A sought-after Toronto dinner series on is now on the menu for Niagara on February 23, and it’s bringing one of Italy’s finest chefs along with it – all to benefit students from Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute.

The dinner event, Sotto Una Buona Stella (which means ‘under a lucky star’ in Italian) will be held at Two Sisters Vineyards on February 23.

A collaboration between Two Sisters Vineyards and the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto, the event is part of an esteemed dinner series that began in 2015 in Toronto. This collaboration is presented by the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto, the Instituto Italiano di Cultura, and the Italian Trade Commission, in partnership with the College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute. Proceeds from the event will support scholarships and bursaries for students studying in Niagara College’s Culinary Management program.

Two Sisters’ Kitchen76 head chef Justin Lesso – who is also a NC culinary grad – will be collaborating with special guest chef Caterina Ceraudo for the event. Ceraudo was awarded 2017’s Michelin Female Chef Prize and named Best Female Chef in 2016 by the Italian restaurant guide Identita Golose. Her family’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Dattilo Ristorante, is located on their biodynamic farm and vineyard in the Calabrian countryside where they pioneered the use of biodynamic farming methods to produce wine and olive oil, and grow fresh produce.

On Friday, February 23rd experience the exceptional cuisine of Michelin-star Chef Caterina Ceraudo as she collaborates with Chef Justin Lesso @ Kitchen76. Proceeds to scholarships/bursaries for Niagara College Food & Wine Institute Limited seats available t.co/SvHMAX2B3z pic.twitter.com/jCbsyD6IjW

— Two Sisters Vineyard (@twosisters_wine) February 3, 2018

“As a family, we proudly continue to look for ways to give opportunity to the students of Niagara College. It is these graduates that will help the Niagara region grow to become a leading wine and culinary destination on the world stage in the years to come,” said Angela Marotta, co-owner, Two Sisters Vineyards. “It is special wine and food events, like this at Kitchen76, that will push the boundaries of exceptional dining experiences and inspire the students who all take part.”

“This magical evening aptly called ‘Sotto Una Buona Stella’ is a collaboration between Two Sisters Vineyards and the Italian Consulate to raise funds for the College’s culinary institute,” said Melissa Marotta-Paolicelli, co-owner, Two Sisters Vineyards. “Visiting chefs like Michelin-star chef Caterina Ceraudo will be sure to excite the palate and all your senses through her innovative cooking techniques. We are excited to have our out-of-town guests and members of our supportive community enjoy a memorable evening.”

CFWI chef professor Mark Picone will be involved in the event, as well as several culinary student volunteers who will benefit from the experience of working alongside Michelin-starred chef Ceraudo at the event.

“We are extremely appreciative that an all-star event like Sotto Una Buona Stella will not only benefit Niagara’s culinary and wine scenes, but future industry ‘stars’ through its support for student learning at Niagara College,” said vice president, External Relations Greg Medulun. “Our College’s mission is to help our students achieve their dreams, and this type of generous support from Two Sisters Vineyards helps make that happen.”

CFWI dean Craig Youdale said he was thrilled that the proceeds from the event will support NC’s culinary students.

“Two Sisters Winery has been a fantastic partner and supporter of Niagara College. Their chef and winemaker are graduates of our programs as are many of their current staff,” said Youdale. “Having this event in support of our students is important as they all have significant financial need, and it’s with support of our community that we can help them succeed.”

Ticket info

Sotto Una Buona Stella will be held on Friday, February 23, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $275 per guest.  Click here for ticket info.

Media coverage:

Two Sisters Under A Lucky Star

Angela Marotta on Sotto una Buona Stella in Niagara

A woman with an education is unstoppable. That’s what award-winning entrepreneur Ashley Brown believes, and it’s why she makes it her mission to help empower women – or, more specifically, help them empower themselves to rise.

Since she graduated from Niagara College’s Business Administration – Operations Management (Co-op) program in 2009, Brown has risen up in her own right. As the owner and artistic director of She Implements, she helps entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level by providing unique, cutting edge virtual business support.

Her work has earned her a 2017 Top 40 Under 40 Business Achievement Award from The Business Link Niagara. She was also a finalist at this year’s Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Awards in the Emerging Business category.

Today’s #40u40Niag spotlight is on Ashley Brown of She Implements – Great work Ashley! # pic.twitter.com/a854kmcceY

— TheBusinessLink (@40Under40Alumni) June 12, 2017

Getting to where she is today however, hasn’t been easy for Brown. She enrolled in Niagara College’s Business Administration – Operations Management (Co-op) program as a mature student at the age of 24 with a three-month-old baby girl at home. “I knew I wanted to have a better life and be able to tell my daughter that no life situations can stop you from reaching your goals,” she said.

While she was thankful for the support of her husband who could cover basic household costs and for the ability to afford childcare, investing in her future came with financial constraints. With a baby at home, she wasn’t able to take on a job in addition to her studies. As a mature student, her parents weren’t footing the bill for her education. For Brown, receiving a scholarship “was a blessing.”

“I can honestly say that I would not have been able to start college without the financial assistance I received,” she said. “It helped curb the costs of tuition and allowed me to purchase my books to get started. It bridged the gap between OSAP and the balance I needed to make it in the doors.”

Brown now uses the skills she acquired in her classes at Niagara College to run her business. Combining her education with “hustle, ambition and action” has helped her design the life she desires – one that enables her to work from home while raising three children.

She finds it extremely rewarding to work with other entrepreneurs as she assists them with planning and implementing their growth strategies. “I get the pleasure of taking action and helping others rise daily,” she said. “I enjoy that I am able to give back and live my life to its higher purpose of helping women empower themselves to create a bigger impact on the world.”

One of the founding principles that Brown has built into her company is one that is personally meaningful to her: education support. She does this through the She Implements scholarship fund – making a yearly commitment to help mature women attend post-secondary education.

“I believe financial assistance is so important,” she said. “It removes a restraint for people who are trying to better their lives.”

Great work Ashley!! #SheImplements t.co/LCVH0ekWRI

— BusinessLink Media (@TheBusinessLink) June 12, 2017

Congratulations to the #WIBA2017 Emerging Business Award nominees Ashley Brown – She Implements, Lisa Carlomusto – Dental Hygiene of Niagara, Gayle Hanlon, @STCCoffeeNews & @SarahMcVanel, Greatness Magnified sponsored by Canadian Tire Bank.

— Women In Niagara (@GNCC_WIN) November 17, 2017

Niagara College is proud to nominate six of its distinguished alumni for prestigious Premier’s Awards. Presented annually as part of the Colleges Ontario Higher Education Summit, the Premier’s Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of six Ontario college graduates in six different categories: Business, Creative Arts and Design, Community Services, Health Sciences, Technology, and Recent Graduate. Niagara College’s 2017 nominees include:

• Rob Beyer (Business), executive chairman of Villgro Kenya;
• David McIlvride (Creative Arts and Design), Gemini award-winning director;
• Rose DiMarco (Community Services), chief superintendent and regional commander of the Central Region Ontario Provincial Police;
• Derek Christensen (Health), regional educator of mental health and addiction services at Niagara Health;
• Ben Laurence (Recent Graduate), structural technical designer for aerospace manufacturer Blue Origin; and
• Blake Merritt (Technology), vice-president of IT infrastructure and cloud computing at Meridian Credit Union.

“There is no sector of our economy or part of our community that isn’t touched by the outstanding contributions of college graduates,” said Niagara College president Dan Patterson. “We’re extremely proud of the accomplishments of our grads, and are pleased to nominate these distinguished Niagara College alumni for provincial recognition.” All nominees will be celebrated, and the six category winners announced, in Toronto on Monday, November 27, as part of the Colleges Ontario Higher Education Summit. For info visit www.co-awards.org/ Since the Premier’s Awards were launched in 1992, winners from Niagara College have included: Royal Canadian Navy Capt. Rebecca Patterson (Nursing, 1987), who won in 2014; David Pratt (Greenhouse Technician, 2007) in 2012; Jerry Howell (Computer Engineering Technology, 1988) in 2011; Jordan Harris (Winery and Viticulture Technician, 2004) in 2008; Heather Kilty (Social Welfare Worker, 1969), in 2003; and Carol Alaimo (Journalism-Print, 1984), in 1995.   Niagara Colleges 2017 Premier’s Awards Nominees Rob Beyer – Business Computer Programmer, 1984 Rob Beyer is a visionary leader who is fully aware of the unique challenges in building enterprises within the East African context. He is executive chairman of Villgro Kenya, an early-stage social enterprise incubator that supports innovative businesses in the healthcare and life sciences sector. His passion is to support aspiring African entrepreneurs in the health and life sciences ecosystem while supporting innovation and innovative approaches that build sustainable livelihoods. He is also a long-time director of Pehucci Children’s Home in Kenya, an orphanage that is home to 90 children and provides education to roughly 600 more. David McIlvride – Creative Arts and Design Broadcasting: Radio, TV and Film, 1978 David McIlvride is a Gemini Award-winning director who has written, directed and produced some of the most respected documentary series on television for broadcasters such as Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel and History Channel. A passionate storyteller, he has traveled the globe in order to tell the stories of people who normally would not have access to a global audience. His most recent documentary, Riverblue, charts the damaging environmental effects of the textile and tanning industries by observing the heavy pollution present in the nearby rivers of high-production manufacturing areas in India, China and Indonesia. Rose DiMarco – Community Services Law and Security Administration, 1985 Rose DiMarco has climbed the ranks in a field that is typically dominated by men. She is chief superintendent and first female regional commander Central Region with the Ontario Provincial Police. She is responsible for 900 uniform members and 270 civilian staff who police more than 80,000 full-time residents and an additional half million seasonal vacationers. She is the executive champion of the OPP Mental Health Strategy ‘Our People, Our Communities,’ co-chair of the Commissioner’s Inclusion Council, mentor in the Ontario Public Service Diversity Champion program and works with and mentors female officers. Derek Christensen – Health Nursing, 1991 Derek Christensen is an accomplished health care professional with 26 years of experience as clinician, manager and educator in mental health and addictions. He is regional educator for Mental Health and Addiction Services at Niagara Health System and is responsible for research, development, implementation and evaluation of staff training and education related to mental health. He is an officer with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, Canadian Forces Reserve Army and has participated in training exercises throughout Canada and the United States. In 2012, he was honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for outstanding service to Canada. Ben Laurence – Recent Graduate Mechanical Engineering Technology, 2013 The sky is definitely not the limit for Ben Laurence. As a structural technical designer for aerospace manufacturer and spaceflight services company Blue Origin, he designs, analyzes, tests and flies structural components for the New Shepherd spacecraft. New Shepherd is a suborbital manned rocket being developed as a commercial system for suborbital space tourism. It’s the first vehicle in human history to fly to space and return safely to Earth for future use. Flights with test passengers are planned for late 2018, with commercial passenger flights to begin in 2018. Blue Origin is owned by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. Blake Merritt – Technology Computer Programming, 1985 Blake Merritt is a senior technology leader with more than 28 years experience. He is driven by a strong collaborative approach, analytical mindset and the desire to find value for end users/customers through the most effective use of innovative solutions. He led the team that created the most automated and largest VMWare Private Cloud installation in Canada for Canada’s largest retailer, Canadian Tire Corporation. As vice-president, IT Infrastructure Services and Cloud Computing at Meridian Credit Union, he is accountable for setting strategic direction, implementation, support and operation of the underlying infrastructure and cloud solutions within Meridian’s technical landscape.  

An outdoor learning space has been dedicated to a long-time College supporter: The Ontario Paper Thorold Foundation.

Located on the wetlands at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, the site was recently named in honour of the Foundation following its $100,000 donation to the College for equipment earlier this year.

“Education and the environment are pillars for charitable giving for The Ontario Paper Thorold Foundation, so we thought it would be fitting to name our ‘living classroom’ in recognition of the Foundation’s strong support for our College,” said Helen Armstrong, development officer, Foundation and Alumni Relations.

Board members of The Ontario Paper Thorold Foundation Suzie Bowles and Sue Burch – who is an environmental engineer at Resolute Forest Products – visited the NOTL Campus for the sign reveal on October 13, and spoke to Environmental Technician students gathered for class at the site.

Associate dean of the College’s School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies Al Unwin noted that the outdoor classroom plays an important role for college students, staff and the community.

”We are grateful for The Ontario Paper Thorold Foundation’s generous support and are honoured to dedicate this site in their name,” said Unwin. “Since its construction in 1999, our environment students use this classroom for soil and water sampling, species identification and ecosystem restoration. This hands-on experience is what makes Niagara College so unique, and prepares our students for entering the workforce with relevant experience and skills.”

Since 1979, The Ontario Paper Thorold Foundation has donated $600,000 to the College. It has supported 112 scholarships/ bursaries for students in environmental programs, several capital campaigns, as well as donations of gifts-in-kind.