Durham College begins Whitby expansion
Durham College has announced it has begun construction on an expansion of its south campus. (Photo by Chris Jones)
By Chris Jones/The Oshawa Express
Durham College has begun construction on the next phase of expansion of its south end campus.
The goal of the project is to provide more opportunities for students to enter the skilled trades and receive training and education. The project will cost a total of $35 million, with part of the expenses going towards the purchase of specialized equipment.
Skills Canada has estimated the country will need one million new workers in the skilled trades by the end of 2020, and 40 per cent of new jobs created over the next decade will be in the skilled trades as well.
Colleges Ontario forecasts the province face a 500,000 skilled labour worker deficit by 2030.
Over the last three years, Durham College has had approximately 2,400 seats available across nine skilled trades programs each year, and would receive 7,000 applications for these programs.
In response, the college will be expanding by 60,000 sq. ft., and will increase its student intake by 700 to 750 students over the next three to five years.
Durham College president Don Lovisa said this type of expansion is much needed.
“The college continuously hears from its partners that they need more skilled workers and would like new programs developed to focus on emerging industries,” he said. “Yet in spite of our current efforts, the ability to keep up with the demand remains a challenge due to the physical space constraints at the Whitby campus. For example, the student population has increased by 130 per cent in the past 10 years.”
Whitby MPP Lorne Coe told the crowd he is excited to put a spotlight on education and students with this announcement.
“On any given day, there’s tens of thousands of jobs that go unfilled,” said Coe. “Many of those are in the skilled trades.”
The expansion will feature a double-height shop lab which will address the needs of both the mechanical and construction programs.
It will also house a two-storey building model, and the lab will allow plumbing students to work underneath it while students in the elevator repair program will be able to learn practically in a dual-level elevator shaft.
The expansion will also have classrooms with movable walls and furniture, training labs with dedicated space and equipment, student leisure spaces, a fitness centre, and a food services facility.
The Town of Whitby provided $1 million in funding towards the project.