It’s a recipe for romance and a homecoming celebration all on one plate. Top Chef Canada stars and real-life couple Erica and Josh Karbelnik will headline a special Chef Signature Series dinner at the College’s Benchmark restaurant on Feb. 12 – just before Valentine’s Day.

The culinary power couple – who graduated from NC 15 years ago and have recently decided to make Niagara home – look forward to returning to their alma mater to whisk up a night to remember. The ticketed event offers guests a rare opportunity to savour the success of the duo, who are bringing a taste of their culinary journeys back to where it all began.

Erica and Josh, who both graduated from NC’s College’s Culinary Management (Co-op) program in 2011, have found the ingredients for success since their time at NC – both in life and in the kitchen.

“We are so proud to welcome back Erica and Josh who have had such an exciting and eventful career so far,” said Craig Youdale, Dean, Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies. “It is important for our students to look up to chefs that started just the same as them and have reached such impressive heights.”

The husband-and-wife team made headlines in June 2021 when they turned up the heat on the national stage. Erica claimed the title of Top Chef Canada winner (Season 9), while Josh finished as a finalist, serving as Erica’s sous chef in the finale to help her secure the win. From national television to prominent kitchens across the country, they have truly cooked their way to the top, currently presiding over their own premier fine dining and events venture, Karbs Catering.

The Karbelniks said they were eager to bring their bold flavours back to the College.

“We are both extremely excited to be returning back to NC,” said Erica. “This is a huge milestone for us in our career and shows how far we have come from being students to chefs.”

While they have visited campus occasionally, this dinner marks their first official return to the kitchens and labs where they first sharpened their knives. It also marks a personal homecoming, as the Karbelniks recently relocated from Toronto to settle into their new home in St. Catharines.

Reflecting on her journey, Erica noted that NC was the essential starter course to her career.

“NC was truly the stepping stone; it was the start of our journey, the introduction to who we would become,” she said. “I remember being treated not just as another student or a number, but as someone of importance. The true love I felt and the passion behind what they do – you don’t get that very often in school.”

The Feb. 12 dinner will feature a menu curated by the couple, allowing current students to prep and plate alongside them in the Benchmark kitchen. While on campus, the couple also plans to visit various culinary classes to share their words of wisdom.

For Josh, passing the torch to current culinary students is the ultimate garnish on their success story.

“We wouldn’t have gotten to where we are today if it wasn’t for people who did that for us… who were our mentors,” he said. “It’s a true honour to now be in that role and help shape the next generation.”

A Chef Signature Series – A Chef’s Journey with Erica and Josh Karbelnik will be held on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 12  (dinner begins at 6 p.m.) at Benchmark Restaurant (Daniel J. Patterson Campus, Niagara-on-the-Lake). Limited tickets are available while supplies last ($180.80, including tax) via Eventbrite here.

Sold-out evening with Chef Marc Lepine

The Karbelnik dinner follows NC’s first Chef Signature Series event of the year with award-winning Ottawa-based Chef Marc Lepine on Jan. 26,

The owner of the legendary Atelier restaurant and a two-time Canadian Culinary Champion, Lepine will bring his avant-garde culinary artistry to Benchmark for a sold-out dinner event.

Lepine noted it will be his first visit to the College and he was looking forward to the event, as well as connecting with current students.

“It’s always energizing to connect with culinary students, and I’m excited to bring a bit of what we do at Atelier to Niagara College, even just for one night,” said Lepine. “Opportunities like this can spark curiosity and confidence, and if I can play a small role in that, I’m happy to.”

Youdale looked forward to welcoming Lepine to campus where he will bring his culinary talents to Niagara and surely inspire current students.

“Chef events like these are a such great opportunities to have our students engage in a real-world experience with some of Canada’s best chefs,” said Youdale.

Lepine has simple advice to students hoping to follow in his footsteps: “Stay curious, stay disciplined, and don’t be afraid to follow ideas that feel a little unconventional.”

Chef’s Journey events are held at Benchmark restaurant, located at NC’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The events are supported by students and staff from the College’s Benchmark team led by Victor Oliveira and Chef Justin Downes.

Four standout students ended their term $1,000 richer as the latest recipients of the Benchmark Student Experience Scholarship.

Established to celebrate students within the Culinary, Tourism, and Beverage Studies division who bring more to the table than just academic excellence. The Fall term scholarship recipients were chosen for their leadership, teamwork, and tireless dedication to Benchmark restaurant and various charitable initiatives.

Student recipients presented with their awards in December, included front-of-house servers Madeline Rekker and Christian Sun (School of Hospitality and Tourism), and back-of-house culinary students Andrea Bolanos and Jonathan James (School of Culinary Arts).

Jonathan James (Htet Aung Shine) was among recent scholarship recipients from the School of Culinary Arts.

“Each term, our management team nominates outstanding students for their commitment, professionalism, and passion for the hospitality industry,” said Victor Oliveira, Manager of Catering and Special Events. “Their demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and dedication to excellence were key factors in their selection. They participated in many different event services, worked hard, learned quickly, and had a positive impact on their peers.”

For Christian Sun, a second-year Tourism Management – Business Development (Co-op) student from the Philippines, the scholarship was the icing on the cake after a rigorous year.

“Benchmark gave me a strong foundation,” said Sun. “In the classroom, we learn the theory, but the restaurant is where we turn up the heat. We were encouraged to see mistakes as part of the process–every guest interaction was a chance to sharpen my skills.”

Sun, who plans to use his Benchmark experience as a North Star for his future career, noted that the financial boost was particularly helpful as an international student. “The real value is the learning; the scholarship is a wonderful bonus.”

The award came as a surprise to Jonathan James as he completed his studies in the Culinary Management (Co-op) program. Originally from Myanmar, James arrived at NC with a dream of one day running his own kitchen.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” said James. “Working at Benchmark, I have learned not only how to work on a line in the kitchen, I had so many experiences running big events which has given me way more experience, information and helped develop my skills.”

Now working as a line cook and supervisor, he noted that his experience at Benchmark provided the seasoning needed to help launch his career.
“It was great working with Benchmark as a student. I learned a lot of lessons from Chef Justin {Downes] and Chef Anthony [Greco].”

Scholarship recipient Andrea Bolanos (middle) was among a team of staff from the School of Culinary Arts bring their skills to the table to support a pancake breakfast which raised funds for Gillian’s Place. in November (file photo).

Student Experience Scholarship Fund

The scholarship is supported by NC’s Student Experience Scholarship Fund, which launched in late 2024.

“Financially supporting students is always top of mind for us here at the College. The financial obligations that students face today continue to get tougher and finding ways to help is important,” says Craig Youdale, Dean of the Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies division, after the scholarship fund was launched in November 2023. “Our division has so many events and community activities, and we want to encourage our students to get involved and enrich their time at Niagara College. We hope this funding will get even more students involved and a part of the amazing opportunities for the students.”

How to donate

In lieu of leaving a gratuity for service at Benchmark or for a special event hosted by the College’s Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies division, guests are encouraged to donate to the Student Experience Scholarship Fund. Donations can be made by scanning a QR code displayed on menus or through the online donation form.

Four students capped off 2025 as winners of the Benchmark Student Experience Scholarship.

This article is part of a seven-part series celebrating Niagara College’s Alumni of Excellence — the highest honour bestowed upon NC alumni. The series features outstanding graduates who were also nominees for the 2025 Ontario Premier’s Awards. Winnie Muchuba (General Arts & Science – Enhanced Language Training for Employment, 2018) was recognized in the Francophone Outreach category.

Winnie Muchuba’s personal journey and lived experiences have been the driving force behind her passion for helping newcomers settle and feel safe in their communities. The mother of seven, who escaped civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2013, uses her experience as a refugee to help Francophones and other newcomers access the resources they need to rebuild their lives in Canada.

Muchuba fled the DRC with her six young children following the assassination of her political activist husband. After initially seeking safety in Uganda, where she was later discovered and targeted, she made the painful decision to place her children in an orphanage in Kenya, allowing her to travel alone to Canada and secure refuge for them. Her seventh child was born several months after she arrived.

Despite holding multiple university degrees in international humanitarian law, human rights, rural development and social organization, and economics from the DRC, Muchuba knew that arriving in Canada meant starting over again. She sought volunteer opportunities that drew on her training and lived experience, working on fundraising campaigns for Syrian refugees and for Romero House, the settlement centre where she first lived in Toronto. When she and her children reunited and relocated to Welland in 2016, she discovered that being fluent in French enabled her to work as an interpreter for the local Francophone community.

In 2017, Muchuba completed an Ontario college English Language Training for Employment certificate at NC, strengthening her volunteer work at the Community Health Centre of Welland/Centre de santé communautaire de Welland (HCW/CSCW). There, she continues to serve as an interpreter for clients accessing legal help and other essential services, while also supporting community programming as a volunteer facilitator.

She credits Niagara College’s welcoming and diverse environment for helping her feel supported as she settled into life in Canada. Through the Enhanced Language Training for Employment program, she improved her English skills and gained practical knowledge of Canadian workplace culture, communication, and citizenship. The program’s focus on inclusivity and practical skills helped her quickly adapt and gain confidence.

“The training at Niagara College helped me understand who I am, and who I can become,” she said.

Her humanitarian background and experience living through conflict later led her to volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) in 2019. When CRC deployed a crisis team to Kashechewan First Nation in Northern Ontario during a severe COVID-19 outbreak, Muchuba bravely set aside her own trauma and asked to join the mission. Today, she continues to volunteer with CRC as an Emergency Responder Volunteer with the Emergency Response Team in Ottawa, and as a Disaster Management Safety and Wellbeing Responder for the Southwest Ontario region. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Entité2, which advocates for access to French-language health services in the Golden Horseshoe.

Muchuba has spent the past decade giving back to her community, using her bilingualism, cultural knowledge, and humanitarian training to help newcomers navigate life in a new country and overcome language barriers. Deeply empathetic to the isolation and confusion many newcomers face, she has pursued volunteer opportunities wherever she has lived, supporting others in ways she wished had been available when she was rebuilding her own life in Canada. Her work was especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when outreach played a key role in infection prevention and community safety.

Muchuba says that her time at NC was one of the first place she felt safe after arriving in Canada.

“What is most important is how I’m giving back to this community that, when I came vulnerable, took me as I am,” she said. “They said, ‘You are safe here.’ That is something I am so grateful for.”

Reflecting on her Alumni of Excellence recognition, Muchuba shared: “This honour means a lot to me as it brings great memories to be grateful and honour back all institutions–Canada, Niagara College, Romero House, Entité2, churches. You held my hand when I could not hold myself together, and it gives me a great sense of achievement in my life.”

This December 2, Niagara College calls on its community to turn generosity into opportunity.

As the holiday season approaches, NC aims to raise $25,000 for the Nourishing Minds Fund, a vital initiative dedicated to supporting NC students battling food insecurity.

The Nourishing Minds Fund, administered by the NC Student Administrative Council (NCSAC), provides a year-round lifeline to students in need through emergency digital grocery cards. It is also the driving force behind the on-campus Rise and Shine breakfast program, ensuring students start their day ready for success.

Every dollar donated to the Nourishing Minds Fund directly impacts a student’s life, supporting a warm breakfast, a grocery gift card, or essential hygiene products for students in need.

Give a gift to support Nourishing Minds on Giving Tuesday here.

The need

NCSAC President Hish Clifford highlights that, for many, the path to education is paved with difficult financial choices. He was honoured that Nourishing Minds was chosen as NC’s beneficiary for Giving Tuesday 2025, ensuring all funds raised are fully directed toward combating food insecurity.

“Life outside of the classroom, and the walls of Niagara College, is difficult in so many ways for post-secondary students in today’s world. Having to combat the increasing cost of living challenges, rent increases, etc.,” said Clifford.

“For most students, they’re able to navigate those challenges. For some, though, the roadblocks are simply wider than others. That is where Nourishing Minds comes in.

“Whether it’s a free breakfast to help students start their day or a grocery gift card, NCSAC and the Nourishing Minds fund want to ensure that students are going to class with a full stomach. The only thing they should have to worry about is conquering their educational goals!”

The statistics from this year paint a clear picture of the need. Between January and November alone:
• $16,050 has been distributed in Nourishing Mind Gift Cards;
• 209 individual cards have been issued to students in crisis; and
• 25,000 breakfasts have been served through the Rise and Shine program, which runs Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings at both the Welland and Daniel J. Patterson campuses (excluding summer months).

Nourishing futures

Giving Tuesday is a global movement dedicated to celebrating generosity, serving as a heartwarming counterpoint to the commercialism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

For 2025, NC has set a goal of raising $25,000 to restock the pantry of the Nourishing Minds Fund.
Since 2020, the community has rallied to raise more than $80,000 for the cause. This year, NC’s Development team hopes to push that cumulative total to a monumental $100,000.

“With support from our NC College community, we can reach our $100k milestone this year,” said Development Officer Emily O’Connor. “Please consider a gift that will not only nourish the minds of our students, but their futures.”

Community support in action

Volunteers from FirstOntario will return to dish out support for the Rise & Shine breakfast program on Giving Tuesday (file photo: 2024).

FirstOntario Credit Union continues to be a steadfast partner in feeding student success. Following a generous contribution in 2024, they have pledged another $12,500 donation for Nourishing Minds on Giving Tuesday 2025.

Beyond financial support, the FirstOntario team is getting hands-on. A group of volunteers will spend the morning of December 2 serving breakfast to students at the Rise & Shine program in Welland.
“Food insecurity continues to be a growing concern across our communities, and students are among the most vulnerable. Access to healthy, nutritious food helps fuel learning and success, which is why FirstOntario is proud to contribute $12,500 to Niagara College’s Giving Tuesday campaign,” said Joanne Battaglia, senior vice-president, Marketing, Communications and Community Partnerships.

“In addition to financial support, our Blue Wave volunteers are excited to join the Rise and Shine breakfast again this year. We believe in coming together to make a difference, and we hope other community-minded organizations will join us in supporting this important initiative.”

How to donate

The NC community can help provide the ingredients for a student’s success by donating to the Giving Tuesday campaign.

Donate with a one-time, monthly or annual gift by visiting wcsvpw3web02.niagaracollege.ca/NiagaraDonationForm/.

For more details visit NC’s Giving Tuesday web page at donate.niagaracollege.ca/givingtuesday/.

NC alumni: Give for a chance to win

Members of NC’s alumni community who donate on Giving Tuesday will be entered for a chance to win a culinary experience: lunch for two at Benchmark Restaurant.

The winner will enjoy a five-course menu prepared by students in the School of Culinary Arts at the Final Exam Lunch event on Friday, Dec. 12 (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

About Nourishing Minds

Launched in 2015, NC’s Nourishing Minds Fund is the recipe for student resilience, featuring the Emergency Gift Card and Rise and Shine Breakfast programs.

The Emergency Gift Card program supports students experiencing food insecurity who require emergency funding while attending NC.

The Rise and Shine Breakfast program offers a free “grab and go” breakfast every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at the Welland Campus (in front of The Core) and the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake (outside the NCSAC office), excluding summer months.

Visit yourncsac.ca/nourishingminds for info.