Ottawa-Carleton Education Network

ICP Korea Forum explores what is it means to be a global citizen.

Geoff Best has served as Executive Director of OCENET since 1999, and in this feature interview, he looks back at some the challenges and successes in this significant 20th anniversary year.

OCENET and the OCDSB established the International Education Bursary for OCDSB employees program in 2014-15, and to date over 45 staff have received a bursary.

In 2015 the United Nations member countries adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to provide a blueprint for all countries to work together in partnership to address poverty, inequality, food security, health, education, clean water, air pollution, among many other world issues, as a way of improving global peace and prosperity.

Jueun has attended Earl of March SS as an international student for the past 3 years. She is from Seoul, South Korea, but also attended school in Japan for several years prior to coming to study in Canada.

Following six years as the International Education Coordinator, Kathy Sigmund-Scheepers has decided to return to the classroom. She leaves a legacy of significant contributions to international education.

What are some of your main roles at OCENET?
I am a “jack-of-all-trades.” Some of my main roles include entering payments and refunds into QuickBooks, doing wire transfers, issuing invoices and letters of acceptance, and processing applications.

For a few weeks this coming summer, three adventuresome OCENET staff will take on 10,000 kilometers through 12 different countries in a 19-year-old Toyota Yaris to raise funds for the Education Foundation of Ottawa.

While there are literally thousands of inane and mundane “International Days” such as World Toothache Day (February 9th) and International Hug Your Cat Day (June 4), there are many other days throughout the year

Among the many benefits of being a Homestay host: make a significant difference to the life of a student from another country