International Students Like BC
Annual BBQ to welcome International Students to Prince George 250News file photo
Prince George, BC – The BC Government is touting a 20-percent increase in the number of international students studying in BC, as a sign it's making the grade on its commitment to bolster the number by 2016.
In May of 2012, the Liberal Government launched an International Education Strategy aimed at increasing the number of international students studying at BC institutions by 50-percent by 2016. In 2009-10, there were 94-thousand international students attending elementary and secondary schools in our province, private language training schools and public and private post-secondary institutes. Figures released by the Ministry of Advanced Education yesterday show that number climbed to 112,800 for the 2012-13 school year.
According to the Minister, international students spent $2.3-billion dollars on tuition, accomodation, and other living expenses throughout BC.
While the numbers vary year-to-year, within School District 57, there were 13 fee-paying international students enrolled, and 42 exchange students during the 2012-13 school year. In 2011-12, there were 8 full-year fee paying students, 15 half-year students, 28 single month fee-paying students, and 44 exchange students.
The number of international students attending the College of New Caledonia now tops 300 students, according to International Academic Advisor, Sabreena MacElheron. Speaking with 250News at CNC's 2014 Convocation ceremony, MacElheron said many are enrolled in the college's university transfer program and, after studying for two or three years at CNC, are using it as a launching pad into universities all over North America. She said many people don't realize the thousands and thousands of dollars being pumped into the local economy, while the students live and study in Prince George.
Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk says, "This growth in international students is exciting to the education sector and the province. Our government is on target to meet its ambitious commitment to increase the number of international students by 50-percent by 2016."
Comments
Perhaps these students should be tapped for their ideas on what would improve the downtown core. They are bound to have lots of good ideas, coming from so many different backgrounds.
Someone, has to come up with realistic ideas that would work!
When you have the City actually filling potholes in front of City Hall (supposedly the show piece of the City) then you know that you have a serious problem with improving the downtown core.
What City in their right mind would have such a terrible looking piece of road in front of their City Hall????
The downtown is dead and will stay dead just like all the other cities with big box retail on the outskirts.
“The downtown is dead and will stay dead just like all the other cities with big box retail on the outskirts”
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I disagree NoWay and here is why . . .
In every city I’ve been to that has a nice downtown, it’s much more than just a place to shop for things that big box stores would stock.
Downtown cores are places to go out for a nice dinner. They are where you can sit on a patio and enjoy some drinks. They are where you can go for a nice walk. They might have an outdoor ice rink in the winter or a gathering place in the summer. They likely have park features in the area. They host street fairs or other small scale performances. They have niche retail operations that don’t compete with big box. They have places to go for night life. They often have people living there. They take advantage of the natural surroundings and are pleasantly designed.
Big box stores are where people go to shop for certain commodities. That is not the purpose of a downtown core and if you try and develop it in that way, you end up with what PG has.
Just my opinion of course.
Oh and I agree with Give more’s idea. There is a great opportunity here for PG to learn from people who have come from all sorts of different areas and backgrounds and get an outside perspective on things.
In fact, it’s a double opportunity. You have the fact that they are from a different area AND they are of a generation that probably doesn’t have their input valued enough.
Diversity is good!
For all the whining we do, BC is a pretty nice place to live. Some of those international students could probably tell you stories about back home that would be unbelievable here.
Down town kamloops doesn’t look dead.
I agree NMG except downtown is dead after 6pm. Try finding anything open after 4-5 on a Sunday. There needs to be a far bigger police presence in the downtown. In the past week of being downtown I witnessed countless drug deals, open alcohol and drug use, prostitution and people just yelling and cursing at each other and only once did I see two officers on bikes ride by. Who to shop at a store who has three passed out people sitting in the doorway? Who wants to go eat at a restaurant knowing you will be hit up and harassed for spare change?
Perhaps these students should be tapped for their ideas on what would improve the downtown core. They are bound to have lots of good ideas, coming from so many different backgrounds.
Someone, has to come up with realistic ideas that would work!
Awesome idea!!! Give more
That makes more sense than hiring consultants at $250,000 a pop.
Kamloops is an exception.
Well there is a nice plaque they put up in 1985 by the Ramada I guess that is a start. His Worship Elmer Mercier was on board and the council of the day. I guess if there is no action there isn’t any reaction.
Downtown PG looks like many cities in USA with big box stores on the outskirts. For example Fort Smith Arkansas has a lot of hotels and restaurants and bailbond outlets and for rent signs…..
International students love it here because there is no people! They go to school here then hope to stay here!
P.G needs to capitalize on tourism. P.G has a lot to offer for both summer and winter months. Some of the best quad trails are around the P.G area, not to mention ski trails.
P.G needs to accommodate outsiders,not a lot of R.V parking available close to town.
Have more festivities downtown. Advertize the farmers market and downtown activities I myself was surprised as to how much was going on in the area. Only reason I found out was when I went to city hall to pay my land taxes.
Get rid of the crack motel across from Victoria Medical building for parking, install a tram up to the top of Caught Hill and flood the parking lot for outdoor skating throughout the winter months so people could enjoy the festival of lights while skating outside with there families. Install a permanent or portable food court so people could purchase food or beverages.
People need activities to entertain there minds.PROVIDE IT AND THEY WILL COME!
Like the long runway?
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