When David Swindall signed up with the Collingwood Youth Centre’s culinary internship program, he had hoped to learn more about food.
What he took away from the program, he says, was so much more that has helped him grow as a person, better equipped to navigate the world.
The Collingwood Youth Centre is looking for young people with an interest in cooking to join their culinary training program, which runs out of the centre and the Central Park rink canteen. Overseen by local chef Skylar Fulmer, the paid, seven-week program is open to youth and young adults aged 15 to 30 years old who are not currently enrolled in full-time education.
Raised in foster care, Swindall, 20, says he remembers cooking from a young age and signed up for the program a year and a half ago to learn more and refine his self-taught skills.
“It was right at the end of COVID. There wasn’t a lot to do,” Swindall recalls. “My brother had done the internship before, so I thought I wanted to do it too.”
“I had really bad social anxiety. It’s gotten a lot better because of this internship,” he said, noting that when he started, he had trouble even making eye contact with others or speaking with people he didn’t know well.
Participants in the program learn from and work with trained chefs to learn technical skills, as well as nutrition, healthy eating, food budgeting and foraging. As part of the program, youth also are eligible to earn their Smart Serve, food handlers certificate and can be connected with employment to put their new skills to use.
The program is supported by Elephant Thoughts, the Environment Network and government grants.
After graduating from the program, Swindall now works for the Collingwood Youth Centre, managing the Central Park canteen.
“Before the internship, I would have never thought about doing something like that because of my anxiety. Now, I do it alone and I’m thriving,” said Swindall. “Before, sometimes I would dread talking to someone. I don’t have that anymore.”
While Swindall is still deciding on his own path forward, whether he pursues a career in the culinary trades or not, he says he has learned skills through the program that will help him regardless.
“Even if I don’t become a chef, these are skills that will help me in my future. I’ll definitely be the house mom,” he said with a laugh.
The Collingwood Youth Centre’s next intake for the culinary internship program starts Nov. 13.
For more information on the program or to sign up, click here.
