WELCOME TO Pearson College Canada's School CANADA’S OPEN SCHOOL Pearson College is a unique and vital Canadian institution with an international mission: to make education a force that unites people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Pearson College is One of 15 United World College schools located around open to students the world, Pearson welcomes 200 youth ages 16-19 from the world over 100 or more countries regardless of their socio-economic background, politics, religion, ethnicity, language or gender. who seek a For two years these students live, study and grow together challenging and at the edge of the Pacific Ocean on the southernmost tip of transformational Vancouver Island. education. Their education is rigorous and purposeful — one that Students apply through their country’s UWC tackles relevant global challenges including social justice, national committee, made up of UWC alumni, economic prosperity, cultural tolerance and environmental education professionals and community leaders. These committees select students sustainability. Overseen by an international faculty, on merit, a policy that ensures cultural and it is designed to train, equip and empower students socio-economic diversity, with inclusion based with the skills, values and knowledge necessary to bring on intellectual curiosity, leadership potential, social competence, resilience, integrity, and about positive change in the world. They learn to think commitment to the UWC mission and values. and collaborate across countries, cultures, disciplines and sectors. As alumni, they go on to make a difference at Each student accepted to Pearson College is awarded a scholarship based on financial need community, regional, national and international levels. funded entirely through donations and grants. CANADA’S CANADA’S NATIONAL IB SCHOOL SCHOOL Since 1974, Pearson College has welcomed more than 1,000 Canadian students from over 400 cities, towns and villages across every province and territory to our campus on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island. Here is a list of some of the places our students have come from in the past decade alone. Pearson College Alberta: Calgary, Chestermere, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Fort Saskatchewan, High Prairie, Jasper, was the first school Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Ryley, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Stony Plain, Widewater. British Columbia: Agassiz, Burnaby, Chase, Clearwater, Comox, Courtenay, Duncan, Fort Nelson, Hope, Merritt, Nanaimo, in Canada to offer Nelson, New Westminster, Penticton, Port Moody, Prince George, Revelstoke, Saanichton, Skidegate, the International Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria, Williams Lake. Manitoba: Deloraine, Franklin, Portage la Prairie, Winnipeg. Baccalaureate — New Brunswick: Fredericton, New Maryland, Pointe La Nim, Richibouctou-Village, Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, Saint-Laurent. Newfoundland & Labrador: Bishop's Falls, Clarke's Beach, Ferryland, Musgravetown, the most recognized New Harbour. Nova Scotia: Antigonish, Berwick, Digby County, Halifax, Head of St. Margarets Bay, and respected high Margaree Valley, Wolfville. Northwest Territories: Fort Smith, school diploma in Hay River, Inuvik, Yellowknife. Nunavut: Iqaluit. Ontario: Aurora, the world. Brantford, Chatham, Collingwood, Conestogo, Granton, Guelph, “At Pearson, we were taught to Lakeshore, Lively, Millbrook, Newmarket, Nobleton, North York, stand up for what we believe in, but also to truly listen to the While the rigorous IB program challenges our Orangeville, Ottawa, Picton, Port Perry, Sharbot Lake, Stayner, beliefs of others. We learned students academically, the Pearson IB is about not to shy away from tough Thornhill, Toronto. Prince Edward Island: Charlottetown, conversations, and to leave the more than scholastic excellence. It includes Cornwall, Murray River, North Rustico, Stratford, Tyne Valley. world a better place for those following a carefully designed program that who come after us.” helps students develop critical thinking and Quebec: Chateauguay, Gatineau, L'Assomption, Montreal, conflict resolution skills, and introduces models Quebec City, Rimouski, Saint-Adelme, Saint-Basile-le-Grand, of leadership based on trust, integrity and Sherbrooke, St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Trécesson, Verdun, Jean Drouin responsibility. We have also developed our YR 15/1990, Canada-QC own courses such as Marine Science, which Westmount. Saskatchewan: Cutknife, Regina, Saskatoon. CEO and Founder, Clarify Health Solutions; Vice-Chair, was adopted by the IB and is now used around Yukon: Dawson City, Whitehorse. Pearson College Board of Directors the world. CANADA’S CANADA’S LEADERSHIP EXPERIENTIAL SCHOOL SCHOOL While the Pearson community features a At Pearson, remarkably diverse student body, the students have one thing in common: they have already students learn demonstrated exceptional leadership potential. by doing. Pearson College is one of the only schools in the We encourage leadership through initiative. Students It is intense, challenging and rewarding. world where all students are given opportunities built our remarkable composter and designed and They learn conflict resolution skills and to impact a whole community and effect change, constructed the greenhouse. They also wrote the public speaking at Village gatherings — developing the skills and competencies they need grants that enabled the College to switch to low-flow when all community members meet to to become leaders in the 21st century. toilets. Between their first and second year, students discuss ideas and issues relevant to living together on campus. Activities, necessary develop a project or provide a service to address a for completion of the IB diploma, take place We incubate leadership through responsibility. need in their home community, no matter where that on land and water. Students are encouraged Students organize, lead and facilitate Village may be in the world. to pursue their interests, particularly during gatherings, Regional and Special Topic days, and Project Week, an intense one-week immersion the International Affairs program. In addition, they We teach leadership through “UWC Skills,” an in a subject of their choosing. Service is at all have one or more formal (unpaid) jobs that innovative extension, developed on campus, to the the heart of UWC values: students work with keep the community running, from emergency IB Theory of Knowledge course. Students learn the disadvantaged youth, visit the elderly in local responders and firefighters to activity leaders to foundations of leadership, including how to plan and communities and volunteer for projects in greenhouse managers and kitchen workers. run a project, active listening and conflict resolution. home countries during summer breaks. CANADA’S Open “At Pearson, I learned how to A prerequisite for living be part of a community. Every EXCEPTIONAL with students from radically person has a gift, and you don’t different cultures and have to be doing big things to backgrounds. make a big impact.” Indefatigable Caring SCHOOL Life on campus, both They care — physically and emotionally, PEARSON STUDENTS ARE: about others and the world. is strenuous. Saijai Liangpunsakul YR 33/2008, Thailand Committed to Project Manager, Thailand Fearless Information Technology and Services They have the courage to UWC values Sustainability, unity, peace. take chances and to learn Can-do from failure. They like to take initiative and follow through. Intelligent They work hard and are driven to succeed. Understanding Pearson College students live and They know we grow with laughter — with others, learn together in an intensive and and at ourselves. intercultural residential experience. Much of what we do focuses on the students getting to know and understand each other. Collaborative Because this leads to the This begins with four students most creative solutions. sharing a room — individuals who likely come from four different countries, speaking four different first languages, with four different Determined The most important factor political, socio-economic, religious, in predicting success in life cultural and ideological perspectives. and work. The students learn to challenge assumptions, welcome different perspectives and genuinely connect with each other, absorbing one of the College’s most important lessons and a cornerstone of world peace: tolerance. CANADA’S CANADA’S INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL SCHOOL Pearson’s more than 4,000 alumni are from the almost 150 countries listed below. At any time, students on campus Since 2008, the come from upwards of 80 countries — representing a diversity of camaraderies and tensions among nations. Students have three things in common: they’re bright, fearless and determined to make the world a better place. College has reduced Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, electricity, natural Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina gas, water and paper Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican use by 10%. Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, A few years ago, a student from Africa noted Ghana, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, that it wasn’t until he came to Canada that he Hong Kong (China),