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Sweet Success For Niagara Pastry Chef, Professor
Catherine O’Donnell hand-picked as juror for World Chocolate Masters
Checking email is like a box of chocolates – for Baking and Pastry Arts Program Coordinator Catherine O’Donnell – and on a day in mid-January she received the sweetest surprise.
O’Donnell learned that she had been selected as a juror for the World Chocolate Masters –known as the most thrilling chocolate competition on the planet – and she didn’t even know she was being considered for the honour.
“I was truly shocked. It’s a dream come true,” said O’Donnell, who enjoys both eating and working with chocolate. “I watch the World Chocolate Masters every year but, when I decided to become a judge, I didn’t think that was even in the equation for someone like me.”
In late May, O’Donnell will travel to the Chocolate Academy in Montreal to participate as a juror in the North America preselection for the World Chocolate Masters. The jury for the North American Selection consists of leaders in the industry, known for the contribution to the pastry and confectionery industry. These experts will review, taste and assess all creations.
O’Donnell was chosen as one of five jurors—and the only woman – among the distinguished judges for this event including Olivier Tribut (Canada), Michel Ernots (U.S.A), John Kraus(U.S.A.) and president of the jury Yvan Chevalier (France).
“Catherine O’Donnell’s selection as a judge signifies our commitment to diversity and excellence in the culinary world. As the only female chef on the panel, Catherine brings a unique perspective and expertise that enriches the evaluation process,” said Laurence Torcherie, Chocolate Academy Project Coordinator – Montréal. “Catherine embodies unparalleled dedication, with a career coaching and judging top pastry chefs worldwide. Her diverse roles as a business owner, professor, mentor, and coach underscore her unwavering commitment to excellence.
“Catherine’s title as Pastry Judge A, bestowed by the World Association of Chefs, highlights her remarkable contributions to the culinary world.”
National selections for the World Chocolate Masters for Canada and the United States will take place on May 29 to 30, 2024 in Montreal ahead of the world final in 2025.
O’Donnell, who has been teaching at Niagara College since 2015 and is currently Professor and Program Coordinator of NC’s Baking and Pastry Arts program, has been making her mark as a world-class pastry chef in Nagara and beyond.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake resident is widely known as the talent behind Willow Cakes and Pastries. She is well known for creating exquisite wedding cakes, providing delicious desserts to the area’s finest restaurants, and offering a selection of unique breads and delectable cakes and pastries.
She has worked as Pastry Chef in Toronto for Oliver-and Bonacini, the King Edward Hotel, and in Niagara for the Vintage Hotels, Hillebrand’s Vineyard Café, and Peller Estates Winery Restaurant.
Just a couple of years ago, O’Donnell was one of just five chefs inducted into the Canadian Culinary Federation Honour Society during the Federation’s national conference in Saskatoon and one of few women to hold the esteemed title Pastry Chef A.
In 2016, O’Donnell was part of the coaching crew behind Junior Culinary Team Canada , which captured a gold and silver medal at the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany. She also coached the senior team.
Later, she earned the title of Certified International Judge from the World Association of Chefs’ Societies, recognizing her as a senior-level culinary professional with advanced judging experience.
Despite her accomplishments, O’Donnell doesn’t consider herself to be among the world’s elite pastry chefs. Even with a successful career spanning more than 40 years, she has seen how both women and pastry chefs can be overlooked in the industry.
“Nobody ever knows the pastry chef at a restaurant, male or female,” she said. “But behind every great chef is a great pastry chef.”
O’Donnell is currently writing a book which sheds light on the life of a pastry chef that the public rarely sees.
“People don’t realize how hard we work. Every holiday,” she said. “They don’t see what we sacrifice and what our kids sacrifice.”
These days, O’Donnell is as passionate about teaching as she is about baking and the pastry arts.
“You get to teach somebody what you love to and make a difference in their lives,” she said. “It doesn’t get better than that.”
“Chef Catherine has dedicated a lot of time and effort to become a top level international judge and its exciting she can share her expertise with future chocolate champions,” said Craig Youdale, Dean of NC’s Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies division. “Having one of our faculty involved in the judging of such a prestigious event is a testament to the quality and dedication of our faculty.”
O’Donnell hopes to inspire her students so they may someday enter a global competition like the World Chocolate Masters.
“I think this will open doors for other women in Canada to actually see that they can get there,” she said.
Attribution: Niagara College media release
Heritage Lives: Watch Welland Grow…. Again
By Terry Hughes
CAPTIONS: Top row – Bosch Rexroth, Innio; second row – Welland International Flatwater Centre; third row – a chapter title from the book by William H. Lewis; fourth row – Linamar, as it appeared when photographed in late December; bottom row – NB Distillers, Fonthill Lumber, North Gold Foods.
In his third book in the History of Welland trilogy, the late Bill Lewis devoted a chapter on how Welland grew into a major industrial centre in the Niagara region beginning in the early 1900s He referred to several persons such as W.J. German, the Liberal M.P. who was the political motivator for the area but credits a broker and promoter who initiated industrial development, B. J. McCormick. His slogan, “WATCH WELLAND GROW” became the beacon for investors to start their business here.
There were a number of factors that made his promotion believable. The development of hydroelectric energy at Niagara Falls, the availability of seven railways with access to major markets in the U.S. as well as Canada and the development of the new Welland Ship Canal that could handle the largest vessels on the Great Lakes were the major factors. Thus the slogan for Welland was “Where Rails and Waters Meet”. The workforce needed would come from Europe where political instability and two world wars drove people from several countries to seek safe haven and financial stability here. For over six decades the crash of drop forges and the roar of hungry furnaces at Atlas Steels and Electro Metal furnaces and accompanying clouds of smoke was what Welland was all about. But world economics and competition contributed to an economic decline in both the U.S. and here in Welland. As lamented in Billy Joel’s song, Allentown, by 1982 major plant closures were the news of the day!
Like other communities in Niagara, new initiatives had to be considered and with the development of new technologies and the need to clean up the environment Welland offered opportunities that would lead to WATCH WELLAND GROW… AGAIN!
Brownfield properties such as the Page Hersey and Union Carbide would yield clean and efficient facilities to make parts for electric cars and plating them. Above ground mining of residuals left by manufacturing ferro-electronic products offer raw materials for new battery production. A world-class flat water-sport facility now entices teams from across the nation and around the world to come here.
Welland’s economic growth is divided into four categories: Advanced Manufacturing, Business Services, Food Processing and Sports Tourism, according to Welland’s economic development office. To list the total number of businesses here is too complex and demanding so we will give you an overview on some of them.
Valbruna sits on the site of the former Atlas Steels and is still in the steelmaking business with a more competitive and clean process;
Welded Tubes occupies the spot of Welland Tubes but produces specialized pipe for the petroleum industry;
Innio Engineering, makes large motors as power sources for a variety of uses and is located on Highway 140;
Bosch Rexroth on Prince Charles Drive North (also known as West Side Road) makes a wide variety of parts and services for complex businesses around the world;
North Gold Foods manufacturer of cereal foods is involved in the development of vertical based hydroponic farming, found on the east side of the 140;
Fonthill Lumber has enlarged facilities for the major construction boom so evident in the region and is on Woodlawn Road across from the expanded Canadian Tire store;
NB Distillers transferred from the GTA and sits near the Empire Sports Complex and Welland Flatwater site.
None of these companies and many others would have developed to replace the factories and businesses of old unless certain factors came into play. Our location and ability to transport goods and services to markets by rail and connections with the 406 and nearby border crossing are some. A labour force trained for new technologies and facilities provided by Niagara College and Brock University are others. But an aggressive effort by city hall in the area of economic development must also be recognized!
Drive around, take some time to examine the sites provided by the city and you will be overwhelmed by what you see. Special thanks to Lisa Allen, economic development officer, for her assistance.
Next column: MEETING AN OLD FRIEND
(Terry Hughes is a Wellander who is passionate about heritage, history and model railroading. His opinion column, Heritage Lives, appears on the blog once or twice monthly.)
Julia’s Hope Cup: ‘You Feel Good When You Give To Something Like This’
By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large
WELLAND – Life can be extinguished, but not so much the memories. Mark Turner found himself turning back pages of his in an almost empty coffee shop one night this week.
Pond hockey, family bonds, and Julia’s Hope Cup were among reasons for our rendezvous. Turner, an assistant coach with Pelham Panthers Jr. B hockey team, came bearing a gift: a poster for the upcoming Julia’s Hope Cup and Carnival in Chippawa Park.
Niece Julia Turner was on his mind and close to his heart, the latter softly written upon his face. Julia passed December 23, 2011, aged 15. He recalled her community involvement, things like volunteering at Hope Centre or helping mom Tina at Harvest Kitchen nights or her social justice activities at Notre Dame. He fielded questions about her not hurriedly but so lovingly after giving each some thought.
Asked to share a memory or two, he replied: “She made you feel special, but you knew she was special. This was as she was getting into her teens. I couldn’t talk to her like she was a little girl anymore…. I suppose the biggest thing would be, whether it was me or someone who just met her – she was a caring person, she always had a smile on her face.”
I’ll let the poster in the photo accompanying this piece speak for itself. It does a good job promoting the popular wintertime fundraiser, this being the 13th. It gives you what you need to know about what it has to offer. Chances are you’ve heard about it or read about it by this time.
What I wanted from this interview was for Turner to amplify three cornerstones that contribute to its success: family, friends and fun. You might say the three are in the family’s DNA. Here are snippets of our conversation:
Why is Julia’s Hope Cup important to you?: “Julia was such a special girl. We’re honoring her, celebrating her. This is something she would like to be involved with. It’s important because it keeps the memories alive for us and for so many people.”
Why is Julia’s Hope Cup important to the Turner family?: ”Although she had such a short life, she gave so much value – not only to her life but to other peoples’ lives. Our father (Fred Turner) used to say: always respect your last name. Julia definitely gave the Turner name that same respect. Like everyone else in our family, she’s a big part of our family to this day. She always will be.”
Why is Julia’s Hope Cup important to the community?: “ There’s such a need ‘out there’, not only in the city but the country we live in. So it’s nice to raise not only the money, but the recognition the homeless, and homelessness, need when we put Julia’s name to it. She cared about other people, she cared about the human spirit and she valued life. You feel good when you give to something like this, you know this is what she would have done.”
Turner says he’s not surprised the event is still going strong. When the weather’s right, it’s Canadian heritage at its finest, he says.
“It’s a winter event that family and children can come out to and enjoy, with hot chocolate, hot food. Being outside in February is the Canadian way that we grew up with and being at Chippawa Park pond holds a special place in the hearts of many Wellanders. I was there after school in winter every day and weekends too. It was a Turner tradition, a neighbourhood tradition. We all skated there.” (If the pond can’t be used for skating, the format will be a ball hockey tournament on a closed-off street at the park.)
Turner, 56, says he started skating when he was about two, “probably when I started walking.” Before becoming part of Pelham Jr. B. Panthers, he was an assistant coach with Welland Jr. B Canadians for two years and also coached in the Welland Minor Hockey Association ranks about 15 years. The affinity for being on blades of steel was described as “a Turner thing” – they all did it. Thanks to his hockey involvement, he says the Panthers team will be in attendance at Julia’s Hope Cup and some of the Welland team’s players too.
The out-of-town Turner siblings come home for Julia’s Hope Cup weekend: Michele from London, Greg from Lambton Shores, John from London and this carries on another family tradition.
Says Turner: “We had two caring parents, they were always there for us, they had their social life but they always supported our dreams, our sports events. My dad never skipped out on any of our stuff to do something for himself, he was at every occasion.”
The fund-raising goal for Julia’s Hope Cup and Carnival is $50,000. It’s in recognition of The Hope Centre’s 50th anniversary. Turner is confident Wellanders will respond to the call, confident the goal will be reached.
“This is a caring community. Whenever there’s a crisis in Welland the city comes together, the community comes together,” Turner says. “If there’s an illness and someone needs help or a special occasion that needs support, people just pull together. That’s Welland for you, that’s Wellanders.”
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View From The Bridge
The view from Woodlawn Bridge as we crossed the recreational waterway headed for downtown Welland this morning, February 6 at 11:15. The temperature at the time was -5C, The water and sky were beautiful hues of blue. No walkers were in sight on both sides of the waterway. (View From The Bridge is a recurring feature on the blog. /Joe Barkovich photo)
Draw For Ontario Catholic Classic Hoops Tourney
All games scheduled at ND, Denis Morris; Championships Saturday at DM
CAPTION: The Ontario Catholic Classic comes to Niagara this weekend.
Local teams taking part in the tournament include: Notre Dame, Welland and Denis Morris, St. Francis, both St. Catharines.
All games are scheduled at Denis Morris and Notre Dame gyms,
The hometown Notre Dame Fighting Irish team plays Friday, 9:30 a.m. taking on Notre Dame Knights of Brampton in Dillon Hall.
St. Francis Phoenix will play Christ the King Jaguars of Halton Hills and Denis Morris Reds take on Ursuline College Lancers of Chatham.
For more about the Catholic Classic, visit: http://www.ontariocatholicclassic.ca/
Removal Of Unsafe Trees, Replanting Efforts Underway On Merritt Island Trees Affected By Emerald Ash Borer
WELLAND – The City of Welland continues to tackle dead ash and hazardous trees within City-owned recreational spaces by removing unsafe trees as a result of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).
As part of a comprehensive plan, targeted tree removals are underway on Merritt Island and in other vulnerable areas identified as high-risk due to EAB infestation. City staff are preparing to replant trees in these areas, ensuring the revitalization of these spaces. Upon completion of this project, the next phase will involve conducting an inventory of native trees thriving in the affected locations.
“The City has engaged the services of a local certified arborist contractor to carry out these removals, ensuring a safe and efficient process,” said Jessica Ruddell, director of community services. “Our parks and forestry team is dedicated to providing safe and enjoyable spaces for the community, and the work on Merritt Island underscores this commitment.”
The project’s initial phase has started along the lower natural surface trail between Woodlawn Road and Highway 406, with completion expected shortly. Residents utilizing the upper and lower trails in the affected zones may experience temporary disruptions, including noise and restricted access to certain areas.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed and engaged as we work toward safeguarding our community and its public spaces. Community cooperation and understanding are invaluable as the City addresses tree removal due to EAB.
If you have any questions about tree removal resulting from EAB, please contact parksandforestry@welland.ca.
(Attribution: City of Welland media release)
Niagara College’s Four-Day Career Fair Begins Feb. 5
More than 100 organizations will be participating; Welland Campus dates: Feb. 7, 8
Local job seekers can explore exciting job opportunities and network with potential employers at Niagara College’s Career Fair next week.
The College’s largest career event of the year will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 5 and 6 at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake and on Feb. 7 and 8 at the Welland Campus.
Hosted by the College’s Career and Co-op Services department and Community Employment Services, Career Fair is open to NC students, alumni and community members who can meet a wide variety of employers from the Niagara region and beyond. Registration is not required for job seekers to attend Career Fair.
This year, employer registration is sold out for all four days of the event, as the College will welcome 117 organizations looking to recruit for full-time, part-time, graduate, contract, seasonal and co-op positions.
“We have received a tremendous response from employers from a variety of sectors, all of which align with the programs of study which we offer our students at Niagara College,” said Dina Fox, NC’s Director, Academic Advising and Career Services, Daniel J. Patterson Campus.
“We are confident there are exciting opportunities for students to explore and pursue, no matter which stage they are at in their academic journey,” added Fox, who noted that in addition to the employers who are attending the event, employers are posting job opportunities via NC’s MyCareer portal daily.
For a list of participating employers, the positions they are hiring for and the date(s) and campus location(s) they will be attending, visit: careerfair.niagaracollege.ca/employerlist/
“NC’s Career Fair is a chance for employers to recruit for talent from a pool of candidates that, along with NC students and graduates, includes community members who are searching for work,” said Gary Bruce, Manager, Community Employment Services. “Job seekers are encouraged to attend the event to network with potential employers, explore the opportunities available to them and learn about the current job market in Niagara.”
For full event details, including FAQs and campus directions, visit the Career Fair website.
Throughout the year, NC’s Career and Co-op Services department offers students a full suite of employment services, including job search resources and coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, interview practice, and workshops. The department also supports NC alumni and helps to connect employers with students seeking part-time, seasonal, or co-op work experiences, or new graduates seeking employment.
Employers are encouraged to visit mycareer.niagaracollege.ca for information on how to post an opportunity or to find out more about how the Career Services team can support their hiring needs.
Funded through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, NC’s Community Employment Services (43 Church St., St. Catharines) delivers the full suite of Employment Ontario’s Employment Services program and services. Community Employment Services supports job seekers in their journey towards employment or training, offering employment related workshops, job postings and job search resources, and also provides assistance to employers to meet their hiring needs. Visit niagaracollege.ca/ces for more information.
Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of close to 11,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada’s top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.
(Attribution: Niagara College media release)
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