In February, a hundred educators and staff from College of the Rockies and across British Columbia gathered at the college’s Cranbrook campus for an Intercultural Summit co-hosted by BCCIE and College of the Rockies.

Attendees engaged in meaningful discussions around intercultural competencies and understanding in the BC landscape. These stemmed from insightful presentations by Kyra Garson (Thompson Rivers University), Heather Tobe (Douglas College), Karima Ramji (University of Victoria) and Todd Odgers (BCIT).

The Intercultural Summit was a starting point for dialogue about the importance of effective engagement with different cultures on BC campuses. The two-day summit gave attendees tangible tools that can be implemented inside and outside the classroom.

“We are grateful that BCCIE held the Intercultural Summit at College of the Rockies and connected knowledgeable and dynamic leaders from BCIT, UVIC, TRU and Douglas College. As a small institution with a significant international footprint, this was a valuable opportunity for our employees to expand their intercultural competencies,” says Patricia Bowron, Vice-President – International and Regional Development at College of the Rockies.

“The interest and engagement of the colleagues at the College in this important topic was heartwarming. It was inspiring to see their commitment to their students, which came through loud and clear during our time together at the summit,” says Karima Ramji, Manager of International Programs at the University of Victoria.

The intercultural dialogue will be ongoing for years to come as BC schools and institutions continue to engage internationally, expanding the depth of the BC’s international student population.