N.L. launching training tool for restaurant staff ahead of summer tourism season
Newfoundland and Labrador will soon launch a digital training tool to help coach front-line staff in the food and hospitality industries ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer season.
Minister of Jobs, Immigration and Growth Gerry Byrne announced Wednesday the province has spent around $208,000 to build and produce training modules for staff in restaurant and hospitality settings.
"Hospitality and the service culture is in our DNA. It's one of the reasons why Newfoundland and Labrador is a destination of choice," said Byrne.
"We can always move this to the next step, and this is what this program is all about … that can be in, you know, the amazing establishments here in St. John's, or it could be at a food truck in Rocky Harbour."
The training will be available to operators beginning June 10.
Jeremy Bonia, a veteran of the food scene in downtown St. John's who helped develop the program, says training can come at great cost for establishments.
He says restaurateurs and the province wanted to create the tool to help increase service standards, and the tool can work in the hands of everyone from those at five-star restaurants to take-out counters.
"Government provided us a solution here and offered up the ability for us to create a program for those that can't afford to do it themselves. And obviously, you're going to take advantage of that," Bonia said.
"If anything, it's going to save businesses time and money in terms of training staff. And hopefully this is something that perpetuates in the years to come."
WATCH | Operators can avail of the training starting June 10:
A new training tool for restaurant, hospitality staff is coming to N.L.
3 hours ago
Duration 1:58
Newfoundland and Labrador is launching a digital training tool to help coach front-line staff in the food and hospitality industries. It's an effort to get ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer season. The CBC's Abby Cole reports.
Derek Locke, owner and director of Cojones and Grotto, says the standardized teaching will help both business owners and staff. He believes it will make the training process more effective and cost-saving for owners, while staff can begin practical work in restaurants sooner.
"Being able to do the training in a TikTok format — with videos and tests and important steps of service — is huge for us. It saves us thousands and thousands of dollars," he said.
Locke says staff could ideally go through the training together on-site, but the mobile aspect could allow for staff to go through training on their own time.
He didn't directly answer if staff would be paid for the time they spend on the training tool.
Bonia says the tool also comes ahead of what could be an especially busy summer season, given the arrival of cruise ships, icebergs and the thousands of people that will descend on the St. John's region for the Canada Summer Games in August.
"Everything is kind of pointing toward it being an extremely high volume of tourists travelling this summer, so that's what we're really excited about. And hopefully it works out."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
4 hours ago
- National Post
Canada's Couche-Tard says U.S. store divestment plan clears path for Seven & i deal
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. said several potential buyers have made proposals to acquire convenience stores in the U.S. that overlap with Seven & i Holdings Co., showing progress toward a deal that could help the Canadian retailer win regulatory approval for its proposal to buy its Japanese rival. Article content The two agreed earlier this year to discuss the potential divestment of more than 2,000 stores in the U.S. and seek out interested parties in order to address concerns by Seven & i over a merger being blocked by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Couche-Tard also pushed back against any parallels to the failed $24.6 billion merger of grocery chains Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos. Article content Article content Seven & i, which operates 7-Eleven, Speedway and Sunoco stores, has pushed back against Couche-Tard's unsolicited ¥7.39 trillion ($51.3 billion) takeover proposal and is overhauling its business under new Chief Executive Officer Stephen Dacus to raise its value. Despite the resistance, Couche-Tard, the parent company of Circle K, has advanced discussions by securing a non-disclosure agreement two months ago to gain access to financial information and potentially raise its bid. Article content Article content 'We have received multiple indicative proposals from highly experienced and credible buyers,' Couche-Tard said on a website it set up to explain its proposal to buy Seven & i. 'We believe the actionable, strong and broad level of interest so far clearly demonstrates that we have several clear paths to consummate the required divestitures and complete the transaction.' Article content Several private equity firms have shown strong interest in buying the assets, Filipe Da Silva, Couche-Tard's chief financial officer, said in March. Article content Couche-Tard also addressed some concerns over a potential merger by highlighting the differences between its proposal and the scuppered combination of Kroger and Albertsons. The FTC blocked the deal on antitrust grounds last year, saying that the divestiture plan was insufficient; Seven & i cited this as a high-risk factor for getting a deal with Couche-Tard approved. Article content 'The convenience store industry in the U.S. is highly fragmented and competitive,' Couche-Tard said. 'The combination of Couche-Tard and Seven & i results in a business with less than 13% of U.S. convenience stores.' Article content The Canadian retailer also reiterated that it has put 'forth a compelling reverse termination fee' in the event of a transaction not going through.
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Alberta man celebrates second scratch and win lottery win this year
A Lethbridge man is celebrating his second big win on a scratch and win ticket this year. James Hill won $200,000 on a $10 scratch ticket he purchased in February, and now he's won $100,000 on a Poker Lotto scratch ticket. Hill says it took him a minute to believe what he saw when he scanned the ticket. 'I couldn't read the screen at first,' he said in a Thursday news release. 'I had to scan it three times and then have the cashier scan it for me again.' Hill says after his first scratch and win success he had hoped to purchase a new vehicle and put what was left over into savings. This time around he says he's going to put the money in the bank and 'just relax.' Hill bought his winning ticket from the Circle K on Highlands Road in Lethbridge. He won by matching all five cards drawn on the May 14 nightly draw – the queen of spades, four of clubs, seven of clubs, ace of diamonds and seven of diamonds.
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
New Sydney, N.S., bookstore plans to stay on the same page
A few months ago, Mads Grace came home from work and her fiancée Katharine Hubbert asked a question that would change their lives. 'My fiancée said, 'What if we try to buy the bookstore?'' Grace said. 'I'd been thinking the same thing.' Grace had been working at On Paper Books in Sydney, N.S., for a year when her boss told her she was planning on closing the shop to pursue a Bachelor of Education. The independent bookstore had been open since December 2020, building up a solid following among bibliophiles in the region. 'She was hoping she could find someone keep to the indie bookstore scene alive,' Grace said. 'I didn't jump on it right away.' After talking about it with her fiancée, Grace decided to reach out to the owner about the logistics of taking over the store. 'We had a lot of meetings and phone calls with every person you can imagine,' Grace said. 'We kept it a secret for about two months as we were behind the scenes figuring things out.' Grace said she got back into the habit of reading by working at the shop. She wants her store, which has been renamed On the Same Page, to offer something for every kind of reader. 'Whether you're an avid reader or more casual and want to take your book to the beach,' she said. 'Our used book section is still strong. There are a lot of the same things, but we've added a lot more children's books, teen and young adult reads. 'There are more laid back, lighthearted novels as well. We've added a stationary section.' On the Same Page On the Same Page is having its grand opening this weekend. (Source: Mads Grace) Grace said they have been in contact with local artists to feature their work at the store. 'Ninety-nine per cent of our things are made in Canada and half are made in Nova Scotia,' she said. On the Same Page will have its grand opening at 311 Charlotte St. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Grace said they plan to be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday this summer. Bookstore owners Mads Grace, left, and her fiancée Katharine Hubbert are pictured. (Source: Mads Grace) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
