A contingent from School District 47 and City of Powell River mayor David Formosa travelled to China last month for a multipurpose trip. The visit included overseeing existing school programs and laying foundations for new educational opportunities, according to School District 47 International Student Program district principal Shannon Behan.
In the mayor’s case, economic development for the community was the focus of the trip.
“In China it’s so different from the ways things happen here,” said Behan. “We connect with the international people we work with, do a lot of school visits and work at creating partnerships.”
The group visited schools in Chengdu, Linyi, Kunming, Xian, Beijing and Zhaotong. Having the mayor, making his fifth school district sponsored trip to China, and superintendent of schools Jay Yule along was well received, added Behan.
“It’s highly regarded and respected if your mayor and superintendent of schools come,” said Behan. “You get a lot of good feedback from that.”
The process of building relationships in China takes time and involves visits and follow-ups, said Behan. Part of it is explaining the advantages and potential opportunities of a BC education, however, the good reputation of the provincial education system helps this process along, she added.
“People are very receptive,” said Behan. “Our BC education system is ranked fourth internationally and it’s highly regarded worldwide.”
Currently, students in China must graduate from grade nine in mainland China before they can pursue an international program. School district 47 offers BC curriculum in some schools in China starting in grade 10, then students can opt to complete their education and graduate from Brooks Secondary School.
According to school district secretary treasurer Steve Hopkins, 53 international students registered in Powell River in 2017. Other students come to Powell River on shorter exchange programs during the summer or winter months, such as the 20 youngsters who recently had a two-week cultural exchange at Westview Elementary School. These programs are intended to introduce students to the area and provide learning opportunities for local children as well, said Hopkins.
Meanwhile, Formosa took time to meet with representatives of the fourth largest paper company in China, Henan Yinge Industrial Investments. Formosa said he did not attend as an agent of Catalyst Paper Corporation, but as mayor of a community facing crisis. This comes in response to United States Department of Commerce’s recent 22.16 per cent anti-dumping duty imposed on most of Catalyst’s uncoated groundwood paper.
As part of those meetings, Formosa said there were discussions about the potential of a Chinese company buying surplus thermo-mechanical pulp produced at the Powell River mill and exporting it to China.
