Durham College’s Centre for Food has a new name and a new fund for student scholarships.
Durham College has added the name W. Galen Weston to its Centre for Food at the Whitby campus.
Galen Weston is a renowned philanthropist and food icon who, until recently, was the president of Loblaw Companies Ltd.
This announcement came shortly after Weston donated a $1 million grant to the school to help with food innovation and scholarships.
This is the second contribution the W. Weston Garfield Foundation has made to Durham College.
In February 2015, the foundation donated about $462,000 to Durham Region students attending Red Seal skilled trades programs at the college.
Now the foundation is lending a hand to the food program.
The Centre for Food opened to students in 2013 and is the first of its kind in the Durham Region. The centre includes an apple orchard, planting fields, greenhouses and other garden features. The centre also houses a full teaching-inspired restaurant and pantry which is also open to the public.
The unveiling took place on Nov 1. with Don Lovisa the president of the Durham College, and Pierre Tremblay, chair of the college’s board of governors, doing the introductions.
It was an exciting day for both students and the college. Students who received scholarships were also in attendance.
Lovisa was appreciative of the support from the foundation.
“We approached the Weston foundation for bursaries and scholarship, so we received that,” says Lovisa.
He says a million dollars has been invested, which allows the school to buy new equipment.
He says it is also a representation of the school brand and the quality of the program. He adds students can rest assured they are receiving the best quality program at the centre.
“It was a very generous gift,” says Lovisa.
The donation was given to the Centre for Food and not the rest of the campus because of Weston connection to the industry.
“Mr. Weston has spent his entire life in the food industry, from baking and to food retail with Loblaw’s, so that’s a natural fit,” says Jeff Ross, a representative of the W. Garfield Weston Foundation.
He says having the Weston name on the building exterior is exciting and the foundation is pleased to be part of this institution.
For Lovisa, having the Center for Food renamed after someone like Weston is a confirmation of success.
