Growing Chefs! Ontario: Advanced Culinary Program

Registration for our Advanced Culinary Program will open January 5^th, 2026 at 9am.

What to Expect: Advanced Culinary is an 8‑week program for youth aged 12 – 16 to build their culinary knowledge. This exciting program will help participants further develop their confidence and cooking skills through exploring different international cuisines. We will focus on kitchen and food safety, reading and adapting recipes, learning a variety of cooking techniques, working with different tools, and learning to taste and season foods like a Chef.

Date & Time: Mondays, March 23-May 25^th, 2026. 5 – 7:15pm

Location: will be hosted at our teaching facility, The Grove at The Western Fair District, located at 900 King St. 

Age: participants must be between the ages of 12 to 16 on the first day of class (Please do not contact us for exceptions if your child is younger. Older children may be considered on a case by case basis if they have a developmental disability. If this is the case, please reach out to christy@​growingchefsontario.​ca before registering). 

Pricing: $320 ($40 per week X 8 weeks)

Cost includes all programming fees, dinner each week, and a Growing Chefs! apron. Growing Chefs! Ontario is committed to providing low-cost food education experiences for youth. If cost is a barrier to registration, please contact christy@​growingchefsontario.​ca to explore subsidy options

Family Celebration: After completing the program, participants will show off what they’ve learned and open a restaurant for their families! This Family Celebration will take place the day after the program concludes – PLEASESAVETHEDATE: Tuesday, May 26. The participants will be running the restaurant! They will be the prep cooks, the chefs, the servers, the greeters and everything in between! They will be using all the culinary skills they’ve learned over 8 weeks to wow their guests (up to 2 guests each)!

This event takes place at 460 King St, our original location in the former french fine-dining restaurant, the Auberge de Petite Prince. Participants can be dropped off at 4:30 to start preparing the meal. Guests are to arrive at 6:30 and dinner will be served shortly after. The evening will conclude at 8. Tickets are $15/​guest (there is no ticket cost for the participants).
 

Food Allergies: Our team is highly experienced in managing dietary restrictions. Do not let a dietary concern prevent your child from participating in our programming. Get in contact with our staff team and we’ll do our best to make appropriate accommodations. If a participant has a life-threatening allergy, please read our official Allergen Statement here and let us know if you have any questions.

Additional Support: If your child requires additional support in school or at home, we encourage you to contact our Education Programs Manager, christy@​growingchefsontario.​ca, prior to registering for programs. This will allow us to better understand your child’s specific support needs and strengths, ensuring we can provide the best possible program experience. 

While we strive to accommodate all participants, please note that due to staffing limitations, we are unable to offer 1:1 support. If your child receives 1:1 support at school, a qualified support person will be required to accompany them during the program. Families are welcome to arrange a support worker, and there is no additional fee for them to attend. Please be sure to note this on your registration form and include any dietary needs for the support worker as well. 

We truly value working in partnership with families and support workers, and we are committed to creating an accessible and inclusive experience for everyone.
 

Cancellation and Refund Policy: Cancellations must be communicated by email to Education Programs Manager christy@​growingchefsontario.​ca as early as possible.

Cancellations received more than 14 days before the first class will receive a full refund minus an administrative fee of $30 per participant.

Cancellations received less than 14 days before the first class, provided we are successful in refilling their spot, are eligible to receive a full refund minus an administrative fee of $30 per participant. If we are unsuccessful, despite efforts in filling their spot, a partial refund of 50% will be offered.

Cancellations received within 3 days of the start of the program, are ineligible to receive a refund, except in extenuating circumstances as approved by the Education Programs Manager. We are unable to offer credits to future classes, or to transfer the spot to another participant of your choosing (unless it is a sibling within the correct age range).

Refunds are not granted for missed days, or if a parent/​guardian withdraws the participant from the program or if the participant is sent home for misconduct.