Kyle Olsen earned the four-day trip to Vancouver through the Ballantyne Project. (Submitted photo/Kyle Olsen)

By Derek Cornet

opportunities

LLRIB teen returns from immersive culinary trip in Vancouver

Nov 20, 2024 | 3:14 PM

A teen from La Ronge had the culinary experience of a lifetime after being accepted to take part in a four-day trip to Vancouver.

During the summer, 17-year-old Kyle Olsen who is a Lac La Ronge Indian Band member and a Grade 11 student at Churchill Community High School, noticed an online ad for the Ballantyne Project.

The trip was designed with the intention to bring Indigenous youth from remote communities to be part of an immersive culinary experience.

“Our youth were selected through a multi-step application process, through sharing their journeys, passion and knowledge of cooking and baking in their communities,” a statement from the organization explained.

“It’s important to know that we had over 70 applications for this trip, so these six students are truly remarkable in their talents they have been able to already cultivate at home.”

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Olsen spent four days working with chefs at LaSalle College and, throughout the week, he was instructed on different aspects of the culinary arts. That included activities such as learning kitchen and knife skills, food preparation and plating, and the creation of desserts and other dishes.

Kyle Olsen is a Grade 11 student at Churchill Community High School. (Submitted photo/Kyle Olsen)

The highlight was assisting in the production of a six-course meal, which included a salad, soup, sockeye salmon, clam rice, buffalo sirloin steaks and blackberry ripple ice cream.

“It was an amazing experience,” Olsen, who has an interest in pursing a culinary education and perhaps opening his own restaurant some day, said.

“I am happy with what the Ballantyne Project does to put activities on for Indigenous youth.”

The trip also marked Olsen’s first time visiting Vancouver. He said he was impressed by the city’s big buildings.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com