Toronto Mayoral Candidate John Tory had series of meetings with ILAC students during the past two months.
On August 7th, Tory visited ILAC to speak about his campaign, the need to create job opportunities for landed immigrants, and public transit improvements.
“There is a lot more we have to do to better integrate these people [newcomers to Canada] into our own society and give them a fair chance to get the opportunity they came here for,” Tory said. “So, I am happy about organizations like this that are helping in that regard, and I am happy that it’s a private enterprise. I am happy it’s done in this first class excellent environment, because anybody who is a newcomer to Canada would be proud to walk in here and say: “This is where I am going to learn how to speak English.”
On August 8th, ILAC Toronto was part of the World Student Day celebration. It was the first time it was ever held across the country and turned out to be a great success. Guest speakers, including Olivia Chow and John Tory, were pleased to greet ILAC students and took some great photos with them.
Great to be with wonderful international students learning English in #Toronto at @iloveilac World Student Day! pic.twitter.com/JUusbcC0EN
— John Tory (@johntoryTO) August 8, 2014
.@johntoryTO greeting the crowd at the 1st @iloveilac World Student Day! #OneToronto pic.twitter.com/jUp3tPfX02
— John Tory Campaign (@JohnTO2014) August 8, 2014
“We are very pleased to introduce the mayoral candidates to our students, graduates and staff,” said ILAC Executive Director Jonahan Kolber. “We care deeply about Toronto and we want our community know them in person. These are thousands of teachers, Canadian homestay families, and ILAC graduates who have become new immigrants.”
Numerous members of Toronto’s communities, gathered together on September 27th, had a chance to talk to Tory personally.
“We have arranged this event for cultural groups in Canada and ILAC graduates and got a really great response,” said Fabiana Schneider, the Director of the ILAC Activities department. “It gives our graduates, students and other community members we closely work with a chance to participate in the democratic process in Canada and to trust that our democracy can work for them also.”
Inspired by the great energy of our graduates, who are mostly new immigrants, John Tory is going to participate, as a keynote speaker, in the ILAC Alumni Reunion event on October 17th.
“We have organized a wonderful networking event for all our graduates, where they can meet former classmates, ILAC staff, and teachers,” ILAC Senior Marketing Director, Tatiana Dandzur-Porvatkina said. “We are proud to have built such a strong community here in Toronto, and it’s important for us to continue fostering engagement with our graduates who have chosen Canada as their home. This upcoming event with John Tory will provide yet another perfect opportunity to do just that.”
“The International Language Academy of Canada is a wonderful Toronto success story welcoming students from around the world,” Tory said. “After having a series of meetings with ILAC staff, teachers, graduates and students over the past months, I realized how big this community is, the economic benefits and economic activity generated for Toronto and just how many students come to Toronto to study and learn English, and how many newcomers find Canada attractive for living. Schools like ILAC, provide these people incredible support and we intend to support these organizations as they are citizens themselves.”
Alena Khabibullina
