‘It’s about the legacy piece’: NSCC’s ‘Touch of Class’ event paves the way for future students

NSCC's hospitality, culinary and tourism students prepare for Touch of Class.

The classrooms for Nova Scotia Community College’s (NSCC) hospitality, tourism, culinary and baking programs in Dartmouth, N.S., have a look that differs from the traditional learning environment.

Equipped with kitchens and full working bars, the programs aim to ensure everyone has a well-rounded, hands-on experience.

“We take theory and discussion and share traditions or discuss traditions, and we put them into practice,” explained Garth Brown, a faculty member with the program.

“We get to actually do things in-house and learn how to talk to guests, how to make drinks, how to interact with the kitchen,” said Nir Etin, a second-year NSCC student.

Etin went to Dalhousie University before transferring to NSCC. He says his current program is more interactive and allows him to stay with the same 30 students for two years.

First and second year students work together on the program’s final assignment “Touch of Class” – a NSCC tradition that aims to connect graduating students with the community.

However, this year the intent behind the final assignment has evolved.

“It’s about the legacy piece that our second years leave the first years saying, ‘Here’s what we’re leaving you with,‘” said Brown.

Proceeds from the event go back to student scholarships, bursaries and awards.

This year’s event is subtitled “The next generation” and is based on three pillars - community, innovation and sustainability.

Brown said the importance of the community in which you work, but also the larger community, is the key to hospitality. For that reason, this event is alcohol free with a focus on making non-alcoholic cocktails.

“To be more inclusive and to be more diverse, which is the greatest thing ever about what we do here is that we are a community of diverse and inclusive people.”

For the innovation piece, it’s critical students have the ability to try, and even fail, with a safety net.

“It’s something that we pride ourselves in, in the classroom with our students. Is them innovating, giving them the room and the space to try different things,” said Brown.

As for the sustainability aspect, the students incorporated environmentally friendly practices, including QR codes instead of paper and lots of foliage for the event.

The event begins at 6 p.m. on April 3 at the NSCC Akerley Campus in Dartmouth.

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