Tourism & culinary arts centre announced for Okanagan

Plans have been announced for new Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism at the Kelowna campus of Okanagan College.

The $48.8 million facility will focus on addressing the labour shortage in food and tourism, supporting homegrown education in culinary arts, local food and beverage production, and hospitality services.

The centre will include food labs, beverage research and development facilities, and common spaces. It will bring together all food, wine, and tourism programming on campus.

It will also be home to the Okanagan Chef School and the college’s fully functioning, student-staffed restaurant, Infusions.

The new facility will allow Okanagan College to expand their culinary enrolment by more than 125 students a year, and hospitality and tourism enrolment by 450 students per year.

Construction is expected to begin this year, with the centre opening to students in 2026.

The province will provide $44.8 million of the cost with Okanagan College contributing $4 million, working with the Okanagan College Foundation and community and industry partners.

“The tourism and hospitality sectors are facing challenges in finding and keeping skilled workers, and Okanagan College is a leading provider of culinary and tourism programming in the province,” Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Selina Robinson said. “This investment will ensure people can access world-class training supported by industry in the Okanagan, and can then go on to pursue a rewarding, meaningful career in the region’s equally outstanding hospitality industry.”