FW: International Gateway Kelowna-May Newsletter

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From: IG Canada [mailto:info@igcanada.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 8:43 AM
To: angieudelc@yahoo.com.mx
Subject: International Gateway Kelowna-May Newsletter
Importance: High

Things are heating up in Kelowna with temperatures of 20-27C over the past 2 weeks and Kelowna’s semi-desert environment had only 3 rainy days during April. Strawberries, raspberries, spinach, cucumber and asparagus are harvested in the Okanagan later this month.

IGK is currently hosting 47 students from Japan (22%), Switzerland (16%), Korea (15%), Taiwan (12%), Colombia (11%), Mexico (10%), Italy (5%), Germany (5%) and other (4%) for full and part time ESL, Cambridge FCE, TOEIC, Conversation, Internships and High School Preparation.

Five former IGK students will graduate from our partner high school, Vedanta Academy in June with the B.C. Dogwood Certificate. We congratulate them and wish them well in the future. High School preparation, placement and support programs begin monthly at IGK with transfer to Vedanta academy in January and September. IGK recommends at least 3-9 months of Practical ESL + Cambridge FCE prior to entering a 100% English environment at Vedanta Academy. Vedanta Academy maintains a maximum of 5% international students.

Cambridge News

IGK already has 3 students registered for our September FCE class. The class is limited to 10 students so early registration is essential. We are also offering PET and CAE preparation in September. Over the past 3 years IGK has a 100% pass rate on FCE for European students, an 80% pass rate for Latino students and a 70% pass rate for Asian students.

Work and Study

Many Kelowna based companies are searching for workers due to the unprecedented growth of the city and the start of the tourist season. IGK students are working part time in retail shops, motels and restaurants.

Hot JOBS in Kelowna:

1. Construction-carpenters, bricklayers, framers, electricians, roofers, general labourers
2. Restaurant-servers, dishwashers, preparation cooks
3. Retail shops
4. Motels/ Hotels-housekeeping, front desk
5. Agricultural workers-farm labourers

Open to citizens of Italy, Japan, Korea, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland and Denmark only-special conditions apply for each country so please check with the nearest Canadian Embassy

School Activities

Activities in May include country line dancing, beach volleyball, movie nights, bowling, watching a car rally, a soccer and a lacrosse game.

June 22-24 is our next Seattle trip - This is one of our most popular activities and is frequently sold out. During the trip we will attend a Seattle Mariner’s baseball game vs. the Cincinnati Reds, visit the world’s first Starbuck’s, tour central Washington’s desert and shop at factory outlets. On the last trip a student found a Seattle Mariner’s official t-shirt for only $3 at one of the outlets! Seattle trips run monthly until October.

4 day Rocky Mountain trips are offered twice per month until October 31^st. The trip includes: hotel accommodation, buffet breakfasts, tours and luxury coach transportation.

June-Is the beginning of our adventure season. River rafting, horseback riding and desert trips are planned along with windsurfing lessons.

Kelowna Events

Sports Action

The 50^th annual Knox Mountain Car Rally will take place from May 18-20. Many of our students plan to volunteer at the event and will receive a t-shirt, buffet lunch and après party.

The local lacrosse season starts in May and many students enjoyed watching Kelowna play against Kamloops in a recent match. Lacrosse is Canada’s National summer sport. The Kelowna Raiders lacrosse season runs until August and tickets are $2-5 for students. Wow!

The Okanagan Challenge soccer team plays at the Apple Bowl until August. www.okanaganchallengefc.com

The Kelowna Falcons baseball season starts in June. A number of IGK students volunteered with the baseball team last year. Volunteers receive a free t-shirt, admission to the game and a discount on food and merchandise. Best of all they can practice their English with fans and players! www.kelownafalcons.com

Hollywood Okanagan

Two movies are being produced and filmed in the Okanagan area. Wind Chill-a thriller/ horror movie and a historical drama, Iron Road with Peter O’Toole and Sam Neill about the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Iron Road is currently casting for extras so we will keep you posted as some of our students may be in it!!!

Summer 2007

IGK offers the following special summer programs from June thru September for individuals and groups ages 8 to adult. The programs in gray are fully integrated with Canadians to maximize cross cultural learning.

Youth Vacation Program 1-4 weeks

Executive and Office Worker Tours 1-2 weeks

Agricultural and Wine Tours

ESL+ Golf 1-4 weeks

ESL+ Ice Hockey 1-3 weeks

ESL+ Soccer 1-3 weeks

Teen Adventure Camp 2 weeks

ESL+Equestrian Camp 1-2 weeks

Farmstays 1-5 weeks

Other possibilities include ESL programs at IGK combined with basketball or volleyball camps (ages 12-18) and windsurfing, wakeboarding or sailing lessons for ages 12 and up.

Family programs are also gaining in popularity at IGK and we can customize a variety of ESL, summer camp and accommodation options to suit every budget. Safety, convenience (the most popular beach in Kelowna is only a 5 minute walk from IGK!) and fabulous weather are the main reasons.

For example, a Czech family of 4 are taking morning classes in July for 3 weeks, one of their children (age 11) is taking ESL+Ice Hockey in the afternoon and the other (age 15) is taking our youth vacation program while the parents are relaxing, wine tasting and sightseeing on their own in the afternoon. The family is staying at a motel with a kitchen and swimming pool across the street from a beach. The possibilities are endless in Canada’s #1 Summer Resort!

Homestays

During our busy summer season from June-September homestay confirmation will be sent 2 weeks prior to arrival. Families often have unexpected guests and family members visiting during this time and we would like to avoid any disappointment for your clients due to cancellations. Thank you for your understanding.

Agent Visits

This month we have agents visiting us from Korea and Taiwan and I will be visiting some Vancouver agents in June.

I have been asked by a popular youth magazine in Mexico, CNXN to write a travel article about Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley. Our school will also be featured in the August/September issue.

Best wishes,

Dale Lockhart

Director

International Gateway Kelowna

Unit #101 565 Bernard Avenue

Kelowna, B.C., Canada V1Y 8R4

Tel: +1(250) 868-4827

Fax: +1(250) 868-4872

www.igcanada.com

info@igcanada.com

Member of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, T.O.T.A., Kelowna-Kasugai and Kelowna-Veendam Sister City Associations and the C.F.I.B.

IGK is an official Cambridge testing centre.