niagara-news.com TEAM CANADA PARALYMPIANS FIND WARM WELCOME IN PORT COLBORNE NN PAGES 6,7 NIAGARA NEWS FEB.16, 2018 • VOL. 49 ISSUE 8 Looking Cost of for updated strike at complaint KITCHEN PREP Niagara College culinary syoung chefs ready to take $4 million: numbers on the world in two different competitions College By IRYNA RYBCHAK By IRYNA RYBCHAK Staff Writer Staff Writer While more attention Niagara College was left - cial ledgers, following a thansecondary ever is campuses being paid across to with black ink in its finan sexualNorth America,violence onNiagara post- Col- Niagara News has learned lege lacks up-to-date statis- five-week strike last fall. tics on how many students million during the strike, the college saved $4.27 haveAccording made complaints to Hafsah in while paying out just over recentShaikh, years. the college’s student $4That million means in strike-related the college rights and responsibilities expenses. to the Ministry of Training, benefitedLast week, to theMichael tune ofAudi- officer, amendments made aboutbert, co-ordinator $230,000. for the Act requires post-second- Collegesary institutions and Universities to report “this number includes the “information about sexual Board of Governors, said, - salary/compensationmillion) minus the tuition sav violence to the Minister of ingsrefunds from and the other strike strike- ($4.27 Advancedas to report Education on the support and related expenses and lost Skills Development as well - available to students who revenuechael Wales, ($4.04 senior million).” commu- experience sexual violence.” In the Jan. 26 edition, Mi However, “At this time, Niagara we (the College College, couldn’t detail the has nothing to make public. nications officer at Niagara statistics and are awaiting college) do not have recent amountHe said of at money the time, saved “in and spentterms onof athe surplus, strike. applica- ministry clarifications on tions for the fund will be reportingWhen asked requirements,” why the col- said Shaikh. it’s too early to predict how statistics, Shaikh respond- accepted until April 27, so legeed: “At does the not moment, have recent I don’t A spokesman for the much will be paid out.” Employees Union (OPSEU) haveShaikh the statisticsand the Campus reported Ontario Public Service - withinSafety, Healththe last Wellness three years.” and Leanne Breukelman (left) and Rafael Quintana (center), second-year Culinary Management students, plate Localexpenditures 242, declined related com to the appetizers with program co-ordinator Chef Olaf Mertens (right). Story on Page 2. ment about the savings and AccessibilityContinued Services on Page is the 2 PHOTO BY DANIELA VILANOVA Continued on Page 2 first to speak to if you strike. Tory leadership race makes pitstop in Niagara Doug Ford and Caroline Mulroney attended local rallies this week, seeking support to take over leadership of the Ontario PC party following the resignation of former leader Patrick Brown after allegations of sexual misconduct. See stories and photos by Beth Audet and Lisa Brown on Pages 8, 9. Caroline Mulroney. PHOTO BY BETH AUDET Doug Ford. PHOTO BY BETH AUDET Page 2 NIAGARA NEWS • Feb. 16, 2018 NEWS Five chefs try to make the cut By DANIELA VILANOVA are from, everybody’s idea and eggplant, garnished Staff writer of an empanada is different. with a savoury thyme “Is it baked or is it fried?” cracker.” Five chefs. asked Mertens. “Fried is The second competition Two competitions. always better,” he added. One heck of a learning op- To avoid confusion, they For this competition portunity. morphed the idea of the isMertens Skills Canada. has selected Quen- Chef Olaf Mertens, empanada into a fried hand tin Petkovich, a second-year co-ordinator for Niagara pie, “about the size of a Culinary Management pro- College’s Culinary Manage- small eggroll,” said Mertens. gram student, Robbie Ag- ment program, is currently “Everything needs to be garwal, a former Culinary Management student at the students to compete in two preparingdifferent competitions. five culinary biggot ducka beautiful flavour. pastry,” So, we said - Mertens said he be- gotMertens, the big adding duck filling,that they we collegement student. and Hunter Each Spice,of these a alter the pastry recipe by first-yearstudents has Culinary an amazing Manage competitions bring to the adding duck fat. past in the culinary world. lievesstudents. in the benefits these “Because (it’s a) duck The goal for this com- “One, they are applying (competition) we need to petition is to show as the knowledge that they are many skills in one plate as learning at school. Two, this possible. To prove that “I is becoming like a real-life getthey as put much a duck duck made flavour from have so many skills and I situation.” asthe possible.” same hand To pie finish dough it up, don’t need a machine,” said - on top. Mertens. tions is the Great Amazing Mertens thinks about all But this competition DuckThe Race, first oftaking the competi place on is tricky, since the par- April 7, sponsored by the his team can incorporate ticipants don’t really know King Cole companies. theinto flavours the appetizers. that he Theand what to expect when they Mertens selected Leanne sweet, the sour, the salt, the arrive at the competition. Breukelman and Rafael acidic - the way colours are The scope for this year, Quentin Petkovich, second-year student at the Culinary Management program, Quintana, both second-year equally important for the according to Mertens, is coating meat with ashes. PHOTO BY DANIELA VILANOVA Culinary Management stu- presentation. competitors must use 180 dents, for this competition. The main course is some- grams of deer meat. It must are going to work with this they will go and be part of cue competition. Also, they thing Quintana and Breuke- be cooked between 140 and with “two people that lman had more freedom to 145 F, they must include to take a modern look at a where the best of each of from 6 a.m. til noon. Heinteract wanted really to fit well. the And recipe at play with. buckwheat, they must make scope,lemon whilemerengue Spice’s pie. task is the Team150 trades Canada go ofto Skills,partici - getAfter together the competition, every Saturday the same if they could use Breukelman explained two sauces, one of which “This (year) is World pate in Moscow in 2020. he takes the best eight sort of their feeling or their “Perfectly Duckie,” the main they need to make extra. Qualifying Year,” said competitors, who then will heritage as well.” course. They must have edible Mertens. Meaning that can participate in compe- compete live on June 11 For the appetizers, they “It consists in a perfectly garnishes, and they are go- if any of the students titionsSince like not these,all the every students outside the college. This had the idea of an “empa- seared duck breast, sweet ing to be given two mystery November, Mertens selects second part of the competi- nada,” inspired by Quin- potato medallions, apricot vegetables the day of the competence win the best two groups of 24 students tion is divided into three tana’s Venezuelan heritage. compote, pomegranate lime competition. participatingin Ontario and in later the Skillthey - 48 in total - who can come groups, the students, the Depending on where you gastrique, sautéed peppers Petkovich and Aggarwal back on June 9 for a barbe- win best Skill in Canada, ‘We“foodies” believe and the firemen. 650,000 student voices on sexual violence that any Continued from page 1 the incident to police, - experience any form of but usually, “the survivor thermore, sexual violence savings sexual violence. The meet- will retain control of how trainingShe continued, is provided “Fur to ing can be confidential or their experience will be students and staff at should go take place in the presence dealt with by the college,” Niagara College. Lastly, of a friend or a family the free Niagara College back to the member. “During the meeting, according to Shaikh. - members of the college students’ they (the students) will saultAfter policy, signing the the college Sexual Mobilecommunity Safety to Appfile aallows sexual Continued from page 1 have the option of pro- Violenceintroduced and the Sexual “Con -As violence complaint, con- “Our position would have ceeding with an informal sent is Key” campaign to be no comment on the or formal complaint,” said to educate students and Assault Centre and the - - prevent sexual violence tact the Niagara Sexual ment, as we haven’t seen mal complaints or dis- on campus. Control Centre.” college’sthe numbers financial that theystate (the Shaikh.closures “Typically, are made wheninfor “The ‘Consent is Key’ NiagaraAlso, Niagara College College Security college) are relying upon to students wish to access website has been cre- will participate in one formulate that statement,” on-campus or off-campus ated to make it easier for of the largest surveys on said Ravi Ramkissoonsingh, services including accom- students and staff to file sexual violence among modations.” a complaint, access the post-secondary institu- As for a suggestion as The investigation will tions, organized by CCI vice-presidentto what should ofbe OPSEU. done start after the formal Violence policy, access on- Research Inc. and the with the $230,000 surplus, complaint will be made by Sexualcampus Assault and off-campus and Sexual Ministry of Advanced Edu- PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY BETH AUDET Ramkissoonsingh had this resources as well as to - to say: “We believe that any - learn about the steps to ment. ing as many as 650,000 propriate sexual behav- savings should go back to studentssault policy, under which the wasSexual take if you have witnessed cation and Skills Develop Ontario students the iours. The survey will take the students in the form Violencesigned by and Niagara Sexual College As an assault or if someone opportunity to share their place in two circles: the - in March 2015.