The GBC EXPERIENCE

Location

George Brown College (GBC) is located in Toronto, the capital city of the province of Ontario, and Canada’s largest city with 2.5 million residents. Beautifully situated at the shores of Lake Ontario—one of North America’s largest freshwater lakes—Toronto attracts visitors from all over the world who invariable describe it as comfortable, safe and vibrant. A city of many distinct neighborhoods, its cultural diversity is reflected through an endless array of social, culinary, entertainment, artistic, shopping and recreational opportunities. The public transit system, including subway, streetcar and bus routes, is one of the best, and safest in North America.

Torontonians are friendly, outgoing people who take pride in Canada’s international reputation as a leader in multi-culturalism. You can expect to be welcomed and appreciated whatever your heritage, culture or religious beliefs.

Benefit of Homestay with a Family

George Brown College administration strongly believes in the importance of students living with English-speaking families while attending classes, especially during the first year at the College. Second language students dramatically improve their English language listening and speaking skills when they have the opportunity to practice their English in a home-like setting. The college maintains a close network of caring families who make your transition to living and studying abroad a friendly and helpful experience.

Gain Valuable Work Experience

Toronto is also home to most of Canada’s major employers in financial services, tourism, fashion, software development, manufacturing, communications, entertainment, design, and health services. The city and the College offer you unparalleled opportunities to gain valuable work experience with leading multi-national employers while attending college, and also after graduation.

Field Education

Field education is an important component of many of the programs at George Brown College where students apply their classroom learning to the workplace. Field education is an essential and vital component of the Hotel Management Program curriculum. Students spend seven weeks—24 hours per
Week—working in a job related to their field of study. Graduates often find full-time employment through their field education experience.

Co-op provides:

• The opportunity to apply learning in a real-life, hands-on situation
• Practical experience and skills development
• Contacts with potential future employers
• Job-search skills, including resume preparation and interviewing
• Self-confidence developed through a real-work experience

More than 250 employers have participated in our co-op program, including:

• Allstream
• Alliance Atlantis
• Assure Financial
• BMO Nesbitt Burns
• Basketball Ontario
• Cambridge Mercantile
• CHIN Radio/TV International
• City of Toronto
• Clear Channel Entertainment
• Courtyard by Marriot
• Davies Ward Phillips and Delta Chelsea Hotel
• Epic Cycling
• Excel Funds Management Inc.
• Fireworks Marketing Group
• Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Club
• HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc.
• Kaleidoscope Marketing and Communications
• One Financial
• Maple Leaf Sport and Entertainment
• Premier Financial Group Inc.
• Rogers Video
• Royal Canadian Yacht Club
• Samsung Electronics Canada
• Scotiabank
• Shoppers Drug Mart
• The Beaches International Jazz Festival
• Toronto Blue Jay Baseball Club
• Toronto Lynx Soccer Club
• Toronto Energy Management Ltd.
• Trade Commission of Mexico

Work Placement

Many of our programs build work experience into the core curriculum. Early Childhood Education Program students, for example, work alongside childcare experts in Toronto’s best daycare centres. Nursing students do their practical training in North America’s leading hospitals located just blocks from the College.

Off Campus Work Program (OCWP)

You can now apply for an off-campus work permit, gain valuable work experience and earn extra income while studying in Canada. To be eligible for the Program you must have: a valid study permit; be in good academic standing; and completed six months of full-time study in a public post-secondary program. For information on how to apply, visit the CIC website (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index-can.asp)

Post-graduate Employment

You are permitted to work and earn income for up-to-one full year in Canada after graduation in a job which is related to your program of studies. Toronto offers one of the most vibrant and diverse employment markets in Canada for you to add North American employment experience to your resume before returning home.