Montreal’s Historic YMCA International Language School to Close Amid Policy Turmoil
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The YMCA International Language School in Montreal, a fixture in Canada’s language education sector for over six decades, will close its doors this December, citing government policy and sector-wide challenges as key factors.
Once considered a pioneer in teaching English and French to international students, the school has taught more than 5,000 learners annually across nine languages. The closure will see over 100 staff lose their jobs. Students wishing to withdraw before the end of the autumn term will receive prorated tuition refunds, the YMCA of Quebec confirmed.
The announcement adds to a growing list of closures across the Canadian language-learning industry. According to Languages Canada, 29 schools shut down in the first quarter of this year alone, with overall enrolments falling 15% in 2023. Although French-language enrolments rose by 14%, largely due to federal efforts to boost francophone immigration, English programmes have been particularly hard hit.
Eric Trudel, vice-president of operations at the YMCA of Quebec, cited “the pandemic, the decline in international students, online competition and changes to immigration policies” as the reasons behind the decision.
Languages Canada executive director Gonzalo Peralta placed the blame directly on government actions. He argued that “faulty or inappropriate government policy” was driving the decline, referencing 13 policy changes within 12 months by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Among the most controversial was former immigration minister Marc Miller’s January 2024 decision to cap international student numbers, linking them to the nation’s housing shortage.
Peralta rejected this rationale, noting that most language students live with Canadian host families rather than competing for rental housing. He also criticised Quebec’s provincial stance, saying it had been “very unsupportive” of English-language programmes in a province where French is the sole official language.
The closures extend beyond private institutions, with English centres at Lethbridge Polytechnic in Alberta and St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, also shuttering. Sector leaders warn the trend could undermine Canada’s reputation as a top destination for international education.
Peralta concluded: “What Canada needs at this time is effective leadership in immigration matters, and a continuation of the current pause for policy and process changes.”
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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