Holland College Welding students build barbecues for chefs at the CIC

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Chef instructors Austin Clement (left) and Andrew Nicholson prepare food on one of the new barbecue smokers for Welding students Brad Swain (left) and Dylan Ferguson (right), while Welding instructor Craig Boudreau looks on.

Charlottetown, PE - Students in Holland College's Welding Fabrication program came to the rescue of the chefs of The Culinary Institute of Canada recently, building two barbecue pit smokers worth about $3,500 each.

It's not the first time Welding students have built culinary equipment; but it's by far the most ambitious project.

"Every year we try to build something for the college," said Welding instructor Craig Boudreau. "This year, we thought we'd stretch ourselves a bit. The barbecues were a great project because they require so many of the skills that our students are learning. The project is a good example of the hands-on learning that goes on here at Holland College."

The smokers will be used by the Culinary students to deliver many events, including Fall Flavours and Farm Day in the City this fall.

"It was amazing to watch the smokers as they were being built," said Chef Austin Clement, manager of Culinary programs for Holland College. "These are the Cadillac of smokers! Craig and his students have always been strong supporters of the culinary institute, and their projects are more ambitious each year. The relationship between the two programs is a testament to the college spirit among students and faculty. We can't wait to see what the students come up with next year!"

Each unit took about four weeks to make, and can burn charcoal and mesquite chips. Once they were completed, they were moved to the Tourism and Culinary Centre, and the Georgetown students were invited to attend a barbecue there in their honour. The food was prepared on the equipment the students had built. At that point, hands-on learning turned into hands-on eating, giving each group an even greater appreciation for the other's skills.


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