Durham College in Oshawa has received a multimillion-dollar, long-term funding commitment from the Barrett Family Foundation, marking the largest philanthropic gift in the institution’s 59-year history.
This funding is set to support the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture, a facility that provides students and community members with hands-on experience in urban farming. The college plans to use the new resources to create additional academic programs, offer more scholarships and bursaries, and introduce new equipment and technologies to ensure students are prepared for their future careers.
The foundation, established in 2013 by Bob Barrett, Francine Rouleau-Barrett, and their daughters, Kim and Rebecca, has been a key partner for the college since 2021. That year, the organization provided a $5-million donation to help launch the centre, which now operates across the college’s Whitby campus and the Ajax Urban Farm.
Since opening its doors in 2023, the centre has become a hub for local food initiatives. It has engaged more than 37,000 community members through various workshops and activities. Additionally, the centre has donated over 9,000 pounds of produce grown at its facilities, which include market gardens, an apiary, and an indoor hydroponic farm, to local food banks.
“We are deeply grateful for the Barrett Family Foundation’s continued investment in Durham College,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, president of Durham College. The foundation has also made significant contributions to other post-secondary institutions, including a $30-million gift to Humber Polytechnic.
