Since opening in 2016, Durham College’s Esports Arena has evolved into a competitive gaming hub and has been a launch pad for student talent. What began as a vision of Michael Cameron and college president Don Lovisa has grown into a recognized program.
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In 2018, Durham College took full control of the varsity esports program, transitioning it from a joint venture with the student union. General manager Bill Ai has overseen the program’s expansion, growing it from a single team to seven full varsity teams that compete internationally.
“We have come a long way,” said Ai.
Under Ai’s leadership, the program has thrived. “We are steadily growing our program,” he said, noting that both the players and the wider student body highly value the arena.
Recruitment is an ongoing effort, with the coaching staff actively seeking talent both inside and outside the college. “We put recruitment information down in the arena as well as on different screens all across campus,” said Ai.
One such talent, Aleksandr Guseevskii, who plays for the varsity Counter-Strike team, joined after seeing an Instagram post.
Socializing is one of the biggest benefits of being on the team. “It’s nice to play on a team with like-minded people who are as passionate about the game as you are,” said Guseevskii.
According to Ai, the program’s success is rooted in its strong sense of community. Beyond scholarships and winnings, it fosters talent through healthy competition. Two alumni have even gone on to play professionally. “We’ve been very successful in creating talent through healthy competition and team-building,” he said.
The arena is also a training ground for varsity players to refine their skills and compete at a higher level.
Durham College’s Esports Arena has some of the best technology available, with nine PlayStation 5 consoles, six Xbox Series S consoles, a Nintendo Switch and over 30 high-performance PCs. “Full-time students can access the space for free,” Ai said, offering many the chance to use equipment they may not have at home.
The sense of community is a defining feature of the Esports Arena. Alex Estrella, the Esports Lounge coordinator, oversees the arena’s day-to-day operations and plays a key role in making it a welcoming space.
Every day, new students are becoming involved through “word of mouth” as the space gains more recognition.
“We love hearing their feedback because they’re the ones we want to provide the best experience for,” said Estrella.
For many students, the arena offers a much-needed break from academic life. Business and entrepreneurship student Claude-Marcus Mata describes the arena as a “fresh breath of air.”
“Coming here feels like a break. It’s a facility that students can really take advantage of,” he said, encouraging others to get involved. “There’s a lot of potential here, and a lot of great friends you can make.”
Currently, the most popular game in the arena is Valorant, a team-based shooting game. However, the space is open to students of all skill levels, whether they want to compete or just enjoy some downtime.
Durham College was one of the first institutions in Ontario to provide an esports facility of this size, though at least eight other colleges and universities now offer similar spaces.
Still, Ai believes Durham stands apart because of its close-knit community. “What sets us apart is the level of attention we provide to our students,” he said. “We’ve proven the value of this program, and we’ll keep growing.”
As the esports industry continues to expand, Ai is optimistic about the future. “It’s only going to get bigger.”