PACC Professional Cooking Students Partner with
Tablée des Chefs to Fight Food Insecurity
submitted by Karina Iermieri, Assistant Director, PACC Vocational
Students in the Professional Cooking program at Pearson Adult and Career Centre are making a difference in their community by partnering with Tablée des Chefs to help fight food insecurity. Through this initiative, the students prepared large batches of nutritious meals that will be distributed to local food banks and shelters, ensuring that those in need have access to quality food.
Under the guidance of experienced instructors, the students applied their culinary training to create balanced, flavorful dishes while learning how to work efficiently in a high-volume kitchen environment. The meals they prepared were designed to be both nutritious and easy to distribute, meeting the practical needs of food banks and shelters.
This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to not only sharpen their cooking techniques but also understand the impact that food can have on the community. Throughout this project, students learned how to work efficiently in a professional kitchen while contributing to a cause that matters.
Participating in the Tablée des Chefs program gives the students hands-on experience that goes beyond the typical classroom setting. They are learning about meal planning, food safety, and working under pressure — all essential skills for a career in the culinary industry. At the same time, they are gaining a deeper understanding of social issues like food insecurity and the role that chefs and food professionals can play in addressing them.
Tablée des Chefs has long been known for its efforts to reduce food waste and address hunger through partnerships with culinary schools, restaurants, and food suppliers. The Pearson Adult and Career Centre has partnered with Tablée des Chefs for over 22 years, reinforcing the idea that culinary education is not just about cooking — it’s about making a positive impact on the world.
The students’ involvement in this initiative is a reminder that food has the power to bring people together and support those in need. Through their hard work and dedication, the professional cooking students at Pearson Adult and Career Centre are showing that the kitchen can be a place where learning and giving go hand in hand.
The Montreal Gazette covered this event. You can read Jack Wilson’s article here.
