Classes - Bonnie Gordon School of Cake Decorating and Design

			Devon Tullock As an actor, singer, and dancer for the last 15 years I never thought I'd want to get my head out of a script and my hands into fondant. While living in New York I was fascinated by the current cupcake craze and started developing my own kind of cake. I began to test my unique recipe on fellow actors at The Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, and Mamma Mia. Learning and tweaking along the way I realized it was time for professional training and proper skill in order to continue. On a break, I discovered the Bonnie Gordon School and immediately jumped into the "Baking" and "Designer Cakes" Intensives. The course was an incredible help and advantage. The skills I obtained opened my creative mind to real designer cakes and helped me get a job in the UK with Buttercup Cake Shop. Upon my return to Canada, Bonnie offered me a fantastic opportunity to intern the Confectionary Arts classes. A practical hands-on experience to classes I had not taken, and teachers I needed to learn from. It was a lot of hard work and commitment but a huge return of information, skill, and confidence. I consider the guidance from Bonnie and the other teachers such a gift. Because of the internship opportunity I am now pursuing my own business in custom cakes. Look out for “Devonilla Cakes”. Thank you Bonnie and the cast at the Bonnie Gordon School.
			Rossana Pantaleo I covered the weeknight’s internships at Bonnie’s for two months. As an intern I got the chance to learn new things in every class from making delicious preserves and truffles, tempering chocolate, decorating cookies to making wonky cakes. The internship definitely helped me upgrade my cake decorating techniques. One of the classes that I enjoyed the most during my internship was DC2 (Intermediate Cake Decorating and Design), that one in particular opened my eyes to the unlimited possibilities of designs, textures, colours, lusters and techniques - like brush embroidery- that you can make use of to do outstanding cakes. The instructors that I worked with were always very welcoming, kind to answer all my questions, and as usual and most important so generous on sharing their expertise. They really want you to succeed as a cake decorator, they encourage you to try new techniques and create your own style. With that confidence in hands I was able to challenge myself to go into the cake decorating competition and gladly achieve my first award as cake decorator. The classes and internship gave me the knowledge and confidence to expand my business by including beautiful and delicious cakes. Doing an internship at Bonnie’s is such an excellent learning experience that I recommend it to anyone who wants to become skilled in the arts of baking and decorating cakes. I loved it and you will love it too!
			Linda Kettlewell If you are interested in cake design as a hobby, an artistic outlet or as a potential business venture, then being a Bonnie Gordon intern is something you should definitely be interested in! I had my first cake design class at Bonnie’s school in July ’08 and I was immediately hooked. I started thinking cakes, dreaming cakes, and imagining myself as a cake designer! After taking only 3 classes at the school, I applied for the internship and it was the best move I’ve made in a very long time. As an intern, I was able to pick up on tips and tricks of all kinds, I learned more than I could have imagined and I expanded my networks with students, teachers and of course Bonnie herself. It was a wonderful 8 weeks and I would do it all over again if I had the chance!
			Krista Maddiss Ever since discovering The Bonnie Gordon School and learning about Bonnie and the other instructors of her school, I have been inspired to peruse my baking and cake decorating interests. Being a full-time teacher, I decided to supply-teach instead in order to have my evenings and weekends available to take the courses of my choice. After taking two courses through Bonnie’s school, I completed an internship during my March Break. Even in this short period of time, the amount I have learned from the school is invaluable. I am now taking courses to become a pastry chef and one day hope to take my enjoyment for baking and cake decorating and build a new career. Combining my teaching career with this new endeavor is also of great interest to me. I would highly recommend an internship to anyone hoping to enhance their knowledge and improve their baking and cake decorating skills.
			Gloriana Tiniacos I can't say enough about the change in my life since interning at the Bonnie Gordon School. I started as a student but it wasn't until completing my internship that my passion for cakes blossomed. I am so grateful to Bonnie for offering me the wonderful opportunity to become involved in the school. I would like to thank Charmaine, a gifted and passionate chef, who taught me to bake with confidence; and Sarah for her patience and for sharing her secrets. I highly recommend the internship programme to students; the amount you learn is as enormous as the passion Bonnie, Sarah and Charmaine share for teaching and for those of you who have any doubts; it is much more than washing up! I learned how to organize my time, ingredients and the workplace to obtain the best results; how to use different gums and pastes and how to refine my own techniques and become much more aware of detail. I met many people who share the same passion and it was wonderful to have teachers ready to answer all your questions. It was an excellent experience and I learned to grow both personally and professionally.
			Elaine Yip Ever since I was a child, my passion had always been for the arts. However, when it came time to go to University, practicality led me towards a career in Electrical Engineering. Several years into the work force and I was still feeling empty inside… It was a very pivotal point in my life when I stumbled upon the Bonnie Gordon School. After taking several Cake Design courses with Bonnie, I was completely hooked and knew I wanted something more for myself. Bonnie, Sarah, and Charmaine are truly inspirational teachers. My internship has taught me so much in the past few months – not only about all the intricacies of the cake decorating world; but that anything is possible. My life has changed, and I have everyone at Bonnie’s school to thank for it! Thank you for giving me the skills and the knowledge… But most of all, thank you for giving me the courage and confidence to start on my very own cake adventure – “Elaine’s Cake Boutique”. I never could have done this without you.
			Roxanne Wickware I first came to the Bonnie Gordon School as a student after taking Introduction to Cake Decorating. I knew this was my calling; however, I was terrified to take on clients before I was absolutely confident in my skills. As an intern, I was able to assist the teachers with various tasks for each course offered and before and after classes, I was able to bother everyone with my hundreds of questions! Through the internship, I ended up attending classes as many as five times and it was such a great way to reinforce everything I had learned. In the end, I was able to help students and troubleshoot almost any situation. It was an invaluable experience. Today, I have my own business "Roxycakes", and I owe it all to this internship. I take on every new project with absolute confidence and apply all of the values I’ve learned through my internship. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity the school has given me and wish every future intern the same wonderful experience!

For further information about our internship opportunities please contact Christine at christine@bonniegordoncakes.com, or call her at the school on Saturdays or Sundays,
416-440-0333