Canada, August 8, 2014 – Languages Canada, representing Canada’s 216 accredited language education programs, is proud to launch World Student Day across the country. August 8, 2014, will see celebrations take place from coast to coast, each with their unique flavour and all celebrating the contribution that our language students from around the globe make to our education, our culture, our society, and our economy.
World Student Day allows Canada’s language programs to express our gratitude to the 130,000 students that choose Canada as their study destination annually. Learning a language is an important step in expanding horizons, opening doors to educational and professional paths, and building relationships that last a lifetime.
The event allows the many people in Canada that support the students’ journeys - program directors, teaching staff, recruiters, researchers, sector representatives, Canadian government officials, homestay families, and others – to celebrate alongside students.
The two largest celebrations will each include approximately 3,000 students from many programs, while others will be smaller and more intimate events. Activities will vary according to the locations, which include:
- Halifax: cultural pavilions at the Halifax Forum
- Toronto: talent show, music and entertainment at the Burwash Quad, Victoria University in the University of Toronto
- Winnipeg: Soccer and volleyball tournaments and a picnic at the Manitoba Legislative buildings
- Vancouver: Music, food and entertainment at Robson Square
To find out more about a specific event, about the initiative, or about Canada’s vibrant language education sector, please contact Felicity Borgal at fborgal@languagescanada.ca. Languages Canada is the not-for-profit association that represents more than 216 language education programs across Canada, including all accredited English and French programs from both the public and private sectors. In 2013, our members received 130,000 students from around the world and contributed $1.4 billion in export revenues to the Canadian economy. It is estimated that 30% of the total student numbers continue on to post-secondary studies in Canada, representing an additional estimated $1 billion per year in export revenues to our economy.
