Announced June 24, Okanagan College's Kelowna campus will be getting a new Food, Wine and Tourism Centre. 

College President Neil Fassina made the official announcement on campus joined by Minister of Agriculture Pam Alexis, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development Roly Russell, and Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Brittany Anderson. 

The $55.8-million project has received most of its funding from the province. The college committed the remaining $ 4 million to bring the project to life. 

The centre will allow for growth in both the culinary arts program and tourism and hospitality. 

Chef and culinary arts instructor Kelsey Oudendag is very excited to update the lab kitchens and provide students with new and up-to-date equipment. 

Oudendag and other instructors have a hand in designing the two kitchen labs that will be in the centre. 

"I get to sit on a committee to advise what I would like in the lab kitchen, what we would like. So, we can suggest certain tools and equipment that we see being used in the professional kitchens in our industry." 

As part of the build, the student-run restaurant Infusions will be moving. The restaurant will be located right off K.L.O. when construction is complete in 2026. 

The new centre is to be constructed in front of the Centre for Learning. 

The expansion will allow for an additional 125 students to enrol annually in the culinary program and another 450 students in tourism and hospitality.