MOUTHPIECE The unofficial voice of SHTC
Our own sweet gain... JACQUES O’SULLIVAN!! If the School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culture (SHTC) started collecting advertising fees, then Coke would be the FIRST Corporation to contribute - all thanks to Jacques O’Sullivan! If you are curious about the connection between ‘Jacques’ and ‘O’Sullivan’ (how often do you come across a French and an Irish name together), we’d like to solve the mystery, he was born in Montreal and so the French name ‘Jacques’. Jacques first started teaching at Centennial College in 1986 and became a Full-time Professor in 1988. Few people know that his broth- er Sean O’Sullivan was Canada’s youngest Member of Parliament (MP). The name O’Sullivan still carries tremendous weight after all these years. After Sean quit politics, many political parties approached Jacques to represent his constituency in Parliament. Centennial College gained big time (one of his favourite expressions) when Jacques chose a career in academics instead of politics. In addition to managing a full teaching load, Jacques has always dedicated his time and efforts towards student success and student satisfaction. In fact, he took this on so seriously early on in his teaching career that first thing every Monday morning, Jacques and fellow faculty Diarmuid O’Connor would meet with Gary Robinson (Ex-Chair) to discuss issues relating to life within and outside of the classroom. So much so, they became extremely dedicated to these meetings and started team teaching. Classes were split up into ‘dyads and triads’, and this technique of teaching was extremely successful. Jacques went on to crown his academic success with a dedication to the work force he was associated with. So, he accepted Ron Golumba’s invitation to join the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and in time was elected President! Today, in addition to his time in the classroom, Jacques spends much of his time doing a fine tuned balancing act - between students, employees and management of the College. There have been many people who have described Jacques to be ‘the balancing force’ in many a complicated equation because he succeeds in reaching equilibrium with all concerned.
School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culture & Tourism Hospitality, of School Thanks to him, our School, College and the Union have each gained tremendously - especially because Jacques receives the 2012 Idalynn Karre Exemplary Leader Award at this year’s Chair ISSUE 5 Academy for advanced academic or administrative leadership in post-secondary academic institutions WORLD WIDE. WINTER 2012 And no place less, in Atlanta, THE land of COKE!!
BULLETIN BOARD SHTC and CORBROOK’s joint SHTC’s celebrates its ‘Banner stakeholder support as well as venture kicks off Fall 2012 Year’ June 3-5, 2012: facilitate educational and outreach Page 2 Page Centennial College’s new Food Pro- activities, is in the pipeline. The year 2012 has been earmarked cessing & Packaging certificate pro- as ‘Banner Year’ to celebrate, gram will be starting Fall 2012. ‘Culturama’ on Sunday, June 3, will engage and reinforce our vision and be hosted at the Progress campus philosophy by highlighting numerous Intended for adults 18 and over with Student Gym, and will feature a full noteworthy and prestigious a developmental disability, this day of fun and festivities, cultural milestones including: innovative certificate is offered in displays, arts and crafts, partnership with Corbrook multicultural food and beverage (awakening abilities for more than 60 5th Anniversary of the School of stands, interactive performance and years), an organization known for its Hospitality, Tourism and a stage for interactive shows and person-directed approach to helping Culture (SHTC) and the Culture performances. people with varying levels of abilities & Heritage Institute (CHI) become more independent and Six UNWTO TedQual Certified CHI’s 5th Anniversary Symposium achieve their personal goals. Programs on Cultural and Heritage Tourism, from June 4-5, 2012 will take place Residence Conference and UNESCO-UNEVOC TVET at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre starts renovation Centre Centre. Themed “Travel Tales: The Conference Centre is Application for UNESCO Chair inspiring stories and learning from undergoing some significant chang- in Sustainable Tourism (first Ca- global voyages” the conference will es for the School. New nadian College) focus on the strengths and expertise culinary labs will be built to of our program clusters and Student enrolment nearing 1000 accommodate the continued growth promises to be another engaging in number! of its hospitality related programs. In conference opening with keynote preparation for this extensive Range of programs – Peter Debrine (Programme renovation, the Conference Centre diploma, degree, post-graduate Specialist, Sustainable Tourism, will be closed as of April 1st, 2012. and more recently, the launch of World Heritage Committee, Paris) a Degree Program Stay tuned for revised schedules of and Scott Hammell, an inspiring Centennial's student-run Horizons An extended celebration (over 3 speaker from ‘Me to We’. Restaurant through summer and the days in June) that will help promote renovation period! academic programs, garner For more information visit centennialcollege.ca/chi/banneryear ‘PEACing’ the GLOBAL PUZZLE with school children
Special Events practicum students led by faculty Lynn Howse and Bob Dallas organized a colourful demonstration of global co-operation in celebration of peace, inviting children from various cultures to Centennial College, to help assemble a 60’ X 60’ jigsaw puzzle. In Peace Together, a worldwide community project that hopes this project will produce a 10,000 sq. Foot puzzle in five years, was created by Adele Spaggon, a mother and peace activist and she says “Art is a medium that crosses all cultural boundaries and age barriers. This can unite us all in a creative expression of peace.”
DATES TO REMEMBER - FALL 2011
Apr 1 onwards Closure for renovation: Conference Centre at Residence Page 3 Page
Apr 6 Good Friday, College closed! Classes in session again on Monday, April 9
Apr 23-27 EXAM WEEK: final week of Winter 2012 Semester
May 4 SHTC Faculty& Staff Professional Development Day, Fantasy Farm
May 9 Summer 2012 Semester begins
Jun 3 ‘CULTURAMA’: ‘SHTC’s Banner Year’ kick-off cultural fair at Student Gym
Jun 3 CHI’s 5th Anniversary Symposium, at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
June 14 Convocation Week: SHTC Ceremony on Thursday, June 14, 6.30pm
Aug 13-17 EXAM WEEK: final week of Summer 2012 Semester
GOLD MEDAL PLATES 2011: HUGE SUCCESS!
On November 9th, 2011, 90 Centennial College Hospitality Students spearheaded by Jannett Ioannides, managed the volunteer component of the 2011 Gold Medal Plates Competition at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. FECM team executed their duties to exceptional standards: be it greeting over 800 guests to serving celebrity judges, to capturing thousands of dollars in bids for charity during the live auction competition. Organizers were thrilled with the contribution made by Centennial College and have confirmed the students will once again look after organizing the volunteer contributions for 2012! Gold Medal Plates is the ultimate celebration of Canadian Excellence in cuisine, wine, the arts and athletic achievement. Celebrated in nine cities across Canada it features superb wines and the premier chefs in each city, paired with Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes, in a competition to crown a gold, silver and bronze medal culinary team in each city, and subsequently nation‐wide. Founded in 2003, the goal of Gold Medal Plates is to raise substantial funds for Canada’s high performance athletes, while celebrating Canadian excellence. Since 2004, this event has received tremendous support and accolades all across Canada, and generated a combined net total of close to $6 million for Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes!
A BUSY WINTER: SHTC FACULTY VISIT LUCERNE & MANIPAL
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Two Faculty Members Travel to Luzern During Reading Week… The distinctive team of Juerg Roth (Coordinator, Kitchen and Hospitality Management and Head Chef at Horizons) and Bruce Haden (Professor, SHTC) had the unique opportunity in March 2012 to go on a faculty exchange to the International Hotel Management Institute (IMI), a university located in Luzern, Switzerland. Senior Chef Professor Shaun Leonard graciously welcomed Chef Professor Roth into his kitchen to introduce a distinctly Canadian experience. IMI students created a three course specialty meal which featured maple glazed salmon (available at Horizons Restaurant!). Bruce found IMI shared similarities and differences with Centennial. For example, the faculty and staff are helpful and mix theory with practical experience in the class to create a dynamic experience. However, no one is allowed to wear jeans and a t-shirt to school. Everyone must wear a proper suit as part of their uniform. Whatever your goals might be, IMI offers accreditations at every level: certificates, diplomas, degrees and eventually masters. The combination of Swiss and British qualifications with work experience in reputable Swiss restaurants and hotels, gives IMI students a unique competitive advantage when applying for jobs in the international hospitality and tourism industry. The aim of IMI is to offer an academic and vocational education to the highest standards to further a successful career in management. Suggested pathways into IMI include: • Exit high school—Earn a B.A. within 2.5 years (industry experience may earn more credits) • Industry experience—Commence MBA directly after B.A.
• Direct entry through Centennial’s Postgraduate Diploma program For more information: feel free to speak to Bruce or Juerg!
Chef Sam Glass traveled to Manipal, India to the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA), which is part of Manipal University. A magical culinary and cultural adventure, Sam shares one of his most memorable experiences on his trip: “The Malpe Harbour fish market was something I’ll probably never forget. The sight, the sounds, the smell will be etched in my memory forever. The picture here is women processing squid; subtract the plastic colanders and ice, not much has changed in over 300 years.” If you get a chance, ask Sam about his many other experiences. He’s more than happy to share with you!
EXCHANGE FACULTY VISIT CENTENNIAL COLLEGE
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(L - R) Ismael, Benny, Hada, Paru, Brenda, Angelina by the Niagara Falls during their Centennial visit in Fall 2011.
In October 2011, SHTC hosted visiting professors from the Universidad Tecnologica de Cancun, Mexico and the Principal of Manipal University’s Hotel School, India. Apart from visiting class- rooms across the School, they also attended and presented at CHI’s Fall Symposium on Geotourism. SHTC has articulation agreements with both UT Cancun and Manipal University facilitated by Faculty Tony McDermott and Siddarth Deepak respectively, for Faculty and Student exchanges. It was a great way for our partners to get to know Centennial College and all of us at SHTC.
The professors from UT Cancun audited many classes, demonstrated Pinata making, and lectured on Eco Tourism, Cultural Heritage Tourism, Mexican Music and Dance, and the Day of the Dead that is unique to Mexican culture. Faculty Tony McDermott is currently working with the UT Cancun team on offering a unique study abroad opportunity for Centennial students.
DID YOU KNOW?! The First Annual Pro-Sim Restaurant Management Challenge concluded on November 18th, 2011. Faculty Rawi Zayadi and Neil Moore mentored hospitality students over the two week challenge providing support and guidance. There were 247 students from 47 universities and colleges participating and although the two teams from our '1830' class did not finish in the top 3, they were most grateful for the opportunity to be engaged in this way. The International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (ICHRIE) hopes to repeat the exercise in the future and we hope to see Centennial on the podium soon!
STUDENT CORNER
The importance of education and aspirations: Establishing my future
Page6 career By Julia Westelaken, Centennial College, Recipient of the Catherine
Anderson-Brown Memorial Student Scholarship While living and working abroad, I was not fully satisfied with my job so I began to consider other career paths that would best suit my talents and drive for success. I was thrilled to learn that Event Management provided the best fit for my personality and passion for organization. After working overseas for 18-months, I returned home and quickly realized that I needed to return to school. I didn’t want to jump into this career path without a solid education and some essential experience behind me. Enrolling in Centennial College was my first choice, as the school offered the program I was interested in pursuing and the networking opportunities would be invaluable. Those key contacts included Jacqui Sullivan and Justin Toth, who spoke about PCMA at one of my classes, as well as the Catherine Anderson-Brown Memorial Scholarship. It was a no-brainer to submit an application for this scholarship, as it would definitely help me out financially and hopefully open doors to even more networking possibilities. I am honoured to have received this scholarship, as I have only heard wonderful things about Catherine Anderson-Brown. I can only hope that I will embody her best traits in my upcoming career in Event Management. This scholarship has allowed me to focus on my studies without having to worry about funding. Since moving to Toronto in September to enrol in college, volunteering and connecting with my new community has also been a priority. I have enjoyed being involved in my community and look forward to maintaining my volunteer presence.
‘Saving the Montgomery Inn’: excerpts from Toronto Star’s November 24, 2011 story featuring our own CHTM graduate, Jamie Novak!! If the city shuts down Montgomery's Inn as proposed, the cost cutters will have to get past the bodies of Jamie Novak and the dozens of volunteers who recently formed a human chain around the Etobicoke museum in protest. Although just 22, Novak, a full-time staffer at Montgomery, has proved dogged and fearless in the face of adversity. Earlier this year, she chased and tackled a thief who'd taken a sword, bayonet and blow horn from the inn. Needless to say, she recovered the artifacts. “I love it here,” she says. “The people here; it's like a family. The people that work here have given half their lives. The people that come here believe in it.”
But when Novak learned that the historical site may soon face budget cuts, she decided to brush up on the one skill that could keep the money coming in– fundraising. Enrolled in a postgraduate certificate in fundraising management at Ryerson University’s Continuing Education program, she has been bringing what she learns in the classroom back to the office. After earning a degree in archeology and anthropology from Trent University, Novak took real-estate courses and worked as an assistant in a real-estate office. But she soon realized the work didn't suit her. So she headed to Centennial College and earned a diploma in cultural and heritage tourism management last year. As part of the program, she landed an internship at Montgomery's Inn. The inn did hire her, although only as a part-time cleaner. She moved on to become the full-time bake oven and kitchen coordinator. She's also been working closely with the board of the Montgomery Innovators, a citizen-led organization that supports the museum, to create a business and marketing plan. “We're so lucky to have Jamie,” says Janice Etter, president of Montgomery Innovators. “She has brought us a
new generation of thinking. It's wonderful to have somebody come in and say, “We can do this better and here's how to do it.”
Watch out for our next edition in Fall! Visit us: centennialcollege.ca/hospitality. We are looking for budding writers, travel essays, snapshots and news that can be featured in the ‘Mouthpiece’.
Send us your ideas, stories, questions, comments: [email protected]