Durham College

Public college in Oshawa and Whitby, Canada

Not to be confused with the colleges of Durham University in England.

For other uses, see Durham College (disambiguation).

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Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology

Motto| Together, we're leading the way
Type| Public
Established| 1967

Academic affiliations

| CBIE, ACCC, AUCC
President| Elaine Popp
Students| More than 13,000 (2025: 10,682 FTEs)[1]
Location|

Oshawa

Ontario

Canada

43°56′38″N 78°53′49″W﻿ / ﻿43.94389°N 78.89694°W﻿ / 43.94389; -78.89694
Campus| Urban
Colours|  Black & green
Nickname| Lords

Sporting affiliations

| CCAA
Mascot| Lou
Website| www.durhamcollege.ca

Durham College is a public college in Ontario, Canada, with two main campuses in Oshawa and Whitby. Durham College offers over 145+[clarification needed] academic programs, including six bachelor degrees and eleven apprenticeship programs, to around 13,700 full-time students.

## History

[edit]

Durham College, Oshawa Campus

The college opened on September 18, 1967, in Oshawa, with 16 portable classrooms, 14 staff and 205 students. It offered courses in applied arts, business and technology. The college soon added courses in health sciences and adult training. By 1977, enrolment had grown to 1,250 students.[2]

In 1993, the college opened a secondary campus in Whitby, Ontario. It began to offer skilled trades and apprenticeship programs through the campus's Skills Training Centre.

In the early 2000s, the college established partnerships with York and Trent universities which allowed students to access university courses from the Durham College Oshawa campus. In 2003, a similar partnership was formed with Ontario Tech University. The college expanded its program offerings to include over 100 full-time programs. Enrolment grew to over 7,100 students.

In 2018, Durham College completed construction on a new building known as the Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE). It houses several classrooms for health programs and the Suswaaning Endaajig: First Peoples Indigenous Centre.

The Ontario Power Generation Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology (CSTT), located at the Whitby campus, opened in 2022 is home to numerous labs and shops. The facility allowed the college to increase its industrial skilled trades training capacity in Whitby by 750 students.

In October 2022 it was announced that the college had acquired naming rights to the Oshawa GO Station, located 30 minutes away from the college's main campus by bus (8.2 km), for an undisclosed sum.[3]

## Student Life

[edit]

Both campuses feature on-campus housing for students, sports and recreational activities, student services, a campus store, dining options, transportation and parking.

The college features a 73,000-square-foot (6,800 m2) campus library, which has four floors of learning space and a rotunda housing a periodicals collection. Other learning spaces include the computer learning commons, student services building, student centre, and a variety of other study spaces.

Durham College offers first-year information, academic support resources, career services, student testing/in-class accommodations with approved documentation through the Access & Support Centre (ASC), and Student Academic Learning Services (SALS). The student life office and Student Association offer events and programs for students of all years. Student-run media includes The Chronicle online student newspaper, and Riot student radio. The college offers a variety of athletic programs.

## Partnerships

[edit]

Durham College shares its Oshawa campus and facilities like the library and athletic facilities with Ontario Tech University.

## Programs

[edit]

The college offers a wide range of programs in various disciplines, including business, information technology, media, art, design, science, skilled trades, criminal justice, emergency services, health, social community services and engineering technology. Additionally, it administers part-time programs,[4] micro-credentials,[5] and professional development courses,[6] available both online or in-person.

### Campuses and locations

[edit]

Durham College has two main campuses, located in Oshawa and Whitby, Ontario.

## Presidents

[edit]

* Gordon Willey (1967-1980)
* Mel Garland (1980-1988)
* Gary Polonsky (1988-2006)
* Leah Myers (2006-2008)
* Don Lovisa (2009–2024)[7]
* Elaine Popp (2024–present)[8]

## Notable Alumni

[edit]

Main page: Category:Durham College alumni

* Tyler Boyco - filmmaker and artist popular for making a Robin Williams portrait that went viral in 2014.[9]
* Brandon Nolan \- retired hockey player, vice-president of Ted Nolan Foundation.
* Patricia O'Connor - founding member of the Canadian Association of Aero-medical Transport. Recipient of the Order of Canada in 2007 and recipient of the Premier's Award in 2009.
* Lauren Toyota, vegan cookbook author and blogger; former Canadian television personality
* Paul Vessey - COO of Visa USA and recipient of the Premier's Award in 2000.
* Fred Upshaw - former president of OPSEU, which represents 110,000 Ontario public sector workers; deceased.
* Sheldon McIntosh \- famous drag queen "Tynomi Banks", who starred on the first season of Canada's Drag Race.

## Sports Teams

[edit]

Varsity sports at Durham include:

* Men's and women's golf
* Men's baseball
* Women's softball
* Men's and women's volleyball
* Men's and women's basketball
* Men’s and women’s soccer
* Men’s and women’s rugby
* Mixed Esports

Teams compete as the "Durham Lords".

## See Also

[edit]

* Higher education in Ontario
* List of colleges in Ontario
* Ontario Tech University

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Student Populations". Ontario Colleges Library Service. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
2. ^ "History". Durham College. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
3. ^ "The name of Ontario's first corporately-branded train in partner with Durham College".
4. ^ "Durham College launches Centre for Professional and Part-time Learning". 2 December 2019.
5. ^ micro-credentials
6. ^ professional development
7. ^ "Our history - Durham College - Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". Archived from the original on 2015-03-21. Retrieved 2015-03-29.
8. ^ "Dr. Elaine Popp is named Durham College's next President - Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". 22 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
9. ^ "DC grad attracts attention with Robin Williams tribute - Durham College - Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". Archived from the original on 2014-10-24. Retrieved 2014-10-17.

## External Links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Durham College.

* Official website
* Official athletics website

* v
* t
* e

Post-secondary education in Ontario

Degree-granting institutions

Public
universities[1]|

* Algoma
* Brock
* Carleton
* Guelph
* Hearst‡
* Lakehead
* Laurentian/Laurentienne*
* Laurier
* McMaster
* Nipissing
* NOSM*
* OCAD U
* Ontario Tech
* Ottawa*
* Queen's
* RMC/CMR*
* Sudbury*
* TMU
* Toronto
* Trent
* UOF‡
* Waterloo
* Western
* Windsor
* York

Private
universities[2]|

* Canada Christian
* Emmanuel
* FaithWay Baptist
* Great Lakes
* Heritage
* Huntington
* Institute for Advanced Judaic Studies
* Institute for Christian Studies
* Master's
* Our Lady Seat of Wisdom
* Redeemer
* St. Philip's
* Talpiot
* Thorneloe
* Toronto Baptist
* Tyndale
* Yeshivas Ner Yisroel

Public universities grant degrees under the authority of an Act of the Legislative Assembly or a Royal Charter.[3]
Private universities grant degrees under the authority of an Act of the Legislative Assembly or may provide individual degree programs with the consent of the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.[4]

Degree programs offered
under Ministerial Consent|

* Adler Toronto
* CCNM
* CMCC
* Glenn Gould
* RCC/Yorkville

Affiliated/federated
schools|

* Assumption
* Canterbury
* Concordia
* Conrad Grebel
* Glendon*
* Huron
* Iona
* King's
* Martin Luther
* OAC
* Renison
* Saint Paul*
* St. Jerome's
* United

‡French-language institution; *bilingual institution (English/French).[5]

Colleges

Colleges of applied
arts and technology|

* Algonquin†
* Boréal‡
* Cambrian†
* Canadore
* Centennial†
* Confederation†
* Durham
* Fanshawe†
* Fleming†
* George Brown†
* Georgian†
* La Cité†‡
* Lambton†
* Loyalist†
* Mohawk†
* Niagara†
* Northern
* St. Clair†
* St. Lawrence†
* Sault
* Seneca†

Institutes of technology
and advanced learning|

* Conestoga†
* Humber†
* Sheridan†

Defunct|

* Grands-Lacs‡

†Degree programs offered ‡French-language institution[5]

Other recognized institutions

Specialist institutions|

* Michener Institute

Aboriginal institutes

* Anishinabek
* FNTI
* Kenjgewin Teg
* Iohahi:io Akwesasne
* Negahneewin
* Ogwehoweh
* Oshki-Pimache-O-Win
* Seven Generations
* Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig
* Six Nations Polytechnic

* v
* t
* e

Sports in the Greater Toronto Area

General|

* List of sports teams in Toronto
* Sports in Toronto

Baseball|

MLB
Toronto Blue Jays
IBL
Toronto Maple Leafs

Basketball|

NBA
Toronto Raptors
WNBA
Toronto Tempo (beginning in 2026)
NBA G League

Raptors 905
CEBL
Scarborough Shooting Stars
Brampton Honey Badgers

Esports|

CDL
Toronto Ultra
OWL
Toronto Defiant

Football|

CFL
Toronto Argonauts
CJFL
GTA Grizzlies

Hockey|

NHL
Toronto Maple Leafs
AHL
Toronto Marlies
PWHL
Toronto Sceptres

OHL
Brampton Steelheads
Oshawa Generals
OJHL
Aurora Tigers
Brampton Capitals
Burlington Cougars
Dixie Beehives
Georgetown Raiders
Markham Waxers
Milton Icehawks
Mississauga Chargers
Newmarket Hurricanes
North York Rangers
Oakville Blades
Orangeville Flyers
Pickering Panthers
St. Michael's Buzzers
Stouffville Spirit
Streetsville Derbys
Toronto Jr. Canadiens
Vaughan Vipers
Villanova Knights
Whitby Fury

GMHL
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Rattlers
New Tecumseth Civics
Toronto Predators

ACHL
Whitby Dunlops

Lacrosse|

NLL
Toronto Rock
MSL
Brampton Excelsiors

OLA Jr. A
Brampton Excelsiors Jr. A
Orangeville Northmen
Toronto Beaches
Whitby Warriors
OLA Jr. B
Clarington Green Gaels
Halton Hills Bulldogs
Markham Ironheads
Mimico Mountaineers
Mississauga Tomahawks
Newmarket Saints
Oakville Buzz
Orangeville Northmen Jr. B

Soccer|

MLS
Toronto FC
CPL
York United FC
NSL
AFC Toronto
MLS Next Pro
Toronto FC II

L1O
Alliance United
Blue Devils FC
Darby FC
Master's FA
North Mississauga SC
North Toronto Nitros
Pickering FC
Scrosoppi FC
Sigma FC
Unionville Milliken SC
Vaughan Azzurri
Woodbridge Strikers

CSL
FC Ukraine United
FC Continentals
Halton United
Milton SC
Scarborough SC
Serbian White Eagles FC

University athletics|

* Ontario Tech Ridgebacks
* TMU Bold
* Toronto Varsity Blues
* York Lions

College athletics|

* Seneca Sting
* Humber Hawks
* George Brown Huskies
* Durham Lords
* Centennial Colts
* Sheridan Bruins

Roller derby|

WFTDA
Hogtown Roller Derby
Toronto Roller Derby

Quadball|

MLQ
Toronto Raiders

Ultimate|

UFA
Toronto Rush

Sports venues|

* Birchmount Stadium
* BMO Field
* CAA Centre
* Centennial Park Stadium
* Coca-Cola Coliseum
* Esther Shiner Stadium
* Lamport Stadium
* Maple Leaf Gardens
* Monarch Park Stadium
* Ontario Place West Channel
* Paramount Fine Foods Centre
* Rogers Centre
* Scotiabank Arena
* Sobeys Stadium
* Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club Ground
* Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre
* Toronto Track and Field Centre
* Varsity Arena
* Varsity Stadium
* Woodbine Racetrack
* York Lions Stadium

Authority control databases |

* ISNI
* VIAF

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