June 21 marked a special milestone for the alumni of NC’s second-ever Dental Hygiene graduating class. Held at Bridgewater Brewery in Welland, the reunion brought together graduates, instructors, and decades of memories for a meaningful celebration 44 years later.
The History of NC’s Dental Hygiene Program
Back in 1980, the College’s Dental Hygiene program looked very different. With just 14 students and four instructors, the program was an intense one-year course that required prior certification and experience as a dental assistant. At the time, the profession was undergoing a shift and transitioning from a two-year diploma offered exclusively at the University of Toronto to being offered at the college-level at NC. Today, the program has evolved into a competitive, direct-entry, three-year advanced diploma delivered over six consecutive terms.
A Special Tribute to Instructors
Of the 14 original graduates, seven attended the reunion, along with two of their cherished instructors, Mrs. Mary Bondarchuk and Mrs. Sandra Stewart. Their presence was especially meaningful, as both played pivotal roles in shaping the careers of these dental hygienists and helped the class of 1980 achieve a 100% provincial pass rate on both the academic and clinical licensing exams. Mrs. Bondarchuk had also previously taught Mrs. Stewart at the University of Toronto dental hygiene program before they became colleagues at NC.
Instructor Mary Bondarchuk was presented with a tooth-shaped vase filled with flowers to celebrate her recent 90th birthday.
The reunion was extra special for Bondarchuk, who had just celebrated her 90th birthday. In honour of the occasion, she was presented with a tooth-shaped vase filled with flowers. Reflecting on her career and her advice to today’s students, Bondarchuk emphasized empathy.
“How you approach patients makes a difference,” she shared. “You can’t just place someone in a chair and do critical things without looking at the person. People experience emotional and personal challenges, things that we didn’t emphasize as much back when I taught, everything was much more mechanical back then. We didn’t have the communication tools we do today. If students today are paying more attention to the human aspect, I would be very pleased.”
Career Reflections
Organizer Marlene Heics, who spent 44 years working in general and specialty practices including Periodontics and Orthodontics, credited NC with instilling in her a sense of professionalism that shaped her career.
“The standards at Niagara College were extremely high,” Heics said. “Instructors were demanding but fair, and that level of excellence made me strive for excellence and compassion in my clinical career.”
Heics also served in numerous leadership roles within the profession, including the Ontario and Canadian Dental Hygienists’ Boards of Directors, and was the founding president of the Ontario Dental Hygiene Orthodontic Study Club. She also served as an elected council member for the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario.
Among those reflecting on their career paths was alumna Donna Erling. After completing Dental Assisting at NC in 1972, she went on to study nursing before eventually returning to dental hygiene.
“I loved this profession,” she shared. “Being part of the transition to have Dental Hygiene programming at the college level was history in the making.”
Erling specialized in Orthodontics throughout her career in Toronto and had the unique opportunity to observe orthognathic surgery as part of her work. She was also an active participant in the Ontario Dental Hygiene Orthodontic Study Club, the group founded by Heics.
Celebrating the Class of 1980
The reunion marked the first time the group had gathered in 25 years, but many of the graduates have remained lifelong friends. Attendees brought memorabilia including class uniforms, hygiene caps, and a timetable from their 1980 academic year.
A special thank-you went out to NC Alumni Engagement Officer Tom Price who provided NC swag to the group, and to the team at Bridgewater Brewery for their hospitality.
Today, three of the original 14 graduates are still practicing dental hygiene, demonstrating the class of 1980’s dedication to the profession and their lasting impact.
