New Centre for Food focused on agriculture, culinary, hospitality and tourism will open in September 2013

WHITBY, Ont. – With a commitment to students and Durham Region in mind, Durham College will be holding an official groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, December 1, for the construction of a new 36,000-square-foot building at its Whitby campus.

The new Centre for Food will be located at the northwest corner of the campus and is the final element of its three-phase expansion project, which began in 2009.

Accommodating approximately 900 new students, it will house culinary, hospitality, tourism and agricultural/horticultural programs designed to meet the demand for next-generation workers in sectors critical to our local economy.

In addition, it will feature a full-service green-certified teaching restaurant and lounge which will be open to the public and state-of-the-art labs, classrooms and research and meeting spaces.

Media are invited to observe the groundbreaking celebration, which will showcase sustainable practices such as the use of recyclable materials. The event will take place in a heated tent and feature locally grown food prepared and served by the college’s Hospitality Management – Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism and Culinary Skills students.

Phase 3 will complete the circle of sustainability at the Whitby campus, by incorporating better use of energy, water and nutrients into its facility, programs and teaching practices. It will bring students and community members together to watch the foods of Durham Region grow, from the planting of seeds to the serving of food for consumption.

Who:
Pat Perkins mayor, Town of Whitby;
Don Lovisa, president, Durham College;
Adam Bagi, Hospitality Management – Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism program student;
Ruth Lafarga, campaign volunteer; and
Faculty, staff and students.

When:
Thursday, December 1
1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Where:
Durham College Whitby campus
1610 Champlain Avenue
Whitby, Ont.

Parking:
Enter off Champlain Drive and proceed to the main parking lot.

For more information:

Cosette Kazarian
Communications, Marketing and External Relations
905.721.2000 ext. 3611
cosette.kazarian@durhamcollege.ca