Success Stories

Dementia is associated with cognitive decline and social isolation in people living with dementia (PLwD), and increased caregiver (CG) burden. Non-pharmacological interventions such as reminiscence therapy support emotional well-being by encouraging active recall of meaningful life experiences in individuals. Building upon this approach, this study explores the use of Virtual Reality (VR) Memory and Conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support reminiscence therapy for PLwD and their...

Winter 2026

 In 2024, Durham Region conducted a Point-in-Time (PiT) Count to enumerate individuals experiencing homelessness and better understand and support those experiencing it. As part of the process, an enumeration was conducted, and surveys were administered to gather key demographic and experiential data. The PiT Count data provides a snapshot of the reported homeless population across Durham Region, including mental health, racial identity, housing history, and service needs. While the...

Winter 2026

The Town of Whitby aims to answer how Whitby’s projected residential and industrial growth will align with existing and planned transit infrastructure. Specifically, the core problem they are addressing is the potential mismatch between Whitby’s rapid growth and the existing transit network. Without proactive planning, new residential neighbourhoods and employment areas risk being underserved, limiting mobility options and creating greater reliance on cars. The goal is to provide...

Winter 2026

Students from Ontario Tech University have wrapped up another impactful partnership through CityStudio Durham and the Region of Durham’s Child Care & Early Year’s Division, aimed at strengthening developmental outcomes for children in Durham Region. Using insights from the Early Development Instrument (EDI), a tool that helps the region track children’s development and readiness for school, student teams collaborated with the early learning and childcare community to create a variety...

Winter 2024

Durham Region is developing a Public Art and Creative Placemaking program. To support student artists, the Region is considering establishing an Artist-In-Residence summer student program. Under the program, student artist(s) would work closely with the Region, other partners and the public to showcase their creative practices while creating a work that enlivens a public space.

As a first step, the Region conducted research to inform program development. This included looking at...