News > CATT Alumni Newsletter - March 2009 > CATT in the C.I.A.

CATT in the C.I.A.

A native of Kingston, Ontario, Jared Braithwaite never planned on joining the C.I.A. A 2007 graduate of the Canadian Academy of Travel & Tourism (CATT) program at Loyalist Collegiate Vocational Institute (LCVI) in Kingston. He now attends the most prestigious culinary school in the United States, the Culinary Institute of America, more commonly known as the C.I.A. The school is in Hyde Park, New York, an hour north of Manhattan.

Jared explains that he became interested in cooking at age 15: “I started cooking for my family and helped my mom make dinner – usually quick and easy meals like spaghetti or stir-fries. My mom was really busy because she is a nurse.”

It seems that Jared’s high achievements may be genetic. His mother, Marcy Saxe-Braithwaite, is VP of Programs and Chief Nursing Officer at the Providence Continuing Care Center in Kingston. His father, Nick Braithwaite, is a surgeon and Chief of Surgery at Lakeridge Health in Oshawa, Ontario.

When asked what his parents think of his life as a chef Jared is effusive: “My parents are very supportive. They encouraged me to go for it! Initially I thought I would just pick up the necessary skills from working in a restaurant, but my parents encouraged me to go to school and get formal training. I’m glad I followed their advice!”

As a young student at LCVI, he was drawn to the cooking program offered through the CATT program. His teacher was Doug James, long time CATT educator and advocate of the program. Jared pursued cooking courses and had the opportunity to do a CATT internship at the local golf club’s restaurant.

“I joined the CATT program at my school in grade 11 and then I participated in the CATT internship,” he explains. “Because of this experience I realized I really loved cooking and was really passionate about it. I started working in a restaurant to make sure that cooking was right for me.”

Jared describes that his attraction to the culinary profession was gradual: “I worked at the local golf club as a dishwasher. Then I interned at the golf club as a line cook through the CATT program. The chef there knew that Dan Akroyd was looking for a new personal chef at his summer home just outside of Kingston and recommended me. That became my summer job and I had a lot of fun. I even got to speak with Adam Sandler on the phone a few times!”

When asked what influenced him to pursue his passion of cooking, Jared says, “Without participating in the CATT program at Loyalist Collegiate, I wouldn’t have pursued culinary arts as a profession. The CATT program was great and we had the opportunity to cook every day.”

Although Jared is studying in the States, he is very patriotic and vocal about his love of Canada. He’d like to one day open his own restaurant in Vancouver or Toronto.

“Canada has so much to offer. Many people are unfamiliar with Canadian cuisine. It incorporates a lot of our local ingredients, such as salmon, berries, venison.”

What advice would Jared give to fellow students who are considering a career in the tourism sector?

“I would say go for it and pursue it passionately! Do it because you love it and then no matter what happens it will be enjoyable. Also, do not be afraid to learn, especially from others. It is difficult to take criticism and advice, that is human nature, but you need to do it to improve.”

Regarding his future, Jared hopes to someday return northward to Canada, where he got his start in the kitchen.