FEBRUARY 2018 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS LOVE AT DC DC LAUNCHES AI HUB STAY CONNECTED IN THIS ISSUE FEBRUARY 2018 04 Message from the president 22 A Whitby campus homecoming 06 Message from the 24 Let’s stay in touch: ABOUT THIS ISSUE DCAA president Alumni update campaign The award-winning DC Alumni magazine is written, designed 08 DC reaches 50 acts of kindness 26 DC launches first-of-its-kind applied research AI Hub and published by the 10 Call for nominations: Communications and Marketing Alumni of Distinction 28 Alumni spotlight: Manjula department to complement the Selvarajah and Brandon Nolan Reflections publication prepared 12 Donor spotlight: return for Alumni in the Pit three times a year by students Nurse Chevrolet Cadillac in Durham College’s (DC) Public 30 Benefit of the month DC collaborates with Relations program. Both are 14 Parkwood Estates to recreate Sports shots available by visiting our Alumni 32 iconic gardens publications page. 36 Upcoming events 16 Alumni Night at the Do you have a story idea or Oshawa Generals 38 Giving to DC something to share? Is there anything you would like to read 18 Love at DC about? We would love to hear from you! Please email us with your comments, questions or suggestions. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Welcome to 2018. You will read about our cutting-edge research, with the launch of the Durham College Hub for While the entire Durham College (DC) community Applied Research in Artificial Intelligence for is looking forward to the year ahead, we Business Systems. also fondly reflect on DC’s 50th anniversary celebrations as a highlight of 2017. Throughout We know our approach works. We have seen it the year, we had the opportunity to recognize over the course of the past five decades as our the accomplishments of many of our students, alumni have graduated and become community employees and alumni that represent the college builders and leaders who have responded to across the globe. As our anniversary festivities all types of changes and opportunities in their ended, the college is left with much optimism for personal and professional lives. the future. This issue of the magazine also includes examples Bolstered by the success of our students and of those community builders; graduates like alumni, that optimism serves as a guiding force Pat and Dave Fletcher, whose love connection for the years to come. In thinking ahead, DC is was fostered at DC and turned into a lifelong keenly interested in and aware of the acceleration relationship with the college, and Brandon of technological and societal change and how we Gvazdaitis, whose work as a welder brought respond to the challenges those advancements him back to DC to work on the construction can bring. at the CFF. With the future in mind, we are engaged We have been very fortunate over this past year in leading-edge research, investing in new to connect with many alumni to hear their stories technology and expanding our programs and and I encourage all our graduates to reach out and facilities. In this issue of the Alumni Magazine, stay in touch. The college is extremely proud of you will find an update about the ongoing our alumni and wants to know how you are doing. construction at the W. Galen Weston Centre for All the best, Food (CFF), which includes an outdoor classroom Don and the installation of our brew lab and line. DC president Don Lovisa, Louie the Lord and DC alumnus Phil Pritchard on campus with the Stanley Cup. 4 DCALUMNI FEBRUARY 2018 DCALUMNI MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 5 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE DC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Happy New Year to all our Durham College (DC) Previous Alumni of Distinction winners include alumni. I hope these past few months have left Brent Lessard, who also won a 2017 Ontario you feeling invigorated and ready for all that 2018 Premier’s Award, as was profiled in our last edition will bring. of the magazine. The entire DC community is extremely proud of his achievement. The Alumni Association is marking the start of the year with a focus on connections. We’ve got Despite the fact it is still early in 2018, there has a fresh new motto, DC alumni – a community for already been many exciting things happening you, and we’re going to be looking for more ways in the alumni community. At the beginning of than ever to touch base with the college’s grads January, we welcomed DC alumnus Phil Pritchard and our alumni in the field. back to campus. As the Keeper of the Cup, he also brought another famous lord with him – Lord Whether it’s through social media or at a Stanley that is, in the form of the Stanley Cup. networking event, we would love to hear from you, which is why we’re running our Alumni We enjoyed another successful Alumni Night at Update Campaign. Please make the updates to the Oshawa Generals in mid-January. More than your contact details by Wednesday, March 21, 130 alumni and employees came out for a night of to be entered into a draw to win a $250 VISA gift reconnecting with the college and each other, not card. You can do so by visiting to mention some great hockey. www.durhamcollege.ca/alumni/updateyourinfo. There is a lot more planned for the coming We are also hoping you can help by nominating months so be sure to check the upcoming events a DC graduate, who is making an impact in their section of the magazine for details. field or is creating change in their community, As we head into the coming year, please know for the 2018 Alumni of Distinction award. the entire Alumni Association is working hard Nominations are now being accepted and details to ensure 2018 is going to be successful, as we about how to submit a name for consideration can engage with our graduates at home and around be found on page 10 of this issue of the magazine. the world. DCAA president Elaine Garnett with Practical Nursing student and scholarship recipient Rosalee Budai at the Student Donor Elaine Recognition Evening. 6 DCALUMNI FEBRUARY 2018 DCALUMNI MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE DC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 7 DC REACHES 50 ACTS OF KINDNESS TO WRAP UP MILESTONE YEAR Riding a wave of holiday spirit across campus, COMMUNITY INTEGRATION THROUGH Durham College (DC) reached its goal of 50 Acts COOPERATIVE EDUCATION (CICE) TEAM: of Kindness completed and shared by the end of HERIZON HOUSE DONATIONS its 50th anniversary year. Launched in April as In April, a team from DC’s CICE program collected part of DC’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the 50 and donated items to Herizon House, a place of Acts of Kindness project was designed to capture safety for abused women and their children. a snapshot of how members of the campus community give back. PAM STONEHAM: WOMEN IN POWER BUILD Whether they were volunteering, donating to A team of DC women participated in the Women a food or clothing drive, helping a neighbour in Power Build event in June, supporting Habitat or surprising someone in need of a smile, DC for Humanity Durham. $465 was raised for a students, employees, alumni and retirees proved great cause. that they’re both go-getters and go-givers! Each act of kindness was submitted to the DC50 DANIELLE HARDER: JOANNE’S HOUSE website along with a brief description of the In May, Danielle Harder, a journalism professor act of kindness, participants involved and a with DC’s School of Media, Art and Design, photo. As each act of kindness was received volunteered to make and serve dinner for it was then posted to the 50 Acts of Kindness residents of Joanne’s House, a shelter for webpage building a virtual collage of goodwill homeless teenagers in Durham Region. and community. DC is grateful to everyone who contributed JULIET EMILY MATTOCK: generosity and good deeds to help reach 50 Acts DONATIONS FOR AN ANIMAL SHELTER of Kindness. Below are some highlights: In May, DC student Juliet Emily Mattock, collected supplies such as dog and cat food, treats, toys, blankets, towels and leashes, to give her local animal shelter, the Arnprior & District Humane Society. 8 DCALUMNI FEBRUARY 2018 DCALUMNI DC REACHES 50 ACTS OF KINDNESS TO WRAP UP MILESTONE YEAR 9 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: ALUMNI OF DISTINCTION Durham College (DC) is now accepting Since 1990, 101 alumni have received the Alumni nominations for its Alumni of Distinction of Distinction honour. These include Brent award, which recognizes graduates who make Lessard and Debbie Low, who are also Premier’s extraordinary contributions to society while also Award winners, as well as Philip Pritchard, who achieving career success. was a Premier’s Award nominee. Recipients are selected based on professional, Nominations for this year’s award are due by community and personal accomplishments, Friday, March 9 at 5 p.m. contributions to the advancement of DC, and the To submit a DC graduate for consideration please geographic (regional, national, and international) visit www.durhamcollege.ca/alumniofdistinction scope of impact for their achievements. to download the nomination form. Once it is completed, please send it to: “We are incredibly lucky to have more than 82,000 alumni representing the college across Durham College Alumni office the globe,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham 2000 Simcoe St. N. College. “This award is our opportunity to Oshawa, ON acknowledge the incredible work they are L1H 7K4 doing professionally and personally while also The awards will be presented at Spring highlighting their achievements.” Convocation in June.