cotr international newsletter fall 2009

Fall 2009

www.cotr.bc.ca/cotr-International

Creating awareness by supporting internationalization and global learning opportunitiesfor our students, staff and community

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

“The more we educate ourselves about those who appear to be different from us, the more we will see just how similar we all actually are.” Darryl Schmidt, Educational Technologist, College of the Rockies

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-InternationalFall 2009 2

Shaping an Inclusive Environmentby Darryl Schmidt

DEPARTMENTMessage from the Executive Director

by Patricia Bowron

WHAT’S INSIDE...

Department & Team:

Message from the Executive Director...................2Shaping an Inclusive Environment.........................2International Students at COTR..............................7Enrolment Statistics.................................................8

Education:

Overcoming Barriers: ELT/Nursing Partnership.....8Test Your International Knowledge......................11 Education Opportunities........................................16

International Alumni & Students:

The Journey After Cranbrook: Affendi Alias..........4A Sustainable Experience: Juan Barrios Goio.....5 Study and Work at COTR: Leon Mulenga...........6Making the Right Choice: Kamal Sekhon.........6Happy Graduates......................................................5Building Friendships..............................................13

COTR Alumni:

Respect for Diversity: Ryan Young.........................7

COTR Staff & Student Mobility:

Environmental Entrepreneurism - UEES................9

Partnerships:

A Rewarding Experience...................................10COTR at Home and Abroad.................................12CCPP Training Program........................................12 Kenyan Tourism Standards Delegation Visits COTR.........................................................13

Community Development:

Fair Trade Towns.....................................................14 The Gift of Homestay.............................................15Welcome the World into Your Home.....................15

This month, our newsletter is honouring diversity of students, graduates, employees and partners. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines diversity as “the inclusion of diverse

people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization”.

In addition to the articles about our students, our partnerships and our projects, we are pleased to include an essay by one of our college staff members, Ms. Darryl Schmidt. I trust you will enjoy her essay “Shaping an Inclusive Environment”. Thanks Darryl.

What can I do to shape an inclusive environment, supportive of diversity, at College of the Rockies? Some may argue that the College already

has an inclusive environment. Do we not have members of a variety of races and ethnicities within our walls? Does our student body and staff not consist of both males and females with varying abilities and skills? Certainly those with differing sexual orientations and socio-economic statuses make up segments of our College community. We do not turn away anyone on the basis of any of these characteristics. Therefore, if we are not exclusive, the opposite must hold true and we must be inclusive. Does the absence of exclusivity necessarily lead to the presence of inclusiveness?

During the Civil Rights movement, African Americans fought hard to win the right to sit at the same lunch counters as their white counterparts and to have their children attend the same schools as white children. When this right was finally won, the environment which remained could not be considered inclusive. Such overt racism is not as rampant now as it was at that time, however, the truth remains that allowing everyone the same rights does not necessarily make the environment an inclusive one.

What does make an environment inclusive? Is tolerance enough? Perhaps we don’t approve of the lifestyle lived by our co-worker or classmate but we keep quiet and are tolerant of their presence. Does this create an inclusive environment? Would any of us be satisfied with only being tolerated by those around us, or do we have a desire to be understood and appreciated for our own individual experiences and gifts?

Photo Credits:Jeff Cooper; pg 5,10, 11,14: Melodie Hull; cover, pg 2,3, 8,13: Judy Jackson; pg 15: Joni Krats; pg 12: Katie Troxel; pg 9, 10

Editor:Shannon Parnall

ELT/BSN students have fun above and opposite

page

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-InternationalFall 2009 �

Parks refused to silently accept that black people belonged on the back of the bus. Her stance proves the power of the individual to enact change. Though I cannot force anyone else to seek out, embrace, accept, or welcome others – I can lead by example. What can I do to shape an inclusive environment at College of the Rockies? I can put forth the effort to truly become aware of who is around me. I can become more cognizant of the kaleidoscope of different races, ethnicities, genders, disabilities, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual preferences, ages and countless other differences that make up our College community. I can seek out those who are not mirror images of myself and embrace

the privilege of learning from them. Further, I can lead by example and challenge others around me on their biases and stereotypes. If others then begin to question their own mindsets and shift their thinking we can begin to take a step closer to making College of the Rockies a truly inclusive environment.

environment of inclusion.

So, what can I do to shape an inclusive environment supportive of diversity at College of the Rockies? It seems such a daunting question – after all, I am only one person. What power do I hold to change things? The truth is the only person I can truly change is me. I can closely examine my own beliefs, stereotypes and challenge myself as to where they come from. Am I basing my opinions of others on facts or on misconceptions? The only way to really know is to educate myself and what better environment to do so than in an education institution? I am surrounded each day by staff and students from various minority groups with life experiences vastly different from my own. The most effective way to educate myself about them is to actively seek out individuals from varying backgrounds and to develop relationships with them. Through these relationships, through questioning those around me, and through attempting to observe life from their perspective, I can begin to learn. Education eliminates fear. Without fear there can be no judgment.

Though the only person I have the power to change is me, I can share what I learn with my peers. Further, when I hear statements made about others that are based in fear and ignorance, I can take that opportunity to share what I have learned. Some may appreciate the opportunity, others may not, but to truly make our environment an inclusive one, the misconceptions about various groups cannot continue to be perpetuated unchallenged.

If each of us chooses not to speak up and to dispel stereotypes, change will not occur. Rosa

DIVERSITYAn inclusive environment, then, is one in which we strive to truly know one another. Rather than turning a blind eye to issues of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, gender or any other differences we may have, an inclusive environment is one in which these variations are explored and celebrated. Rather than judging those around us, an inclusive environment promotes utilizing these differences to educate ourselves about different cultures and lifestyles.

Education is the most effective weapon against hatred and judgment. Too often our reactions to others are based on fear which grows out of a lack of understanding. The more we educate ourselves about those who appear to be different from us, the more we will see just how similar we all actually are. Only then can we accept and embrace each person’s individuality.

This substantive equality differs from the traditional definition of equality. Rather than ignoring our dissimilarities and treating everyone as equals, which actually places many at a disadvantage, substantive equality is defined through acknowledging, accommodating and embracing each person’s uniqueness. This type of environment promotes diversity rather than assimilation. The needs, aspirations, experiences and challenges each member of a community brings with them are taken into consideration when creating an

“Rather than seeing those around me only as a personification of their differences, I can make the choice to view each person as a fellow community member with a wealth of experiences different from my own from which I can learn and grow.”


INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI

ALUMNI PROFILE

Name: Affendi AliasHome Country: SingaporeProgram: University TransferGraduate Year: 1990

The Journey After Cranbrookby Affendi Alias

“I believe the lessons learned while I was in Cranbrook, either

from conversations I had with my host family, the people at the International Students Office or with my Canadian friends, have shaped my belief in myself and

things I am capable of achieving.”

As I drove up the hill towards the College, I saw a sign indicating College of the

Rockies. I wasn’t certain what changes to expect of the College or the surrounding areas on May 22, 2009. I pulled the car into the parking space and stepped out to have a closer look. As I walked towards the entrance of the College, the memories of how East Kootenay Community College looked on May 15, 1990, the day I left Cranbrook, came back like it was yesterday. I even remembered Steve Williams managing the bookstore back then.

That was about the only day I let time pass by without worrying or thinking about what I need to do next, but instead reminisced about the journey I had taken after leaving Cranbrook.

As I sat at one of the benches outside, my mind went on a trip, fast rewind back into time. It has been an amazing journey which has had its own fair share of bumps and bruises. There were many times I had to pick myself up and dust off the dirt and learn to press on and move forward.

I do remember words of wisdom from my host family who taught me to think positive as positive thoughts

bring about positive outcomes, and avoid contradictions in my actions which will result in deviation from my goals. Above all, the sayings “ Seek knowledge even in faraway places like China” and “ Seek knowledge as if you will be here on earth forever” had driven and guided me since the day I left my home-country in Southeast Asia.

Although I was struggling while I was studying computer science in Cranbrook I never gave up. Fast forward to almost 20 years after, I am a Certified Information System Security Professional and a Microsoft Certified Engineer .

After College I lived in Vancouver for about one year; Dallas-Ft. Worth area in Texas for about nine years where I got degrees in Accounting and Finance and where I started my professional career in Auditing for a railway company, BNSF (which almost merged with Canadian National in 1999), then I got a job with Philip Morris in New York City, which was a Fortune 10 company during my employment. I worked for Philip Morris for four years at different entities of the company in several countries in Latin America and got deep into IT Auditing.

I then decided to seek employment with one of the big four public accounting firms, Ernst & Young. I worked at its Times Square location for about a year before getting posted to Los Angeles to serve at one of the biggest Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney Studio. I am now working for an internet company providing online communication services in Hollywood, Los Angeles, still in IT Auditing.

My journey has led me to experience a few things in life which were not common: • learning Arabic during my university days

in Texas, and Spanish in New York;

• the infamous tornado which hit downtown Ft. Worth in March of 2000 (a sign from up above telling me "Get Out Of Texas," which I did);

• the sad day in the history of the world, 9-11. (I was about to start a conference meeting in the office building right across from Grand Central Station in NYC, about 40 short blocks north of ground zero. The panic of that day and the next few days were memories I can't forget. The respect and compassion for fellow habitants of the city after that day were unbelievable.);

• working in the Federal District in Mexico City when the earthquake which destroyed the city of Colima about 300 km southeast of Mexico City in 2003 struck;

• working at a building right on Times Square and staying late just so we can partake in the New Year's c o u n t d o w n , a surreal experience to see the ball dropped from about a few metres away;• performing

a digital media technology review with samples taken from Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End, Ratatouille and Hannah Montana 3-D.

Life is indeed beautiful with all the bumps....which only make the memories sweeter to reminisce because of the success of overcoming obstacles.

Affendi in Quito2003


INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI

Chile Bicentennial Scholarship Program (BECAS Chile) Graduates (L to R): Mario Rocha Pizarro, Patricia Punanco Silva, Ivan Ortiz Luengo & Susan Arraya Burchard (absent: Mauricio Flores Salazar, Juan Barrios Goio)

A Sustainable Experienceby Juan Barrios Goio/Shannon Parnall

I’ve been working in the tourism industry for years, and recently an issue caught my attention related

to the trends of climate change on our planet: the art of making an economic activity a sustainable one. But what does it really mean to be sustainable?

With these questions in mind, I decided to make this the focus for the practicum experience of my scholarship program, and see with my own eyes the real thing.

So I left Cranbrook, BC to go work for 3½ months on the west coast of BC, on Quadra and Read Islands, with one of the most sustainable and experienced sea kayaking lodges in Canada, Coast Mountain Expeditions.

There I discovered that it is possible

for a business to be friendly to the environment, respect local culture and be profitable at the same time.

Coast Mountain Expeditions is an excellent

example of a successful sustainable tourism company.

Some examples of their sustainable practices:having their own organic orchard; recycling all garbage; cleaning and re-using Ziploc bags; making no unnecessary trips by boat

STUDENT PROFILE

Name: Juan Barrios GoioHome Country: ChileProgram: Canadian Tourism Practices

Juan Barrios Goio enjoying his Practicum

HAPPY GRADUATES

or van; using solar panels and creek turbines for energy; and supporting the community by buying supplies locally.

I enjoyed l e a r n i n g paddling skills all summer in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Now with all I learned in Canada, I’m applying these s u s t a i n a b l e practices in Chile, trying to raise the sustainable bar in the national

tourism industry.

Thanks to the International Department of College of The Rockies, BECAS Chile, Dave and Kelly Quinn, Grant Unger and Coast Mountain Expeditions


subjects. They also provide so many facilities to students, like the U-Pass, which lets me take the bus for free. I like everything at COTR, but the Library is what I like most.

Thank you to all the staff. I feel so proud to be an international student at COTR.

Making the Right Choiceby Kamaljeet Kaur

“Like is an understatement - I LOVE computers!!”

STUDENTS

RETRACTION: This article has been revised due to incorrect information.

After studying and working on com-puters at home in Zambia, Leon decided to pursue his passion and

learn more. He origi-nally planned to go to the US with his friend, but decided on College of the Rockies as it was less expensive. Then his friend had a last minute change of plans and ended up not coming – but Leon came without him and hasn’t regretted it.

When asked to pick a favourite teacher he said it was hard – they were all great – very knowledgeable. He could ask as many ques-tions as needed and they were always there to help. His favourite class assignment was

Study and Work at College of the Rockiesby Shannon Parnall

STUDENT PROFILE

Name: Leon MulengaHome Country: ZambiaProgram: Applied Computer Certificate (now Computer Web Specialist) and Network Support Technician

STUDENT PROFILE

Name: Kamal SekhonHome Country: IndiaProgram: University Studies - Science

doing a CISCO network simulation linking communications for Rome, Italy and Berlin (almost like here at the College with the main and satel-lite campuses). Perhaps that’s why he was chosen to do his practicum at COTR in our IT department.

After his program was completed, Leon was hired back. He loves working for the

College and finds it a relaxed envi-ronment, except when things crash - but he thrives on the challenge.

Future plans include further Micro-soft certifications and possibly a degree in networking. We know whatever he sets his mind to he’ll be sure to accomplish.

I arrived in Vancouver on August 31, 2009, then came to Cranbrook on September

6th. In the beginning, Canada was a great culture shock to me. But my relative helped me a lot and brought me to the College.

My first experience here is that there are no other Indians. How can I adjust without them? Fortunately everybody in Cranbrook is very nice and friendly. During my first week I thought I would move back to Vancouver, but now I know that

would have been a mistake.

I love COTR. All my instructors are very helpful and nice, especially the International Department. They all helped me a lot in my adjustment. Special thanks to Omar Badran, Shannon Parnall and Marifer Lam. The one person who solved all my problems is Cheryl Webber and I am so thankful to her. I know I made the right choice.

I came to COTR to complete my university studies in Science – Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I want to study more here and learn other aspects of life. I have learnt so many good things, especially self-reliance. I believe everybody should participate in international education.

Studying here at COTR is different from India, less stressful. At COTR they provide better and more advanced knowledge regarding

Leon Mulenga at Graduation

Kamal Sekhon


Respect for Diversityby Ryan Young

STUDENTSInternational Students at College of the Rockies

Fall 2009 - 25 Countries represented

AustraliaCambodiaChileChinaCzechDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyHong KongIndiaIndonesia

IsraelJamaicaJapanKenyaKoreaLithuaniaMexicoSaudi ArabiaTaiwanUgandaU.S.A.VietnamZambia

COTR ALUMNI

ALUMNI PROFILE

Name: Ryan T. YoungHometown: CranbrookCurrent Location: ThailandProgram: University TransferGraduation: 1996

Growing up in Cranbrook, COTR was a natural place to start my post-secondary

education. COTR gave me the opportunity to explore a variety of subjects including science, the arts as well as business. Small class sizes and accessible professors

allowed for more engaging and challenging discussions. My COTR experience gave me a solid base on which I have launched my diverse and international career.

Following my time at COTR, I completed my university studies and have spent the rest of my time in remote corners of the world working on assignments that I

never would have dreamed of.

I have had the opportunity to work in Tibet, teach in an Inuit community and work with aboriginal students in Alberta.

For the past five years, my family and I have

been living in Thailand where I am managing a microfinance institution (www.commoninterest.org) that helps rural and marginalized groups to start businesses and farms. Not only do I get the pleasure of working with people from a variety of cultures on a day-to-day basis, but I get to raise my children with a similar respect for differences and diversity.

As I look towards the future, I hope to build on my experiences from COTR and pursue continual learning both in the classroom and in the field.

‘Good schools, like good societies and good families, celebrate and cherish diversity.’ Deborah Meier

Ryan Young


COTR COMMUNITY

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

International Students enrolled in English Language Training (ELT)

2000 - 2009

Total ELT Students by Head count

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

International Students enrolled in Non-English Language Training

2000 - 2009

Total Non-ELT Students by Head count

If you’re interested in learning a language for functional and communicative purposes, you’re

going to love the new project at College of the Rockies.

Since 2007 the English Language Training (ELT) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs have come together with a focus for both groups of students. Together they work towards overcoming communication barriers and familiarizing themselves with diverse peoples and cultures. Specifically, students build knowledge and skills relevant to career situations in which the ability to engage the public is essential.

Communication is more than just language. Communication is coming to know another person for who they really are. This program offers that.

Imagine you are a 20 year old College student from Chile, and

you’re curious about how Canadian students your age are the same or different. Or perhaps you are a little older and you’re very curious about Canadian values and career opportunities and the educational system. This collaborative project provides multiple opportunities to get together to explore such curiosities. Some of the joint classes are more formal while others are semi-formal, more interactive and mostly a lot of fun.

Here are some more examples. You could be involved in a College wide scavenger hunt with your ELT/BSN partner. In orientation week, you can look forward to a welcome mixer between the two programs. This is followed by two ice breaking activities called Conversation Café’s. One day the BSN students host the ELT students and the next time the ELT students host the BSN students. This is a great way to get to know Canadians

and strike up new friendships.

A very special feature of the program with the BSN students is the simulated health centre that occurs from Jan to April every year. During

this feature, both groups of students prepare and present activities that focus on health and wellness.

This project is unique to College of the Rockies. It has been so popular with both groups of students that they have repeatedly asked

to spend more time with each other. Many have forged new friendships. Faculty are thrilled to continue to develop and offer more of these meaningful interchanges across programs.

Overcoming Barriersby Erin Aasland Hall & Melodie Hull

ELT student Jimmy Chen gets the “thumbs-up” from BSN student Tierre Bekker

ENROLMENT STATISTICS


Back row: Julian Pervez Correa, Maria Balen (UEES)

Front row: Jordan Berkhiem, Greg Snell, Katie Troxel (COTR)

COTR STUDENT MOBILITYEnvironmental Entrepreneurism - Universidad Especialidades Espiritu Santo

by Katie Troxel

My name is Katie Troxel and I am a nursing student going into my third year

at College of the Rockies. This trip to Ecuador was actually my second Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) funded COTR international practicum. Last year I had the opportunity to travel to Nyeri, Kenya for five weeks. I would like to thank COTR for being my favorite, and only, travel agent over the last two years. I will be moving away to university this coming year and look forward to the day I graduate and can apply for a full length CIDA internship. Now, for my time in Ecuador…

Sitting here in my regular spot at my regular coffee shop in my regular Canada, it feels strange to know that not even four months ago I was in 35-degree heat, trudging my way down an eight-lane highway to start another day in Ecuador. I was lucky to get picked as one of three students to spend five weeks in Guayaquil Ecuador, doing some research for a developing post-graduate diploma in sustainable ecotourism at the

Universidad Especialidades Espiritu Santo (UEES).

In the early morning hours of June 28, 2009 our plane hit the tarmac in Ecuador. Upon getting out, the humidity smacked me in the face, a most tangible reminder that I was indeed no longer in Kansas, I mean, Canada. Somehow though, despite the jet lag, stifling air, and faint smell of used oil, a part of me felt at home. I had spent a year after graduating high school living with a family in Honduras. Since then, any time I return to Central or South America, I feel a deep seated happiness and sense of peace.

It was a matter of hours after landing and we were off. There were tours, trips to the coast, and meetings with the higher-ups at UEES. Jordan Berkhiem, Greg Snell and myself were the students working for the UEES/COTR project this summer. Each week we had meetings, did advertising, took Spanish classes, and worked towards putting our Power Point presentation together for our final week in Ecuador. On the weekends however, it was a different story.

We would head to the bus station bright and early on Friday morning (okay, it was inhumanely early, we’re talking 4 am) and head on the bus towards the coast. Upon arrival in Manglaralto we dropped our bags at Luis Chavez’s hostel (he is also working on this project) and we’d catch the back of a pickup truck into Dos Mangas, where the majority of our research was done. The

Above: Artisan at workLeft: Asset mapping of Dos Mangas

two weekends we spent there were fantastic. We had escaped the noise, heat, and smog of Guayaquil and were free to wander, to live at a slower pace, and to meet some really great people.

We held all kinds of interviews with community members of Dos Mangas, walked through their recently excavated archaeological site, and even hiked to a cascading waterfall and natural pools.

When our work was done each day, we’d trundle back through Dos Mangas, asking around for a ride.

S o m e t i m e s we’d get lucky and leave right away, other times we had to wait, surrounded by what I’m sure were rabid dogs, foaming at the mouth, barking and running in circles towards you. Once back at the hostel we would usually head to Montanita for some late night eats and most likely

dancing. The next day we would rewind and repeat.

Once our two weekends at the coast were done and all the information gathered, we sorted, listed, reviewed, and finally came up with a final

Cont’d on next page


you feel you are in Canada and indeed very welcomed. COTR staff (Jeff and Graham) were even nice enough to stop

in the middle of the highway so I could take a picture of an “antelope crossing” sign (none of those in my neighborhood ). Canoeing on the Columbia River near Golden Campus with the Rockies as a back-scenery was really something.

Working with Eco club

youth (above) and

Indigenous people (right)

PARTNERSHIPSA Rewarding Experience

by Luis Chavez - Field Coordinator, UEES, Ecuador

As Universidad Espiritu Santo (UEES) Field Coordinator in the coastal

area of La Ruta Del Sol, I am the liaison between UEES and the coastal communities with which the program will be involved. Coordination of outdoor activities, lodging and food logistics, ground preparation for exchange students, faculty, interns, and technical assistants, among others, are part of my activities.

Follow-up on all activities performed by our students creating a continuity factor in favour of the communities is also an important goal as Field Coordinator.

I am also doing personal research on the current state of community-based sustainable entrepreneurism in the Parroquia de Manglaralto area.

I travelled to Canada and COTR about six years ago. The highlight of the trip then and now is the same: the people. As soon as you land in the airport Canadians make

I experienced true Canadian culture immersion following the Stanley Cup with 1516´s . (Viva Pittsburgh!)

Summary of Activities at COTR

Train-the-Trainer Workshops on Technology and Communica-tion in Post Secondary Institutions and Community Asset Mapping with Gina Bennett held on June 3rd 2009. These workshops increased

our knowledge and skills of teaching techniques. The asset mapping work-shop materials have been very useful and have been applied by staff in Ecuador (Sonja, Nancy and Luis) to the visiting COTR stu-dents during July/2009.

The students applied these techniques to the Dos

Mangas community during their visit and produced valuable out-put. The asset mapping workshop will also be delivered to UEES students, El Morro and possibly other communities.

Cont’d from previous page

asset map about various potentials in Dos Mangas related to the UEES and COTR project. Once that was compiled, it was time to organize the final presentation dates and send outthe invites, as well as start writing our final research report.

We ended up holding three presentations at the university, which were attended by 126 people in total. A mighty fine turn out if you ask me, and infinitely more than we were expecting. Our final report was

18 pages, jam packed with exciting facts, colourful maps, and all the information we had compiled; an exciting read to be sure.

My month in Ecuador was full of twists, turns, and unexpected surprises, which I guess is to be expected when traveling hither and yon. My personal highlight was getting to speak Spanish again and seeing the drastic improvements I’ve made since living in Honduras. I also enjoyed the two boys I worked with and all the staff at UEES. This is one of those trips that has revealed its lessons to me in the days since I’ve been home, and will continue to do so for quite some time. Montanita, Ecuador at sunset


PARTNERSHIPS

TEST YOUR INTERNATIONAL KNOWLEDGE

1. Which country had the highest education expenditures (% of GDP) in 2002? a) Canada b) Togo c) Albania d) Trinidad e) Kiribati2. Which country has the smallest population? a) Germany b) Tanzania c) Canada d) Poland e) India3. How many countries in the world are doubly landlocked, that is separated from an ocean or an ocean- accessible sea by two intervening countries?

a) 1 b) 5 c) 0 d) 2 e) 74. English borrows words from many languages including the following. Which of these is no longer a spoken language? a) Dharuk b) Araucanian c) Temne d) Punic e) Hottentot5. Which country has the largest number of living languages?

a) Japan b) United States c) Canada d) China e) United Kingdom

Utilizing Advisory Commit-tees Curriculum Develop-mentDr. Laura Cooper presented this workshop on June 4th 2009.

Presentations - I co-delivered a presentation with Nancy Hilgert about Ecuador and the coastal community activities, life-style, occupations and tourism assets and potential on June 4th, 2009 to COTR staff, students and community members..Project announcement - Meeting with Government representative to announce scaling-up project, June 5th, 2009.

Visit to COTR- Golden Campus on June 8th. Met with staff and dis-cussed programs available. Took a fantastic canoe trip down the river. Spotted a bald eagle (first time I saw one!) a perfect Monday out of the office! Had an awesome tour of Kicking Horse coffee produc-tion facilities and COTR Inver-mere Campus on our way back to Cranbrook on June 9th, 2009

Environment and Sustain-ability Work-shop with Grant Unger held on June 10th 2009.

Program Meet-ings Afternoon of June 10th met with Dean of Instruction and Develop-

ment, Ron McRae, Business Administration Program faculty Tammy Kiss and Gretchen Whetham, and Tourism and Recreation Pro-gram Coordinator, Grant Unger for an over-view of COTR programs applicable to the Environmental Entrepreneurism diploma (post-graduate) program UEES and COTR are jointly developing.

Rotary Presentation - Gave a brief presenta-tion at the Cranbrook Rotary Club luncheon about the COTR/UEES partnership, our his-tory and the post-graduate program we are developing.

Gender Equality Workshop with Kyle Pennie and Marla Riehl on June 12th. Gender equality concepts are intended to be included

within the new post-graduate pro-gram and helped us to assist the visiting COTR students who col-lected this data during their visit to Dos Mangas.

Gracias everybody for fitting us in to your busy schedules and taking us through a rewarding professional and personal experience. Special thanks to Jeff and Graham and the International Office staff for the daily assistance, support and coordination ….. and 1516´s.

A Rewarding Experience cont’dby Luis Chavez - Field Coordinator, UEES, Ecuador

Nancy Hilgert and Luis Chavez, UEES at their

presentation

Luis ChavezColumbia River


CDTLC Meeting with ACCC July, 2009 (L to R) Back row - Fredrick Odniambo Orego, CTDLT; Ruby Sabas, ACCC; Willis Ondiek, CTDLT; Mwangi Gerald Kabui, CTDLT Front Row - Beatrice Makawiti, CTDLT; Joseph Kipsanai, Chairman, CTDLT; Dr. Laura Cooper, COTR; Ruth Sande, CTDLT

PARTNERSHIPS

Partners in Growth: (L to R) Luis Chavez, UEES; Dr. Steven Wille, UEES; Patricia Bowron, COTR; Dr. Nick Rubidge, COTR; Prof. Ndirangu Kioni, KUCT; MP Jim Abbott; Nancy Hilgert, UEES; Dr. George Kamucha, KUCT,

CCPP Training Programby Graham Knipfel & Jeff Cooper

Mike MatsunoOsaka Gakuin Universityvisited COTR, September, 2009

In June 2009, College of the Rockies hosted partners from our

ongoing “Sustainable Job Creation” project in Kenya and our ongoing “Environmental Entrepreneurism” project in Ecuador for a two-week-long Training Program. This program included seminars and workshops on sustainable tourism, technology in post-secondary education, utilizing Advisory Committees in curriculum development, gender equality in international development, and a train-the-trainer workshop on Community Asset Mapping.

COTR has been receiving funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through the Association of Canadian

Community Colleges for these two projects.

During the two weeks, our guests also: met with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation Mr. Jim Abbott, MP; delivered presentations relating to the projects; participated in a media event with COTR President and CEO Dr. Nick Rubidge; traveled to Golden and Invermere to meet with regional Campus

Managers to examine the satellite campus model; and had a tour of Kicking Horse Coffee, Canada’s number one organic Fair Trade coffee producer.

A variety of COTR faculty and management participated as workshop facilitators. “It was a very interesting cross-cultural conversation on sustainable tourism development,” says Grant Unger, Coordinator

of the Tourism and Recreation Management Program. Grant’s seminar examined approaches to sustainable tourism and the “sweet spot” - linking social, fiscal, and environmental considerations of tourism planning. For more information on these two college partnerships visit www.cotr.bc.ca/interDev/.

Group of College Represen-tatives met with the President of Chile, July, 2009 (L to R): Miguel Lozupone, Red River College; Michelle Bachelet Jeria, President of Chile; Martine Cloutier, Col-lege Montmorency; Johannes Nolle, Niagara College; Patricia Bowron, College of the Rockies

“One of the most effective ways Canada can help developing countries is to share our knowledge and expertise in vocational training with them.”MP Jim Abbott

COTR AT HOME AND ABROAD

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-InternationalFall 2009 1�

PARTNERSHIPSKenyan Tourism Standards Delegation visits COTR

by Graham Knipfel

A six-member delegation from Kenya’s CTDLT (Catering and Tourism

Development Levy Trustees) toured Canada in July 2009, with COTR’s Dr. Laura Cooper, Dean of Instruction.

The Kenyan government funded the tour which was organized by COTR and examined best practices and reviewed Canadian tourism benchmarks in Ontario and British Columbia. The Trustees are charged with two main responsibilities:

1. collect, control and administer the training and tourism development levy fund; and

2. establishing and developing National Standards for Testing Skills required by the tourism industry.

“Both Kenya and British Columbia are very concerned with developing a set of standards to which tourism operators and service providers are held accountable,” explains Dr. Cooper. “The tourism and hospitality essential skills

programs that are prevalent in Canadian educational institutions have developed curriculum based upon these standards to ensure that there is commonality of practice among the various sectors of the industry.”

“For the visitor to Kenya or British Columbia, the ability to experience a particular standard of service is often crucial to the success of the tourism experience.”

“Both Kenya and British Columbia have engaged in processes that have brought key stakeholders to the table in an effort to develop key performance indicators and industry standards,” continues Dr. Cooper.

“The collaborative process that brings the groups to the table may seem laborious to set up and administer but it lies at the core of a successful tourism industry.”

While in central Canada, the CTDLT visitors met with representatives from Niagara College, the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council, the Ontario Tourism Education Corporation, and visited Niagara Falls. After flying to British Columbia, the delegates met with Link BC in Vancouver, COTR in Cranbrook, Kootenay Rockies Tourism in Kimberley and toured Fort Steele Heritage Town.

Both Canadian and Kenyan stakeholders gained a lot through this shared experience. Among the many highlights of the week-long tour, Dr. Cooper fondly recalls meeting six total strangers in the airport in Ottawa and within a few short hours, they all planted seeds of friendship that will continue to grow long after the trip ended.

(L to R): Fredrick Odniambo Orego, Beatrice Makawiti, Dr. Laura Cooper, Mwangi Gerald Kabui, Ruth Sande, Joseph Kipsanai, Chairman, Willis Ondiek

BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS


Stemming from College of the Rockies’ Fair Change: Fair Trade & Climate Change in the Kootenays conference held last October, two Kootenay communities have been officially recognized as Fair Trade Towns by TransFair Canada and three others are well on their

way.

In addition to meeting all the goals to become a Fair Trade Town, the Sustainability Club in Nakusp has a number of other initiatives in the works including educational lessons for the elementary

school, purchasing Fair Trade soccer balls, selling Fair Trade Certified products at their school store and promoting Fair Trade Certified, fairly traded and locally produced products at the well-known Nakusp Music Festival in July.

The Golden Fair Trade Group was also successful in their application for Golden to become a Fair Trade Town. “Congratulations to you and your group for a truly amazing effort. How much you have been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time is astounding,” said Michael Zelmer, community relations manager with TransFair Canada.

Nakusp, Golden and Port Colborne, Ontario were officially recognized in June, 2009 as Fair Trade Towns in a media release issued by TransFair Canada.

Nakusp and Golden are two of only six Fair Trade Towns in all of Canada. Cranbrook, Creston and Kimberley currently have dedicated groups working to achieve Fair Trade Town status for their communities.

For more information contact Jeff Cooper, International Project Coordinator, College of the Rockies at 250-489-2751 ext.3578; email at [email protected]

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTFair Trade Towns

by Jeff Cooper

Nakusp Sustainability Club

TEST YOUR INTERNATIONAL KNOWLEDGE ANSWERS: (Quiz on page 11)

1) e) The small country of Kiribati, part of the Gilbert Islands chain in the South Pacific Ocean, spent 17.8% of their GDP on education. Canada spent 5.2%, Trinidad 4.2%, Albania 2.9%, Togo 2.6%. (CIA Factbook 2009)2) c) Canada has the smallest population at #39 in the world with a population of 33,487,208; India #2 @ 1,166,079,217, Germany #17 @ 82,329,758; Tanzania #31 @ 41,048,532; Poland #35@ 38,482,919 (CIA Factbook 2009)3) d) 2 Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the only countries that fit this definition4) d) Punic, spoken in Carthage, origin of the word map. The word chile comes from Araucanian (also known as Mapuche) which, of course, is spoken in Chile. Hottentot is a South African language and the origin of the word gnu. Temne is the origin of the word cola and is spoken in Sierre Leonne. Dharuk is an Australian language from which the word Koala comes. 5) d) China has 235 living languages. USA has 162 living, Canada has 85, Japan has 15 and the UK has 12 living languages. (www.ethnologue.com)

COTR nursing student Brittany Reed was the lucky winner of a Fair Trade gift basket valued at more than $100 from entering a College of the Rockies’ on-line survey,


Hsui-yu & Su on Fisher Peak

country, volunteered to teach Judy’s daughter’s Kindergarten class as well as the Girl Guides about her countries’ games and activities. Everyone had a wonderful time.

Each student becomes part of the extended family and, while it is hard to see each one leave, with Facebook and Internet it is easy to stay in touch and continue to be part of each other’s lives.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTThe Gift of Homestayby Shannon Parnall

opportunity to experience having a sibling and learn firsthand about the different cultures.

The Jackson’s include their students in family outings and events such as trips to Fort Steele, the Trout Hatchery, West Edmonton Mall and trips to the US. Students have also had fun exploring on their own, some events more memorable than others.

Some memories include BBQ’s at the river, and the time a student joined some friends to hike Fisher Peak, which typically takes eight hours. They left at 8 am expecting to have an easy climb and return by 5 pm. Instead Judy got a phone call at 5 pm to say they had just reached the summit and Judy, like any mother, worried until they finally returned home safe just after midnight, very tired and sore. Not as easy a climb as they thought, but one they will always remember.

Part of the attraction to being a homestay host is learning about different cultures, customs and foods. Students are usually excited to share and teach about their home. One student, a teacher in her home

Hosting an international student is a remarkably enriching experience for

both the host family and the student. Students love to be welcomed into Canadian families and participate in their day-to-day activities. They appreciate the opportunity to improve their English skills through conversation, and they enjoy discovering Canadian culture by joining their host families in traditional celebrations and activities.

Basic requirements for hosting include:

•A furnished private spare bedroom;

•Home within city limits and near a bus stop;

•Ability to provide a hot meal to the student most evenings; and

•Interested in establishing a friendship with a College student from another culture.

For more information, please contact:

Marifer LamPhone 250-489-2751 ext 3469email: [email protected]

Judy and Dean Jackson have enjoyed hosting international students since their college

days. They have hosted 10 – 15 students from a number of countries since joining the COTR homestay program in 2004.

For Judy, sharing her home with students feels like Christmas, when everyone gets excited about their new stuff – in this case it would be showing off Cranbrook and all the area has to offer. An added bonus is having a reason to go to all the attractions; to take time to get away, enjoy and socialize.

The students become part of the family and give her daughter the

WELCOME THE WORLD INTO YOUR HOME


Visit our website: www.cotr.bc.ca/interdev for electronic versions of newslettersQuestions or Comments? Contact us:

College of the Rockies, International Education & DevelopmentBox 8500, Cranbrook, BC Canada V1C 5L7

Telephone: 250-489-8248 Fax: 250-489-8254email: [email protected]

INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

College of the Rockies has scholarships available for both returning International students and Canadian students wishing to further their learning experiences abroad.

Global Learning Scholarships

(open to current Canadian or Permanent Resident COTR students)

College of the Rockies Global Learning Scholarship is for current COTR students who would like an international learning opportunity. Up to five scholarships of $2000 will be awarded for students who complete international experiences including studies, practicas, volunteer postings, internships or other approved experiences, and who are returning to COTR for at least one semester.

International Student Excellence Scholarships

(open to all current COTR International Students)

This scholarship is for returning COTR International students planning to enrol in University Studies, Business Administration, Tourism and Recreation Management, and other programs as approved by the Awards Committee. Up to five $2,000 scholarships to COTR will be awarded.

To find out more information about these opportunities, please contact either:

Lois Murray Financial Aid and Awards 250-489-2751 ext 3508

or

International Department 250-489-8248

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

cotr international newsletter fall 2009

Documents

diversity of students

international students

cotr alumni

college staff members

college community

international alumni

cotr staff student mobility

supportive of diversity