George Brown College in the News Archive

... “If perception is reality, members of Generation Y, entering the workplace and poised to lead this city — are not bullish on Toronto. And neither are the businesses that will employ 18- to 35-year-olds, according to a new survey conducted by Leger Marketing for George Brown College. Both employers and the next generation of movers and shakers give mixed reviews on Toronto’s potential as a thriving urban region, compared with other international cities and our Canadian competitors….” [More... ]

…“Only 52 per cent of Toronto's 18-to-35 year olds believe Toronto will be a better place to live in 10 years, according to a new survey commissioned by George Brown College. “That's not a great mark. I don't think 50 per cent is good enough to ensure that we have a vibrant city in the future,” said Anne Sado, president of the college. The survey of 500 “Generation Y” Torontonians and 300 employers found both groups were slightly pessimistic about the city's future, something that stemmed from their doubts Toronto could unclog its roads, improve its science and technology sectors and provide decent jobs for new immigrants. Some 56 per cent of employers predicted Toronto would be a better place to do business in a decade….” [More... ]

...“Toronto's youth are pessimistic about the city's future, seeing it as a crowded, crumbling place where innovation is lacking, housing is overpriced, transit moves slowly and new immigrants have a tough time finding skilled jobs, a new survey shows. The data come from a Leger Marketing survey commissioned by George Brown College, which the college is releasing this morning. The surveyors found that while many of those youth surveyed plan to stay in the city, only one in five said they will stay because "I like it/love it here."…” [More... ]

...“Still, to its credit, Waterfront Toronto has focused on welcoming the public. The spot where we walked, formerly a series of parking lots, are becoming wide, car-free promenades that wrap around the south side of the Corus and, east of it, George Brown's new waterfront campus (now a gaping hole in the ground). We then arrived at a scene of bulldozers, backhoes, form-work for pouring concrete and hundreds of pieces of green reinforcement bar, where workers are shaping the second future park, provisionally called "Sherbourne Park."…” [More... ]

...“Toronto employers, their youngest workers and post-secondary students believe the city is behind on a series of critical social and economic issues compared with other international and Canadian cities, and are pessimistic the city will be any better in 10 years. According to an in-depth research report released today by George Brown College and conducted by Leger Marketing, approximately half of the city's employers and Generation Y residents (those aged 18 - 35) believe the city will have changed very little or be a worse place to live 10 years from now. The pessimistic future outlook is attributed to the city's inability to integrate new immigrants into society, overpopulation, crumbling infrastructure, faltering innovation and the high cost of living….” [More... ]

….“That willingness to explore the unknown is perhaps the most consistent quality among designers, regardless of discipline. “If you ask people what they want, they can only tell you what they know,” says Luigi Ferrara, an architect and designer who is director of both Toronto’s George Brown College School of Design and the Institute Without Boundaries, a Toronto-based studio that works toward collaborative design action. “But design thinking actually imagines what people might want and concretizes it.” He gives the example of residential lofts in Toronto. “Before someone created a loft space, everyone wanted eight-foot ceilings. But when this other option was introduced, people gravitated to it. The power of design thinking is introducing these new paradigms.”…” [More... ]

“A research report released today by George Brown College says that Toronto residents are pessimistic about whether Toronto will be any better when it comes to social and economic issues in 10 years. The study was conducted by Leger Marketing for George Brown College asking half of the city's employers and Generation Y (residents aged 18-35) if they believed that Toronto will have changed very little or be a worse place to live 10 years from now….” [More... ]

“...Scott McKenzie, who runs the professional fromager certificate at George Brown College, answers to the nickname Dragon’s Breath. It’s the name of his favourite cheese, an intense and runny Nova Scotia blue with a cult following. It’s considered “contraband” of sorts in other provinces……” [More... ]

“...Ian Burns is education director of the BiY Learning Centers, and he’s the kind of guy who gives me confidence that the venture’s going to succeed. Burns is a Red Seal carpenter, which means he’s officially accredited by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada to work in all provinces. He’s also won awards for excellence in his 10 years of teaching at George Brown College and Sir Sandford Fleming College. “Whether it’s a task-oriented or skills training workshop,” explains Burns, “you’ll gain essential theory, health and safety information and practical experience under the supervision of our instructors. You’ll finish with the confidence to work on your own projects at home correctly and safely.”….” [More... ]

“...But [Paul] Medeiros admits to a major lucky break. He found out about programs at George Brown College targeted at helping people with addiction or mental health problems re-enter the workforce. There are two: an assistant cook’s extended training course and a construction craft workers extended training course. “I had always enjoyed cooking, and, although my dream was always to get into broadcasting, I thought this might be a great way to establish myself again and to put the past behind me,” he says….” [More... ]

“...She [Kathleen Kerr] made the switch into interior design, graduating with an honours diploma. But after moving back to her hometown of Kitchener, Ont., and looking for work, her search was coming up short and she realized it wasn't her passion. It wasn't until she signed up for a continuing education course on jewelry basics that she finally tapped into what would become her future calling. Kerr is graduating from the three-year Jewellery Arts program at Toronto's George Brown College…” [More... ]

“...To commerce gurus who insist that family businesses do not survive a third generation, Paul Reardon has this to say: "Meet my daughter."…. At his insistence, she completed the chef's course at George Brown College and will be learning the butcher biz from her dad while managing the deli with her mother. "We'll just keep doing it the way we do it and see how it goes," says Paul. "Then we'll talk new ideas."...” [More... ]

“...The third-year George Brown construction management program students, in the winning team from Apex, said they spent at least 40 hours on their submission. The detailed work on the bid’s various elements were challenging but they said remaining organized and working as a team were important focal points...” [More... ]

“"The judges chose the finalists from dozens of great dresses," she said. "We were looking for style, colour, practicality, creativity and embellishments."

First-place winner in redesign by sewing category was George Brown College student Emily Keburis, while Alliston artist Treese Moore was first-place winner in the redesign by embellishment category….” [More... ]

“THIS WEDNESDAY, STUDENTS IN GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE'S INNOVATION WORKSHOP WILL HOST A FUNDRAISER TO HELP SEND THEIR AWARD-WINNING EXHIBIT PEOPLE POWER PUBLIC SPACE TO THE MILAN FURNITURE FAIR. When it was launched at Toronto's Interior Design Show earlier this year, a project from George Brown College's Institute Without Boundaries garnered a great deal of attention and won the Radostar award for best student exhibit. The exhibit, called People Power Public Space, explores the individual and collective strength of an urban community to "activate" public space. The concept is presented with an on-site bicycle that lights up an overhead sign when someone powers it….” [More... ]

“Sous vide proponents believe it’s the most practical way to safely mass-produce food. Lawrence Bangay, president, owner and product development chef at Sous Vide Canada, says sous vide cooking means food “never exposed to the air again, not until you’re ready to reheat and eat.” Bangay, a George Brown College-trained chef with a biomedical sciences degree from the University of Toronto, launched in Barrie 13 years ago and now has a 17,000-sq.-ft. plant in Mississauga and 15 staff….. Chef John Higgins, director of George Brown Chef School, says they touch on it as part of other courses and use the technique in the restaurant at Chef’s House. Higgins — a fan of the technique for many years — recently spent a week in New York City studying sous vide at the French Culinary Institute. He says he’ll add a Continuing Education course dedicated to the subject by next year…” [More... ]

“Christophe Luzeux was one of the tasting judges at the competition and said Ritchie's culinary skill and ability to stay cool under pressure impressed him. "Trevor was well organized, had a well-balanced menu and great techniques... The final tally placed Trevor on top for the morning competition and no competitor from the afternoon heat was able to come close to what he did that day." Ritchie is a George Brown College graduate and joined the Queen's Landing culinary team in August 2007….” [More... ]

“When it comes to cooking a mouth-watering curried carrot and ginger, Jenna Katz relies on her passion. But when it came to opening the Annex HodgePodge, her café and catering business, Katz got the skills and training she needed from the post-graduate program in small business entrepreneurship at George Brown College.” [More... ]

“For people interested in building homes and other structures using environmentally conscious materials and methods, George Brown College offers continuing education courses that teach people how to keep their construction projects earth-friendly. David Rezmovitz is an instructor and environmental educator at George Brown College who teaches how to use environmentally sound techniques and materials to build spaces that are not just more efficient and sustainable but also better places to live. He says green construction methods are an increasingly important part of the industry…” [More... ]

“For people interested in building homes and other structures using environmentally conscious materials and methods, George Brown College offers continuing education courses that teach people how to keep their construction projects earth-friendly. David Rezmovitz is an instructor and environmental educator at George Brown College who teaches how to use environmentally sound techniques and materials to build spaces that are not just more efficient and sustainable but also better places to live. He says green construction methods are an increasingly important part of the industry…” [More... ]

“The TBG has also partnered with George Brown College to offer a range of gardening courses through the school’s continuing education studies. Subjects being taught at the St. James campus this spring include fundamentals of gardening, garden design, and turf and turf alternatives. For distance learners, George Brown also offers four web-based gardening courses that begin May 14. Students receive online instruction on such topics as flowering bulbs and shrubs, lawn care techniques, and insect and disease control….” [More... ]

“For the ultimate schooling in wine, George Brown College offers a one-year Advanced Wines and Beverage Management Program as well as a continuing education Wine Specialist Certificate program for people who want to turn their love of wine into a career. The former deals with the business side of dealing with wines and other beverages while the latter focuses on the specific skills related to knowledge and understanding of wines themselves.  …For people who already have some experience and schooling in wine, George Brown also offers a Certified Sommelier Certificate in conjunction with the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS). To get in though, you’ll need to either pass a practical exam that includes a blind tasting or show that you’ve taken an appropriate course of wine study beforehand. Visit coned.georgebrown.ca  for more info …” [More... ]

…. “In a gleaming teaching kitchen at Toronto's George Brown College, groups of students huddle over stainless-steel work stations, knives chattering, bowls clanging. The ingredients they use are commonplace, the recipes simple, but the goal is ambitious - stretching scarce dollars to serve healthy meals to the city's poor and homeless. The day-long cooking workshop, led by college chefs who usually wield their spatulas in the service of haute cuisine, is filled with 100 staff and volunteers from shelters, drop-in centres and after-school programs, many of whom have no formal training in the kitchen. The college has opened its kitchens to them, and six chefs have volunteered their time, as part of an outreach effort that has grown from a small pilot to a six-class program in just over a year….” [More... ]

… “After growing up in Toronto, Helix Hearing Care Centre's latest addition is enjoying the friendliness of the Lindsay area. "I'm loving it," Peggy Alexopoulos told The Lindsay Post. The hearing instruments specialist joined the Helix Hearing Care Centre team back in November. She spends Mondays and Tuesday at the Peterborough centre and the rest of the week in Lindsay….. Alexopoulos went to George Brown College in Toronto for three years to learn her trade. In addition to knowing all about the hardware she does hearing checks…” [More... ]

“Networking is crucial to success in any industry, and George Brown College wants to ensure their fashion program graduates get a head start in job hunting at their gala, FashionWorks 2010 on March 29. At FashionWorks, graduating students of George Brown College’s fashion programs get to hobnob with leading fashion industry executives and celebrate the achievements of alumni already finding success in the fashion world….” [More... ]

“As an institution committed to innovation through applied research, George Brown College today applauded the Federal Government's new investments in applied research, development and commercialization at the country's colleges and polytechnics. The college was especially pleased to see increased support for the highly-successful College and Community Innovation Program (CCIP), a program, for which George Brown was one of 8 initiating institutions….” [More... ]

“At a tiny roadside shack in rural Mississippi, Anthony Mair had a fried-chicken epiphany. The menu was just chicken and chips. The frying was done outside on a small burner. Mair, a George Brown graduate then cooking his way through the South, guessed this prevented kitchen fires…. Mair, 42, has been striving to replicate the taste ever since. At Harlem Underground, the three-month-old restaurant he co-owns, he marinates quartered chickens in buttermilk for at least 24 hours, slitting open the legs so the tenderizing liquid penetrates…” [More... ]

“The colleges and universities advocacy groups had positive responses. “Greater numbers of people will get the higher education and training they need to achieve success,” said Anne Sado, the chair of Colleges Ontario committee of presidents, and president of George Brown College. “This is an important commitment to people’s futures and to producing a stronger workforce in this new knowledge economy.”…” [More... ]

“...Unfortunately for participating restaurants, many guests have a negative perception of Winterlicious due to a previous experience or bad reviews from family or friends. Many assume the reduced prices will translate to smaller portions and poor service, perhaps even thinking servers will look down on them for taking advantage of the promotion where checks and tips are typically smaller. Consumers are also wary of the number of meal choices and vegetarian options, and this apprehension grows when restaurants fail to post their Winterlicious menus online. It’s difficult for operators to break these preconceived notions and squeeze into the choice-set of an avid restaurant-goer. 

Such truths are not lost on the City of Toronto, which helps organize the Winter and Summerlicious events each year. In fact, city reps approached George Brown instructor Adrian Caravello about including George Brown College students, like me, in Winterlicious mystery shops in which we would report our findings to the city. 

George Brown made sure each candidate was well prepared for the task at hand with courses like Professional Guest Service and Dining Room Theory and Simulation...” [More... ]

“...George Brown hospitality student Derek Baker waited from September to December to hear if he’d be approved for funding. Having paid $145 to hold his spot, Baker started classes this past January although he can’t afford the tuition.

Last time he spoke to his career counsellor, she told him he’d have to drop out of school because Second Career isn’t available to those who are already students...” [More... ]

“When it comes to cooking a mouth-watering curried carrot and ginger, Jenna Katz relies on her passion. But when it came to opening the Annex HodgePodge, her café and catering business, Katz got the skills and training she needed from the post-graduate program in small business entrepreneurship at George Brown College.” [More... ]

“For people interested in building homes and other structures using environmentally conscious materials and methods, George Brown College offers continuing education courses that teach people how to keep their construction projects earth-friendly. David Rezmovitz is an instructor and environmental educator at George Brown College who teaches how to use environmentally sound techniques and materials to build spaces that are not just more efficient and sustainable but also better places to live. He says green construction methods are an increasingly important part of the industry…” [More... ]

“...Everything in Tao Tea Leaf has been imported from China, including four gorgeous wooden tables that seat 18. There are tea sets, tea pets, teapots and tea tools for sale alongside tea. Chinese traditional music sets a tranquil tone. [Tao] Wu, who studied economics in China and is now taking a tea sommelier certificate at George Brown College, picked Yonge St. to be on "the main street of Toronto." He created www.taoteahouse.com and a Facebook fan page….” [More... ]

"...There have been a lot of condos built on the lake shore over the past couple of decades, but this may be the first purpose-built facility coming to Toronto’s waterfront at which citizens will be able to (inexpensively) get their teeth cleaned. The dental hygiene clinic is just a small part of a big, glittering, $175-million Waterfront Campus for which contractors hired by George Brown College began this month digging out the soggy fill at the foot of Sherbourne Street, south of Queens Quay. The campus is set for completion in fall 2011…” [More... ]

“TORONTO, Feb. 22 /CNW/ - George Brown College's Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts has received a $900,000 donation from Compass Group Canada, in support of its Yes Chef! Campaign, a $5 million fundraising project, supporting its expansion and revitalization. In recognition of the donation -- the campaign's largest contribution to date -- George Brown will name its new, state-of-the-art culinary lab the "Compass GroupCanada Culinary Lab" and its student café at 300 Adelaide St. East in Toronto, the "City Café." "On behalf of George Brown College, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for Compass Group Canada's enthusiasm and generous support for our campaign," said John Walker, Dean of George Brown College's Centre for Hospitality & Culinary Arts. "The integrated learning partnership we have created with Compass will significantly impact our Chef School's ability to continually improve. Most importantly, it will help us prepare more high-quality, work-ready graduates in our expanded facilities."…” [More... ]

"...There have been a lot of condos built on the lake shore over the past couple of decades, but this may be the first purpose-built facility coming to Toronto's waterfront at which citizens will be able to (inexpensively) get their teeth cleaned. The dental hygiene clinic is just a small part of a big, glittering, $100-million Waterfront Campus for which contractors hired by George Brown College began this month digging out the soggy fill at the foot of Sherbourne Street, south of Queens Quay. The campus is set for completion in fall 2011. "It's finally animating the waterfront, taking 5,000 students down there," says Anne Sado, president of George Brown. "We will operate the campus seven days a week, because of continuing education…” [More... ]

“Early learning experts lauded the introduction of the program [All-day learning for Ontario's 4- and 5-year-olds]. Charles Pascal, special adviser to Premier Dalton McGuinty on early learning, said the amendments put children on the right track: "To see the essence of high-quality early-learning programming entrenched in these amendments is historic in terms of North American precedence." George Brown College's Jane Bertrand, a professor of early childhood education, said the program is "unbelievable. I am wowed. The teacher and ECE work hand in hand. This is a big leap forward for early childhood educators as a profession."”…. [More... ]

“...Trevor Ritchie, 24, of St. Catharines -- who single-handedly represented this country -- was named winner of the junior culinary challenge at the Congress of the World Association of Chefs Societies in Santiago, Chile…..  Trevor began his culinary career as a 15-year-old dishwasher and trash collector at a restaurant in St. Jacobs before he was given the chance to do some cooking. From there he went to a two-year chef's program at George Brown College. His dad said Trevor has a lot of self discipline and is willing to take orders from people..." [More... ]

“...On an administrative level, Toronto’s George Brown college offers the two-year activation co-ordinator/gerontology diploma. Activation co-ordinators “assess, plan, design and evaluate all of the recreation and activation programs within a long-term care facility,” says Anne-Marie Stoneburgh, the program’s co-ordinator. Students are trained to “design and deliver meaningful physical and mental activities with a therapeutic nature.”..." [More... ]

“...The joint program between Canada's visa offices in India and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges has tightened the screening of applicants. Among other things, college officials must verify an applicant's financial resources and English proficiency. "We want our international students' first experience with Canada to be a welcoming one," said Lorraine Trotter, dean of international and immigration education at George Brown College…” [More... ]

“[Kary] Osmond attended George Brown College Chef School and has worked as a chef. She always wanted to do a cooking show, but realized it might never happen. “I thought: How will I get started? I have no credibility. No one knows me.” She took a job in marketing. On the side, she planned a website for beginner cooks. She posted a temporary page showing her picture and bio. A recruiter for the CBC saw it and asked her to come in for an audition….” [More... ]

"...[Chef Rene] Chauvin's enjoyably stain-free version starts with a firm, nine-inch Silverstein loaf, the top sliced off and the insides hollowed out. (The insides are used for bread crumbs and stuffings.) In tumble hand-cut russet fries, crisp and well-salted. Then comes the gravy, a Punjabi family recipe made by Gagandeep Harish, one of Chauvin's students at George Brown College. It's thick with minced onion and spicy…” [More... ]

"...A graduate of George Brown College in Toronto, Fagon began her career teaching culinary skills at an on-site supermarket cooking school. Then 10 years ago, she opened Twist, a Scarborough, Ont., catering firm. It offers all types of catering, including for private and corporate functions, and includes cooking classes..." [More... ]

"...Corporate chef, Il Fornello. Silvestro develops and conceives the restaurant chain’s special offerings, including their upcoming Winterlicious menu. After training at George Brown College and then in Italy for two years, Silvestro worked as a chef at Pastis Restaurant and Bar before joining Il Forne..." [More... ]

"...John Higgins, director of the Chef School at George Brown College in Toronto, agrees that killer hours are one of the big downsides to cooking for a living. “Cooking is a tough job. You’re on your feet all day, there’s pressures, deadlines, customers,” he says. “You get 40 customers and you’ve got 40 different taste palates and you’re only as good as your last meal"..." [More... ]

"...As dean of George Brown College's Faculty of Business, Arts and Design in Toronto since 2002, Maureen Loweth may appear to have taken some detours on her career path, but it all culminated in exactly the type of job she aspired to back when she was getting her arts degree. "Even at university and shortly after, I got involved in study and work abroad experiences to gain an international understanding." She then turned to the financial services industry where she moved up the ranks quickly. "That's where I gained the business experience I needed."…” [More... ]

"…No matter what your passion or hobby, chances are, you’ll find a continuing education course to help you to learn or get better at it. Learning for fun is the ticket to gaining new knowledge, honing an existing skill or discovering a talent you never knew you had. If dancing with an exotic flavour tickles your fancy, try Argentine Tango at George Brown College. Running 18 hours and unfolding over nine Wednesday evenings, this course explores the basics of the tango by focusing on the technique, passion and refinement of each step…" [More... ]

"...Terry McCullough spent 10 years working as a financial/investment adviser (the titles are often used interchangeably) and now teaches investment courses at Ontario’s George Brown College.  “Financial advisers do really pay (off) for people — if they do their homework. It’s a marriage,” he says. “Advisers come in all shapes, sizes and flavours. Even a great adviser is not always good for a specific client.." [More... ]

"... As dean of George Brown College's Faculty of Business, Arts and Design since 2002, Maureen Loweth may appear to have taken some detours on her career path, but it all culminated in exactly the type of job she aspired to back in her university days when she was getting her arts degree. "Even at university and shortly after, I got involved in study and work abroad experiences to gain an international understanding…" [More... ]

"... She [Marjike Daye] started Sweet Something Designs in August. Originally from Fredericton, Daye went to the University of New Brunswick where she got her bachelor of arts in sociology. "About seven years ago - more than seven years ago - I decided I wanted to become an event co-ordinator. I thought long and hard about it, as there isn't a lot of opportunity to go to school for that in Fredericton or even in Halifax." She discovered a year-long post grad program at George Brown College in Toronto, applied and got in. "I moved up here and did the program, which was awesome, and after that, I landed a really sweet gig working for ideaCity. I still don't know how I got the job, I was so fresh out of school…" [More... ]

"... John Higgins, Glasgow-born-and-raised director of the George Brown College Chef School in Toronto, has a signature dish he calls Glaswegian spring rolls: deep-fried pastry tubes containing haggis, mashed potatoes and turnips, served with Scottish smoked salmon. Mr. Higgins’s wife, Arlene Ferguson, also of Scottish roots, has perfected a haggis pizza with tomato sauce, onions, a big smearing of haggis innards and cheese. (“She’s a haggis freak,” he said.) There is even now the pointless “vegetarian haggis,” a contradiction in terms whose only “organ” is kidney beans…" [More... ]

…” Sudbury Prosthetic and Orthotic is located on 1012 Kelly Lake Rd., Unit 104. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Appointments can be booked evenings and Saturdays on request. Leslie is a certified orthotist who graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (the science of human movement). She went on to graduate from the Prosthetics and Orthotics Program at George Brown College….” [More... ]

"...[Garnett] Manning has been recognized for his community work, with a Brampton Clean City Award, an African-Canadian Achievement Award in 2006 for excellence in politics, and a Camp Jumoke Appreciation Award (a camp for children aged 8-16 with sickle cell disease). Manning is a graduate of George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology. He also holds a Bachelor of Theology degree. He is married and has two children…" [More... ]

"...The amount of learning and the quality of learning in these [virtual] environments equals what happens in a physical environment," said Erica Driver, an analyst covering virtual reality technology for the industry-specific Thinkbalm website. "There is an odd sense of presence when you hold a meeting," said Christopher Simpson, an English professor at Toronto's George Brown College who has researched virtual reality since 2002…" [More... ]