(From left): Jonathan Strauss, President, Strauss Communications; Michael Pye, General Manager, Fairmont Winnipeg; Keith Muller, Dean, RRC School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts; Chantal Sturk-Nadeau, Senior Vice-President, Tourism, Economic Development Winnipeg.

Red River College’s leading culinary expert talked turkey with Winnipeg’s tourism industry yesterday, as the keynote speaker at Tourism Winnipeg‘s annual holiday lunch.

Keith Muller, Dean of RRC’s School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts, addressed a festive crowd of local industry reps gathered at the Fairmont Winnipeg, providing details about the College’s soon-to-open Paterson GlobalFoods Institute (PGI) and its anticipated impact on the local economy.

“All indicators show there will be a labour shortage in specific sectors of the hospitality industry in Canada of over 220,000 skilled workers by 2025,” said Muller, who also donned an apron and chef’s hat to help carve the turkey served to guests. “We at Red River College are ready to take on the challenge of training industry-ready students.”

As Muller explained, the PGI will provide industry-relevant courses and programs designed to serve the hospitality and tourism sectors — on a local, national and international level — while also engaging members of the community through general interest programming, event rentals, a new urban upscale restaurant, and seven floors of student residence space.

Those gathered also heard from Marina R. James, President and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg, who congratulated industry reps on the role they’ve played in making Winnipeg a unique and cosmopolitan destination. As well, they were treated to details of the Winnipeg Foundation’s latest initiative — the Nourishing Potential endowment, which provides healthy foods and snacks to community-based after-school programs for kids.

“Winnipeg is in a state of transformation unlike anything we have ever experienced,” said James. “We are awash with iconic destination architecture and asset development — and our usual mild, meek nature has given way to boosterism, pride, boundless enthusiasm and embracing bold new ways of thinking.”