News Article

CNA mourns the loss of former instructor


1/18/2011 10:23:41 AM


Retired CNA chef instructor, Gerry Crewe, passed away last week after a long battle with ALS. Crewe had been an employee of the college since 1972.

The faculty and staff of College of the North Atlantic (CNA) are mourning the loss of Gerry Crewe, retired Chef Instructor at the Prince Philip Drive campus. Gerry passed away last week after a long battle with ALS.

Gerry’s career began at the college as a student, and after gaining several years of industry experience he returned to CNA as an instructor. He began working with the college in 1972 and had many of the students he instructed and inspired go on to successful careers.

"Gerry loved teaching people how to cook and he easily recognized those who had a passion and talent for it,” says friend and colleague, Karl Wells, well known for his career as a weatherman for CBC’s Here and Now and who currently hosts his own food critic show on Rogers. He remembers Gerry as a generous individual who had a passion for cooking.

“He certainly recognized the passion I had for culinary arts and was a great encouragement to me in my food writing. It was important to him that his students did well, be it in a small catering company or a huge hotel.”

Gerry had nearly 30 years of experience in both the classroom and kitchen, making him an expert in the art of cooking.

He also had many achievements outside of CNA. His commitment to charitable organizations was very well known as he volunteered his time for the benefit of the community. Gerry was the founding member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Chefs and Cooks, St. John’s branch. He was named provincial Chef of the Year in 2000, Atlantic Canada’s Chef of the Year in 2001, and was also nominated for Canadian Chef of the Year in 2001. Gerry was also one of 150 chefs from 30 countries to take part in the Chefs World Tour for Hunger in Africa in 2003, which raised over $2 million for charity in an attempt to ease the suffering of the millions of children that go hungry each year.

“He was incredibly generous,” says Wells. “Gerry loved teaching people how to cook and he easily recognized those who had a passion and talent for it. Gerry used his culinary skills and contacts to help out many, many charitable organizations over the years. His friends looked forward to spending time with him in his retirement, but that was not to be. Gerry Crewe will be greatly missed but long remembered."

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Media Contact:

Pamela Sheppard
Public Relations Assistant
College of the North Atlantic
709 643 7928
pamela.sheppard@cna.nl.ca