After careful analysis of regional workforce needs and student outcomes, Portage College will relocate the one-year Professional Cook Certificate program to the Lac La Biche campus for fall 2026.
Since 2014, the certificate has been offered at St. Paul Campus as the first year of the Culinary Arts Diploma. Student feedback confirms the program’s high quality, but enrollment patterns and regional employment indicate a stronger alignment with needs for catering, line cooking, camp cooking, and food independence training.
“This strategic relocation directly responds to what our students and communities are telling us they need,” said Dr. Donna Feledichuk, Vice President Academic and Research. “By returning to Lac La Biche, we’re creating pathways that better connect students to work integrated learning opportunities while supporting regional economic development.”
The program initially expanded into a two-year diploma when it moved to St. Paul in 2014, made possible through regional partnerships and provincial/federal funding. Portage College will collaborate with local industry partners to enhance the relocated program, ensuring graduates develop the specific skills needed for success in our region’s unique culinary landscape.
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