International education at Selkirk College is a foundational component to a thriving post-secondary environment. Providing educational opportunities for learners from across the globe adds cultural diversity, shrinks the world and enriches the experience for everyone on all campuses.
International students choose Selkirk College for a variety of reasons. Ranging from short-term study to build English skills and understanding of a new culture to starting a pathway towards permanent residency and a new life in Canada, international learners deepen understanding and contribute to all facets of our broader community.
Each year, the college celebrates International Education Week with a variety of events and activities. It’s also a chance to share stories of international students who arrive to the beautiful surroundings of our college region for learning adventures that result in remarkable outcomes.
Intercultural Fair NelsonIntercultural Fair Castlegar
Meet some of our wonderful international students!
Sylner Lopez
Finding the warmth of a small community to raise a family was the focus for Sylner Lopez when he chose to pursue his international education at Selkirk College.
A second-year student in Postgraduate Diploma in Hospitality Management, Lopez left a successful marketing career in Singapore to move to the West Kootenay with his wife and their three-year-old daughter.
“When we did our research about the location, Nelson fit just what we needed as a family,” says the 36-year-old. “Singapore is a fast-paced, big city environment, so there is less time for family. When we saw it was surrounded by mountains and nature, it was exactly what we wanted.”
Lopez’s first taste of post-secondary was in the Philippines, where he was born-and-raised. With a degree in marketing management and entrepreneurship, he landed a position as regional marketing officer for restaurant chain KFC where he travelled extensively overseeing system-wide marketing activities. Wanting to cut down on the travel, he moved to Singapore where he was a general manager of a restaurant and met his future wife. When his daughter arrived three years ago, the hectic pace of living in one of the world’s busiest cities was taking a toll on his family life. That’s when Lopez began searching for options.
“Returning to formal post-secondary, the experience has embraced me,” he says. “I have been welcomed as an international student. So even though there was transition, the instructors have journeyed with me, so it feels like I am not alone.”
Find out more about Sylner
With his wife able to transfer her career as an early childhood educator, the couple continue to lead busy lives. While taking on the rigours of full-time student in the demanding program based out of the Tenth Street Campus in Nelson, Lopez manages to work three part-time jobs that include Busaba Thai Café, the Wholesale Club and the Hume Hotel.
Though not exactly certain of next steps beyond graduation, Lopez and his wife are pursuing Canada’s permanent resident pathway with the intention of contributing to the province’s workforce. Though the couple have essentially started over, the abundance of nature, career opportunities and focus on family is what continues to excite Lopez.
“It’s how you see your priorities long-term,” he says. “Our priority is our child, and we want our daughter to be raised in Canada. The weight of the challenges that we face in the short-term, compared to our long-term goals, is nothing because this is what we want in the future for our daughter.”
Tayo Olojede
Growing up in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria where the state slogan is "Land of Honor & Land of Knowledge,” focus on education has always been a cornerstone of life for Tayo Olojede.
A second-year student in the Postgraduate Business Management Program, Olojede came to Selkirk College looking to build on his university degree in international relations by immersing himself in a new culture.
“International students want to spread good ideas and contribute,” says the 29-year-old. “The world is at a place where nobody can operate as an island, we all need each other. For sustainable growth in Canada, you need to involve the entire world. If more people are provided the opportunity, they are ready to work to bring about positive change.”
With an entrepreneurial spirit, he helped start a food business while still in university. After graduation, he went to work as a managing director for a transportation company in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja where he also spent time working in government-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
With a desire to explore the world and opportunities that exist outside of Nigeria, Olojede and his wife began searching for post-secondary options and came across Selkirk College. Attracted by affordability, the mountainous beauty of the region and small-town vibe, Olojede arrived in August 2022 to begin classes on the Castlegar Campus with his wife joining a few months later.
Find out more about Tayo
“It helps me shape my mind to understand more about the work that I have done in Nigeria,” he says of his first year of studies. “Before I was making decisions from my gut and intuition, but in this program, I am getting a deeper understanding through instructors and studying from the books. Getting to be in school and build on my knowledge by asking questions, it’s been a beautiful experience.”
Olojede has added depth to his Canadian experience by working at Castlegar’s Freedom Quest Youth Services on the residential services team. Helping serve young people who have been negatively impacted by substances and other adversities, he brings his positive energy to those in the community who need it.
Finding acceptance and inspiration on his international education journey, Olojede encourages others to embrace globalization and the positive benefits that are the result.
“There is a lot of differences in our cultures,” he says. “You need to come with an open mind and in the moment, you need to unlearn some things you have learned, so you can embrace the ideas of this whole new world that you are coming into. And don’t forget your winter jacket!”
Rutuja Bhujbal
Looking to find mentorship to match her passion for culinary artistry, Rutuja Bhujbal discovered the perfect locale at Selkirk College’s Tenth Street Campus.
A first-year student in the Postgraduate Diploma in Culinary Management Program, Bhujbal was working as a cake decorator in the West Indian city of Pune where she grew up, when she decided to explore options for an international education.
“This is how I will grow,” says the 26-year-old. “When you step out of your comfort zone, you realize how much you can push yourself.”
Pune is often referred to as “Oxford of the East” because of its highly regarded post-secondary institutions. Bhujbal graduated from a hotel management program in Pune and went to work in a hotel after graduation. Drawn to her true affection, she soon switched gears and worked as a cake decorator in a kitchen. When COVID-19 hit, she also did some pastry work of her own as a home-based business.
A desire to expand her knowledge led Bhujbal across the globe to Nelson where she arrived this past May to begin learning from the industry veteran instructional team at the Tenth Street Campus.
Find out more about Rutuja
“Coming to Canada opens up all aspects of the industry, it’s much less narrow than in India,” she says. “Culinary is different all over the world, so you need to see what is out there. I wanted to learn more and see what I can offer.”
An outstanding student, Bhujbal quickly landed the perfect part-time job at Nelson’s new L&C French Bakery on Radio Avenue. Under the supervision of Chef Cyrielle, Bhujbal arrives to work at 4:30 am to help prepare the pastries for the day and makes it to class by 8:30 am. It’s a challenging pace, but one she’s embraced in the bigger part of her Canadian experience.
“I have been having the time of my life,” she says. “The Canadian people are the sweetest I have seen. People are very friendly and welcoming, and Nelson is a beautiful place to be.”
Chika Konwea
From the most populous city on the continent of Africa to the serene rural surroundings of Castlegar, it’s not surprising that Chika Konwea is still feeling the tremors of culture shock.
A second-year student in the Postgraduate Business Management Program, located on the Castlegar Campus, Konwea grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Taking the bold step to study internationally, she arrived in the West Kootenay in August 2022 with the daunting goal of immersing herself in Canadian culture.
“When you bring students from all over the world, it promotes global citizenship and diversity,” says the 26-year-old. “As an international student, I have learned the need to be friendly and accommodating. You need to be outgoing because working with different people from different backgrounds is not always easy since everyone has different ideas from what you have. It has changed the way I see people and the way I understand people, it takes patience and through that I have learned so much.”
Konwea first attended post-secondary to study economics with computing in a neighbouring country, Ghana, where she graduated from Regent University College with honours. Moving back to Lagos, she worked at Keystone Bank Limited where she was an e-business operations officer charged with coordinating and supporting mobile banking applications.
Find out more about Chika
Though satisfied with her career, when Konwea began looking long-term she turned her focus to opportunities that can be opened up through international education. Discovering Selkirk College through a recommendation from a friend, Konwea was intrigued with the small class sizes and rural setting.
“So many international students are established with businesses running or had good jobs in their various countries, but coming here is a way to make our future brighter and better,” she says. “It’s a big step and a brave one because we leave everything behind, particularly our families and friends, to come here on our own where we know nobody.”
Konwea has found a strong community of support at Selkirk College through classmates and instructors. Entering the program with a strong foundation of knowledge behind her, Konwea has focused on building presentation and communication soft skills.
With a post-graduation goal of working toward permanent residency in Canada, Konwea is eyeing a career as a financial advisor. Her ambitions were assisted over the summer when the college’s Co-Op Employment Department helped Konwea land a job at the local Royal Bank of Canada where she continued to immerse herself in the business side of Canadian culture.
“It can be a struggle because the system back home is so different from here,” Konwea says. “There is definitely a culture shock, so you have to adapt to thrive. Kudos to all international students because they are the bravest set of human beings.”
Opal Johnson-Allen
From the beautiful white sand beaches of the Caribbean to the rugged banks of the Columbia River, Opal Johnson-Allen’s pursuit of international education has been a swap of idyllic locations.
Arriving to the Castlegar Campus in September to begin the two-year Postgraduate Business Management Program, Johnson-Allen left her home of Montego Bay, Jamaica in search of new opportunities. With her 12-year-old daughter along for the adventure, she arrived in her educational destination with excitement.
“I loved it right away,” says the 50-year-old first-year Selkirk College student. “It was almost unreal… the beauty was what impressed me first.”
Having spent the last 16 years of her working life as an accountant, Johnson-Allen was at a point in her career where a change was needed. Though she had only left her island once prior for a two-week vacation to England in 2001, she felt a break from Jamaica was in order.
With knowledge of numbers secured from the career she left behind, Johnson-Allen is hoping that diving deeper into the different facets of business through post-secondary will open up new inspiration and direction.
Find out more about Opal
“Everywhere is different, so I understand that it takes time, and you need to learn the way of where you are,” she says of settling into a new culture. “I am here to see where this experience will take me. It’s exciting and there is no reason why I can’t accomplish my goals while I am here.”
Leaving her husband and parents for an extended period was difficult, but having the chance to share the international experience with her child feeds the heart. Finding open arms in the Castlegar community, Johnson-Allen’s daughter has embraced the change with new friends and exciting new challenges.
Still unclear about next steps after graduating from the program, Johnson-Allen is eyeing the permanent resident pathway with hopes that her family can continue to embrace all that Canada has to offer.
“This is for my daughter,” Johnson-Allen says of her decision to return to post-secondary as a mature student. “She’s a bright girl and has the potential to be anything she wants. Being in Canada, the opportunities are wide and varied. It will be a lot easier for her to choose a path.”
Akumah Kwadwo Palance
Stretching the scope of possibility for his young family is at the heart of Akumah Kwadwo Palance’s decision to pursue an international education halfway across the world.
Saying goodbye to his wife and three young children in Kumasi, Ghana this past summer, Palance arrived to begin the Postgraduate Business Management Program on the Castlegar Campus in September.
“They miss me, and they want to come to where I am,” he says of his three kids, aged 4, 5 and 6. “I tell them that in life there are certain decisions you have to make at times for yourself and for your family. When you are living your life, there are things that you wouldn’t get exposed to, and you might think it’s the only place in the world. But the world is a very big place, and it is important to explore where you get new ideas. They are understanding and they are okay.”
With his first post-secondary experience focused on a university degree in science, Palance followed in his father’s footsteps and was working in the family’s auto parts business in Kumasi. The idea of expanding his knowledge about international business had been bubbling for several years. When Palance began exploring opportunities, he discovered Selkirk College and its rural setting. With a deep breath, encouragement for his partner and blessing from his kids, he took the bold step.
Find out more about Akumah
“Once you go into a new country, you need to give yourself the room to be accommodating,” the 38-year-old says of his first couple months in Canada. “There will be new things that you will see that you have never seen before, there are experiences that you will have that you have not experienced before. You need to make yourself ready for what comes your way.”
Though in the early steps of the two-year diploma program, Palance is impressed with the supportive instructors and structure at Selkirk College. Figuring out ways to deal with the expected culture shock, he has quickly found a community that is helping him strive towards goals inside and outside of the classroom.
With an entrepreneurial spirit and value for hard work, pursuit of a permanent resident pathway is one of the options Palance is considering. He is encouraged by the warm welcome of the community and the smiles he receives from strangers. With family as his focus, Palance feels good about opportunities that may also be possible in Canada for his children.
“Canada has one of the best education systems in the world, they have an environment that enables greater success and is beneficial to their future,” Palance says.