Introduction: Culinary Education in Canada
Canada is a country known for its beautiful and diverse cuisine. This is partly because of the multiple cultures and communities that make up the population, each contributing their own recognizable dishes and cooking specialties. A lot of this is owed to the culinary experts, who spend their lives perfecting recipes and composing delicious dishes that the public can enjoy.
In this article, we will be exploring how the Canadian education system teaches culinary skills and looking at some of the most popular and well known culinary schools that might become a goal or ambition if you are interested in a culinary/catering career.
By the end of the article, you should hopefully have a firm understanding of the education process in the context of the food industry and be informed on where to look for courses and access to a career in food.
What happened to Home Economics?
In the past, home economics was a mandatory subject in pretty much the entirety of the ‘western world’, but during the 20th century, social reforms and changing views on gender roles (especially domestically), saw the subject slowly be phased out.
In recent times, the missing value that this subject used to provide is starting to become more noticeable as more and more young people are unable to cook and find themselves frequently ordering takeaways and eating at restaurants for exorbitant prices.
In modern times, while it is not compulsory in most schools to spend much, if any time learning how to cook, there is still the option to study home economics, but the subject is often given a different alias such as ‘food science’, when it relates to cuisine exclusively, or ‘food tech’.
This varies from school to school and regionally, but the point is that studying cuisine is still a possibility and is slowly increasing in popularity alongside demand for culinary professionals.
Why study culinary skills in Canada?
An important question to answer is why Canada of all countries makes a good choice for studies related to the food industry? The answer is of course multifaceted.
To start with, Canada ranks very highly in terms of the quality of its education system, and perhaps more importantly for some people, it’s employability after graduation, which is in the top 10 globally.
This combined with the welcoming people and friendly culture should incentivize students to at the very least consider Canada as a destination for their studies.
Focusing on the Culinary arts specifically, Canada is home to some of the finest culinary arts institutions in the world, which means that students who choose to study this field in Canada will have access to some of the best trained and most experienced educators and professionals in the industry.
Studying in Canada will also expose students to an extremely broad range of different cuisines, thanks to the high diversity of the country, not just in its population, but in its culture as well.
As we stated earlier, Canada is home to many mingling ethnic groups and cultural communities, who all have their own unique take on cooking. Studying in a multicultural country gives students an edge in experience and comprehension of many different styles of cuisine.
There are perks to studying in Canada even after graduation, for example, deciding to remain in Canada to work is a viable option for some students and the culinary arts are in very high demand here.
But if a student chooses to leave the country after finishing their studies, they can rest assured that their qualification will be respected worldwide, due to the international respect for the Canadian education system.
These factors combine to effectively guarantee that any dedicated student will have no problem finding themselves a promising career after making the choice to study in Canada, and maybe becoming a chef.
What kind of culinary programs are available in Canada?
If you are planning on studying cuisine and the food industry in Canada, it's imperative to understand the difference between the programs that are available, based on the entry requirements, content of the course and the qualification provided upon completion.
Take a look at the handy table below to better understand which program is correct for your circumstances.
| Type of Program | Content of Program |
|---|---|
| Certificate | Certificate programs or certifications are a short and targeted educational format which can last from a few weeks to a few months. These courses are designed to teach specific skills, such as knife skills, or a specific cultural cuisine. They are not a full culinary education and are usually supposed to supplement the skills of experienced cooks to give them more opportunities for work. |
| Diploma | Diploma programs are a good way of preparing students for the entry level of the culinary industry. They are typically taught over one or two years and serve as a foundation upon which eager students can enter their line of work and find their way up in the industry itself. |
| Degree | Degrees are longer and more committed/comprehensive courses which aim to teach culinary arts at a broader level, giving students the opportunity to pursue higher level positions and other food related careers. |
| Apprenticeship | An apprenticeship can be studied at the level of a diploma, or in some cases a degree, and involves a combination of traditional theoretical education, with hands-on practical learning with a modest salary. Students who learn by doing and want to start earning while they learn might prefer this type of program. |
How should I decide?
Selecting the right kind of program to study is ultimately dependent on several factors including your available time and money, but also your personality, strengths, and weaknesses and preferred style of learning.
Take the time to think about what it is you want to do after graduation and whether it would be easier to achieve with a degree, or one of the other programs.
If you’re in school, make sure to take some time to speak to your school’s career advisor. It’s their job to help you identify the best option for you and guide you towards a position where you can achieve it.
Best places to study culinary arts in Canada
Now that you understand what studying culinary arts in Canada entails, let’s take a look at some of the best institutions that the country has to offer and hopefully inspire you to check your eligibility and possibly even apply.
George Brown College
Perhaps the most notable or recognizable culinary school in Canada is George Brown College in Toronto.
George Brown College offers all of the aforementioned education programs and is renowned for doing so with comprehensive curriculums and well-equipped facilities.
George Brown College also provides great opportunities to its students to spend time in the industry via partnerships and placements.
The courses at George Brown College are provided by its ‘Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts’. Meaning that it places an emphasis on the rest of the hospitality industry and can therefore provide insights and context that other institutions might miss.
Niagara College
Situated near Ontario, the Niagara College is an institution best known for its specialty in wine and traditional European food.
Niagara College gives students the best access to specialized education with its own vineyards and breweries.
Niagara offers primarily diplomas and certificates due to the more specialized nature of their programs, but it is also an excellent place to study culinary business management.
Holland College
In the province of Prince Edward Island exists one of the recognized culinary colleges, known as the ‘Culinary Institute of Canada’. CIC is praised for its experienced faculty and detailed programs which shape students into experts in their chosen field.
The college is also known for placing an emphasis on the understanding of supply chains and ethical sourcing of local products, training the next generation of chefs and cooks to be not only generously skilled, but also responsible and altruistic.
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology teaches its culinary students via its acclaimed ‘School of Hospitality and Tourism’
The advantages of studying at SAIT are the access to facilities that have been described as world-class and are mastered by a faculty with a great deal of skill and experience.
SAIT also places an emphasis on the wider international food industry, giving their students opportunities to advance their careers and participate in industry related partnerships and projects.
SAIT’s affinity for the international cooking scene results in praises for the innovative nature of their teaching programs.
The institution is also quite flexible, offering the apprenticeship format for students that prefer to learn that way.
Afterword
Thank you ever so much for reading this article about culinary schools in Canada. We hope you feel more informed about the prospect of studying the culinary arts over here.
If you want to learn more about the culinary industry, or even an entirely different subject, make sure to check out the rest of our articles, right here on the Superprof blog.
While you’re at it, why not check out Superprofs Premier service, which is designed to get you in touch with the ideal tutor, whatever your educational needs may be.
Bye bye for now! We hope to see you again soon.
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