Japanese Calligraphy

As a part of the activity on Orientation Week, four Japanese international students attending ESL course (Shoko, Chihiro, Shoya and Urara) have facilitated Japanese Calligraphy event.

Many students were happy to see their names translated into Kanji (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji) and be explained what each character means.

Shoko and Chihiro both practiced calligraphy in Japan and they were willing to share their culture and skills with others. Thank you both... It was a great success!

Congratulations, Fabiana!

One of our international students, Fabiana from Brazil, received a National ACCC Award. Please read the news release below. Way to go, Fabiana!!!

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Yukon College Student Wins National ACCC Award

Whitehorse – Yukon College Student Services will be sending one of its students to Niagara Falls this weekend to collect her ACCC (Association of Community Colleges Canada) award at the annual award ceremonies. International student Fabiana Torquato Naves has won the 2009-2010 ACCC Silver Student Leadership Excellence Award. Students from across Canada are nominated by their college faculty and staff.

Torquato Naves was nominated for her outstanding leadership and participation in activities both at the College and within the community. The Brazilian student who came to Canada to study Tourism Management became actively engaged in College and community activities. Torquato Naves is the Yukon College Student Union President who has been instrumental in creating a strong body of student spirit by initiating and leading college activities. She demonstrated a strong participatory and inclusive role with others in her home Residence life, the Art Club, and the Badminton Club. As a community member, Torquato Naves made a large contribution to the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous as the first Yukon College Queen candidate, becoming the 2010 Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous First Princess. She helped influence the direction of the college’s recycling program in its infancy stage. At a global level, she was active in increasing awareness and raising funds for the Haitian people. Her energy and enthusiasm has been consistent since arriving in Whitehorse.

“We are pleased that Fabiana was selected among all those participants. Her active leadership in all aspects of student life and learning is exceptional and we are glad that this has been recognized on a national level,” says Colleen Wirth, Director of Student Services. “We have been working towards creating an environment at the College that fosters the development of student leadership. Fabi has shown us that this is possible and we will continue to grow in that direction.”

New Tuition Fee From Fall Semester, 2010

Dear Yukon College International Student:

I'm writing to notify you of a change in international student fees. This change will affect all fall 2010 registrations.

Currently the ESL fees are $3,690 per semester. This will not be changing for 2010.

The academic and career programs are currently $275 a credit. There will now be a flat fee for academic and career program registration of $3,990 for courses starting September 2010. This accommodates the minimum nine credits and allows students to take a full course load, all for one standard tuition fee.

This change in fee implementation follows a planned increase of fees for Canadian students (expected for fall 2010), and reflects our intent to price ourselves more closely with similar sized institutions across Canada. Please see the attached sample chart, which is based on last year's international student fees at a selection of western Canadian colleges, to see that Yukon College continues to remain competetively priced.

Thank you for choosing Yukon College. We appreciate all that you bring to the culture of the college and to the Yukon.

Sincerely,
Yukon College International

1st Yukon College Alumni Party in Tokyo

Yukon College facilitated the 1st Alumni Party in Tokyo, Japan on April 9th.

15 alumni/ future students joined the party and shared stories and love to the Yukon!

Yukon College is a smaller institution and we value to keep good connections with our students.

Thank you all for coming and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

And maybe we will come to visit your country next, so please contact our international office if you are our alumni student!

Yukon Wildlife Preserve Visit

Yukon College International offers some activities for international students to enrich their experiences in the Yukon.

On February 13th, a group took an opportunity to visit Yukon Wildlife Preserve, just outside of Whitehorse. Here is the letter from one of the participants, Mariko. Mariko is from Japan and she has been studying English as a Second Language Program since January, 2010.

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I took part in the Wildlife Preserve Tour today and I saw many northern Canadian mammals. They live in huge and very safe place close to nature enviroment. I thought that here is a big zoo!!! I wasn't interested in any animals when I live in Japan and I didn't have a chance to see many animals so it was a great opportunity today.

One of the animals, "Mountain Goat", when I saw this animal, I was very surprised because they live in cliffs!!! It was difficult to find them because their body is white and there were a lot of snow!!!

I enjoyed this tour and I could take many photos so this is one of my great memories in Yukon.

Caribou Antler

Mountain Goat

(Can you find them in this photo?)

Ice Climbing

Here is the letter and photos from one of our international students, Fleur. Fleur is from France and has been studying at Yukon College since September, 2009.

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Ice climbing: On saturday, January 16, Yukon College Outdoor Pursuit class (PHED225) spent the full day ice climbing at the new ice wall of Mount Sima.In the group there were people who had never climbed before and some who were way more experienced, but everyone had a lot of fun as there are paths for all levels of competence. It's extremely fulfilling to get to the top of the wall, especially when you're a beginner, and you kind of feel like the king of the world! It is also a very safe activity, because you get a training on how to belay, and how to manage the risks.This activity is usually offered every winter session of the Outdoor Pursuit class, and each year, many international students enjoy this very unique course!

Special Activities for International Students

Yes, Whitehorse is a smaller city. But there are so much to do around here!

Yukon College International is going to offer some activities for international students to have unique Northern experiences.

The first activity will be:

February 13th (Sat)- Wildlife Preserve Tour (Max. 10 students)
1:15pm-4pm
This is a free event!

During this guided tour, you will see moose, caribou, musk-ox, mountain goat, dall sheep, bison and so many other Northern wildlife at the preserve. It will include the transportation from/to downtown!

Please make a reservation by January 28th (international@yukoncollege.yk.ca).

I look forward to hearing from you!

Snowshoeing Activity

Yukon College started offering "Lunch Hour Snowshoe Lesson" on every Wednesdays. This is facilitated by our First Nations Cultural Development Facilitator, Randall.

The first snowshoe lesson was offered on January 7th. The participants told me that they learned not only the snowshoing, but also some interesting stories from Randall.

This is a great opportunity for international students to meet some staff and other students, and also to learn great Northern winter activity as well as First Nations culture.

This activity is open to all students at the College and is FREE!! If you are interested in getting more info., please let me know. You will need to reserve a spot with Randall ahead of time.

Have fun!

New Year, New Idea

Hi everyone.

It is -17 degree outside and is beautiful, but instead of going out for my regular lunch hour skiing, I am sitting at my desk to write this first letter from Yukon College International!

It is a new year, so I wished to start something new.

I will frequently introduce stories of our life here at Yukon College for our current/ former/ future international students and also anybody who is intrested in a student life in the North.

Comments and questions are all welcomed. I look forward to communicating with you all through this blog!