Twenty-five guidance counsellors representing national and international schools in nineteen countries visited Trent University last week, as part of a broader tour including McGill University, Concordia University, Carleton University, and Queen’s University.  This was the second annual tour organized by international recruitment staff at the five universities.

“Guidance counsellors are a key influencer in the decision-making process for students around the world, and having them see the beauty and warmth of the Trent campus first-hand gives them a better understanding of what we can offer to their students,” explained Daralyn Auld, manager, International Recruitment and Admissions.  “We know that the knowledge and memories that they take with them will be shared with many future prospective students. While some international counsellors spend their entire career in one school or region, many counsellors will move after two to three years in each city, allowing the Trent story to spread even further across the globe.” 

In addition to experiencing residence life, meeting with Trent International Program (TIP) director Dr. Michael Allcott, TIP staff and students, and learning more about our academic programs, the highlight of their visit was a canoe paddling workshop on the Otonabee River with Trent Camp staff.  While a few of the counsellors were seasoned paddlers, many were enthusiastic to try canoeing for the first time.  After providing a welcoming greeting to counsellors, President Leo Groarke paddled out to meet them in his kayak, demonstrating again the engaging and accessible nature of the Trent community. 

A student panel discussion allowed counsellors to hear about some of the exceptional opportunities for research, campus engagement, involvement and academic support that Trent can provide.  Counsellors were delighted to meet TIP students and recent graduates, including Duc Hien Nguyen, Alex Cheung, Jeet Trivedi, Mauricio Interiano, Ngina Kibathi, Sancha Reynolds, and Cornel Grey.

“I left Trent amazed by what the University has to offer and the unique experiences students have here. Speaking with your students, I felt the sense of community and support very strongly, as well as a confidence and true gratitude from them for the close working relationships that are possible with your teaching/research staff who have helped them in their achievements so far. The canoeing was a magical end to our tour,” wrote participant Moira Martin, guidance counsellor at Institut International de Lancy, Geneva, Switzerland.

Visiting counsellors came from schools in Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Burkina Faso, China, Ecuador, Egypt, England, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Jordan, Qatar, Switzerland, Trinidad, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, and Venezuela. 

Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2015.