MP John Carmichael, Ruth daCosta, executive director of Covenant House, Bo, a student of the program and David Garcelon, Fairmont Royal York executive chef, take part in a 'baking session' at Covenant House's newly renovated and fully-equipped kitchen.

Covenant House youth trained for food industry work

By 
  • June 30, 2011

TORONTO - Bo has a passion for food. And thanks to Cooking for Life, a new culinary arts program for homeless youth offered at Covenant House, he can pursue this passion.

"The program has got great potential for employment opportunity and it's helped me so much with my kitchen skills, my knife skills and safety in the kitchen," said the 24-year-old, a member of the program's first graduating class.

The program's public launch took place June 29 at the downtown youth shelter's newly renovated kitchen, which was made possible with the help of federal government funding. MP John Carmichael, David Garcelon, executive chef at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel, and Ruth daCosta, executive director of Covenant House, all addressed a crowd of about 50 people.

"Participants learn the professional conduct required to work in a fast-paced restaurant environment," daCosta said. "Graduates can earn a safe food handling certificate and receive support to find a job. They will be better equipped to cook for themselves when they move out on their own."

Led by a professional chef instructor, the six-week pre-employment program trains youth for entry-level jobs in the food services industry. About 120 young people will be able to take part annually, so long as they are part of one of Covenant House's residential programs.

Chef Stephen Field, an instructor at George Brown College, heads up the program.

The federal government contributed $627,500 to several components of Covenant House Toronto's Capital Restoration Project, which included the cost for the fully equipped kitchen. Carmichael said he's proud to see money from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund invested in youth in Toronto.

"It's one thing to fix potholes and it's another thing to fix roads and bridges, but when you can see it going to the youth in our community — that to me is where we really win in our investments," said Carmichael.

Covenant House donors are also to thank for covering costs, said daCosta. The program is estimated to cost about $90,000 a year to operate.

Garcelon helped with the new kitchen design and encouraged his suppliers to contribute equipment and services.

"The opportunity to help Covenant House was certainly one that we jumped at," said Garcelon.

"Steering them towards culinary as a career is a great option for a lot of people — there's a lot of opportunity… I see this not only as being good for the community but it's helping our future cooks and chefs."

At the launch, some participants of the inaugural six-week session, which started in mid-May, cooked and served finger foods.

Jacob, one of the participants, said he wants to be a baker — and he believes the program will give him the skills he needs to achieve this. Participants will be going to month-long placements in various restaurants.

"If it wasn't for this program, I would probably be working in Tim Hortons or McDonald's and that wouldn't be fun," he said.

For more information, see www.covenanthouse.ca.

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