The primary role of Canada's community colleges is implied in the name — to serve the local community in skills and professional development. However, in many fields of study there are institutions that offer select programs with a reputation for excellence that extends beyond their local area to potential students across the country.

The primary role of Canada's community colleges is implied in the name — to serve the local community in skills and professional development. However, in many fields of study, there are institutions that offer select programs with a reputation for excellence that extends beyond their local area to potential students across the country.

Note: This list is not designed to be comprehensive, but to serve as a snapshot of the nationally renowned courses to be found at many of the country's top colleges.

MUSIC/PERFORMING ARTS

Fanshawe College (London, Ont.): Music Industry Arts program focusing on the music business and recording technology.

Niagara College (Welland, Ont.): A Broadcasting, Radio, Television and Film program, plus a new course in Acting for Film and Television.

Grant MacEwan College (Edmonton): Diplomas in Music (focusing on rock, pop and jazz), and Theatre Arts.

Capilano College (North Vancouver, B.C.): Bachelor's degree or diploma in Jazz Studies, diploma program in Costuming for Stage and Screen, diploma in Musical Theatre and a variety of programs in Motion Picture Production.

Humber Institute of Technology (Toronto): Renowned programs in jazz and pop music, including a bachelor's in Applied Music, and a diploma in Comedy Writing and Performance.

Sheridan Institute of Technology (Oakville, Ont.): Advanced diploma in Music Theatre.

George Brown College (Toronto): High-profile training in acting at the college's Theatre School.

Mount Royal College (Calgary) Diploma in Music Performance.

AVIATION

Nova Scotia Community College (Campuses across the province): Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance.

Seneca College (Toronto): Bachelor's in Applied Technology (Flight Program) trains commercial pilots.

B.C. Institute of Technology (Burnaby, B.C.): Program in Airport Operations, aimed at training airport professionals.

Centennial College (Toronto): Diploma of Aviation Technician at the college's well-known Aerospace Centre.

College of the North Atlantic (Campuses across Newfoundland and Labrador): Program in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Technician.

CULINARY/WINE

Niagara College: Winery and Viticulture Technician and the new Wine Business Management programs in the centre of Ontario wine country. Also known for programs in culinary arts and hospitality management.

Humber: Variety of programs in culinary arts and hospitality industry management.

Holland College: (Charlottetown): Its Culinary Institute of Canada offers highly regarded programs.

George Brown: Its high-profile Chef School has a wide variety of programs.

Vancouver Community College: Several culinary arts programs, including a specialization in Asian cuisine.

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (Edmonton): Culinary Arts program in a state-of-the-art new facility.

FASHION

Seneca College: Programs in Fashion Arts and Fashion Business.

Olds College (Olds, Alta.): Program in Fashion Apparel Technology.

George Brown College: Programs in fashion design and business management, including a course on the international busines.

Vancouver Community College: Programs in Fashion Arts.

COMPUTER ANIMATION/DESIGN

Sheridan Institute of Technology: Its bachelor's program in Animation has a national and international reputation.

Capilano College: Its Illustration/Design: Element and Applications program (IDEA) includes specializations in animation, website production and graphic design.

Loyalist College (Belleville, Ont.): Advanced diploma in Animation

New Brunswick Community College (campuses across the province): Programs in Animation and Graphics

NURSING/PARAMEDIC/HEALTH CARE

Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology (Hamilton, Ont.): Collaborative Nursing Degree Program in partnership with Conestoga Institute of Technology and McMaster University.

Mount Royal College: Bachelor's program in Nursing.

Grant MacEwan College: Bachelor of Science in Nursing in a new health-care facility.

Durham College (Oshawa, Ont.): Critical Care Nursing E-Learning Graduate Certificate.

George Brown College: Its School of Nursing is one of Canada's largest and best-known.

Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (campuses across the province): Nationally renowned Advanced Care Paramedic Diploma.

Centennial College: Diploma program in Paramedic skills.

Fanshawe College: Programs in Medical Radiation Technology.

B.C. Institute of Technology: Forensic Science Technology program for health-care and law-enforcement workers.

Conestoga Institute of Technology (Kitchener, Ont.): Bachelor's degree in Health Informatics Management.

Sheridan Institute of Technology: Bachelor's program in Athletic Therapy, specializing in treating professional athletes.

MEDIA/JOURNALISM

Humber: Wide range of programs in Broadcasting and Journalism, in state-of-the-art newsroom and studios.

Mount Royal College: Bachelor's programs in Journalism, E-Publishing and Public Relations.

Fanshawe College: Radio Broadcasting program.

Algonquin College (Ottawa): Programs in Print and Broadcast Journalism.

Centennial College: Graduate certificate program in Books and Magazine Publishing.

ENERGY INDUSTRY

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (Calgary): SAIT's MacPhail School of Energy specializes in energy-sector training, from a bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering, to programs in environmental technology and accounting for the oil-and-gas industry.

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology: Rig Technician Apprenticeship program trains oil-and-gas drilling workers.

Olds College: A Land Agents program trains land-rights negotiators, many of whom work in Alberta's oil sands.

Compiled by staff