Portage College has found a way for St. Paul residents to have their cake and eat it too. The College is proudly hosting the Grand Opening of the Portage Market at the St. Paul Campus on February 14 at 2 p.m. The afternoon will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony with invited dignitaries, free cake and coffee and a wide variety of delicious goodies for hungry consumers (or people looking to get something special for their valentine) to buy.

"The College has been working towards this venture since the Food Sciences Centre opened in St. Paul," said Beverly Lockett, Dean of Food Sciences and St. Paul Campus Manager. "We are so excited to be able to officially open the Portage Market and to keep it open five days a week."

Initial plans are to have the store open Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Community feedback and foot traffic will dictate service times in the long run.

The Portage Market will feature various food and drink items, predominantly prepared by the College's Culinary Arts and Baking students as well as by in-house caterer, Andrea Gauthier, who is also a graduate of the Culinary program.

Product selection will vary throughout the year, depending upon what students are preparing during particular units in their respective programs. As a result, each month will feature different food options or themes.

Consumers who find they enjoy a particular item and wish to order it in bulk or for an event are in luck as Portage offers catering services. Students and staff have catered events for as few as 10 people and as many as 275 in the past. Contact the St. Paul Campus for more details.

Community members will be given the opportunity to sell their food products at the Portage Market as well as the College is looking at setting up a commission-based system. Due to health regulations, food products produced outside of the College's facility will not be accepted. However, community members can call the St. Paul Campus to arrange to produce their products in the facility. Farmers can sell their fruits and vegetables as long as their produce is properly labelled.

"The Portage Market is an exciting venture for all of us here at the College," said Lockett. "We think we've got the right ingredients for success and we hope that St. Paul and area residents will come and come often. We're looking forward to seeing you!"

For more information about the Market or catering services, call St. Paul campus at 1-780-645-5223.

Media Inquiries: 
Jaime Davies, Corporate Communications Manager
780-623-5581 or email