When you walk into Marion Street Eatery, co-owner Laniel Smith wants you to feel right at home. Offering good food made simple, the neighbourhood staple is the result of Laniel’s experience in the industry, her passion for feeding her community and the skills she developed through Red River College Polytechnic’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program.

“I'd say I very naturally have always been drawn to the hospitality industry, to the service industry, to just people actually,” says Laniel. “This is just a way to express myself, in a very natural way.”

Laniel grew up in the hospitality industry with her parents owning and operating the Marion Hotel since 1984. She began her career as a dishwasher, working her way to line cook, then front of house manager for a fine dining caterer. She knew she wanted to level up and found the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program.

“I think it's very important to educate yourself when it comes to something that you're passionate about and something that you really love,” says Laniel.

The program delivers courses from a management perspective, working to help students develop a fundamental business and customer service background. It also combines classroom learning with hands on application, making sure graduates are ready to excel in the industry.

“I learned the skills, I developed some of my strengths and I gained the confidence to be able to improve and excel within the industry,” says Laniel. “Red River also gave me this huge network. That’s pretty powerful stuff.”

Laniel says she also sees the power of her industry in its ability to offer people a unique experience.

“The restaurants and the hospitality venues in our city bring us more power within our community. We're creating an environment for people to enjoy, and we're giving people a full experience. And I think there's beauty in that.”

Since opening its doors in 2014, Marion Street Eatery has become a community favourite. In addition to being featured on the Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here! in 2015, Laniel’s restaurant has received critical praise, listed as one of the Top 7 New Restaurants in Winnipeg in enRoute magazine and winning a number of awards for their dishes (like the 2015 Judges’ prize for their pea soup at the Festival du Voyageur’s Rendez-vous des chefs competition). Her educational pathway has played a crucial role in her success, the success of her restaurant and the success of her team.

“I would definitely recommend the program,” says Laniel. “I was young and I was looking for an opportunity to learn and to grow within our industry. I think it was a perfect stepping stone for me to do that.”

Learn more about tourism education programs here or watch the video below.