8/15/2013 7:44:47 PM

August 15, 2013

City of Toronto continues its successful international student greeting program at Pearson International Airport

Today, the City launched the third year of its International Students Airport Welcome program with the following sponsors: the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities; CIBC; Rogers Communications; the Greater Toronto Airports Authority; and Tim Hortons.

"This City program offers a warm and helpful welcome for students who greatly contribute to the economic well-being of our city," said Mayor Rob Ford. "These students have chosen Toronto because our great city offers a globally competitive education as well as a safe, diverse and exciting place to live and study."

This annual program, produced in partnership with 25 Ontario post-secondary academic institutions (up from 16 last year), features welcome/information booths in the International Arrivals areas of Terminals 1 and 3. The booths will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. until September 8.

Last year, more than 3,300 students from 123 countries were greeted at the airport and were given helpful information about the city in addition to receiving program sponsor gifts.

Toronto is Canada's largest centre for international students with more than 30,000 students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in the city. In 2012, international students brought almost $1.2 billion into Toronto's economy and helped generate more than 9,000 jobs. The Toronto region also received approximately 15,000 more tourists in 2012 from families and friends visiting the students.

"International education brings significant economic and cultural opportunities to our City,” said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City's Economic Development Committee. “It is a niche that has been growing significantly and promises to deliver even greater benefits to Toronto in the future."

In addition to the Airport Welcome program, the City of Toronto, together with its sponsors and partners, will produce an International Students Festival at David Pecaut Square on September 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. The festival, open to all international students, their families and friends, will feature food, entertainment, awards and prizes.