Culinary Art Institutes in British Columbia

Ever thought about going to cooking school and becoming a gourmet chef or maybe a pastry expert? Although we may not be able to give you any cooking tips, Youthink can help you decide whether a culinary arts career is the right match for you with our detailed career profile below.

Career Choices

Embarking on a career in culinary arts can lead you to become a chef, cook, food service worker, restaurant manager, restaurateur, baker, caterer, cookbook writer, or maybe even become the next Jamie Oliver!

Job Titles

People with culinary arts training can end up in a variety of specific roles over their career, such as: head chef, sous chef, bar manager, food manager, pastry chef, regional cuisine chef, French cuisine chef, fusion cuisine chef, executive chef, chef de partie, baker, line cook, specialty chef, saucier, assistant chef, banquet chef, chef pâtissier, cold foods chef, corporate chef, entremetier, garde-manger chef, head rotisseur, master chef, meat chef, meat, poultry and fish chef, pasta chef, second chef, supervising chef, restaurant manager, short order cook or caterer.

Related Occupations

Dietitian, nutritionist, food scientist, butcher, food inspector, food instructor, home economics teacher and sommelier are just some jobs that would be related to the culinary arts industry.

Potential Employers

A great variety of organizations will employ chefs and cooks such as restaurants, hotels, caterers, cruise ships, resorts, educational institutions, golf clubs, hospitals, nightclubs, cafeterias, casinos, camps and even households looking for personal chefs!

Some Specific Employers in Western Canada

Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts, Cactus Restaurants Ltd., Cara Operations (Kelsey’s, Milestones, Montana’s, etc.), Joey Restaurant Group, Sequoia Company of Restaurants, Earls Restaurants Ltd., Fairmont, Darden Restaurants (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, etc.), Sorrentino’s Restaurant Group, Sawmill Restaurant Group, Culina Family of Restaurants, Brewsters Brewing Company & Restaurants, Century Hospitality Group, Glowbal Restaurant Group, Browns Restaurant Group, Victoria Pub Company, Hilton Restaurant Group

Salary

The salary range for chefs will vary greatly depending on the chef’s experience, reputation, geographic location and even whether or not the job is unionized. On average, a Canadian chef’s average income will range between $30,000 and $46,000 a year. However, entry-level chefs may earn just a little more than minimum wage, while those on the high-end of the career ladder can earn six-figure salaries.

Benefits

The most common health benefits chefs receive are medical and dental benefits. However, many chefs in Canada receive no health benefits at all from their employers. On the other hand, tips, bonuses and profit sharing can increase a chef’s income.

Number of People Employed in This Field

According to the latest release from Statistic Canada’s Labour Force Survey, the accommodation and food services industry employs more than 1,067,700 Canadians as of June 2010. This represents 6.2 per cent of people employed in Canada.

Education Requirements

Typically, completion of a formal apprenticeship training program or a certified culinary training program at a recognized post-secondary or culinary institute is required to work as a chef.

Length of Education

Most culinary training programs will last between one to two years, although some cooking schools do offer certificate programs that take less than a year to complete.

Culinary Courses

Chef schools offer a variety of cooking courses on topics such as French cooking, mixology, culinary fundamentals, baking and yeast goods, meat preparation, soups and sauces, food and wine pairing, nutrition, patisserie, supervision and event planning, vegetable and starches, Italian cooking and vegetarian cooking.

Special Certification Available in Industry

Chefs can gain experience and eventually take the Red Seal Examination to receive their certification, which allows for greater inter-provincial mobility.
Some chefs work towards receiving the respected level of certification, Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC), which allows for greater employment prospects within Canada and abroad.

Working Conditions

Chefs spend a lot of time on their feet in the kitchen, under constant time pressures all while making sure to follow safety and sanitation guidelines.

Typical Hours of Work

Typically, full time chefs work long shifts that can be physically and mentally tiring. Instead of the typical nine-to-five schedule of office workers, chefs are usually at work when people want to go out to eat – that means working evening and weekend shifts.

Future Trends for This Path

According to a 2009 report on the Accommodation and Food Services industry by the Government of Alberta, between 2009 and 2013, employment in the industry is expected to grow on average 2.8 per cent annually in Alberta. The provincial government projects above average demand for labour in chef occupations, managers in food service and accommodation, and occupations in food and beverage service.

BC Work Futures, a website and publication jointly produced by Service Canada and the Government of BC, predicts that growth in cook employment in BC will be positively affected by projected population increases. As well, cooks who specialize in ethnic cuisine will possibly have an edge in the industry.

Important Industry Organizations

Canadian Culinary Federation, Canadian Food Industry Council, Canadian Restaurants and Foodservices Association, Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council

Sources

Skilled Immigrant Infocentre
Government of Alberta (PDF)
eHow.com

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