Together We Do Great Things

Together We Do Great Things

Our Group

Our Group

ILAC Education group comprises of four distinct divisions. Our offerings range from Language training, University Pathways, Higher Education offering Vocational and Public Private Partnerships programs and Language Testing Centre.

ILAC Education group comprises of four distinct divisions. Our offerings range from Language training, University Pathways, Higher Education offering Vocational and Public Private Partnerships programs and Language Testing Centre.

International Language Academy - ILAC

ILAC International Language Academy

ILAC is the largest and most awarded English language school in Canada.
University Pathway Program - ILAC

University Pathway
Program

ILAC has partnerships with 80+ postsecondary institutions in Canada.
Higher Education - ILAC

ILAC
Higher Education

Your path to studying, working and living in Canada.
Test Centres - ILAC

ILAC
Test Centres

ILAC offers IELTS and CELPIP testing at various locations across Canada.
Student Housing - ILAC

ILAC
Student Housing

ILAC offers international students homestay and private or shared accommodations in Toronto and Vancouver.
Canada Partnership Forum - ILAC

Canada
Partnership Forum (CPF)

Hosted by ILAC, CPF events promote Canada’s top colleges and universities to educational agents around the world.
Tamwood-Vancouver_0380_Proof-A-scaled

Tamwood

Do More. Be More. Learn More! Tamwood offers Work & Study Programs, International Camps and International Language Schools and Centres.
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Canada
Employment forum

Canada Employment Forum, the job board that connects the best jobs with the best talent.

Mission & Core Values

We change lives through education and create opportunities to achieve your dreams.

We listen

At ILAC, we listen carefully to understand the bigger picture and provide service will leave a meaningful impact in the future. We listen with empathy and compassion, which allows us to apply changes and improvements meaningfully.

We deliver

We deliver great experiences and a valuable education. We create educational experiences in an immersive environment, making sure our students are ready to experience Canada at its best.

We work together

We work by putting not only our heads together but our hearts as well. We work together across different cities, time zones and departments to provide the best experience and service possible. Our team-oriented environment empowers us to achieve our shared goals.

We find solutions

We find solutions by approaching challenges with creativity and adaptability while learning from our experiences. Proactiveness is key in ensuring that our approach to education is up-to-date and forward-thinking.

We value diversity

As we are a diverse and inclusive family, we lift each other up and pride ourselves in doing the same for others. By having a team that can effectively communicate with students and coworkers from all backgrounds and nationalities, we ensure that every individual is equipped with tools they need to succeed.

We have fun

We have fun by creating unforgettable moments for students, instructors, and staff. We love celebrating success, whether it's a student's achievement or a team milestone. Having fun helps us create a sense of accomplishment and joy that we value tremendously at ILAC.

Our Leaders

John DeFranco, CEO - ILAC

John DeFranco

CEO

See Profile >

Jonathan Kolber, Chairman - ILAC

Jonathan Kolber

Chairman

See Profile >

Ilan Cohen, President/Co-Founder - ILAC

Ilan Cohen

President/Co-Founder

See Profile >

Zeeshan Ali Khan

CFO

See Profile >

John DeFranco

CEO

John is a graduate of Western University with a degree in business.

John spent the majority of his career in Retail and Service organizations. As the previous Chief Commercial Officer at Staples Canada, he co-led a multi-year transformation which strengthened the brand and grew the business.
Prior to that, John was President of PetSmart Canada where his leadership propelled the organization forward, as it grew into the largest and fastest growing Pet Retailer in Canada. John spent 13 years at Home Depot Canada in progressive roles in Store Development, Merchandising and Strategic Planning.

As a first generation Canadian, John has great appreciation for the opportunities that Canada provided to him and his family and is excited to be part of an organization that supports students to “Dream Big”.

Jonathan Kolber

CEO/CO-FOUNDER

Jonathan Kolber has an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a BSc in Actuarial Science from the University of Toronto. He is the co-founder and CEO of Canada’s most awarded English language school, ILAC, which has since grown into a global education company that includes ILAC International College, Sterling College, Canadian Tourism College, as well as one of the largest official IELTS test centres in the world.

Jonathan’s motto is “Dream big” and he applies it in everything that he does, including inspiring and supporting his students, staff and partners to do the same.

Ilan Cohen

PRESIDENT/CO-FOUNDER

Ilan was born in Montreal and grew up in Toronto, where he completed his Bachelor of Actuarial Science at the University of Toronto. Before he started ILAC, Ilan had his own university textbook stores at UofT and York. Ilan always knew that he wanted to work for himself and always created his own employment opportunities. Ilan met Jon after graduating from university and they quickly became friends, roommates and eventually business partners. Once he discovered the exciting world of ESL, Ilan saw the chance to create something new. Today, Ilan lives in Toronto with his family and continues to find inspiration in the teachers, staff, international students and partners that he interacts with every day.

Zeeshan Ali Khan

CFO

Zeeshan Ali Khan is the Chief Financial Officer of International Language Academy of Canada Inc. (ILAC). In his role, Zeeshan is responsible for leading the finance, accounting, and information technology teams and driving the company’s strategic and financial objectives to maximize value. Zeeshan is an accomplished strategic and operational finance executive with over 15 years experience in senior leadership roles in a variety of regulated industries including telecommunications, technology, and sports & media. Prior to joining ILAC in 2024, Zeeshan had a decade-long tenure at Rogers Communications, most recently as Vice President, Finance, where he led the finance team for the Technology and Digital business. Prior to that, he spent time at Bell Canada, and Deloitte to start his career. He has a Bachelor of Arts – Accounting, and a Master of Accounting from the School of Accounting and Finance at the University of Waterloo. In addition, Zeeshan is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Chartered Business Valuator. Zeeshan has served on the board of directors for Dome Productions and has been on the financial advisory and audit committee for Numeris Inc.