Ottawa is saying goodbye to a young chef whose smile, his mother says, could light up any room, and making sure his memory lives on in the culinary world he loved so much.
Algonquin College and C'est Bon Ottawa cooking school have announced a new bursary and scholarship program in honour of Joshua Qiyuk, a young Inuk man who moved to Ottawa as a teenager and discovered his passion for food. Qiyuk died in a stabbing in Ottawa's east end last October at the age of 21. Ottawa Police have confirmed the investigation is ongoing and no charges have been laid.
A Dream That Started in Ottawa
Qiyuk grew up in Baker Lake, Nunavut, and came to Ottawa as a teenager. It wasn't until he enrolled in a cooking class at C'est Bon through the Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families that he found his calling.
"Working as a chef was his passion, and he gave it his all," said his mother, Brenda Qiyuk.
From those early classes, Joshua went on to complete a culinary certificate program at Algonquin College, where he became known among peers and instructors as someone who brought energy and encouragement to everyone around him. He went on to work at Indigenous events in Ottawa and inspired at least one of his peers, Sierra Conboy, an Inuk student currently enrolled in Algonquin's Culinary Management program, to pursue the same path.
"He was so dedicated and focused and just a bright shining light," Conboy said.
The Scholarship
Algonquin College and C'est Bon are partnering to create the scholarship in Qiyuk's name, aimed at supporting Indigenous culinary students in Ottawa. Details on the award amount and application process are being finalized.
For Brenda Qiyuk, the announcement has provided some measure of comfort in an otherwise devastating period. "That was very amazing to hear. It showed that Joshua inspired a lot of people in a lot of different ways," she said.
Indigenous Culinary Arts in Ottawa
Ottawa has a growing community of Indigenous chefs, food entrepreneurs, and culinary educators working to bring traditional ingredients and techniques to broader audiences while supporting Indigenous youth. C'est Bon Ottawa has been at the forefront of that effort, offering programs specifically designed to give Indigenous youth a pathway into the culinary industry.
The Joshua Qiyuk Scholarship is the latest affirmation that the relationships and mentorships formed in Ottawa's culinary schools can leave a lasting mark, even when lives are cut tragically short.
Algonquin College encouraged community members to watch for more information about how to contribute to or apply for the scholarship fund.
Source: CBC Ottawa
