George Brown College (GBC) is proud to announce a groundbreaking new collaboration agreement with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) establishing new paid work-integrated learning opportunities for GBC students through service with the Navy while building new structured pathways for veterans to transition into the college's renowned culinary programs.
The RCN has long been known for instilling leadership, discipline, and adaptability, traits that align closely with the demands of the culinary industry. This partnership recognizes the value of those qualities and provides new opportunities for current students and a bridge for veterans to bring them into a new professional context.
Leadership Perspectives: Building Bridges Between Education and Military Service
"We are excited to offer our students unique, paid work-integrated learning opportunities through this partnership with the Royal Canadian Navy," said Dr. Gervan Fearon, President of George Brown College. "This collaboration not only provides our students with invaluable hands-on experience but also highlights the leadership, discipline, and adaptability that military members bring to the culinary industry. By integrating these qualities into our programs, we are preparing our students for successful careers while continuing to support veterans in their transition to new professional paths."
Culinary focus with room to grow
The agreement will initially focus on GBC's acclaimed culinary programs with the potential to expand the program to include other disciplines in the future which align with existing Navy occupations. This strategic approach will ensure GBC students have access to well-paying practical work experience opportunities, gaining new culinary skills and building valuable connections across Canada even before graduating.
"Work-integrated learning through the Navy offers GBC students unique, paid opportunities to gain practical experience in their occupation while serving their country," said Captain (Navy) Geoff Hamilton of the RCN. "This collaboration will provide students who join the reserves in the cook occupation with the chance to serve right here in Toronto, gain real-world experience, earn a competitive pay, benefits, and a pension. Their leadership, discipline, and adaptability developed in the Navy will be directly transferable to the culinary field."
Recognizing military experience through PLAR
For eligible serving members who have trained and been employed in the Navy's cook occupation, the college's Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) will grant up to 75% credit toward a culinary diploma and up to 50% credit toward a degree, significantly reducing the time and cost required to complete their education.
"This partnership reflects our commitment to fostering workforce-ready graduates through work-integrated learning, while creating accessible pathways for military members to apply their skills in meaningful new ways," said Dr. Eileen De Courcy, Vice-President, Academic at George Brown College. "By aligning education with real-world experience, we're enabling both students and veterans to explore new career paths—including rewarding opportunities within the Canadian Armed Forces."
Expanding opportunities across programs
This agreement builds on GBC's longstanding commitment to creating inclusive and supportive educational opportunities for underrepresented groups, including veterans and active service members. Using PLAR ensures that military-acquired skills are formally recognized, reducing barriers to education and enabling faster entry into the workforce.
Future plans include exploring the expansion of the PLAR-based credit model into other high-demand programs such as business, health sciences, and construction trades – creating more opportunities for veterans and serving members to leverage their military experience across multiple industries.
Learn more about this collaboration: georgebrown.ca/navy
