2nd Toronto International Students Festival 2013
September 28, 2013; 1:00 – 6:00 PM
David Pecaut Square, 55 John Street, Toronto
The City of Toronto is partnering with academic institutions and the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to enhance the positive experiences of international students who come here to study and live. To kick off this annual initiative, from August 15th to September 8th, the City of Toronto hosted its Airport Welcome Program for all International students newly arriving at TorontoPearsonInternationalAirport, providing them with all the information they needed to get settled in their new home.
The City is now preparing to celebrate those International Students who have chosen Toronto as their academic hub with its 2nd annual Toronto International Students Festival. With over 59,000 international students in Ontario, Toronto has emerged as the largest centre of foreign students in Canada.
Last year’s 1st Toronto International Students Festival 2012 had over 1,500 people attend at Nathan Philips Square. At this year’s festival close to 3,000 international students, their families and friends, civic leaders, senior officials and staff of the partner universities and colleges and representatives of some top countries, which are the source of most of Toronto’s international students, will be attending.
The Festival will feature speeches, cultural performances, award presentations, arts display, agency display booths and prizes. Event will be a prime networking spot for students from different countries, universities and colleges will find networking and integration opportunities among themselves and with business and community groups, employers, government and foreign government representatives. One the main events at this year’s festival: Eight students from Jamaica, Russia, India, United States, China, Ukraine and Mexico will receive Toronto Excellence Awards in the categories of community services, entrepreneurship, Academic excellence, sports, arts & culture, and student services.
Come out and join in on the celebrations:
v See diversity of nations on display (live performances, art & cultural exhibitions);
v Meet Excellence Award Winner International Students and learn about their unique contributions to communities and businesses;
v Meet representatives from universities and colleges from all over Ontario; foreign country representatives;
v See local and provincial agencies coming together to welcome and support international students from around the world
Purpose of this event is to:
v To celebrate international students and their achievements;
v To directly listen to the views of civic, academic and student leaders;
v To make international students feel welcome, supported and appreciated in Toronto;
v To expose students to diverse cultural and entertainment activities and motivate them to participate and develop fond memories; and
v To promote Toronto, Ontario and Canada as the global educational destinations.
Promotional video via Youtube link is: http://youtu.be/9DnVfTcX5To
More information about programs at: toronto.ca/international-students
For more information and to set up interviews:
Contact: Jagdish Yadav, Senior Advisor Education Sector, City of Toronto at: [email protected]