Yes Chef! Campaign

News and Media

Press Room

April 2, 2008, The George Brown Centre for Hospitality & Culinary Arts is getting bigger and better! Watch this video to learn more about the $20 million investment in our growth and facilities renewal project. Find out how we are transforming to become Canada’s centre of excellence for culinary and hospitality training. [View the video]

March 2008, The Canadian census has released a report revealing that more and more Canadians are choosing the culinary arts as a trade. Chef Higgins, Director George Brown Chef School, and a Chef School student were interviewed for this report from Global News.

George Brown College Graduate Randy Morton to speak to hospitality sector leaders
Randy Morton, President and Chief Operating Officer of Bellagio in Las Vegas will address leaders from the city’s hotel and hospitality sector next week providing strategies for addressing the industry’s skills shortage and discussing current trends coming out of one of North America’s leading entertainment centres. [Read more...]

George Brown expanding to meet demand
George Brown College will open a 3,200-square-foot storefront restaurant and add 18,000 square feet of additional teaching facilities to it Centre for Hospitality and Tourism over the next two-years. [Read the full article]

Labour Shortages
'Talent War' Bitter Meal for Hospitality Industry, by John Walker, June 19, 2007, Toronto Star. An editorial by John Walker, Dean of the Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, that brings to light many of the issues and solutions for the hospitality industry's present and future labour shortages. [Read the full article]

Mumbai gets an authentic “taste of Canada”
Top George Brown College chef celebrates Canada Day with new Indian educational partner. George Brown Chef School director John Higgins cooks up Canadian classics for IHM Mumbai officials and the Canadian Consul General in Mumbai. [Read the full article]

George Brown College Chef School produces another winner
Grad wins awards at prestigious culinary skills competition. Waterloo, Ontario, native takes gold in the provincial competition and silver in the national cook-off for post-secondary students. [Read the full article]

George Brown Chef School Grad and Joint Program with Regent Park Honoured at 2007 Colleges Ontario Conference in Toronto
Chef School whiz Vicky Cheng wins Premier's Award. George Brown College and Pathways to Education named Collaborative Educators of the year. [Read the full article]

George Brown College Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Launches New Joint International Programs to Help Indian Students Gain International Experience
Faculty partners with leading Indian institutions to provide joint educational programs and the international workplace experience valued by industry. [Read the full article]

Campaign events

Garland Canada donate $218,000 to Yes Chef! Campaign

George Brown College has received $218,000 from Garland Canada, a division of Manitowoc Foodservice, to support its Yes Chef! campaign, a $5 million fundraising project supporting the expansion and revitalization to George Brown’s Centre for Hospitality & Culinary Arts.

Randy Morton, PRESIDENT OF BELLAGIO LAS VEGAS, and a graduate of George Brown College, addressed hospitality sector leaders and provided insights about the industry skills shortage.

On February 6 at the Sutton Place hotel, Randy Morton addressed leaders from the city’s hotel and hospitality sector about the industry’s skills shortage and he discussed current trends coming out of one of North America’s leading entertainment centres.

Presented by George Brown College’s Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, the event was in support of an ambitious $20 million capital project to renew and expand the Centre’s facilities and programming to support the needs of the sector. The proposed expansion is expected to increase the Centre’s yearly graduates by 50 per cent over the next five years and will help in meeting its vision to bear the icon of Hospitality training in Canada.

View the photo gallery

George Brown Chef School receives support from Mildred Pierce event
Mildred Pierce's final brunch to set new world record

Hundreds of Torontonians to make their final brunch at Mildred Pierce the world's longest

TORONTO, July 27 /CNW/ - To celebrate the closing of Mildred Pierce, Toronto's beloved downtown restaurant and Sunday brunch spot, co-owners Donna Dooher and Kevin Gallagher are hoping to set a new world record by hosting the world's longest brunch on Sunday, July 29. With tables and chairs set in front of the restaurant on Sudbury St. and up Lisgar St. towards Queen St. West, hundreds of Torontonians are expected to attend this sold-out, once-in-a-lifetime event. Mildred Pierce's final brunch is a fundraiser, with proceeds going to the George Brown Chef School and Second Harvest. Nearly 18 years ago, Dooher brought fun, creative cooking to downtown Toronto with the opening of Mildred Pierce. As head chef of the restaurant, Dooher is one of the top names in the Toronto culinary community and was recently appointed co-chair of Yes Chef!, a new George Brown fundraising campaign dedicated to meeting the country's demand for highly skilled, workplace-ready foodservice and hospitality graduates. On July 28, Mildred Pierce will officially close its doors to the public. The restaurant is expected to re-open under a new name and at a different location in Toronto. For more information, visit: www.mildredpierce.com.

WHAT: Mildred Pierce's "World's Longest Brunch"
Famous Toronto restaurant and Sunday brunch spot to celebrate final days with attempt to break world record. Tickets $35 (Sold Out). Proceeds going to George Brown Chef School and Second Harvest.

WHERE: Mildred Pierce, 99 Sudbury Street
Tables and chairs will be set along Lisgar St., starting at Sudbury St. and continuing up to Queen St. West.

WHEN: Sunday, July 29 at 11:00 a.m. (RAIN OR SHINE)

WHO: The following Mildred Pierce representatives and guests will be
available for interviews:

• Donna Dooher, Chef/Co-owner, Mildred Pierce
• Jayne McMahon, Manager, Mildred Pierce
• John Higgins, Director/Corporate chef, George Brown Chef School
• Anne Sado, President, George Brown College

TorontoSun.com
“World’s Longest Brunch.” (video file - launches in a separate window)
Subject: Mildred Pierce’s final brunch; proceeds going to George Brown Chef School and Second Harvest.

“World’s Longest Brunch” Photo Gallery

Over 350 guests enjoyed a delicious brunch on a beautiful day

Anne Sado, president GBC, Keith Muller, Chair George Brown Chef school and GBC students volunteers

Director GB Chef School, Chef John Higgins, Yes Chef! Co-chair and co-owner Mildred Pierce Restaurant, Donna Dooher, and Keith Muller, Chair George Brown Chef School

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