Comox Valley restaurants, cafes and food concessions are gearing up and looking for qualified workers for summer and are hiring now.

鈥淪everal local Cafes have contacted us and asked to please send them our grads to apply for positions right now for both full and part-time summer employment,鈥� says Dyan Spink of Royston Coffee School. 鈥淲e decided to put on a hospitality training weekend, June 24th, and 25th, with both a BC FoodSafe Course and a Cafe Barista Course back to back to help both job seekers and Cafes who are looking for qualified workers.鈥�

Island Gourmet Trails owner and chef/teacher Gaetane Palardy, who is a certified trainer in Provincial Food Safe, will be giving the BC FoodSafe Level 1.

鈥淣ot just restaurant and food service workers, but high school students looking for work, community volunteers and even your backyard barbeque chef who prepares food for family and friends can benefit from knowing how to prevent food borne illnesses,鈥� says trainer Palardy. She also urges past certified food service workers to check their expiry dates as the new methods and information have been updated and many certifications are valid a maximum of 5 years only.

Kicking off the weekend, Saturday, June 24th from 10am till 3:30pm, Dyan Spink will offer her Barista Course which will teach all aspects of espresso, cappuccino, specialty coffees, teas, iced drinks preparation and all around caf茅 operation and equipment maintenance. The Barista Course is $120.00 and includes Certificate, Training Manual, lunch and all the coffee you can drink!

The BC Food Safe Level 1 will be held the following day, Sunday, June 25th, from 9:30am till 4pm. The cost is also $120.00, which includes a 2017 BC Certificate, Food Safe Manual, lunch and beverages.

Both courses will be held at the Royston Coffee School located at 3872 Warren Ave. in Royston.

Pre-Registration is recommended, by phone at 250 650 0999, or email, roystoncoffeeschool@gmail.com