Durham College and UOIT students receive financial boost from civil construction industry

OSHAWA, Ont. - Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) announced today that students enrolled in programs related directly to the civil construction industry will now have access to an additional financial resource thanks to the generous support of the Durham Region Heavy Contractors Association (DRHCA).

"We are delighted to be able to establish this endowment fund to assist students in their pursuit of an education in a civil construction-related field," said Greg White, former president of the DRHCA. "There is a growing demand for skilled professionals and tradespeople in our industry here in Durham Region and across the country. It is our hope that these annual awards will provide the help needed to encourage deserving students to pursue higher education in these fields."

The organization has donated $41,000 to create the Durham Region Heavy Contractors Association Fund, which will provide annual awards of $1,600 to one full-time student at the college and one at the university. Both must be enrolled in a program related to the construction industry, be a resident of Ontario and have a demonstrated financial need. The gift was formally presented to Clive Waugh, director of Leadership Gifts at Durham College and UOIT, during the DRHCA's annual golf tournament and dinner held Thursday, May 10 at Wooden Sticks golf course in Uxbridge, Ontario. The generous donation qualifies for the provincial government's Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS) matching program, creating a total endowment of $82,000.

"We are very pleased that the Durham Region Heavy Contractors Association has chosen to create this endowment and help remove the financial barriers that can stand between students and their pursuit of higher education," said Dr. Ronald Bordessa, president of UOIT. "This funding will enable deserving students to access the state-of-the-art and leading-edge education provided by UOIT, education that will put them one step ahead when they graduate and prepare them to become the leaders of tomorrow."

The DRHCA is made up of 23 member companies that work with Durham Region and local municipalities to improve and standardize construction practices. The group's focus includes employee health and safety and promoting the construction industry as an attractive career choice for youth.

"Through this generous endowment, students who face financial difficulties will now have an additional opportunity to access Durham College's market-driven programs and exceptional professors," said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. "I am thrilled that the DRHCA is contributing this financial assistance, which will enable current and future students enrolled in such Durham College programs as Electrical Technician - Instrumentation and Control, and Mechanical Technician - Mechanical Maintenance and Control to gain the hands-on experience needed to succeed in their careers and make a difference to the construction industry here in Durham Region and across the province of Ontario."

About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT's 4,300 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, the university offers more than 30 challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of Business and Information Technology, Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Sciences. UOIT's commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including five Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 different full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of continuing education and part-time programs, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for close to 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of close to 95 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has close to 6,000 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and over 1,575 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

About the Durham Region Heavy Contractors Association
In 1997 the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA) approached local contractors to form an association to ensure there was local representation on the OSWCA Board of Directors. This group, the Central-East Construction Association, became the Durham Region Heavy Contractors Association (DRHCA) in 1999.

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
Tony Doyle
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2209
tony.doyle@dc-uoit.ca