Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 54
54
( 2025 )
SPONSOR CONTENT
Durham College gets top marks for its kind culture
I
n 2014, while Dr. Elaine Popp
was attending a leadership conference in British
Columbia, she met two
employees from Durham College
of Applied Arts and Technology
(Durham) who spoke highly
about the people and the friendly,
supportive culture at Durham. A
couple of months later, when Popp
saw a posting for a vice-president’s
role there, she remembered their
conversation and applied. “The
moment I stepped on campus, I
felt welcomed and supported,” she
says.
Durham College, which has
campuses in Whitby, Ont. and
Oshawa, Ont., offers a broad range
of applied arts and technology
programs. “Durham is like a
friendly, collaborative, mini city,”
says Popp, who was appointed
president in March 2024. “Our
campuses have everything students and staff want and need, yet
we’re small and nimble. Durham
doesn’t treat you like a number –
you have a name here.”
During the first week of classes,
it’s not uncommon for Popp and
other employees to walk students
who are lost to their classes. Lucy
Romao Vandepol, director of
student and career development,
has done so many times. “It’s an
opportunity for me to engage with
that student as I walk with them,
ask some questions and provide
them with additional information,” she says.
Romao Vandepol first joined
Durham in 2007 as a first-year experience coordinator, which was a
14-month maternity-leave contract.
Since then, she has worked as a
full-time staffer in five different
departments, benefited from
myriad professional development
programs and completed a master
of arts degree with a focus on
education (Durham reimbursed
her tuition fees). “I love learning,
and the numerous opportunities
have helped me grow personally
and professionally,” she says.
Throughout her time at the
college, Romao Vandepol has also
taught several general education
classes part-time. “No matter what
your role is, you really feel like
you’re part of something bigger,”
she says. “It’s such a collaborative
experience to be part of that.”
“Durham doesn’t treat you
like a number – you have a
name here.”
— Dr. Elaine Popp
President
Employees at Durham College volunteer during the spring open house on campus.
Popp agrees that the literally
collegial nature of the collaboration is outstanding. “It’s really
a place like no other in terms of
support,” she says. “Right from
our recruiting process, candidates
are exposed first-hand to the type
of culture we nurture here. We’re
all singing the same song, not just
in the interviews but also in daily
practice.”
Training and development
are key to retaining top talent. “I
experienced that investment as
a young employee earlier in my
career, and I’m in the role I am
now because of that,” says Popp.
“I want all employees to feel like
their supervisor is encouraging
them and that their strengths are
fully tapped into.”
Training comes in many areas,
including modules in mental
