Syrian refugees sharpen skills in Algonquin College kitchen

The kitchen fills with the smellof frying chickenas Syrian refugees bustle around AlgonquinCollege's cooking school.

They're here to sharpen theirjobs skills, with a tasty twist they're learning how to cook Canadian food in the hopestheir newly developed culinary skills cansecure them a job.

Algonquin College is hosting theprogram, funded by the Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre. The curriculumfocuseson language training, workplace safety, paperwork and food handling.

"There's a strong learning curve," said Brandy Kozowy, a chef who's teaching the course.

And while food may bea universal language, some students are still struggling with English.

"Sometimes Ifind it difficult, but I can understand what to do," said RanaAlbahri, who has been in Canada for sixmonths.

In an effort to help overcomethatlanguage barrier, Kozowyhas come up with a visual system for her students.

"I came up with a lot of visual aids and then gave a column for them to translate [in]," she said. "And a lot ofthem have their kids at home do the translation for them."

'A sense of camaraderie and community'

The course is also giving students an opportunity to show off the cuisine they're most familiar with.

"We are studying the Canadian way of food, but even some of our [Syrian]food has become international," SamirMassoudsaid. "We are learning something new, but also showing our food."

Kozowy saidit's those small discoveriesthat bring life to the class. She said her students oftenbring ingredients from home to add some Syrian flare to unfamiliar dishes.

"There's a sense of camaraderie and community in the kitchen," she said.