Find Culinary Training at a Canadian College

Thinking of studying abroad? Canada may be the perfect option for American students since the language and culture will be largely familiar – if you disregard all the “aboot”s and the foreign money. Canada offers a variety of culinary programs that cover basic cooking techniques to management skills. It offers aspiring chefs the chance to travel and learn the techniques to start a hot new career.

Narrowing down the choices

With so many choices available, it’s important to look for some key components to decide on the best program. Experienced instructors are essential. Preferably, the staff should feature experienced chefs and industry professionals. Be sure you’re getting the best education by learning from the best. The kitchen – the centerpiece of your training – should feature all full range of up-to-date equipment and should be run by students. Many schools also feature a student-run restaurant or café, which will be critical to getting hands-on experience. Other schools will sponsor gourmet-dinner nights or other events that are open to the public, which will offer the same training opportunities. Finally, there should be support services for finding your career: from counseling to actual training opportunities in the community, such as apprenticeships.

When you are evaluating schools, keep in mind that there is no national accreditation system in Canada. All schools are licensed by their local educational boards. If there is accreditation information, it is through additional educational or professional boards.

Most culinary schools do not have a rigorous admissions process. Typically, the only requirement is that students have a GED or high-school diploma, in addition to meeting some basic academic standards. Some schools may ask for a little more: from testing to actual work experience. Also keep in mind that you will need a visa to study abroad. Make sure you study the requirements and leave enough time to navigate the process before your program is scheduled to begin.

Options for your studies

It won’t take long for you to jump the ranks from apprentice to master once you begin your culinary studies. Many programs lead to an associate’s degree, which can be earned in about two years. Typically, management programs average four years. But there are options for fast-tracking your studies, including certificates or diplomas that can be finished in about a year. The Elliot House has a program that can be completed in just 18 weeks.

Online programs are becoming more common, and technology makes it possible to even learn cooking techniques over the Web. There are a few options for completing your culinary degree online: either through video instruction, through courses that compliment time already spent in the kitchen, or through courses meant to enhance a degree already earned. If you are interested in management, most degrees can be finished entirely from the comfort of your own home.

Climbing the corporate ladder

One of the most important things to remember once you graduate is that you will be subject to requirements for getting a work visa or attaining citizenship if you plan to stay in Canada or work abroad. Check the requirements by country before you start your job search. Once you’re ready to land your next position, keep in mind that salary expectations will fluctuate. If you work in a large city, expect to be paid more. If you work in a five-star establishment, expect to be paid more. Typically, hotels, resorts, spas and fine-dining restaurants will pay the best. You can also command more the more years of experience you have and the higher up you are in rank. Head chefs and cook will make the most, followed by sous chefs and assistants. And, of course, management will always see the biggest payouts.

Online-based Programs:

The Art Institutes of Pittsburgh – Online Division
www.aionline.edu/
Hotel and Restaurant Management
MSCHE accredited

Ashworth College
www.ashworthcollege.edu/
Hotel and Restaurant Management
DETC accredited

The Culinary Institute of America – CIA Pro Chef
www.ciaprochef.com/
Culinary Arts
CHEMSACS accredited

Johnson and Wales University
www.jwu.edu/campus.aspx?id=25934
Baking & Pastry Arts and Food Service Management
Culinary Arts & Food Service Management
NEASC accredited

Le Cordon Bleu – Online Division
www.chefs.edu/online/
Culinary Management
ACCSC & ACICS accredited

Penn Foster Career School
www.pennfoster.edu/index.html
Hotel and Restaurant Management
DETC & CHEA accredited

SITE Academy
www.site.edu.au/
Hospitality
Tourism
No regional accreditation
AHLA association

Sullivan College
www.sullivan.edu/
Beverage Management
CCSACS & ACF accredited

Stratford Career Institute
www.scitraining.com/
Hotel/Restaurant Management
Travel and Tourism
DlA member, no regional accreditation

Virginia College Online
www.vconline.edu/
Culinary Arts
ACICS accredited

Campus-based Programs:

Assiniboine Community College
1430 Victoria Ave. East
Brandon Manitoba, Canada R7A 2A9
204-725-8700
public.assiniboine.net/
Culinary Arts
Hotel and Restaurant Management
GMCPSE accredited

Canadore College
100 College Drive
North Bay, ON P1B 8K9 Canada
705-474-7600
www.canadorec.on.ca/
Culinary Administration
Culinary Management
Culinary Skills
Food and Nutrition Administration
Food and Nutrition Management
Hotel and Restaurant Administration
Hotel and Restaurant Operations
No regional accreditation

Constellation College of Hospitality
808 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, ON M4P 2L2 Canada
416-675-2175
www.constellationcollege.com/
Managing Beverage Service
Convention Management and Service
Food and Beverage Management
Dimensions of Hospitality
No regional accreditation

Elliot House
5732 Kennedy Road
Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 1T1Canada
905-273-5588
192.139.188.74/elliotthouse/
Professional Chef
Culinary Arts
Culinary Management
BBB accredited; no educational accreditation

George Brown College
200 King Street East
Toronto, ON M5A 3W8, Canada
416-415-2000
www.georgebrown.ca/
Culinary Management
Hospitality Services
Culinary Skills
Baking and Pastry Arts
Culinary Arts
Hospitality Operations
Baker/Patissier
IH accredited

Humber College
205 Humber College Blvd.
Toronto, ON M9W 5L7 Canada
416-675-3111
www.humber.ca
Culinary Administration
Culinary Management
Culinary Skills
Food and Beverage Service
Food and Nutrition Administration
Hospitality and Tourism Operations Management
Hotel and Restaurant Management
No regional accreditation

Liaison College
1047 Main Street East
Hamilton, ON Canada L8M 1N5
905-545-2433
www.liaisoncollege.com/
Cook Basic
Cook Advanced
Chef de Cuisine
Culinary Management
Specialist Chef
Hospitality Administration
Personal Chef
ME licensed, NACC member
No regional accreditation

Loyalist College
376 Wallbridge-Loyalist Road
Belleville, ON K8N 5B9, Canada
613-969-1913
www.loyalistcollege.com/
Culinary Skills
Culinary Management
Food Safety
No regional accreditation

NAIT Hokanson Centre of Culinary Arts
11762 – 106 Street
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5G 2R1
780-471-6248
www.nait.ca/53131.htm
Baking
Culinary Arts
Hospitality Management
No regional accreditation

Niagara Culinary Institute
300 Woodlawn Road
Welland, ON L3C 7L3 Canada
905-735-2211
www.niagaracollege.ca/dining/
Cook-Apprenticeship
Culinary Management
Culinary Skills
ACF accredited

Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver
2725 Main St.
Vancouver, BC V5T 3E9, Canada
604-876-7653
www.nwcav.com/
Culinary Arts (four months)
Pastry/Bread
PCTIA accredited

Okanagan College
2552 Trans Canada Hwy. NE
Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4N3
250-832-2126
www.okanagan.bc.ca/site15.aspx
Culinary Arts
No Regional Accreditation

Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts
1505 W. Second Ave.
Vancouver, BC V6H 3Y4 Canada
604-734-4488
www.picachef.com/
Culinary Arts
Baking and Pastry Arts
Restaurant Management
PCTIA accreditation

SAIT Polytechnic
1301 16th Ave NW
Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
T2M 0L4
403.284.7248
sait.ca/
Baking and Pastry Arts
Hospitality Management
Professional Cooking
Travel and Tourism
Meat Operations and Management
ALME accredited

The Art Institutes at Vancouver
3264 Beta Avenue
Burnaby, Vancouver, BC V5G 4K4 Canada
604-298-5400
www.artinstitutes.edu/vancouver/
Baking and Pastry Arts
Culinary Arts
Hospitality and Restaurant Business Management
Entrepreneurship and Restaurant Management
PCTIA accredited

The Culinary Institute of Canada
140 Weymouth St.
Charlottetown, PE C1A 4Z1 Canada
902-629-4217
www.hollandc.pe.ca/culinary_institute_of_canada/
Culinary Operations
Culinary Arts
Pastry Arts
ACF accredited

Thompson Rivers University
900 McGill Road
Kamloops, BC, V2C 5N3 Canada
250-828-5000
www.tru.ca/
Tourism Management
MAELMD accredited

Vancouver Community College
1155 East Broadway
Vancouver, BC V5T 4V5 Canada
604-871-7000
www.vcc.bc.ca/
Asian Culinary Arts
Baking and Pastry Arts
Baking and Pastry Management
Culinary Arts
Culinary Management
Hospitality Management
Sommelier
No regional accreditation

Vancouver Island University
900 Fifth St.
Nanaimo, BC, Canada V9R 5S5
250-753-3245
www.viu.ca/
Culinary Arts
Hospitality Management
Tourism Management
Recreation and Sports Management
MAELMD accreditation