TORONTO — Centennial College and LCBO have opened the newly renovated Beverage Tasting Lab at the college’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, made possible by a $50,000 donation from LCBO Spirit of Sustainability.
The investment has re-vamped the more than 1,000-sq.-ft. facility into a premier experiential learning space. This new space replicates current trends in the restaurant industry and gives students opportunities to sharpen their skills in a realistic work environment, with defining features such as its horseshoe-shaped bar. The Beverage Tasting Lab will host student and corporate learners, as well as community and industry events.
“We are incredibly grateful to LCBO Spirit of Sustainability, whose generous investment in revitalizing our lab facility has enabled us to fully capitalize on our ability to teach students, industry professionals and amateur enthusiasts in the beverage tasting field,” says Dr. Craig Stephenson, president and CEO, Centennial College. “This project exemplifies the power of collaboration between education and industry, ultimately strengthening our already high bar for innovation and experiential learning in beverage management and hospitality education.”
The School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts offers a Fundamentals of Alcoholic Beverages course on wine, beer and spirits that covers LCBO product knowledge.
“Through LCBO’s Spirit of Sustainability platform, we are pleased to support and celebrate the opening of a newly renovated beverage tasting lab at Centennial College,” says George Soleas, president & CEO, LCBO. “The collaboration reflects LCBO’s commitment to creating opportunities and investing in the future of our incredible beverage alcohol industry.”
