PACC Vocational Training’s Pointe-Claire Campus Serving Up Some Tasty Treats
by Sonia Ruivo
Did you know that there’s a Pastry program, complete with a boutique, in the West Island? Located in the former Seignory School, the Pastry program is offered by PACC Vocational Training. Boasting a fully equipped professional kitchen, the centre offers students the opportunity to learn the latest trends and techniques in the fine art of pastry making.
Chef Alfred De Luca guides students as they learn the skills of a pastry chef. Students in the Pastry program learn how to prepare, bake, decorate, and present traditional French pastries and desserts. Like all our vocational programs, the Pastry program is taught by industry experts. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a diploma in vocational studies.
Previous graduates from the Pastry program have been recognized for their skills. In 2019 PACC Pastry student Neda Jandaghi earned a bronze medal at the Quebec Vocational Olympics for her Pastry creations.
In addition to the Pastry program, the centre boasts a state-of-the-art Bread Making lab. The centre is looking to offer the Bread Making program in the new year. The Bread Making kitchen is fully equipped with French ovens and mixers. The ovens have the capacity to bake 200 loaves of bread per hour. The lab was built at the start of 2020. The pandemic and supply chain issues delayed the construction. Today, the lab is ready to receive the next group of students.
Assistant Centre Director Christie Brown is very proud of the Pointe-Claire campus, “We have been very busy at the Pointe Claire campus throughout the pandemic. With both pastry and bread making offered at the campus, it made so much sense to open a Boutique to the public. We certainly have experienced the supply chain delays for the equipment needed, but it is exciting to finally have it ready to be open to the public.”
“Former students started a private chat group called ‘La Boutique de Yéyé,’ fondly named for our Pastry Coordinator in Pointe Claire, Chef Alfred De Luca. They have been sharing pictures of the final products for the last several months and now we are looking forward to sharing the success of our students with the larger community.”
The public can buy the delicious goodies made by students. The boutique is open Monday to Friday from 3 to 5 pm. Customers can enter the boutique by the right side of the building. The boutique entrance is located behind the parking lot.
Boutique address: 150 Av. Seigniory, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 4R5
