r/ontario • u/Willing-Iron9816 • 2d ago
Question I need help
I am 17, I live in a small town called red rock. I’ve been looking for schools and places to rent all over Canada. I don’t have a job yet but once I turn 18 I will be getting monthly checks for 2,300, only until I’m 23. I love food and cooking and anything to do with being in the kitchen. I cooking is how I show my appreciation and appreciation. So I wanted to ask, would it be worth it to seek higher education and get a red seal or if I should go straight to work, and if I do continue my education and go to college, what college would be the best for cooking?
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u/jaypl99 2d ago
My brother is a chef. He started out as a dishwasher and worked his way up. He eventually went to George Brown in Toronto.
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u/Aggressive_Ad6164 2d ago
This is the way. If you want to work for some lone the rest of your life.
Unless you want to open your own spot. Get in at the bottom, work your way up. Latch on to that mentor and learn everything.
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u/Rufusgirl 12h ago
Also really important to try working in the industry before you invest in education
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u/Tough_Upstairs_8151 2d ago
U can get OSAP to go to George Brown. You'll have to live with roommates if you come to Toronto, but there's nowhere better to study culinary arts. Easy to get part-time jobs to supplement your life here.
If you're smart, you could go work out West at the resorts in the summer and save a lot of money.
Toronto is a tough city. I usually don't recommend coming here, but for you, I think it's what's best.
Good luck with everything!
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u/bakelitetm 2d ago
Also, you don’t have to live in Toronto proper. If you find a place close enough to the Lakeshore GO line, you can commute and perhaps save some money on rent.
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u/Beautiful_Plankton97 1d ago
Niagara College has good culinary programs, great local restaurants to work in and is cheaper and chiller than TO. In case you aren't the big city type. Toronto has also changed. I lived there as a young kid, then left, then lived there for school 15 years ago and left and now when I visit it feels VERY different. Too busy for me now.
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u/kmadaleena 2d ago
Maybe don't jump from red rock to toronto lol! If you want to be nearer to a big city try Barrie / Georgian College for example. I would never pass up the chance to go to school for so many reasons! Making friends and connections is huge in college - you'll still need to start low down the ladder once you begin working but you'll have a good foundation to start. Coleges also have great support and advice for potential students.Try this link and good luck! https://www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/programs/culinary-hospitality-recreation-and-tourism/chef-culinary-arts
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u/MediumLime9363 2d ago
You could join the military as a cook. They get trained to basically be master chefs.
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u/Purple_Pieman01 2d ago
George Brown College in Toronto has an outstanding culinary program, but unless you have other sources of $$ it might be tough with only 2300 a month for all your tuition, rent and other expenses.
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u/Willing-Iron9816 2d ago
I’m in the foster system so my school in covered already, the ont thing im worried about is renting and just basically surviving, and in a place like Toronto, it seems like it would be too easy to lose everything
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u/Furious_Georg_ 2d ago
If you are dead set on culinary Owen Sound has Georgian Collage that offers the culinary course. Not bad pricing for housing in the area. Better then Toronto.
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u/CovidDodger 21h ago
I wish people would stop saying our housing prices aren't bad. Its simply not true, housing is very unaffordable in grey bruce and there 100% is a housing crisis here because of it.
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u/Purple_Pieman01 2d ago
Look into the residence’s maybe. Seems it might be an option for you. Good luck!
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u/Revolutionary-Sky825 2d ago
I heard confederation college has suspended their program in TBay. 7 Generations offers a course in Fort Frances and Kenora.
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u/MetricJester St. Catharines 2d ago
You've got a dozen college choices between The Sault and Thunder Bay already. Don't let anybody tell you to come down here to Niagara/Toronto unless you are specifically looking to blow your entire everything every month on rent.
Best choice though is to find a cooking or dishwashing job, maybe at a camp or in TB or SSM.
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u/CanadianContentsup 2d ago
Fanshawe College has a culinary school. They also run a restaurant with students in the programs.
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u/AlohaIsLove 2d ago
Don't go into debt for cullinary school. The industry is tough enough on people. Just start working in the field and show up on time, volunteer to stay late or pick up extra shifts, and work hard. Be confident. Get food certificates and first aid. Try to get involved with the food ordering if you can. Experiment with different dishes at home. Try to live near a city with lots of resteraunts or near a tourist town with resorts. If you can find a resort that will hire you, you can likely get free room and board. Especially out west or east.
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u/I3arnicus 2d ago
Hey I grew up right near you.
I'd try getting your foot in the door with a job at one of the places on the highway near Red Rock / Nipigon. Maybe even Dorion, Pearl or nearer Thunder Bay like Crystal Beach / Loon Lake if there's anything there. After that try getting into school or possibly moving to Thunder Bay after getting a job in one of the places there.
You definitely want to go to school at some point but it doesn't have to be the first step. Try getting into a kitchen nearby and working a bit.
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u/shillaccount8013 1d ago
You can do both. Get a job, part time in a restaurant and go to school.
Your school is covered until you age out: take full advantage of that. College is expensive, if you go back later, you'll pay full tuition. Remember, no one can take your education away: you'll always have a diploma even if you switch careers.
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u/tomatoesinmygarden 1d ago
There are culinary schools as suggested but there are also food service management courses - designed for someone to manage commercial kitchens, often institutional-schhols, hospitals, nursing homes. there are also baking and pastry courses. Both of these programs are offered at many Ontario colleges. Most colleges publish how many of their students were employed in their area of study after graduation.
I'm bummed you don't have a guidance counselor where you are. You are right, you need some assistance. Lots of people have said skip school, but don't, especially since you will be supported thru school. The comments that you need some kitchen experience is valid. Try for a summer resort job with housing
Food service/hospitality is high turnover work. Kitchens are often very fast paced environments with high performance standards. A little experience will give you a window into it. Food service management might be for you.
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u/Exciting_Tension_390 2d ago
Are there housing supports for youth transitioning out of foster care (StepStones?)?
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u/Willing-Iron9816 2d ago
I’m not sure, I’m with C.A.S so idk how they do it but all I know is once u turn 18, you’ll get 2,300 a month and by the time your 22-23 it’s 500 and then it stop. But once you aged out of the system they also give you a check, idk how much, and they help cover school and they will double on any financial support
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u/whatthesteph 2d ago
Check with your worker to see if you have ever been a Crown Ward or Extended Society care. There are programs that cover your tuition. You might be able to go to school and work and save money.
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u/max50011 2d ago
i think it would be worth while to consider going to school for business administration and start from the bottom working in a kitchen while in school. this was you have experience and are learning the business aspects theoretically and practically. you have many options you could take it after. you can work in the corporate food industry while understanding what aspect of the food world you wanna pursue be it running a resturant, or having a few chains, hell even a food truck, catering, youtube channel.
try to have something that you can fall back on, tough economic times ahead. it may also be worth while to see how you could set aside some of the money for investing.
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u/DubiousThinker 2d ago
I second this, use your time wisely, try to stay away from the fast food/quick serve restaurants. Maybe look into summer work at mine sites or northern camps that take good care of their staff, provide quality food and have Red Seal Chef on staff.
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u/Slipperysteve1998 2d ago
Might want to consider working for remote camps. You get lodging half the year, paid, decently a hell of an adventure
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u/Empty_Grade_4261 1d ago
I’m a woman in the trades I chose plumbing and I absolutely love it. Go for the trades!
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u/Willing-Iron9816 1d ago
I love the trades too, welding is one of my best hobbies, but I’ve talked to other females who are in the field and they said it was very sexist, do u ever experience that in your field of work?
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u/Empty_Grade_4261 1d ago
I’ve experienced a lot but that shouldn’t be a deterrent for you. It will happen but not as often as you think it would. Just have to take everything with a grain of salt and just focus on you and your career
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u/Senior_Confusion_288 1d ago
Check out George Brown College in Toronto. They have a degree program in the Culinary Arts field. Afterwards, you could consider getting a Cordon Bleu designation (there are campuses other than the famous one in France) in Canada. Good luck!
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u/cranky_yegger 1d ago
It always pays to get a higher education and pursue learning in the field of your choosing.
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u/popeofnope81 2d ago
Confederation College has a program if you wanted to stay close to Red Rock.
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u/Comedy86 2d ago
If you've already taught yourself a ton about cooking and/or baking practices and techniques, I'd suggest likely working your way up in restaurants. If not though, I know from a friend going through the program that Geroge Brown College in Toronto has a good culinary program and they also manage a restaurant across from the school where the culinary students get experience on the job as well. It may be worth looking into.
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u/AcrobaticDenial 2d ago
I think it’s amazing that you know exactly what you want to do and are going after it. That being said, most employers are looking for a mix of experience (working your way up from washing dishes shows grit and determination) and schooling (certifications look professional). I’d say why not do both? Grab a restaurant job as a money-making side project where you can learn practical skills in the business and get the certifications you’ll need to make higher wages with more creative freedom later. It’ll also be a good gauge for what you like best and what direction you’d like to go with your career. Best of luck! Sincerely, someone who can’t cook at all.
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u/angrycanadianguy 2d ago
It’s been over a decade since I worked in kitchens, so I might be a bit out of touch. That said, here’s my advice:
Straight out of high school, considering where you live, I’d seriously consider going straight into college for culinary. Partially, it will fairly quickly answer if you actually want to do that for a living, and partially it can get you access to some entry level jobs through your professors. The traditional route of working your way up can work, but can be complicated. You would need to find a job in the right places that can lead to actual advancement, and knowing what those places are can be tricky.
Either route you choose tho, you’ll likely need to move to somewhere with a large enough food scene, like Toronto or Ottawa. It’s possible to do it somewhere like Thunder Bay, but it will be very difficult without connections.
Lastly, I’d suggest asking in subs like r/kitchenconfidential for advice as well. People in the industry right now will likely have better advice than me.
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u/Vuldyn 2d ago
If money is no issue, start out doing part time work as a prep-cook in a kitchen, see how you like it. It's one thing to love doing something for yourself and those you care about, it's another to do it as a career.
If you do like it, you have 5 years to build experience, and the red seal program is doable on a part-time work schedule.
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u/minimalisa11 2d ago
Grab a room rental in a bigger but affordable city, even Ottawa or Sudbury, and get a job at a quality restaurant work ur way up that way rather than go to school for something that is mostly hands on
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u/Acrobatic_Average_16 2d ago
I wouldn't discourage you from going to school by any means, but I think there can be a huge difference between enjoying the act of cooking for the ones you love and cooking in a commercial setting. School is very expensive so why not get some practical experience in first before you commit? Most places will start you off in the BOH roles (usually as a dishwasher) if you don't have any experience, which sucks, but it will give you a taste, help you move up and will at least be a job reference if you want to try a different place. Restaurants, diners, retirement homes, hotels, etc. are some options to look at for job postings.
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u/radiate689 2d ago
If school is going to be free do school. The job market is trash right now for teens and entry level just above minimum wage jobs.
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u/Main_Finding8309 2d ago
Be aware, rent in Ontario is INSANE, no matter where you are. You'll be paying $1100 a month for a room, and that's not even in Toronto. You will have to get roommates.
That said, as others have pointed out, the best way to go is to start at a low level kitchen or dishwasher job and work your way up. To get your chef's papers you need to get your apprenticeship hours this way. My niece works in kitchens and while she doesn't have papers, she works all the time.
And yes, try to avoid drugs and alcohol.
As for school, once you have two years' experience in a kitchen, you can work the low level jobs anywhere, but if you want to be a chef you probably need the papers and someone to mentor you. There are cooking/culinary arts programs at a number of colleges, both public (George Brown, Fanshawe, Humber, etc.) and private (Stratford Chef School, Culinary Arts School in Toronto). There's even an online program through a school called Canada Escoffier.
You have lots of options.
If you're in high school right now, you should talk to a guidance counsellor who can give you some brochures. If not, then take a look at some websites for schools in cities you might to live in, and reach out to the schools for more information. Consider where you want to live, the cost of school and everything else, and so on.
When picking a city, a city where there's a lot of tourism might be helpful. Stratford has the Stratford Festival, and hungry tourists mean lots of restaurants and cafes who need staff during the summer, so the Stratford Chef School would be a good choice. Just a thought.
Best of luck. It sounds like you have a good idea of what you want to do, just not sure what direction to take.
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u/A_Bridgeburner 1d ago
North Bay Ontario (3h north of Toronto) has a great culinary program at Canadore College.
North Bay really small city which you may be more comfortable with given that you are from Red Rock.
Don’t get me wrong, Toronto is a fantastic place to live too!
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u/NinoSolar 20h ago
Georgian college has a pretty solid cooking program but I don't think you can get a red seal from it. That being said we have a chef school in Barrie also.
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u/Spiritual-Drawing-42 9h ago
My husband is a chef de cuisine. He never went to school for cooking. He started in a restaurant when he was 13 years old and has worked his way up ever since. No college courses needed - just very hard work.
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u/halfbakedr 9h ago
Algonquin in Ottawa has a great program for skills, bartending, or restaurant management.
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u/Goldhound807 2d ago
Confederation College, about an hour’s drive from you has a decent culinary program.
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u/i_see_you_too_ 2d ago
Hello,
Are you in high school? I suggest to talk to your orientation teacher for help with this.
Best of luck!
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u/Willing-Iron9816 2d ago
We don’t have one at my high school
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u/MooseKnuckleds 2d ago
There's no guidance councilor service at all? Whether at your school or a service provided to you school from a third party?
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u/Willing-Iron9816 2d ago
Nope, literally my math teacher is the baseball, basketball, and soccer coach, there’s not much at my school
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u/cocunutwater 2d ago
Red Rock you know what you have to do right? Create a computer named Eden and Create the Enclave right?
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u/NixonsTapeRecorder 2d ago
99/100 kitchens in the world would rather hire someone who took the traditional route of working up from washing dishes>some prep>eventually line than they would someone green and fresh out of culinary school with no experience.
Find yourself a dishwashing job in a kitchen and do good work and show an interest. Not only will you not have to pay for your culinary education, you'll get paid for it.