Since 2006, Toronto Public Health has required everyone who handle and prepare food to get certified via their Food Handler Certification program to ensure safe food handling practices and prevent food-borne illness. This applies to food business owner/operators, as well as at least 1 person on the premises any time food is being prepared, processed, served, packaged or stored — including farmer’s markets, food stalls, food trucks and pop-up food events .

Basically, if you want to work in food, you’ve got to get your Food Handler’s Certificate. Unfortunately, many training programs can be inconveniently located or scheduled, as well as often perfunctory and boring as hell.

As an alternative, The Dep has partnered with trainer, educator and former THP Health Inspector Courtney Raponi to offer a turn-key day-long certification workshop. This engaging, hands-on workshop offers 5 hours of detailed instruction and demonstrations, as well including the official certification exam.

The workshop will cover all aspects of food handling including receiving, storage, preparation, temperature regulation, sanitation, equipment, regulations, best practices and more. Moreover, it is a chance to get face to face with a knowledgeable food safety professional and former Health Inspector, and get more in-depth answers to your specific food safety and regulation questions.

9:30-12:30 instruction
12:30-1:00 lunch*
1:00-3:00 instruction
3:00-3:30 exam prep and review
3:30-5:00 exam**

$90 +HST

*An optional lunch of homemade soup, a sandwich, cookie & coffee will be offered for $10 on the day of the event — please indicate if you are interested. Alternatively you are welcome to bring your own food, but be advised that food options in the neighbourhood are quite limited on Mondays.

**Course certificates will be given out at the end of the day to successful candidates, but TPH regulations require that they be submitted to the City for the official Food Handler’s Certificate (which can take a few weeks). This course certificate is considered valid certification until the official FHC arrives.

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Courtney Raponi is an educator and programmer, with a focus on food and health sustainability. Her commitment to community outreach and development has led her to work with diverse and underserved communities across the GTA, Central America, and the Caribbean, while developing and delivering training and educational programs concerning food safety, health and nutrition security. In her efforts, Courtney has worked collaboratively, providing workshops and programs through community stakeholders such as the STOP, Toronto Public Health, and TDSB. Courtney has a master’s degree in education, and completed her undergraduate degree in Public Health, with certification as a Public Health Inspector and teacher, and a diploma in Plant Medicine and Nutrition.