From field to fork: Durham College to officially open Centre for Food

Celebrity chef Jamie Kennedy to help celebrate culinary and hospitality-focused programming in Durham Region

WHITBY, Ont. –Durham College will introduce a whole new level of academic programming on Thursday, October 17 when it officially opens the Centre for Food (CFF) at its Whitby campus, marking Durham Region’s first-ever post-secondary presence focused on culinary and hospitality.

President Don Lovisa will be joined by celebrity chefs Jamie Kennedy and Christian Pritchard as the college showcases the new facility, located at the northwest corner of campus and based on the field-to-fork concept. This includes the official opening of Bistro ’67, a new, 70-seat, full-service, green-certified teaching and learning restaurant.

Guests will enjoy tours of the new building; food prepared by the college’s culinary students; student-led cooking demonstrations; and a musical performance by Canadian singer, songwriter and musician Greg Keelor.

Accommodating approximately 900 additional students studying in culinary, hospitality, tourism, agricultural and horticultural programs, the CFF features state-of-the-art labs including a food and beverage pairing lab and hotel living lab; classrooms and meeting spaces; a retail store that will feature products made by students including fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals; and a lecture theatre.

The opening of the CFF marks the end of the three-phase construction project that has been underway at the Whitby campus since 2009. The project has seen $44 million invested in an expanded post-secondary presence in the region with the college working to bring new full-time programs to life and develop the skilled workforce needed for the local communities to grow and prosper.

Who:

  • Christian Pritchard, chef and master of ceremonies
  • Jamie Kennedy, celebrity chef and CFF ambassador
  • Don Lovisa, president, Durham College
  • Roger Anderson, chair, Region of Durham
  • Pat Perkins, mayor, Town of Whitby
  • Brittany Lombard, second-year Culinary Management student
  • Durham College faculty, staff and students

Visuals:

  • Bistro ’67, a new, 70-seat, full-service, green-certified teaching and learning restaurant
  • Self-guided tours of the facility
  • Student-led cooking demonstrations
  • Musical performance by Canadian singer, songwriter and musician Greg Keelor
  • CFF living wall

When:
Thursday, October 17
4 to 6 p.m.

Where:
Durham College Centre for Food (Whitby campus)
1610 Champlain Drive

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

Media are asked to please RSVP by Wednesday, October 16 to:
Allison Rosnak
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2333
allison.rosnak@durhamcollege.ca