High school students from across Durham Region, including Ajax, spent Tuesday in a professional kitchen instead of a classroom.
On October 27, Grade 11 and 12 students from the Durham Catholic District School Board attended the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) Cook Information Day at Durham College's Whitby campus, according to the Durham Catholic District School Board.
The Durham Catholic board operates schools in Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa, so the event gave local teens a close-up look at a skilled-trade pathway they could begin while still in high school.
A day in the kitchen
The students met Durham College faculty and toured the culinary labs and facilities at the college's Centre for Food.
They didn't just watch. Over the course of the day, the students prepared salads and dressings, cooked pasta and sauces, and assembled lunches — getting a real feel for the pace and precision of a working kitchen.
How OYAP works
The event also walked students through the practical side of the program. Students learned about the OYAP Cook application, how placements are arranged, and what the apprenticeship process involves once they commit to the trade.
OYAP lets Ontario secondary students explore and begin training in skilled trades while earning credits toward their diploma. For students weighing their options after graduation, a day like this offers a chance to test the trade before signing on.
The Durham Catholic District School Board described the day as a chance for students to explore the apprenticeship route directly with the college that could train them.
