Durham College plans fall partnership with PARA Marine Search and Rescue for student media and event work
Durham College plans to launch a partnership this fall with PARA Marine Search and Rescue that will involve students producing photos, videos and written materials and helping with event planning and public relations for the volunteer organization.
The partnership is expected to add student support to a group that provides marine search-and-rescue services on Lake Ontario and surrounding waterways. For local residents, the work may result in more public-facing information about PARA Marine’s activities and training, as well as more visibility at community events, based on details provided by Durham College.
The college said students in its Photography, Video Production and Event Planning programs will create communications materials for PARA Marine’s work on Lake Ontario and along the Durham Region waterfront.
PARA Marine Search and Rescue is a volunteer-based nonprofit operating across Durham Region’s waterfront, according to Durham College. The organization works with the Canadian Coast Guard and local police services, the college said.
Durham College said the student work will be organized as work-integrated learning projects. Students will produce photos, videos and written materials for PARA Marine, while other students will support event planning and public relations.
“Through these projects, students gain industry-relevant experience while helping PARA Marine strengthen its outreach and deepen community engagement efforts throughout the region,” Brian Stephens, Durham College’s photography program coordinator, said in the college’s announcement.
Durham College also listed two projects completed ahead of the fall launch. It said students in the Event Planning and Photography programs took part in and documented PARA Marine’s involvement in the Pickering Easter Parade.
The college said students in the Video Production and Photography programs also filmed the organization’s annual pool training exercise. Durham College said the exercise included PARA Marine Search and Rescue, Toronto Search and Rescue Marine and the Durham Regional Police Marine Unit.
Durham College said the photos and videos created through the projects will be used for PARA Marine communications.
The college said it is also exploring a future phase of the partnership that would develop a boat-driving simulator for PARA Marine volunteer training.
Durham College has campuses in Oshawa and Whitby.