Members of Thunder Bay, Ont.'s food scene rally to save college's culinary program from suspension

More than 1,900 people have signed an online petition in hopes of sparing the culinary management program at Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ont., from being suspended.

The college announced the suspension of the program — along with 10 others — in late March.

The reason behind the decision is declining domestic enrolment and caps on international study permits, which are negatively impacting the school's bottom line, the college said.

"It was disappointing and pretty shocking to know we're going to potentially lose that valuable resource in the community," said Bianca Garofalo, a former instructor of the culinary management program.

The two-year hospitality program provides students with theoretical knowledge, hands-on learning at the on-campus dining facility, and a co-op work placement in the community. Graduates receive an Ontario College Diploma.

Students already enrolled in the college's suspended programs will be able to complete their studies, but new intakes are not being accepted this fall.

Garofalo co-owns three prominent restaurants in town: Bight Restaurant and Bar, El Tres, and Giorg Cucina e Barra. Herself and others in the food industry are concerned about how the program's suspension will impact their staffing.

"There won't be as many people looking for employment in that sector specifically, and people who do will need hands-on training to a level that I think is going to be a big strain on the restaurants," she said.

Meanwhile, community partners — such as the Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA) — are left wondering what their relationship with the college will look like going forward.

"We just formed a good partnership with the college … to promote the production cooking class," said Tanner Harris, the RFDA's food service manager and a graduate of the program. "With the food they were able to prepare coming back to the RFDA, it's going to be a huge gap we need to fill."

CBC News has reached out to Confederation College about the petition to save the culinary management program and has not yet received a response.

The RFDA has been working on getting students in elementary and high school interested in the food industry by helping out with meal preparations, said Harris. The organization has benefited from use of the college's kitchen, since the one at its warehouse is much smaller.

"We're trying to help them, college's trying to help us; it's really full circle," said Harris.

While the RFDA's upcoming expansion includes a new community teaching kitchen, Harris said it may be harder to draw students in if they lack post-secondary opportunities in the culinary industry.