRIER (nee Smithe) (DentalAssisting) lives in Calgary, Alta. with her husband Michael. She works with Dr. SheilaShellborn as a treatment co-ordinator.

2007

KRISTINA PANTALEO (Advertising Administration) lives in Ajax. Pantaleo is a musician and certified speech level singing instructor in Durham Region. She is the ownerof TrueVoice Singing Lessons located in Ajax.

2010

JULIA SCOTT (Office Administration Medical)lives in Oshawa with her daughter, 14-year-oldFelicia.

2011

JANNAH DESHEVY (General Arts and Science) lives in Pickering with her two-year-old daughter Kali Konstantine. Deshevy works at Pickering Optometric Clinic as a medical receptionist.

KYLE LARGE (Sport Management) lives in St. Catharines. Large works for Olds CollegeAthletics as a campus recreation programmer.

IN MEMORIAM

ROBERT HOGAN, a 1971 Public Relationsgraduate, passed away on August 12, 2011.

RICHARD JONES, a 1970 Business Administration – Marketing program graduatepassed away on July 9, 2011 after a courageousbattle with cancer.

BARRY LAROCK, a 1986 Sports Administration program graduate, passed away in June 2010.

BILL LANSING, a 2003 Law and Security Administration program graduate, passed awayas the result of a car accident on June 24, 2011.

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durham college alumni magazine · 2 reflections | fall 2011 another academic year is underway and...

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