Cook - Apprenticeship

Two 15-week training sessions
Certificate of Apprenticeship
Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus
Start Date: September or January

Niagara College definitely put me on a track of professionalism. I obtained the formal training I needed to take something that interested me and turn it into a rewarding career.

Todd Clarmo, Cook -
Apprenticeship graduate

Program Status

This Apprenticeship Program begins in September and January in each year.

Note: Applicants do not apply to Niagara College via Ontario Colleges.

For more information about applying to Apprenticeship Programs, please see below:

Niagara College Apprenticeship Information
Phone: 905-735-2211 ext. 7457

Ministry of Training and Colleges and Universities:
(Local apprenticeship office)
Apprenticeships and Client Services
301 St. Paul Street, 9th floor
St. Catharines, ON
L2R 7R4
Telephone: 905-704-2991
www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/employmentontario/training/

Career Opportunities

Cooking requires excellent organizational skills, and the ability to be adaptable to quickly changing needs in a fast paced environment. Cooks have to be extremely focused and attentive to detail. Canada’s hospitality industry is experiencing rapid growth and needs qualified workers who exhibit these characteristics. Prospects for satisfying employment and career advancement in the food service industry have never been better.

Upon completion of your cook apprenticeship you may seek provincial certification and pursue employment in diverse settings including restaurants, hotels, hospitals, clubs, central food commissaries, correctional institutions, catering establishments, private homes and educational institutions. Cooks can also be found working in the transportation industry aboard ships, trains or airplanes and at construction and isolated camps.

Baker
Chef de cuisine
Chef de partie
Research and Development Cook
Kitchen Manager
Banquet Manager
Caterer
Food Service Administrators and Coordinators

The NC Difference

The Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara College possesses an outstanding reputation with graduates, employers and industry partners
Niagara wine country has a thriving hospitality industry
A full service, on-campus dining room, open to the public, complements training
Students enjoy an unrivalled learning environment, with excellent facilities and highly qualified chef faculty
Students gain additional experience by working on many special functions held on and off campus each year
Apprentices complete 700 hours of college instruction and approximately three years of on-the-job training as paid trainees
Outstanding levels of student satisfaction
Many apprentices and graduates win Skills Canada Awards at the provincial, national and international levels
Student support system includes counselling and financial aid
More than three decades of apprenticeship in-school training experience

Niagara College is one of Ontario's 24 publicly-funded Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology. Its culinary programs and its Canadian Food and Wine Institute are in no way affiliated with the Niagara-on-the-Lake Culinary School, a private career college that has been the subject of recent media stories.

Testimonials and Profiles

"Last year I graduated from the Cook Level 2 program at Niagara college. Due to my achievements in school and a strong work ethic I was offered a position at the college working in the Production Kitchen as a Third level Commis. An opportunity I am glad I took!

The Chefs exemplified what I believe are the qualities that make a great Chef. They where always eager to help us, and constantly encouraged us. No question was ever left unanswered. They always pushed us to research things, be it product or techniques, and drove us to always raise the bar. They would let us make mistakes but always help us to fix them, and then take the time to explain where we had gone wrong. All of the Chefs lead by example, always showing patience and understanding. Constantly doing their best to instill not only a strong work ethic in us but healthy humanitarian qualities as well. They always applied good management techniques and helped us to do the same.

Overall I was honored to have this opportunity. I definitely respect and admire all of the PK Chefs as well as the other Chefs at the college I have had the pleasure of working with over the last year. I have learned so much and grown both as a Cook and a person. Which makes me proud to say that I studied and worked in the Production Kitchen. I feel that this program is incredibly valuable for young up and coming Chefs. I hope that it will continue, so the generations of Cooks after me will be able to take advantage of all the great opportunity and wealth of knowledge it provides."

Rob Tapp, graduate

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma, or Grade 12 equivalency, AND
employment in the trade.

Note:

Apprenticeship programs are also available for the trade of Baker with advanced training in Patissier.
Non-apprentices may also apply to Niagara College for the related academic training as fee-paying students.

Educational Pathways

Niagara College has articulated agreements providing students with degree completion and credit transfer opportunities with many other colleges and universities.

For information, inquiries or frequently asked questions, please askNC or email the InfoCentre at info@niagaracollege.ca.

Tours

For more information please contact the InfoCentre.

Welland: 905-735-2211, ext. 7559
NOTL: 905-641-2252, ext. 4208

We look forward to meeting you!

Employment

Attention Employers:
Post a job for grads, co-op students, part-time, summer or volunteer.

Attention Students:
View job postings now

Program Information

Cook-Basic (Prog 0070)
BAKG1226	Professional Baking Fundamentals	3
CAPL1199	Computer Applications	3
CULN1120	Basic Culinary Techniques	3
CULN1121	Introduction to Food Principles	3
CULN1322	Cuisine a La Carte I	1
HOSP1101	Health and Safety	2
MATH1035	Mathematics	2

Cook-Advanced (Prog 0071)
BAKG1320	Modern Pastry Craft	3
COMM1101	Language and Communications	3
CULN1220	Applied Culinary Principles	3
CULN1221	Understanding Quality Ingredients	3
CULN1236	Practical Cooking and Garde Manger	3
CULN1320	Culinary Cost Control	3
CULN1422	Cuisine a La Carte II	1

Bookmark This Page

The permanent address is:
http://www.niagaracollege.ca/cook

Copyright Notice
The content on this website is the property of Niagara College; it is not to be copied, reproduced, or transmitted in any form, by any means, in whole or in part, nor is it to be used for any purpose other than that for which it is expressly provided without the written permission of Niagara College.

Niagara College Canada
Southern Ontario (Niagara Region), Canada
General Inquiries -
Phone: 905.735.2211, ext. 7559 Fax: 905.736.6000