Centennial College School of Community and Health Studies
When Graham Mitchell graduated from Centennial College’s Paramedic program in 1992 the job market was in the doldrums of recession. So like many freshly minted college and university graduates, he found part-time work where he could.
It was during a contract with an air medevac service in Northern Ontario that Mitchell realized the extensive role private companies play in the public health-care system. He joined two partners who together purchased Parkview EMS, a small Toronto-based firm that had formed to provide medical emergency services at local horseracing tracks.
“Public services like Toronto EMS are mandated to respond to 911 calls, which means they may leave a stadium unattended,” says Mitchell, explaining the rise of private EMS services that are now fixtures at major sports events and concerts.
They grew the business to the point where today Parkview provides emergency medical services at events hosted by the Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre, Molson Amphitheatre, BMO Field and other facilities.
More recently, Orangeville-based Parkview found a new market in “aeromedical repatriation,” providing travel insurance companies with physicians, nurses and paramedics to escort patients worldwide, typically bringing them home for treatment in Canada, the U.S. or England after a medical episode or accident.
Mitchell credits his excellent training at Centennial College for his successful career as a paramedic – and as an entrepreneur.
Centennial’s School of Community and Health Studies is recognized for its innovation, high academic standards and faculty-led applied research in the area of healthcare and educational technology.
Since 1973, when the Ontario government transferred responsibility for nursing education from the province’s hospitals to its nursing program college, Centennial has earned an enduring reputation for its health sciences programs.
The college teaches a full range of nursing programs, including a BScN Collaborative program with Ryerson University, Practical Nursing and RPN Bridging to University Nursing with flex options, and a Practical Nursing Certificate to Diploma program. The latter allow students to meet practice requirements in Ontario or upgrade their English communication skills while preparing for advanced training.
Programs are offered at the state-of-the-art Centennial Science and Technology Centre, which opened in 2004 on Morningside Avenue just south of Hwy 401. Students hone their skills in advanced lab and clinical simulation facilities – including a fully outfitted ambulance body installed in a classroom!
Students gain valuable experience through the college’s extensive network of clinical placement opportunities at hospitals and other community facilities, while enjoying a personalized school experience.
In addition to nursing and paramedic programs, Centennial offers a range of certificate and diploma programs including Pharmacy Technician, Food and Nutrition Management, Esthetics, Workplace Wellness, Massage Therapy and related disciplines.
Working professionals can also choose from a wide variety of part-time continuing education courses delivered in the classroom or remotely.
Centennial College will afford you every opportunity to transform your interest into a satisfying career where you can make a difference – just like Graham Mitchell did. At every point along the way you have access to the knowledge, expertise and personalized attention that will allow you to become a true helping professional.
Afraid of Your Furnace? Lose Your Fears at Centennial College
Does your furnace intimidate you? Centennial College is offering a new Saturday seminar intended to acquaint homeowners with their own furnace and the different types of forced-air central heating systems available on the market.
Participants will learn the function, terminology and differences between standard, mid-efficiency and high-efficiency furnaces. Other topics of the six-hour weekend seminar include preventative maintenance and the functions of various controls and furnace accessories such as humidifiers and air cleaners.
Instructor Rob Brooks, a licensed gasfitter who has been working with heating and cooling systems for almost 15 years, will demystify the common furnace using a complete demonstration model in the classroom. Brooks will emphasize the safe operation of equipment, which often involves removing flammable substances and materials away from the vicinity of the furnace.
With the popularity of government incentives to replace aging systems with more energy-efficient models, consumers are looking for information and knowledge so that they can make an informed buying decision, says Brent Groh, coordinator of continuing education at Centennial College.
“The resulting knowledge helps provide homeowners with some degree of confidence with respect to understanding how their furnace operates,” Groh says. “It also gives them the opportunity to comparison shop the different brands and systems on the market, so that they can ask the right questions before committing to a new furnace and air conditioner, which can cost up to $10,000 these days.”
The course is intended to help homeowners understand their heating system and perform simple maintenance tasks – but not repairs, which must always be performed by a licensed professional. The course fee is $75.
Centennial offers more than 1,000 career-related and personal-interest continuing education courses starting in January. For more details about Central Heating Systems for the Homeowner, course code CESD-922, call 416-289-5300.
U.S. Astronaut Among Speakers at Aboriginal Symposium at Centennial College
Commander John Bennett Herrington, the first Native American tribal member to fly in outer space, is among the special guests speaking at an Aboriginal symposium at Centennial College on December 10.
The theme, “Looking into the Future – 2040,” will present an opportunity to engage First Nations people and other participants in dialogue about the future for Aboriginal people. Speakers will be invited to share their vision of the year 2040, when a 16-year-old in high school will have reached middle age.
The forward-looking symposium will examine:
- prophesies, predictions and re-generation;
- sustainable development and inter-generational equity;
- career trends and pathways;
- validating indigenous ways of thinking and knowing; and,
- the importance of oral culture and witnessing.
Keynote speaker and space shuttle veteran John Bennett Herrington of the Chickasaw Nation will discuss visioning and creating pathways for the future. Other workshops will feature Sal Ferreras from Aboriginal Music Studies at Vancouver Community College and the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion at the Olympic Winter Games. Dan and Mary Lou Smoke will highlight their cultural counseling work, media and communications experience, and their university courses in indigenous spirituality.
Sponsorship of the event, which marks Human Rights Day, is through Centennial’s Institute for Global Citizenship and Equity, a leading-edge centre examining global citizenship and equity issues, as well as the college’s Culture and Heritage Institute.
When
Thursday, December 10, 9 am to 4:30 pm
Where
Centennial College Residence and Conference Centre,
940 Progress Avenue, Scarborough (Markham Rd. at Hwy 401)
There is a small participation fee for students and educators. For more symposium details, please visit www.centennialcollege.ca/aboriginal. Or Toronto education & their Degree Programs
Indian Immigrant Finds Her Own Path
Like so many recent immigrants arriving in a strange new land, Himani Shah resigned herself to toiling in a factory, exchanging her labour for some meager wages.
“It’s really sad for a lot of newcomers,” she acknowledges. “Many people come here with degrees and professional careers, but end up working in a factory or a kitchen just to make ends meet.”
Shah landed in Toronto four years ago with a Bachelor of Computer Science diploma tucked into her luggage from the University of Gujarat in her native India. She had planned to attend university to complete a Master’s program in computer studies, but realized it was not so easy to enter university in Canada.
Shah found herself working in a factory, but yearned to return to an academic environment. “I was starving to go back to school,” she recalls.
Living in Scarborough, Shah decided to visit a nearby campus of Centennial College to find out what kind of courses she could take at night to supplement her college education and become oriented to the Canadian job market.
As luck would have it, she met Ilia Nika, Information Systems Coordinator in the School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science. He was excited by her qualifications, recognizing the skills she had brought from India, and convinced her to re-examine her priorities.
Rather than take classes in the evening and work all day, Nika persuaded her to enroll in the college’s Computer Programmer/Analyst program full-time during the day and work part-time in the evenings to earn an income.
“He showed me how I could get credit for some of my studies in India, which meant I did not have to take duplicate courses,” she recalls. “With my advanced standing, I could take a three-year program in a year-and-a-half, and save some tuition money, too.”
Shah quit her manufacturing job and enrolled in the Centennial program. To help with her family’s expenses, she found an evening job at a local Tim Horton’s coffee shop, which fit her schedule better. Still, it was not an easy adjustment.
“It was a tough time for me. I went to classes every morning starting at 8 am, then worked on my assignments after lunch for two hours, then rushed off to work at 3 pm,” Shah recounts.
“I was on the run from 8 am until 11:30 at night. And when I wasn’t working, I would stay on campus late at night to do my assignments because it was crowded and noisy in our family’s apartment.”
Despite the challenges, Shah flourished in her new learning environment. She had gotten her wish to return to an academic life.
“Education-wise, it’s more advanced in Canada. You get the opportunity to learn with upcoming technology in advanced labs using up-to-date, helpful software. Ilia Nika and my other professors always made themselves available to talk about technology and how to solve problems in the workplace.”
Shah took advantage of the college’s cooperative education opportunities. Centennial students in business and engineering technology can get a job with an employer for four months per year, where they can practice what they’ve learned in a genuine work environment. The best part is, students are paid during their co-op placement.
“My first co-op assignment was with the Ontario Municipal Board, where I did computer programming and staffed the IT help desk. My second job was with new-media company ExtendMedia, where I did programming in Java and C-sharp.”
“I developed good contacts through co-op, and implemented the skills I had gained in class in a real working environment,” Shah beams.
She managed to make enough money during the co-op terms to lessen the need for grueling evening work. She left Tim Horton’s and found a paid job on campus, tutoring fellow students.
“I discovered I love to talk to people and to teach them,” Shah says. With more time to dedicate to her studies, her grades rose from a B average to a consistent A+ score in her final semester.
She also began seeking interviews with employers for a position after graduation. With her strong background and co-op work experience, she impressed the powers that be at Canadian banking giant CIBC, earning a position as a Solution Developer at the bank’s central data centre in North York.
The happy outcome was not just a matter of good fortune. Upon her arrival in Canada, Shah quickly concluded that individuals – both men and women – are free to choose their destinies here, rather than rely on their parents for shelter and an income.
“I realized I had to come up with my own means to find a career path,” she says of those early days in her newly adopted country. “Of course, I had great support from my family when I started college. It was hard to balance my personal life with my studies and work.”
Shah is philosophical about her rapid transformation after only four years in what initially seemed like a pretty intimidating place.
“My parents are very proud of me. Nothing is impossible if you really want it! It takes time. Dedicate yourself and you’ll be successful.” More degree programs & continuing education on Canadian college for career success.
Aviation Program
Thanks to Aircraft Maintenance graduate Harold Debonte, Centennial’s Aerospace department has secured the donation of a popular and well-used aircraft upon which students can practice their skills.
On March 27, the department took delivery of a Bombardier Dash 8 100-series fuselage along with several other components from 3 Points Aviation of Mississauga. The airplane is an example of the large commuter-type aircraft commonly used around the world.
The donation is estimated to be valued at $275,000 for the aviation company, which recycles old and retired aircraft and components. The donation is the first of many from the company, which has entered into a partnership with the School of Transportation to supply the department with aircraft components and technology as needed.
While the wings may be missing, Aerospace students will be able to conduct inspections, repairs and installations of various components in the fuselage in order to familiarize themselves with maintenance tasks common to an airline operation, says faculty member Jamie Milks. Students will have the benefit of repairing components in place in a large, contemporary aircraft.
The Dash 8 was built in the late 1980s by Bombardier Aerospace at its Downsview facility and has enjoyed numerous lives. In the past it was used by Air Ontario, Air Alliance, Air Nova, Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz. From there it was sold to Delta Airlines and then Freedom Airlines, whose colors it still wears today. Jamie says he’d like to see the tail section painted with the Centennial College logo in the not-too-distant future.
The aircraft returned home to Toronto on a flatbed truck from Bangor, Maine through Quebec, complete with a police escort (the entire load checked in at a little more than 100 feet or 30 meters in length). 3 Points Aviation Program paid for the transportation of the fuselage. The plane will remain parked outside of the hangar in the paddock area due to its considerable size. Eventually it will be mounted on a wheeled cradle so that it can be moved easily around the paddock as required.
Business Students Earn Silver Medal in Marketing Competition
School of Business students, Lorraine D’Souza and Jason Farley earned a second-place finish and a silver medal at the 2008 Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition (OCMC) in the Direct Marketing category – thanks, in part, to some disciplined coaching by the school’s 11 professors who gave a lot of their time to the team.
The other big win in the competition was business student Angela Ravindran, who ranked fourth in the Quiz Bowl, a rapid-fire game-show style quiz that tests students’ knowledge of marketing principles. The province-wide contest, organized by Niagara College this year, covered eight marketing case studies plus a mock job interview, sales presentation and the ever popular Quiz Bowl. Centennial sent a full contingent of coaches and 22 students to take part in every category.
More than 600 participants from 22 colleges competed in the events, hosted by the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel, Nov. 13 and 14. The OCMC provides students with fantastic opportunities to participate and network with professional marketers. The event is funded annually by corporate sponsors such as Yahoo!, the host college and registration fees.
Helming Centennial’s team was Professor Linda Donville, who proved to be an excellent facilitator, motivator and friend to students and faculty alike. Linda teaches a variety of core subjects in Marketing and is an industry professional with a proven track record. Our team effort is made possible by the ongoing dynamism, commitment and enthusiasm of David Johnson, Dean of the School of Business, who is well known for his support of student and faculty initiatives such as the OCMC competition.
The team celebrated its competition results with a closing rally and lunch on Thursday, Nov. 27 in the school boardroom at Progress Campus. Citizen Watch presented each of the students with their own timepieces as a reward for their efforts. Recruitment for next year’s team has already begun. The School of international business college will be commencing team training as early as this January to ensure 2009’s competition results are even better. Interested students can contact Linda Donville at ldonville@centennialcollege.ca.
Year-End Celebration Marks Successful First Generation Project
The First Generation Project, which helps sustain first-generation college students and prospective students in their efforts to reach their academic goals, marked its second year of successful outreach and academic support with a celebration at the Student Residence and Conference Centre on March 31.
More than 60 students and college staff came together to congratulate each other for working through another academic year that otherwise might have been insurmountable for students with little support at home. President Ann Buller was the keynote speaker at the mixer.
A First Generation student is defined as one whose parent(s) did not complete college, university or an apprenticeship program in Canada. There are more than 1,500 self-identified First Generation students on Centennial’s database.
“By self identifying, they have told us they are looking for a mentor and academic support as they negotiate through an unfamiliar institution, an experience their parents likely never had themselves,” says Project Manager Esther Broomfield, a member of the college’s Student Life Enhancement Division. “Many times they’re just looking for referrals to services we offer. Guiding them is an important retention function to keep them in college.”
The project, funded by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, provides inclusive programming, positive social relationships and information that are fundamental to students achieving success at college and in the community. “Lunch and Learn” sessions on campus allow students to get some pointers on such disparate topics as personal finance, exam preparation, stress management and sexual health, to help them cope with the responsibilities of being an independent college learner.
In addition to assisting Centennial’s own students, project mentors also visit local high schools once a week to reach out to first-generation students there who also may be struggling to stay in school. Sessions at lunchtime or after school bring together younger students with first-generation college education students who know first-hand the challenges of being motivated to get good grades.
Centennial’s First Generation Project is designed to inspire youth between the ages of 12 to 24 years to maximize their potential through academic success and access to post-secondary education. By all accounts, the project has been well received and is making a difference. Unfortunately, the government has not committed to funding the work taking place at a number of Ontario colleges and universities beyond the initial three-year time frame.
Play It Smart – A Win-Win for All Concerned
The School of Business’s Play It Smart program has wrapped up after a successful year of community outreach, thanks to a tireless army of Centennial volunteers with their hearts in the right place.
Play It Smart concluded on March 29 with a boisterous party involving the children and their parents, as well as student volunteers and faculty, at the Progress Campus Student Centre. Participants were treated to a dance, talent show and even a PowerPoint presentation on 9-year-old boy assembled about Play It Smart.
The pilot program offered a mix of school tutoring in English, math and science, as well as some basketball instruction and house league play on the professional court at Ashtonbee Campus. The free 20-week program, which took place every Sunday morning between September and the last weekend in March, involved more than 100 children between the ages of 7 and 13, as well as Centennial’s own students who volunteered their time as coaches and tutors.
“For some of the kids, the carrot really wasn’t the basketball,” says Vern. “It was an opportunity to get some extra help in English and math. We had one young girl who was specifically interested in learning how to write well. She gave us a great speech at the final event.”
Each Sunday, the kids received 30 or 60 minutes of tutoring in a subject they felt they needed help in, and then the instruction moved onto the hardwood for a half-hour of basketball coaching and a half-hour of house-league play. School of Business Professor Vern Kennedy borrowed the concept from his friend Claude Nembhard, who has coached basketball to kids in North York and York Region.
Centennial’s participants came from the Malvern neighborhood in northeast Scarborough. The youth were bused from the Malvern Town Centre to Ashtonbee (the Progress DEL Gym is closed for redevelopment) at no cost. Vern was able to get some corporate sponsors involved, including Canadian Tire and Boston Pizza, to help defray costs.
“The Student Association (CCSAI) provided the volunteers and they did a fantastic job of recruiting them,” says Vern. “I can’t say enough about the creativity and commitment shown by our own students, who gave up 20 Sunday mornings to work with these kids.” The students were recruited from a number of programs, including Child and Youth Worker, Early Childhood Education, Police Foundations, Recreation and Business.
Vern, who teaches marketing and advertising, says introducing youngsters to Centennial now will help them feel less intimidated to try post-secondary education in the future if they’ve already had a positive experience on campus. The outreach program is also an effective way to have Centennial become better known in the community.
Vern credits the School of Business staff, including Dean David Johnson and Professors Linda Donville, Les Miscampbell and Scott Abraham for working out the logistics of the outreach project. Verns says plans are already in place to continue Play It Smart this fall, thanks to ongoing funding and support from the CCSAI and the community.
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