Manitouwadge pilot community for English Language Studies

Before the formalities, a gift is offered; Morley Chertkoff, International Studies Director, CBEI gives a beautiful image from the People's Republic of China to Judi Maundrell, VP Academics, Confederation College.

It has been approximately 2 years since the Corporation of the  Township of Manitouwadge began collaborating with Canadabridge Education Inc. (CBEI), a Canadian subsidiary of Zhengzhou Bridge Educational Consulting Company Ltd, located in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, the People’s Republic of China. (zhengzhou pronounced “jungjoe”)  to provide international students with an exciting opportunity in Canada.  The students’ academic career path in Canada will, through Canadabridge’s partnership with the community of Manitouwadge, be complemented by cultural experiences gained while the students study and reside in the small northern community located 45 minutes North of Lake Superior. This initiative, which also includes a partnership with Confederation College, will see students transfer to the college in Thunder Bay once they have solidified their English Language Skills in Manitouwadge.

“We are delighted to play a role in the development of this exciting project and to assist the Township of Manitouwadge in the diversification of its community,” said Miriam Wall, Director, International Education, Confederation College.

March 29^th, 2010 a signing ceremony was held at Confederation  College in Thunder Bay; attended by His Worship John MacEachern, Mayor of Manitouwadge, Manitouwadge Economic Development Officer Dave Raymond, Canadabridge International Studies Director Morley Chertkoff, and representatives from Confederation College. The ceremony included the signing by Chertkoff on behalf of Superior Preparatory Academy and Judi Maundrell, Vice-President, Academic Confederation College of an agreement which includes details of Canadabridge’s recruiting of international students to attend English language training at Superior Preparatory Academy (SPA) in Manitouwadge before transfering to Confederation’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) language program.

Superior Preparatory Academy is a private ‘English as a Second  Language’ (ESL) school, established by CBEI as the first step in a partnership to facilitate the delivery of educational language programs in Manitouwadge.  The establishment of the ESL school is an innovative component of the Township’s economic diversification plan and is enthusiastically supported by the community. This project will also play a significant role in the development of the region.  

“This is an excellent opportunity for the Township of Manitouwadge and a winning proposition for everyone involved”, said John MacEachern, Mayor, Township of Manitouwadge. “We are very happy that Confederation College is a party to this agreement, because without its involvement; we would not be able to proceed. This is an excellent example of a project, where, when we all work together, we can really make things happen in Northwestern Ontario.”

Students enrolled in the English training program through CBEI will attend the Superior Preparatory Academy with plans to pursue Confederation College’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) language program or post-secondary diploma programs. International students, who graduate from a three-year diploma program at Confederation, can then apply for a work permit for up to three years in Canada or proceed onto a degree program at Lakehead University.  It is expected that many of the students involved in this initiative will pursue these options. 

It is hoped that the first students, a group of approximately 30, will arrive Summer 2010. 

“Like myself, most people in the world are Chinese with one out of every five people in the world living in the People’s Republic of China. This being said, however, Chinese people who wish to study abroad may not be as familiar with how to live and behave in a foreign culture,” said Qiao Xinjian President, Canadabridge Education Inc & The Zhengzhou Bridge Education Authority.   “This is why I am so happy to have the opportunity to begin Superior Preparatory Academy so that students from China and elsewhere in the world will be well prepared to enter Confederation College and be supported by friends. It is a real honour for me, as a Chinese businessman, to have entered into this historic agreement.”  

The Township of Manitouwadge is aware of the important role they have as the first Canadian community to pilot such a project and is moving forward accordingly with plans to prepare businesses, organizations and schools to welcome their newest neighbours with an understanding of the cultural differences that will, in the beginning, exist.

Chertkoff shares the story of how he came to realize the need for Superior Preparatory Academy.

Economic Development Officer for the Township of Manitouwadge, Dave Raymond, has worked diligently with Canadabridge’s  International Studies Director and felt the benefits of the project would be many “The Township of Manitouwadge is excited to be working with Zhengzhou College of Economics from the People’s Republic of China along with Confederation College in in setting the stage to receive Chinese students from Zhengzhou and elsewhere in the People’s Republic of China to study English in our community. We look forward to growing a long lasting partnership in fostering quality education in Manitouwadge, Ontario that will have immediate and long term positive impacts to the social and economic make-up of our community”.  

Videos from the singing ceremony at Confederation www.OntarioNewsNorth.com/?p=10193

visit www.OntarioNewsNorth.com often to follow as this exciting project unfolds.

• Wednesday, April 1^st, 2010 – Ceremony in Manitouwadge with  community dignitaries and Morley Chertkoff., International Studiees Director for Canadabridge.
• Soon to be released – Official website of Canadabridge, visit often to see it here FIRST!