Durham College’s (DC) own Tanya Heck has been awarded a prestigious Worldchefs Global Certification.

An experienced chef who has taught at DC for over a decade, Heck is now a WorldChefs Certified Pastry Chef. This internationally recognized designation acknowledges her extensive experience in the culinary industry as well as her commitment to improvement and excellence.

To become certified, she completed a rigorous process including professional competency testing, a review of her qualifications and career achievements, and more.

“Pursuing this certification was both a personal and professional goal. I believe strongly in lifelong learning, and I want to model that mindset for my students and peers,” Heck said.

Her accomplishment further adds to the value of DC’s Culinary Management and Culinary Skills programs, which are delivered by faculty members who are both highly trained and internationally recognized. Students learn their trade in the state-of-the-art W. Galen Weston Centre for Food and work in the award-winning Bistro ’67 teaching restaurant, receiving training that is both current and aligned with international industry expectations.

As Heck and her colleagues in the Faculty of Hospitality and Horticultural Science continue to provide students with the best in culinary education, she’ll proudly add this certification to her resume.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to have your work and growth recognized in this way,” she said. “It’s an honor to be recognized globally for the work I do every day in our classrooms, kitchens, and campus community — and it motivates me to keep pushing our program forward.”