How do you prepare for the careers of tomorrow at a time when everything seems to be
changing? It’s a question many students are asking themselves after eighteen months of a
global pandemic that has transformed the way we work, learn and live.
Despite this, the formula for success hasn’t changed – and it’s the same one Durham College
(DC) has been using for decades to prepare students to face the world head-on.
Whether learning from expert faculty in state-of-the-art facilities or participating in
interactive, experiential learning opportunities – like co-op, applied research, field placement
and more – students at DC gain the theoretical knowledge and real-world experience that
help them pursue their ambitions and make them valuable to employers.
Since 1967, more than 100,000 DC students have graduated career-ready and prepared to
create meaningful change in their communities, including notable alumni like Tamara Dus and
Brent Lessard.
A health care trailblazer on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dus co-led the provincial pilot vaccination roll-out plan in 2021 and administered the first Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Ontario. In the tech industry, Premier’s Award recipient Lessard graduated from DC and went on to co-found rLoop, Inc., a non-profit think tank with more than 1,600 members who develop and launch world-changing technology. Dus and Lessard began their stories at DC, where they gained valuable skills required to become leaders in their sectors.
As students are given the opportunity to forge their own path, exploring programs
and credentials that best suit their needs, they’re supported with access to programming,
events and services that nurture entrepreneurship, creativity, sustainability, diversity,
inclusion, mental wellness, and Indigenous culture, helping them develop as global citizens.
This unique DC culture has helped graduates in the real world draw on their knowledge and
passion to contribute to their career sectors in amazing ways.
As a chef turned filmmaker who has seen early career success putting the ‘art’ in culinary
arts, alumna Kristin Atwood is another example of how DC students are thriving post graduation. Atwood spent her time at DC gaining hands-on experience in the kitchens at the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food, while exploring her creative interests outside of cooking. Since graduating in 2017, she has relocated to Scotland and founded Chef Studio, a Daytime Emmy® and James Beard nominated creative food and film production company specializing in creative cooking content for digital and broadcast platforms. She was also named Best New Filmmaker at the Canadian Diversity Film Festival.
There are thousands more stories of innovative DC grads succeeding in their chosen careers
– building upon the specialized knowledge and real-world experience gained in college
that employers are looking for when hiring. As students prepare to take the step into postsecondary education, asking themselves, “where do I go from here?” the answer is easy – go where success matters.
To learn more about Durham College, its market-driven programs and exceptional student
experience, visit www.durhamcollege.ca.
