Languages Canada Announces New Accreditation Services Provider

September 1, 2010 - Ottawa, Ontario. Languages Canada is pleased to announce that Orion Assessment Services of Canada Inc. has been contracted to provide the Accreditation Services for the Languages Canada Quality Assurance Scheme.  Earlier this year, Languages Canada began the search for an independent and experienced provider of accreditation services charged with handling all aspects of accreditation.  The association is pleased to announce that, after careful deliberation, Orion Assessment Services was selected and will take over the accreditation function as of September 1, 2010.  Languages Canada will retain ownership of the Quality Assurance Scheme, ensuring that standards and specifications are set by the language training community. 

"Language training standards in Canada continue to evolve to more fully assume their true role: the protection of students," stated Languages Canada President Calum MacKechnie, adding, "we are really looking forward to working with an experienced, competitive, and truly independent Canadian auditing firm".  After launching in September, Orion and Languages Canada will establish an Accreditation Scheme Advisory Board which will oversee the functioning of the accreditation services and advise the Languages Canada Quality Assurance Committee on emerging best practices. David Huebel, Orion President, said, "we are very excited to be working with Languages Canada and the language training sector, particularly because of the commitment to quality that is evident within the association.  We see our role as the independent evaluator that helps to ensure a level playing field that protects consumers and we hope to contribute for many years to the growth of the sector."

Languages Canada is Canada's premier language training organization representing 149 accredited French and English language programs from both the public and private sectors.  Membership is limited to member programs, both public and private, which meet the rigorous standards of the association and who are committed to upholding them. The internationally recognized quality assurance scheme is comprehensive, rigorous and covers the areas of curriculum, teacher qualifications, student services, student admissions, marketing, promotion, facilities and administration.

Orion Assessment Services of Canada is a Canadian owned and operated audit firm.  As an independent and experienced auditing firm, they have developed certification schemes for standards such as Canadian Translation standard CGSB131.10 as well as offering certification to the European Translation Standard EN 15038.  As the Canadian partner for Orion Registrar Inc., a management systems registrar based in Denver, Colorado, they provide management systems registration / certification to various ISO standards among others.  Orion has a well qualified management team as well as bilingual auditors to respond to the accreditation requirements of Languages Canada member programs in French and English. 

For further information, please contact Gonzalo Peralta at gperalta@languagescanada.ca  or Linda Auzins at info@languagescanada.ca.