“There is a need for career training programs such as this in the city of Hamilton, especially in light of the downsizing of the manufacturing sector and rise of the service sector in our city,” said St. Charles principal Bob Goodwin. “We’re getting more and more into skilled trades career training programs. This is our chance to get students a foot in the door in the hospitality field.”

Offered in a newly renovated kitchen/cafeteria at the 150 East 5th St. location under the supervision of a qualified chef, the program will be available to about 30 adult students over the age of 18. The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board will provide $68,684.82 for equipment.

“We’re going to have an open house/information meeting about the program, some of the things to expect and some of the opportunities at the end of the program. Those who wish to enrol in the program will be invited to apply,” said Goodwin.

“The next part of the process will include a one-on-one interview with the chef and a small math test. After the one-on-one interviews, the chef will recommend 30 names of students that he or she would like to see brought into the program.”

The program will include eight months of in-school training, followed by a two-month co-op placement in a local restaurant. Students will study an approved culinary arts course and will also obtain eight secondary school technological and co-op credits toward their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. At the end of the program, students will write college level exams, administered by Mohawk College. Students who graduate from the program will be eligible to continue on into apprenticeships in the hospitality industry, leading to a chef designation. Their co-op hours will be credited toward their apprenticeship hours.

“University and colleges are doing a great job. But there’s a group of students who just want to get in and to work and they want to begin to work at an apprenticeable skilled trade, so I’m glad that that’s beginning to become more visible,” said Goodwin. “University serves one segment of the population, same with college. There are other pathways for kids to look out into the future and see where they feel they belong, where they fit in and what they’d like to do, so we’re going to keep looking at different things we can do to help adult students make their way into possible apprenticeship opportunities and skilled trades employment.”

For more information, call 905-577-0555.