Why Choose Vernon?

All Canadian, English Speaking

Be immersed in a traditional, English speaking, Canadian community. In our community of over 60,000 residents, more than 95%, speak English as their first language. In some of the larger cities in Canada the percentage of English speakers can drop below 50% of the population. If you want to learn English in an immersive environment, come to Vernon, where you will hear, learn, and speak English.

Safe and Secure

The Vernon International Student Program offers and supervises its own, very high quality and successful homestay program. In our Homestay Program all of our students live with a Canadian family and become part of the family. Our families are carefully selected and monitored by 3 homestay coordinators and our program administrators. Here students learn and practice even more English and learn about Canadian customs and culture. Most families live in their own home in a neighborhood they’ve lived in for many years. They know their neighbours, and it is a safe and secure environment. Students will either walk to their neighbourhood school or take our district school bus.

Small City Charm

Vernon offers all the amenities you want and need. We have a large hospital, library, recreation centre with swimming pool, many gyms for working out, a public bus transportation system, many sports facilities, a world-lass ski hill, many outdoor recreation opportunities, and amazing lakes and beaches. Downtown you will find unique shopping and coffee shops, many restaurants, as well as a large shopping mall, and grocery stores with a variety of ethnic foods.

Excellent Academics

Teaching English is our specialty! You will find a designated teacher for International Students at every high school and also one for elementary students. Our teachers support their students from the time they arrive and all the way through their cultural immersion or graduation program. It doesn’t stop there…students will also receive help and support with their college and university applications. Vernon also offers very high level academic programming for students as part of the British Columbia education system, one of the top education systems in the world.

University Preparation

Our teachers know that high school is just part of your dream. Our high quality academic courses will prepare students for the academic world beyond high school. We offer it all, from general sciences to physics, chemistry, pre-calculus, calculus, AP calculus, social sciences, and much more. Our students are regularly accepted into the best universities in Canada. Our program takes students to visit colleges and universities in our region. Our teachers help students prepare applications for any post-secondary institution they want. For us, it is not enough to just graduate, our goal is for our students to be as prepared for university as our local students.

Sports, Recreation, and Activities

Our schools offer many opportunities to play a wide variety of sports like, basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, rugby, tennis, golf and American football, etc. Passionate about sports? Join our academy program where we offer high level coaching and skill development in soccer, baseball, golf, volleyball, dance, and of course, hockey. We also have a very unique Snow Sports Academy offering competition level coaching for Nordic, downhill racing and snowboarding. How about fencing, dancing, running, sailing, swimming, tennis, rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, skiing and snowboarding, martial arts, or gymnastics? All this and much more is available in Vernon.

Incredible Natural Environment

The city of Vernon is a place where Canadians want to spend their holidays. We are nestled in a valley and surrounded by 3 beautiful lakes. Our summer weather is hot and dry and our students love the time they spend at the beaches or hiking in the mountains. Just 20 km away from Vernon is the amazing SilverStar Mountain Resort offering the famed “champagne powder” for downhill skiing and snowboarding, Nordic skiing, snow shoeing and skating. In the summer, the resort is a playground for mountain bikers. There's so much to do in a place where students can experience the 4 seasons of Canada.

The Arts and Applied Skills

Vernon schools are filled with talented artists, musicians and performers. Join a drama class and be part of the school production, learn about stage craft, lighting or set building. Our bands rank among the top performers in Jazz competitions in both Canada and the USA. In Vernon you can take a general art course, drawing and painting or ceramics. You can also visit our local gallery. We also offer courses that allow for skill development and experiences in areas such as woodworking, cooking, photography, robotics, computer skills, media design, sewing, automotive technology, and much more!