Posted On Thursday October 31, 2024

On Wednesday, October 23, Grade 11 and 12 students across the Durham Catholic District School Board attended an Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) Cook Information and Experience Day at the Durham College Whitby Campus.

Students met the faculty, went on a tour of the culinary labs and facilities, and participated in hands-on cooking sessions and prepared 75 meals for lunch.

The purpose of the day was to give students a taste of what they can expect if they choose to enrol in the OYAP Level 1 Cook program.

Running during the second semester of a student’s Grade 12 year, the OYAP Level 1 Cook program combines apprenticeship training with a co-operative education placement. The hands-on apprenticeship portion takes place at Durham College three days a week, with co-op placements in the service industry (i.e. a bakery or restaurant) occurring on the other two days, allowing participants to learn and practice the skills they will need for their careers. 

Interested students need to apply to the OYAP Level 1 Cook Program in the spring of their Grade 11 year, and can learn more about this process from their school Guidance teams.