Durham College
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Traditionally known as a place where plants grow, a green house is also a term used to describe homes built by sustainable carpenters. Here’s where you blend your passion for carpentry with the leading edge of sustainability, bringing your skills into the future of construction. You will gain expertise in green building principles to create energy efficient and environmentally responsible homes built with sustainable materials.

Field to Fork vision Field-to-fork is a concept based on the harvesting, storage, processing, packaging, sale and consumption of food – in particular the production of local food for local consumers. Durham College has adopted this concept and applied it to a diverse range of programs that crossover traditional academic schools with the curriculum, faculty expertise and equipment required to implement field to fork built into several of the college’s programs. Capitalizing on classroom and lab equipment availability, select courses may be offered at any of our locations including the Oshawa and Whitby campuses and the new Centre for Food (CFF), the heart of the college’s field-to-fork vision. Development on the CFF, which opened to students in September 2013, is continually underway including extensive landscaping planning for the grounds surrounding the building. This includes plans for a future on-campus orchard, pollinator garden, greenhouse, demonstrator gardens, green roof, agricultural planting zone and arboretum Become part of the rapidly evolving food sector and learn to create the wholesome locally produced, farm fresh food products in demand by today’s consumers. Many communities are looking for creative solutions to feed their own cities, and agri-tourism brings urban residents to farming areas and provides an enhanced awareness of local food production and expanded opportunities for marketing food products. Whether you are interested in developing new products for food companies, owning a greenhouse or operating a garden centre, you will gain skills in modern farming concepts that will prepare you for a variety of career options.

There is growing disconnect between humans and the environment, but well-trained environmental technologists are looking for solutions as pressures from population, industry and society continue to stress our ecosystem. Equipped with knowledge of how dangerous the use of chemicals and the overuse of resources can be, technologists provide innovative ways to reduce human impact on the environment and work toward a more sustainable way of living.

A certificate in Sustainable Local Food is designed to meet the rising interest in, and need for, training for local food system development that is sustainable, socially just, economically dynamic and ecologically specific to the countryside, cities and regions of Canada. This certificate explores the practices, principles and philosophies involved in local food system development. The curriculum is developed in collaboration with food and farm related organizations that have expertise to share, training needs to be addressed, and positions to be filled.

This program is for entry-level managers or current managers of building systems and building operations staff. It covers the essential elements of building operations administration, staffing, communications with an introduction to the legal and financial requirements for this industry.

These courses are designed to train technicians in the operation and maintenance of today's complex buildings. It is recommended that applicants be employed in a building operation. BES Operator Class II and I also benefit technical sales representatives, energy auditors and building contractors; anyone responsible for effective building operation or who want to expand their skills portfolio. These certificates are recognized by the Toronto Building Managers and Operators Association (TBMOA). The Operator Class I certificate is recognized by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA).