Students protest decision by George Brown College to scale back jewelry and gemmology programs

Scores of George Brown College students marched in protest on Wednesday against a school decision to scale back some of its jewelry and gemmology programs this fall.

Protest organizers said students want the college to keep its three-year jewelry arts, two-year jewelry methods and one-year gemmology programs, saying they are unique in Canada and provide students with valuable hands-on learning. All three programs are part of the college's school of fashion and jewelry.

Waving flags and wearing pins, George Brown College students gathered at the college's Casa Loma campus, then headed to its waterfront campus, where they hand-delivered letters of concern to school officials. 

The college says some of its jewelry and gemmology programs will not accept new students this September partly due to a drop in enrolment. On its website, the college indicates it is only accepting new students for its one-year jewelry essentials program this fall.

"To shut it down is not only a slap in the face but also just so backwards because it's like we're regressing," Ghazal Ghahreman, a first-year student in jewelry arts, told CBC Toronto during the march. "This program is absolutely invaluable."

Holding a "Save GBC Jewellery" sign, Ghahreman said the programs provide students with technical skills and prepare them for careers in the jewelry industry in Canada once they graduate. Jewelry companies in Canada hire graduates, she added.

In a letter to the college, Ghahreman said: "You are not simply closing doors to students like myself, but shutting out the future of countless professionals, the artisans, and innovators who will come after us, leaving them adrift without the foundation this program has provided for over half a century."

College blames international student cap

In a statement Wednesday, the college said a federal cap on international students has created difficulties for colleges across Canada.

"Recent federal policy changes have reduced international student enrolment, creating financial challenges across the sector," the statement said in part.

"Program reviews are an ongoing process, with decisions based on factors such as enrolment trends, financial sustainability, and labour market demand. The Jewellery and Gemmology programs remain valued at George Brown College, and we are working with sector partners to assess future opportunities."

The college says current students in good standing will be able to graduate "without disruption" and it is providing support to faculty.

On its website, the college says: "We are one of North America's largest and best-equipped jewellery schools in Ontario. You'll get to work with your hands and learn from faculty who are experts in this growing industry, using precious metals and gems in a hands-on environment with state-of-the-art tools and equipment."

Lua Hariri, a protest organizer and a first-year student in the jewelry methods program, said before the march that the decision not to accept new students is devastating to students.

"Honestly, I feel disheartened. I'm really upset with the situation, especially since I've just started. I've never seen a group of people be so upset about something and so emotional about something. We've had people crying. We've had people emotionally distressed," Hariri said. 

"It's just a really, really tough time for all of us. We want this program to stay alive. We all care about it like it's our own. We also love the teachers as if they are family and to see them be affected by this as well — it's just completely heartbreaking."

Hariri said the pause of the program will affect the jewelry industry in Canada.

"If you ask anyone who is in Toronto who works in the jewelry industry, pretty much all of them will say that they came out of George Brown and everyone speaks so highly of it because it really is one-of-a-kind program," she said.

"George Brown is completely hands on. We get a wide array of perspectives from people who are in the industry themselves as well as students and alumni who are part of the community. It's not really just a school to us, it's a really broad community."

Grads say programs made them career-ready

Two graduates say the programs have helped them immensely in their careers.

Erin Hakin, a custom jeweler and goldsmith now based in Vancouver, said she graduated from the three-year jewellery arts program in 2014. She also won a six month scholarship, an entrepreneurial award, from Made You Look, a Toronto jewelry store and studio, where she was able to apprentice. 

At George Brown, however, she learned "everything," including how to make beautiful wedding jewelry, how to make tools and how to repair jewelry. She also learned about the properties of gemstones. She said she believes it's the most thorough program in Canada.

The decision not to accept new students is "terrible," Hakin said.

"Especially right now, where we're in this tariff war and we're talking about Buy Canadian, if we don't have Canadian jewelers, then all manufacturing is going to go elsewhere. And this will just it'll kneecap our industry if we don't have young people coming out anymore," Hakin said.

"From my perspective, I also think it's so important to learn how to do things the right way. And this program was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life... but it was so rewarding. And I think it's so important that when you go to a jeweler that they have that foundation.

"I think it should be saved."

Mel Rapp, an independent retail optician and owner of a retail optical dispensary called Rapp Optical Ltd., said he graduated in 2000 and applied the techniques he learned to his eyewear business.

"The sadness is that for a young person who wants to learn a trade, and then from that trade, maybe segue into another industry, which a lot of jewelers will do, they won't have that opportunity," Rapp said.

"Without the proper instruction and without the dedication of the instructors at George Brown, I would not know half the things that I know today."