Canada: GV Vancouver & GV Hawaii to close

Published 18/05/2020

Global Village Vancouver and Global Village Hawaii have announced they will discontinue operations by the end of June in response to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impacts on the global study and travel industry.

Global Village Calgary and Global Village Victoria will continue to offer classes online while redesigning their suite of offerings to suit the current climate, and will be welcoming any GV Vancouver and GV Hawaii students to complete their studies once other schools close.

“We’re still very positive about the future of our two schools”

Until their physical campuses re-open, virtual classes will continue with both GV Calgary and GV Victoria offering the full suite of programs, with a particular focus on pathways.

GV Vancouver first opened in 1989 under the name Westcoast English Centre, and GV Hawaii opened in 2004.

GV Victoria and GV Calgary are successfully offering virtual, real-time, teacher-led classes and exploring new program offerings to support both current and future students, with particular focus on higher education pathways, and schedules that support the new reality of students joining classes online from around the world.

“Although the Covid-19 crisis and related travel restrictions have been difficult for everyone in our industry, we know that students’ international education dreams continue,” said Paula Jamieson, president and CEO of GV Victoria.

“We remain hopeful about how Canadian authorities are managing the crisis, and together with GV Calgary, we are developing plans to ensure safe transitions to face-to-face classes once health and travel advisories permit us to reopen.”

In British Columbia, the ELT industry employs more than 1,800 people and attracts nearly 50,000 students to the area, according to Languages Canada. However, Jamieson told CBC Radio in Victoria between 75% and 90% of English language schools could face closures as they struggle to pay rent.

John Taplin, president and CEO at Global Village Calgary and chairman of the Board of GV Victoria added, “Clearly, we’re facing unprecedented times, yet we’re still very positive about the future of our two schools.

“GV quality in delivering virtual learning offers new opportunities for our students, who will still experience English language learning in the great Canadian cities of Calgary and Victoria, once we get clear of this pandemic.”

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