How College Changed My Life

Flavia Campelo Michelstadter

39, Toronto

Studied: Culinary management at George Brown College (2022–24)

Current job: Customer service representative for George Brown College

Before I came to Canada, I worked as an automotive engineer in Brazil for five years but it didn’t suit my creative personality. I went back to school to study marketing and worked for brands in the automotive industry. 

During the pandemic, the kitchen became my sanctuary. Both my grandmothers were excellent cooks and I enjoyed being in the kitchen with them growing up; I still have many of their recipes. It was a place where I could release stress, be creative and have fun. In September of 2020, I started a side business in São Paulo selling bread, pasta, sauces and cheese buns online. At the same time, my husband and I were revisiting our dream of living abroad. The pandemic made us realize life is short. Moving to Toronto and making another career pivot into culinary arts seemed like the perfect plan. Plus, I read that Canada was welcoming to immigrants and the culinary market there was diverse.

I chose George Brown College’s two-year culinary management diploma because it’s one of the best and largest culinary schools in Canada. I began my studies at George Brown in September of 2022. The program consists of business courses such as human resources, marketing and entrepreneurship. There are also hands-on classes where you learn the skills to be a chef, like working with flavours, how to prepare large amounts of food and the ins and outs of catering. Some days, I was on my feet from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. I was physically exhausted, but my heart was filled with happiness. In my marketing job, I felt drained after sitting at a desk all day; being in a kitchen invigorated me. I knew that cooking was what I wanted to do.

I had some great opportunities during my program. I was a finalist in a turkey cook-off hosted by the school, where I prepared salpicão: a traditional Brazilian salad made with shredded turkey, carrots, onions, crispy bacon and fried straw potato. In April of 2024, I participated in a competition held by Cookin, an app where local chefs sell and deliver meals. First, I had to submit a list of recipes I wanted to cook. I created a Brazilian-inspired menu, with dishes from the countryside to the coast, including pulled pork and guava jam, cheese buns, grilled shrimp skewers, cassava chips and fried sole pieces with pineapple and cilantro vinaigrette. 

I was selected as a finalist to participate in a “try-out” day, where we tested whether our recipes could be prepared and packaged and if they would hold up within a 30-minute delivery time. I was one of the winners and got to operate a virtual store on the Cookin app, called Flavia’s Taste of Brazil, for one week in May of 2024. I used the facilities at George Brown to prepare the meals and I fulfilled 25 orders, a total of 41 meals, that week. 

Currently, I’m working for George Brown’s chef school as a liaison between students and faculty. I assist students with all sorts of issues they may have and market the college for future students at our culinary events. Although this is not a hands-on kitchen job, I am thrilled to support the culinary industry in Canada. I miss cooking every day, though. I’m sure I’ll find myself back in a kitchen soon.

Going to college wasn’t just about learning the hard skills of cooking. I met people in the industry, like my instructors, who are well-connected chefs in Toronto and who helped get me part-time jobs at restaurants in the city. I met another Brazilian chef and we’re working on enhancing the Brazilian cuisine scene in Toronto. It can be scary to try something new. But going back to college and completing the culinary management program gave me the courage to confidently call myself “chef.”

Lauryn Chicoine

25, Moncton

Studied: Plumbing and heating at New Brunswick Community College (2018–19)

Current job: Apprentice plumber at UA Local 325

I grew up in Quebec, where we graduate high school in grade 11 and then have the option to attend CEGEP. I chose a two-year social sciences program where I studied psychology, philosophy and sociology. I figured I would go to university after that. But by the end, I realized I wasn’t fulfilled studying from textbooks and writing 10-page research papers. I couldn’t see what I was accomplishing, and I couldn’t see myself continuing down that path at that time. 

I spoke to the dean at my CEGEP and she encouraged me to look into a trades program. I was interested in New Brunswick Community College. On the website for the school’s plumbing program, they pictured a former female student alongside the program overview. Something clicked. The more I read about the plumbing industry, the more I liked it. There was great job security—AI could never take over—and plumbing can serve as a springboard for other fields like steamfitting, pipefitting, gas and heating. 

There are a few different ways to become a plumber, and the pathways are different in every province. I chose the “pre-employment” route, which meant I’d start by doing 10 months of school followed by a one-month work term. After that, I’d write my exams for what’s called “block one.” To take the Red Seal exam, to show I’ve met the national standard in the trade, and become a fully licensed tradesperson there are four blocks of study and exams, with 1,800 hours of work experience required in between.

Our pre-employment classes were half-theory, half-practical. We’d spend our mornings learning about different systems and their applications in the classroom, then we’d spend afternoons in the shop to apply what we had just learned. There was something really empowering about learning something and then immediately practising it yourself. Soldering was one of my favourite skills to master. We needed to follow really precise measurements. Seeing all the parts match up the way they were supposed to was a really great feeling. 

I was the only woman in my class of about 16 people, and the only First Nations person: I’m Mi’kmaq, from Gespeg. But my classmates and instructors were incredibly supportive and took my opinions seriously. I think it helped that I got really good marks in class, so they knew I took it seriously. 

My first job was with a plumbing company based in Moncton that mostly did commercial work. I was part of a team responsible for maintaining the plumbing aspects of an agricultural business. We maintained all the existing drainage and also helped install irrigation lines into new areas. 

Next, I worked for a non-profit called MAP Strategic Workforces Services in a program that is a not-for-profit that supports women in skilled trades. We visited middle and high schools to do hands-on activities with students and get them to consider careers in the trades from a younger age. We wanted to change the idea that skilled trades weren’t a career choice for women. After about a year, I went back into a union job with another plumbing company. Soon I had enough hours to start my block two courses, which I began in March 2024 back at NBCC. 

Last June, I spoke to the graduating classes of NBCC as the alumni guest of honour. A lot of people came up to me after the speech and told me how they were inspired by my journey. It was really validating to hear that, especially from women who weren’t in the trades. This path was definitely the right choice for me.

Mitch Wincentaylo

31, Devon, Alberta

Studied: Indigenous environmental stewardship and reclamation at Yellowhead Tribal College (2016–19)

Current job: Consultant with environmental/cultural focus

I grew up in Devon, a small town southwest of Edmonton, and I also spent a lot of time at my family’s farm just outside Devon. From a young age I was always out on the land. I loved seeing deer, coyotes and porcupines out in the bush. It sparked an interest and passion for nature in me. I was happiest when I was outside. 

After high school, I studied agriculture at Lakeland College then worked on a bison and oak ranch before going into the trades. I apprenticed in autobody and vehicle restoration shops, but the work wasn’t fulfilling to me. I thought back to my interests in nature and considered getting into environmental conservation, which had always intrigued me.

I came across the Indigenous environmental stewardship and reclamation program at Yellowhead Tribal College. It was a unique program that combined traditional conservation methods and a focus on connection to the land from First Nations and Métis cultures with Western science. I’m not Indigenous myself, but the college welcomes students from all cultures and backgrounds. ​​Indigenous peoples have always protected, managed and conserved the land, so to be a part of an industry that works together with First Nations to ensure the environmental health of the land really appealed to me. The program launched in 2016. I applied and was accepted to be part of the program’s first class.

Our courses covered a variety of subjects, from native studies to Cree languages, air quality monitoring and soil science. I loved learning about how traditional knowledge was interconnected with science. Our classes were small, about 10 to 15 people, and there were lots of opportunities for hands-on learning. One of our instructors was a resident Elder who brought us out to Jasper to share stories of growing up in the area. We participated in cultural events and gatherings. I’d often volunteer as an oskâpêwis, an Elder’s helper, at these events, serving food to guests and assisting with whatever the Elders needed.

The program also included two practicum placements. My first one, in 2017, was with the First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group in Edmonton. I helped create maps and other datasets for wildlife areas and other significant sites on the land, and studied traditional land use. My second practicum, in 2018, was with Delta Remediation—a soil remediation company based in Acheson. After graduation, I worked for Delta as a field technician and an Indigenous engagement coordinator, forging relationships with Indigenous organizations across the region. We also did various site remediations, including a land farm up in Ekati, N.W.T. 

After Delta, I worked with the town of Devon as their Indigenous engagement coordinator. In full consultation with First Nations, we created the Pimiy Ôcenas Nâtawîhowin Askiy Medicine Grounds. I also started my own company, working with various Nations and municipalities to assist with engagement and partnership development.

I’m really glad I went to YTC. I found a meaningful new life path, forged new friendships and connections and became a lot less ignorant about how Canadian society works. I’ve learned about the various laws, acts and rules that have been enacted over Indigenous Peoples in Canada and how that has affected their lives. It was a real eye-opener and I developed a greater respect and understanding for First Nations cultures and world views. The program really has changed my life.

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