Vancouver – A donation of $1 million by the Seiffert family and Snow Cap Enterprises. has enabled Vancouver Community College to modernize its student-run bakeshop with new equipment and relocate to a street-level location accessible to office workers and community members.
The new downtown bakeshop, located at the VCC Downtown campus on the corner of Dunsmuir and Hamilton streets, opened to the public on June 13 and offers a variety of freshly baked goods, local coffee, prepared food and market items.
The VCC Seiffert Market + Bakeshop has been a community institution serving student-made pastries and baked goods for decades. The Seiffert family’s donation has enabled the college to modernize the bakeshop with new equipment and relocate to a street-level location accessible to office workers and community members. The shop will offer a mix of commercial items as well as items created in VCC’s Baking & Pastry Arts and Culinary Arts programs.
“The Seiffert family and Snow Cap Enterprises have been long and valued supporters of the VCC Foundation,” said Ken Cretney, chair of the VCC Foundation. “For over 32 years they have provided financial support to VCC students through scholarships, donations for kitchen renovations, and equipment and supplies to enhance the student’s learning environment.
VCC president and CEO Ajay Patel added: “Seiffert’s Bakeshop is a place where community members can indulge in the finest baked goods and pastry items at an affordable price. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Seiffert family and Snow Cap Enterprises for their generous donation, which has helped make our vision for creating a neighbourhood bakeshop to showcase student and alumni talent, a reality.”
“This gift is the largest donation received by the Foundation in its history and has allowed the College to build and open the VCC Seiffert Market + Bakeshop. We are truly grateful for our longstanding partnership and for this landmark gift that has enabled us to serve our community, while supporting our students’ learning experience.”
The Seiffert family and Snow Cap Enterprises said the project aligns with their values: “We firmly believe that investing in education is an investment in future generations. As a family-owned, B.C.-based business, we are committed to successful partnerships. Our collaboration with Vancouver Community College exemplifies this value and we are proud to work with the college to establish the new VCC Seiffert Market and Bakeshop.”
For more information on the bakeshop and its products, please visit vcc.ca/bakeshop.
