CFWI Armoury site officially opens in Aurora

NC’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute now has a presence in the GTA, thanks to an innovative partnership between the Town of Aurora and NC’s award-winning Canadian Food and Wine Institute.

The CFWI is now offering short-term and part-time culinary, wine and beer classes, as well as catering and a community event space, in Aurora’s newly restored historic Armoury.

“The Armoury facility will provide many aspects of food and beverage education in the form of professional development opportunities, corporate training, team building and a variety of classes for the general public,” said CFWI dean Craig Youdale. “This will give the town of Aurora, and the surrounding region, a chance to gain a depth of knowledge in everything from winetasting to hands-on cooking classes with our professional staff.

“We also look forward to providing our top-notch level of food service right in the facility itself that could be a small luncheon or gathering, to a full-fledged event or wedding that can be designed and delivered by our in-house.”

The CFWI Aurora Armoury location offers a community-based space, which can be booked for corporate and social events, weddings, part-time classes and more. CFWI chefs offer catering services, as well as pop-up events for the public to enjoy. In addition, it offers corporate team building sessions and tailored industry training programming to support the GTA and beyond, making Aurora a new hub for CFWI.

“The Canadian Food and Wine Institute is excited to welcome the community to the newly renovated Aurora Armoury,” said Jeffrey Steen, manager of Part-time Studies and Corporate Training at the CFWI. “The facility is truly an incredible space, and will provide a unique space for the entire community to enjoy.”

Located in heart of downtown Aurora, the Armoury is a recognized Federal Heritage Building and the long-time home of the Queen’s York Rangers. In 2014, the Town of Aurora purchased the historic site – which was built in 1874 as a drill shed for the 12th Battalion of Infantry or York Rangers – with the intention of restoring the historic building and returning it to its rightful place as a community gathering space.

On December 1, 2017, the Town announced an innovative partnership with the CFWI. The building has since been renovated by the Town to become a new state-of-the-art facility that includes a culinary demonstration theatre, a classroom and space for community events.

On November 6, the Town of Aurora hosted an event to celebrate the opening of Aurora’s restored historic Armoury. The event included the mayor of Aurora, members of Town Council and town staff, members of the Queen’s York Rangers, as well NC president Dan Patterson, CFWI dean Craig Youdale and CFWI staff members including Jeffrey Steen, and the CFWI Armoury’s executive chef Soohyeong Lee.

“The Town of Aurora is thrilled to officially welcome the Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara College to our community. We are excited for what this means for our Town,” said Aurora mayor Tom Mrakas.  “We have taken one of our oldest and most historic buildings and restored it into a facility that is truly incredible. The Armoury is the cornerstone of our downtown revitalization efforts and I am proud to have partnered with the CFWI to make our dream of creating a vibrant community hub a reality,”

“Over the past year, I have witnessed the incredible transformation of The Armoury and I am exceptionally proud of what we have accomplished. In partnership with Niagara College, we have created something truly unique and exceptional,” said Doug Nadorozny, Town of Aurora chief administrative officer.  “[It’s] a space that will serve our community while fulfilling our vision of bringing a post-secondary training and education facility to Aurora.”

On November 9-10, the CFWI also hosted a Community Open House at the Armoury, offering visitors an opportunity to tour the state-of-the-art facility.

The CFWI Aurora Armoury is located at 89 Mosley Street, Aurora (in Town Park).

For more information on The Armoury, visit aurora.ca/armoury.