Twenty-three students gained valuable experience while supporting local industry

Hospitality Management students at College of the Rockies’ Invermere campus wrapped up the program’s first paid co-op experience on September 20. Twenty-three students filled much-needed roles during the region’s busy tourist season in a variety of hospitality-related positions throughout the Columbia Valley.

“In response to industry need, we designed the program to ensure students are available to work part-time throughout their studies and to be available during peak tourist times, like summer,” said Invermere campus manager, Michelle Taylor. “The program’s fall semester has a late start date so students are available to fill these roles later into September when the busy season is still on.”

Copper Point Resort had eight students complete their co-op placements in a variety of areas within the resort.

“As Invermere is small town, it is difficult for us to get seasonal staff to fill positions when we are running at full capacity,” said Emily Carver, Copper Point Resort Front Office Manager. “Having the students come in to fill these roles was great for us, and provided a wonderful opportunity for them to learn in a fast-paced environment.”

Students were required to complete 500-hours of work experience over the summer and to submit assignments to supplement their in-field learning and training experiences. They returned to the classroom for the second year of the diploma program on September 23.

“I feel like we lucked out having these great students join us at Copper Point Resort,” added Carver. “They were all very hard-working, eager to learn, and willing to jump in wherever they were needed.”

Learn more about College of the Rockies’ Hospitality Management program at: cotr.ca/hospitality-management

Above images: College of the Rockies Hospitality Management student, Harsimran Kaur (Simi), completed her co-op placement at Kicking Horse Coffee where she treated her co-workers to a traditional Indian meal during a staff lunch. COTR photos

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