Assiniboine’s Great Grey Owl restaurant booking process changing

Reservations to the student-run restaurant will be open to college donors.

In its more than thirty-year history, the Great Grey Owl restaurant has provided an essential hands-on learning opportunity for Assiniboine Community College students, while giving residents of Westman the taste of fine dining against the beautiful backdrop of a Manitoba heritage building.

For the past decade, public demand for reservations to the restaurant has far exceeded capacity. The college has decided to change the reservation process to allow donors the opportunity to book a table.

“We needed to find a way to match the incredible demand with limited supply,” said Assiniboine president Mark Frison. “It makes sense for us to give preference to those who support our students.”

Existing donors will hear directly from the college about details surrounding reservations and are welcome to contact the college’s Advancement office with questions. New donors to Assiniboine prior to November 1 may be eligible to book a table to the 2020 Great Grey Owl, which runs mid-January to mid-February.

The college’s decision to move away from an open reservation call was not taken lightly. Staff examined a wide range of potential changes and suggestions from the community over the years.

“There are many individuals—including our own staff—who give generously to student financial aid and other worthy projects at the college,” said Frison. “The changes to the reservation process help us to recognize their contributions to support our students.”

At this time, the college has no plans to change the public ticket availability for other Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts events including Harvest on the Hill, Holiday Buffet, and the International Wine and Food Festival.

The college’s Advancement office may be reached at foundation@assiniboine.net or by calling 204.725.8739.