Canada's biggest language school shuts down abruptly, leaving over a thousand students stranded

The International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC), the country's largest private language institution, declared bankruptcy and ceased operations in both Vancouver and Toronto. The school cited insufficient financial resources after three years of regulatory changes. Around 1,300 students, from current enrollees to those about to start, are now without a place to study, with many having already paid tuition, such as José Carlos Chavez, who faces a loss of nearly $14,000 and additional housing penalties.

Languages Canada, the national accrediting body, expressed shock and pledged to help transfer students to equivalent programs over the weekend. Education consultant Beatriz Gil reported that students were asked to vacate the high-school campus with their belongings, and she is working with the association to find alternatives. The ILAC collapse comes just days after EC English also shut down, highlighting a broader trend of language school failures in Canada.