immigration

International Student Loves Quiet Tranquility the Pembroke Campus Has to Offer

Monica Numpaque is getting used to the quiet tranquility of Pembroke, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of a large urban city and the noise and pollution that comes with it, replaced by the sound of birds chirping, the occasional honk of a car horn, clean air and the picturesque beauty of Pembroke’s waterfront.

Numpaque arrived in Canada from Bogota, Colombia, a city of 7.5 million people in April, coming to Pembroke to study in the Environmental Management and Assessment program at Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus. She was excited to move to Canada for her post-secondary studies, but her expectations have been exceeded.

“I have found that living in a small city like Pembroke has various benefits, including a calm and safe environment. Pembroke is organized and clean, and people have a calm living style, so they are not in a hurry. I appreciate how people are friendly and courteous and welcome you when they see you, wishing you a nice day,” says Numpaque.

International Student Loves Quiet Tranquility

Numpaque and her husband are hoping to immigrate to Canada after she completes her co-op placement at the College where she is a science lab monitor, supporting students studying in the Environmental Technician program. She feels fortunate to be working at the College and says the opportunity to participate in a paid co-op placement attracted her to the program.

“I chose the program at Algonquin College since this college is internationally recognized for offering high-quality academic programs. I chose the Pembroke campus because I wanted to study in a peaceful environment surrounded by nature. Furthermore, the curriculum includes courses in a variety of subjects connected to environmental sciences that are both interesting and useful. The field experiences, as well as the Co-op, attracted me to the program,” says Numpaque.

With no vehicle, Numpaque has been getting to know Pembroke on her bike and by walking around the city. Like many newcomers, she is impressed by the vastness of Canada and the wide open spaces that are found in more rural areas. “Canadians are very friendly and kind, they have helped me to adapt to this country and to learn about their interesting culture. Pembroke is a lovely town surrounded by nature, with great spots to ride a bike and participate in water sports. The architecture of its historic homes, churches, and museums make Pembroke a nice place to live.”

Pembroke a nice place to live

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic last winter, international students studying in the Environmental Management and Assessment program were able to join the program from their home country, taking the entire first semester of the post-graduate certificate program in a virtual setting. They were required to come to Canada for the spring term to ensure they had the opportunity to participate in many hours of field work.

Learning in Canada’s back country has provided Numpaque with not only a practical learning experience, but also an opportunity to appreciate the country’s natural landscape. “I have enjoyed the field trips offered in the program. We have visited wonderful places full of nature with beautiful landscapes. I have enjoyed as well the sample processing lab where I have learned valuable analytical techniques. The campus location fascinates me since it provides a beautiful view of the Ottawa river and is close to the Waterfront Park, where you can relax and enjoy nature,” says Numpaque.

Recently her husband has found work in Ottawa. The couple is planning to buy a vehicle and begin the process of gaining permanent residency status. Their journey is just starting in Canada. For the next few months, Numpaque will spend many hours in the science lab at the Pembroke Campus gaining valuable work experience in her field, working side-by-side faculty and supporting other students enrolled in environmental science programs.

Pre-Health Pathway, Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus

Numpaque has barely spent any time in the country that she hopes to live and work in for many years, but Pembroke has left her with a great first impression of Canada. Her story is an example of how smaller communities that are welcoming to international students and immigrants can be a landing place for newcomers if they are welcoming and have attractions such as post-secondary schools to grab their attention.

It was Algonquin College that brought Numpaque to Pembroke. It will be the community that will help settle her in the city.

(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs. Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus administers the federally funded Local Immigration Partnership in Lanark and Renfrew Counties, a program that helps communities welcome newcomers to their region.)

 

 

 

 

 

HomeStay Helps International Students Feel at Home

Jennifer AustinSince 2004, Jennifer Austin and her family have hosted out of town college and high school students in their home. Now, she has become a champion for Algonquin College’s efforts to attract more international students to its Pembroke Waterfront Campus. Austin has signed on to host an international student for the Fall 2020 term because she says “Homestay is a meaningful experience that empowers students to succeed, and it helps you learn a new culture and meet a new friend for life.”

The College has partnered with Canadian Accommodation Services to establish a Homestay program in Pembroke that encourages families to open up their homes to international students. For Austin, it was an easy decision to participate in the program. Her family has hosted high school students from across Canada including the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and from as far away as New Zealand, normally for six months to full year stays. In all, the Austin family has provided a home for 15 students over the years.

“The most rewarding part of being a host family is the bonds that are formed. Each student creates a different bond with our family. It could be something special like inside family jokes or cherished memories of time spent together,” says Austin.

International studentsIn recent years, the Pembroke Campus has been gradually attracting more international students. These students have come to the campus from several countries including India, China, the United States, Morocco, Ukraine, and Africa. The students study in many programs and have come to Canada because of our country’s excellent reputation for providing high-quality post-secondary training and also its openness to welcoming people from around the world.

“Diversity enriches everyday life. These students have traveled around the world on an adventure, and we get to be part of it,” says Austin who is now collaborating with the College to find other families who are interested in taking part in the Homestay program. As a supporter of the work the College is doing to promote cultural diversity, International Student Orientation, Algonquin College, PembrokeAustin speaks passionately about why she has stepped up to help the Pembroke Campus and has offered some simple advice to other families who are considering hosting an international student.

“Host with open arms and an open heart. Show your student a new perspective, a new culture and be ready to learn something new yourself,” says Austin who is excited to recruit more families. More information on the Homestay program is available on the campus website, including the application form.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

 

Welcoming the World at the Waterfront Campus

Never in the more than 50-year history of Algonquin College has the Pembroke Campus had such an international flavour in its midst. In the fall of 2018, the campus has welcomed close to 30 international students from countries around the world. Almost three percent of the campus population of approximately 1,000 students now have international student status.

These students have arrived in Pembroke from India, China, Africa, Vietnam, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Morocco, Chile, the United States, and many other countries. One can imagine how difficult this transition can be for international students as they adjust to a new country, a small town Canadian city and a post-secondary academic setting in a foreign country. To help these students settle in, the College is providing opportunities for the students to get to know people and to experience all that Canada has to offer.Students on Ottawa River

Recently, the campus organized a social event for the students that included a pontoon boat ride on the Ottawa River. Some of the students had never been on a boat before but it didn’t take them long to appreciate the picturesque beauty of the area as they took pictures of the river, the islands and the pristine forests along the shoreline of the river. More importantly, they enjoyed each others company and bonded quickly.

Orientation is important for all new college students but essential for international students. Things that domestic students take for granted such as accessing health care or buying a proper pair of boots for winter weather are important pieces of information that need to be shared with international students. The boat ride provided an opportunity to help connect them not only with other students but also key faculty and staff who can provide support to them, whether it’s on campus or in the broader community.

Moving forward, the College will continue to teach the students about Canadian customs and culture, but the students will reciprocate International Student Orientation, Algonquin College, Pembrokethis learning experience by sharing their own culture with the college community. It’s already happening through the newly created African Students’ Alliance, a group of African students who have introduced Canadian students to African foods, music, and celebrations.

It’s been fun to watch the Waterfront Campus become a melting pot of diversity. As more international students choose to study at the campus it will enrich the learning experience of everyone who studies and works there. It’s a great example of how lifelong learning can occur both inside and outside the classroom and how education has no borders.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Celebrating Cultural Diversity on Campus

Canada is a melting pot of people. With one of the most diverse populations in the world, the country has embraced immigration, but regrettably, most newcomers choose larger centres to settle in rather than finding a new home in a rural community.

It’s understandable why this happens. New immigrants are often sponsored by family members and they want to be around people who share the same beliefs and customs, while they embrace all that their new country has to offer. With fewer immigrants settling in rural areas, there is less of an attraction to go there, but now more than ever rural communities need immigrants. Declining birth rates, aging populations and youth out migration are among the major labour market challenges facing rural areas, and immigration provides an opportunity to address some of these issues by replenishing the population gap that has emerged.

African Students' Alliance, Algonquin College, Pembroke CampusRegional college campuses located in smaller rural communities such as the Pembroke Waterfront Campus can play a major leadership role. As these campuses attract more students of culturally diverse backgrounds they create more welcoming communities for new Canadians. A great example is the recent establishment of an African Students’ Alliance on campus, a group that promotes and celebrates African culture.

Their work has been inspirational and is a great example of students being leaders. They have opened the eyes of so many students and college employees who had limited knowledge of African culture. Their integration into the broader community through volunteerism and student learning experiences is expanding their reach and influence. It’s powerful and timely as Renfrew County faces the reality of having almost 50 percent of its population over 45 years of age according to the 2016 National Census.

At the Pembroke Campus this year there are about a dozen international students, but there are so many more students who are from different cultural backgrounds. With about 50 percent of the campus student population coming from out of town, there is a great opportunity to attract more students who can enrich the cultural mosaic of the campus and greater community.

#3Drums3Campuses, Algonquin College, Pembroke CampusThe Campus wants to be leaders in this effort. Case in point is the celebration of Indigenous culture that has been taking place in the month of March. Powerful learning is taking place as the college embraces the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that has challenged educational institutions to do their part by helping to preserve, revitalize and strengthen Aboriginal languages and cultures. Through a partnership with the Circle of Turtle Lodge, there have been several activities on campus that have engaged students and college employees to better understand the past, present and future of Indigenous ways.

The time is now for regional campuses to help rural communities embrace multiculturalism. It’s critical to the long-term prosperity of smaller towns and cities. Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus is well positioned to be Renfrew County’s diversity champion.

 

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs