Thunder Bay Community Rallies to Save Confederation College’s Culinary Program
More than 1,900 people have signed an online petition urging Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ont., to reconsider its decision to suspend the culinary management program.
The college announced in late March that it would be suspending the two-year hospitality program, along with 10 others, citing declining domestic enrollment and federal caps on international student permits as major financial pressures.
“It was disappointing and pretty shocking to know we’re potentially going to lose such a valuable resource in the community,” said Bianca Garofalo, a former instructor in the program.
The culinary management program provides students with classroom instruction, hands-on training at the campus dining facility, and community-based co-op placements. Graduates receive an Ontario College Diploma.
While students currently enrolled in suspended programs will be able to complete their studies, no new students will be accepted this fall.
Garofalo, who co-owns three well-known Thunder Bay restaurants — Bight Restaurant and Bar, El Tres, and Giorg Cucina e Barra — expressed concern about the ripple effects on the local food industry.
“There won’t be as many people entering the workforce in this sector, and those who do will require more hands-on training, which will place a bigger strain on restaurants,” she said.
Community Partners Also Affected
Organizations like the Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA) are also feeling the impact. The RFDA recently partnered with the college on a production cooking class, which prepared food that was then redistributed to those in need.
“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,” said Tanner Harris, the RFDA’s food service manager and a graduate of the culinary program.
The RFDA has been engaging younger students in the food industry through hands-on experiences, made possible in part by access to the college’s kitchen facilities. Its own kitchen is significantly smaller.
“We’re trying to help them, and the college is trying to help us — it’s really full circle,” Harris said.
As the RFDA plans to expand and add a new community teaching kitchen, Harris worries that the absence of a clear post-secondary pathway may discourage students from pursuing culinary careers.
Larger Impact Across Sectors
Garofalo stressed the broader consequences of the program’s suspension.
“For some students, this was their way forward in terms of post-secondary education,” she said. “If they can’t afford to leave Thunder Bay for school, it might completely change their plans.”
Even if students pursue culinary training elsewhere, there’s a risk they won’t return to the region, further impacting the local workforce.
Harris, who also has experience in healthcare, noted the need for trained cooks in hospitals and care facilities — places that serve the region’s most vulnerable populations.
“Food insecurity is already a huge issue in this region,” he said. “The more people who are educated about food, the better. We need to keep this program going.”
Although a suspension doesn’t mean the program is permanently canceled, its future remains uncertain. Garofalo hopes to participate in a roundtable discussion with college officials and other stakeholders to voice their concerns.
“There are so many areas where food production is vital,” she said. “This isn’t just about restaurants — the ecosystem is much larger than that.”
