WHAT DOES A PROFESSIONAL COOK DO?
- prepares vegetables, soups, sauces, meats, fish and poultry, cold kitchen items, deserts, baking and pastry for presentation
- basic menu planning/costing
- supervises safety in the kitchen, sanitation and safe food storage
WHAT DO I NEED TO START?
- entering grade 11 or 12
- Graduated students ARE elligible to apply, provided they will not turn 20 prior to the completion of the course (June) following the year
- strong interest in cooking
- hand/eye coordination and good motor skills are assets
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
- post-secondary apprenticeship training without the tuition fee
- 28 graduation credits
- up to 120 hours of work experience
- building connections with industry employers
- Apprenticeship Technical Training Level 1 towards Certificate of Qualification
- Food Safe Level 1
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE PROGRAM OFFERED?
- Burnaby Central Secondary School, Monday to Friday mornings
- attend current school in the afternoon (M-Fr) to complete other courses
Please note that for the 2021-2022 School year, all Burnaby Schools will be running on a semestered system. This change will impact the schedules of our programs. See below for the current schedule:
- Burnaby Central, Semester 1 Full-Time
- Work Experience and/or Youth Work in Trades, Semester 2
HOW DO I REGISTER?
- submit an application package
- participate in an interview

Alexandra Hourston
Alexandra Hourston completed the Professional Cook 1 Program and graduated in 2014. She completed her apprenticeship at the award-winning Loden Boutique Hotel in downtown Vancouver. She plans to further explore her Aboriginal heritage through food (Ojibwa and Cree Nations) and then share this culinary knowledge with the world and the universal language of food.
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For more information,
Contact your School Career Advisor
or email CareerEducation@burnabyschools.ca
or email CareerEducation@burnabyschools.ca
