OCNews

With just over a year until the opening of the new Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism at Okanagan College, excitement is building and the College is hard at work with local industry partners to review and renew programming so that the Centre is truly the best place in Canada to learn and train to work in careers in the culinary and beverage sectors.

As the new building continues to progress, so too does the programming that will help support local industries and students. The College announced a new partnership with Niagara College last month that will allow OC to offer award-winning winery and viticulture programming tailored specifically for the Okanagan region and is looking to refresh other programs to continue to support students to enter the workforce.

“We’re excited to be looking at ways we can enhance, strengthen and grow programs that support people to begin and progress their careers as cooks, chefs and professionals with the restaurant and hospitality sectors,” said Dr. Samantha Lenci, Okanagan College’s VP Academic and Provost. “Our objective is to build on the foundation that has long been part of the OC story: the programs that have for many years been key to so many students. We will be updating and enhancing culinary and pastry arts, strengthening our core offerings and as we go forward, there will be new options as well, including microcredentials, and everything from the fundamentals to specialties.”

To allow this curriculum refresh to happen, the College will not be accepting new students into Culinary and Pastry Arts programs in Fall 2026 or January 2027. This will allow OC to dedicate time to creating the programming that will open in the new centre. Admissions to the programs will re-open in January 2027 for the first cohort of students who will be trained in the Centre for Food, Wine, and Tourism.

OC will continue to have active culinary programs on campus, as there is no change to programs that are currently underway.

For information on OC programs, email AskOC@okanagan.bc.ca or go to our website at okanagancollege.ca.

View construction progress on the Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism here.