06/02/2026
Congratulations to Grade 12 Brooks Secondary student Finn Gow-Hignell for earning silver at the National Culinary Arts Championships in Toronto after winning gold at Provincials!
The competition tested participants through a series of challenges, including a recipe conversion test, menu recall, completion of a knife skills exam, butchery exam, and the preparation of a three-course menu. Competitors were judged by professional chefs from across Canada in 5 categories, including safety and sanitation, organization and product utilization, preparation and technical skill, presentation, taste and required menu components.
As part of his 3 course menu, Finn prepped tomato and cucumber gazpacho with a flatbread, Chicken Chasseur with a mushroom and shallot veal stock reduction, Vichy carrots, butternut squash puree, pomme anna, tomato concasee and to finish, an apple tarte tatin from scratch. He produced four identical plates of each course for judging.
Chef and Culinary Arts Teacher Connor Knickerbocker shared:
“The Skills Canada cooking competition is very challenging, as it's designed to be. Just to get there, competitors need to win a regional and provincial competition. Nerves are high, the competition area is public, and there are guest 20 judges from across the nation watching. Finn had a few hiccups which is understandable, but he rallied and finished strong. This is impressive because it’s common to mentally spiral and make more and more mistakes once a few are made. I'm so proud of him for his dedication to preparation, his composure throughout the whole process, and his healthy attitude towards competition in general.”
On behalf of qathet School District, we are so proud of Finn on this outstanding achievement and for representing Brooks Secondary on the national stage!
