The Gulf Islands International Junior Program is dedicated to providing a quality educational experience that is based on academic study, language development, creativity and healthy living.

Three of the Gulf Islands International Junior Program schools are located on beautiful Saltspring Island, which is known internationally as a center of the arts. The Gulf Islands International Junior Program is one of the few programs in Canada that focuses on the visual and performing arts. Saltspring Island, like the other Gulf Islands, is home to many of Canada’s top musicians, artists, actors and writers.

Saltspring Island is also unique in south-western British Columbia. Located only 30 minutes from the provincial capital city of Victoria, the community is 99% Caucasian, which means an emphasis on learning English. It is well-educated, professional, creative, and community-orientated.

The Gulf Islands International Junior Program is one of the few programs in Canada that actually limits the number of new international students who are accepted each year. Only five international students are permitted to enroll at each grade level. This limit on enrolment ensures that our students are getting the maximum educational and cultural benefits.

Gulf Islands Secondary School
The new 17 million dollar Gulf Islands Secondary School, which was opened in 1994, boasts a reputation for academic achievement, winning sports teams, outstanding performing and visual artists, and exceptional computer technology programs, including computer animation, webpage design, computer programming and computer assisted drafting.

Gulf Islands Secondary School has a school population of 650 students, including 70 international students, but only five junior students are accepted into Grade 9 each year. As a semester school, international students are enrolled in ESL courses according to their assessed needs. As a fine arts school, we also encourage our international students to enroll in the outstanding art, dance, music or drama programs.

Saltspring Island Middle School
Saltspring Island Middle School is located next to Gulf Islands Secondary School in the heart of Ganges village, which overlooks spectacular Ganges Harbour. Hosting just under 300 students in Grades 6 to 8, Saltspring Island Middle School offers a maximum of 15 seats to international students each year. Like Gulf Islands Secondary School, the school also offers a French Immersion program for qualified students.

As opposed to defined ESL blocks at Gulf Islands Secondary School, Saltspring Island Middle School believes in an integrated approach to learning English. International students are totally immersed in a regular program of studies with Canadian students, although they are provided with ongoing ESL support as necessary and offered three hour ESL tutorials on most Friday mornings.

Saltspring Island Middle School seeks to implement opportunities for student achievement that recognize diversity, differences in gender, and the unique needs of the students of this age. In addition to a full range of academic programs, the school offers numerous exploratory courses with an emphasis on the fine arts and technology.

Saltspring Island Elementary School
Salt Spring Elementary School prides itself as being a child centered school. The school is a community where students learn confidence, open - mindedness, curiosity and respect in a rich, secure and caring environment. The school community is a partnership which includes and involves students, parents, international student guardians, and school staff.

Salt Spring Elementary School shares the same campus as Saltspring Island Middle School and like the middle school believes English is learned best by using it. ESL support and three-hour tutorials are provided, but generally the school employs an immersion model. Like the other schools in the program, fine arts are considered essential.

Only five international students are accepted each year and depending on the age of a student, a parent might be required to accompany his or her child.

Pender Island Community School
Pender Island Community School is a K to 8 located on Pender Island, which is well known as the summer home of a famous pod of Orca whales who entertain locals and tourists each year. Like Saltspring Island, it is also the home of a well-educated, professional community, many of whom commute daily to Victoria, which is less than 30 minutes away.

Pender Island is also the home to a small Korean business community. This community is actively involved in the local school and supportive of integrating up to 10 international students into the school each year. Like the other schools there is a strong focus on academic success, the fine arts, technology, and student leadership. Previous international students have remarked that they love the small, family-like atmosphere of the school.

Galiano Island Community School
Galiano Island Community School is one of the smallest schools in the Gulf Islands International Program. With a strong focus on community, the fine arts, and outdoor education, Galiano Island Community School provides a special education opportunity for five international students each year.

Galiano Island is the home to a well known artistic community. It is also a favorite weekend retreat for people from Vancouver, which is only 45 minutes away. The Gulf Islands Film School and the Gulf Islands Centre of Ecological Learning are located on Galiano Island and are both actively involved in the Galiano Island Community School. Like Pender Island, Galiano Island boasts a small, yet very supportive Korean community, who regularly contribute to school activities.

Student Support
All of the participating schools provide ESL support, counseling support and peer support. The Gulf Islands International Program is very fortunate to have the service of a resident Korean Guardian, who previously worked for the Canadian Embassy in Seoul. It is the role of this guardian to represent the interests and concerns of the parents and agents of the international students. In addition to this support, administrative time has been allocated at all schools to oversee the well-being of the students.

Our international students report that they feel supported by their schools and communities, but also acknowledge how welcome the local students and teachers make them feel.

Homestay Program
The Gulf Islands International Program offers a homestay program, except for students younger than 12. These students must be accompanied by a parent, usually a mother. In this case, quality accommodation is arranged in local resorts and special programs, including ESL instruction, recreational activities, and art workshops, are provided for the visiting mothers. Homestays are arranged according to parent requests and student interests.

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