ACTA Conference - Toronto, ON

Monday, November 3rd, Giannina, Laurie, Kim and Lindsay along with Erin, Simone, Morgan, Sarah, Chelsea, Bekka, Halle, Katrina and Caitlyn flew to Toronto from Thunder Bay to be a part of the ACTA conference. 

What is ACTA you may ask?  

"…Established in 1977, the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA), is a national trade association representing the retail travel sector of Canada's tourism industry. ACTA is an industry-led, nonprofit, membership based organization."
This conference presented a great opportunity for students to attend a professional conference, learn more about different areas of the industry and their job criteria.

We boarded a Westjet Encore Q400 plane at 0630 while the sky was still dark and within two hours we made it safely to Toronto Pierson International Airport. After our arrival we had a bus tour of the tarmac where we saw several planes, plus we learned the basic rules of the runway. Then, we checked into the hotel before heading downtown Toronto to Ripley's Aquarium. There were a lot of children but the building was well laid out and the vast variety of marine life was amazing!

We looked up at the CN Tower but decided that we rather spend our money shopping then going to the top. A group of us walked to The Eaton Centre and proceeded to shop to our hearts content.

The next day, we went to the conference and met with professionals within the travel industry. They answered some questions from students, gave valuable information, and handed out some prizes. Before we had left Thunder Bay, we made a video to be entered in the contest ACTA held to show the importance of travel agents "Without A Travel Agent... You're On Your Own". We won the contest, which added so much more excitement to an already wonderful trip.

Thank you G for inviting us, this trip was awesome and an experience that won't be forgotten.

Erin

Yay! We won the contest.

Touring the tarmac and huge jets of YYZ airport. 

Morgan, Caitlyn and Simone in the tunnels with the sharks at Ripley's Aquarium.

Is Confederation College The Right College For Me???

How to find the right college for you

I grew up in SW Ontario for most of my life.  I've tried many different programs in a few schools since graduating high school in the 90's.

I started off with a Hotel & Restaurant Management program which halfway through and decided it was not for me.  Eventually I chose to study as a Medical Office Assistant and graduated with a certificate.  Another few years went by and I looked into Event Management at another college in western Canada where I was living. Later I decided to study Human Resources at another college and earned a certificate. Unfortunately, with the economy being the way it was, and where I lived, jobs were hard to come by so I continued as an office administrator for several companies throughout the years. 

I wanted to do something with my life, to have a purpose and meaning. One day, I decided to quit my job and looked into voluntourism. Voluntourism is a form of tourism in which travellers participate in voluntary work, typically for a charity.

I leaned about eco-tourism and how important it is to our world and people.  I learned about conservation and helping the environment. I experienced eco-tourism in Mexico knew that I wanted to continue with eco-tourism. To do this, I decided to go back to school. 

So I started to research schools around Ontario and across Canada.  I used the ACTA endorsed-full-time-programs link and looked into full-time programs.  I made a spreadsheet of pros and cons and looked into my finances. I narrowed my choices down to two. One in Vancouver was a private college and the other Confederation College in Thunder Bay. This is what sold me -"Tourism and Travel-Adventure and Ecotourism is a distinctive hybrid travel and tourism program, which provides the student with in class training, on-the-job experience via our cooperative education work placement program, utilizes the great outdoors as an ideal environment for practical learning, and gives you the opportunity to experience another culture by travelling abroad."

A lot of people that are at this college are from the surrounding areas, but there are a few of us who have travelled from Southern Ontario to come to what I call the Great White North.

I know I am only in my 3rd month now but I love it.  The teachers (Giannina and Rod) are amazing.  The school is a good place, and Thunder Bay is pretty nice too.  I will be here for 2 years. I do not regret coming here, making new friends, participating in school activities, joining clubs and learning tons.  I love it. I highly recommend it. 

Come visit and see what I see.

Sincerely,

Erin

Halloween - class picture of those who dressed up

ACTA Conference video

Adventure Expeditions Wilderness Canoe Trip - 2nd Year September 2014

Adventure Expeditions Wilderness Canoe Trip

This year our canoe trip took us to Finlayson Lake and Marmion Lake from September 6th to September 8th. In spite of very warm weather, all enjoyed the beautiful environment that we were lucky enough to paddle in. We explored Finlayson Lake and then transferred to Marmion Lake. On Marmion Lake the students earned ORCKA Certification in Safe Canoeing and Basic Canoeing.

A lot of students enjoyed the sun (got extra tans in from the beautiful weather), ate delicious meals and had a blast.  The 1st year students cannot wait to take this trip next September - let's hope that the weather is just as good!!!

Tourism - Travel & Eco-Adventure


Students who met in the program and then married.

Stephanie and Jonathon - August 2013

Shannon and Corey - December 2013

I just wanted to update you on my life adventures as an International Travel Consultant for my employer.

First, I want to say I cannot begin to explain or express how valuable everything you taught me is, even though at the time of learning I had NO IDEA I would end up in this line of work but I am so happy I did. The company I work for is awesome! Anyone who says having a job as a travel agent is dumb, or that there is no future because of the internet has no idea what they are talking about. Working in the industry I can now stress the importance of booking with an agent for many reasons.

Let me tell you how awesome my company is! We do work on salary and receive a percentage of our commission and there is never a cap on what we can earn. I like this because if for whatever reason you have a bad month you always have the salary to fall back on or support you. Within my company there is always room for growth as well. They are a company that supports and promotes their employees and you feel that every day through incentives and awards that are constantly being given out. For example, I did a transfer in my second month of $9000 in commission and I have never felt better recognized or appreciated in my life. We are a company full of young, like-minded people so making friends is easier then pie!

On to the perks! I live on Vancouver Island and for training every Monday for 3 weeks they would fly me to Vancouver on the Float plane from our harbour to downtown Vancouver and set me up for the week in a hotel like the Hyatt or Marriot Residence, and then fly me home for weekends. After about a month of working we had our year end party which took place in Vancouver. Once again I was flown to Vancouver and back free of charge where I got to party with all 1000 employees from our western division. It was awesome! We have staff socials every month where awards are given out and where we eat and party together. They are great at creating a welcoming environment and making sure you feel appreciated. Another awesome perk is staff conference. I just got back form a 3 day conference at Sandals in Ocho Rios, Jamaica....completely covered! 3 days of intense learning and fun with 300 other consultants. They basically shut down the resort for us and they made sure that we were not only working hard. Finally there is Global Ball, where my employer honours their best employees every year by bringing them to a very special location for a very special award ceremony and party. This year it is in Macau!
Anyways I just wanted to update you with what I'm doing because it is awesome! Thanks again for everything you guys did and everything you taught me...once again I cannot express the value of it! (I still hate GDS/Apollo) You guys rock!

Sarah

Hey Guys,

I want to thank both Giannina and Rod very much for everything you taught me and the experiences I had with you during the program; it was an awesome 2 years that I am definitely pumped to look back on. Both of your patient, experienced and welcoming personalities were great and it was easy to learn from you guys. I also want to thank you for the grant that summer; if it wasn't for that bursary I wouldn’t have been able to achieve my goals.

I am officially a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor! I spent 3 amazing months in Utila, Honduras and worked my way up the PADI rankings. I logged my 100th dive just before leaving. I saw a 60 foot whale shark, lots of spotted eagle rays, squid, and nurse sharks. I got to swim through a 200 foot long wreck and do a deep dive to 140ft. I am now able to teach from bubble maker program for kids, up to Dive Master professional level, as well as CPR and Oxygen Provider instructor. I plan on getting some money put away this winter and start teaching around home in the spring, and after that who knows where it will take me- this is a water planet after all.

Adam Morrow

Heather Gawley, Wilderness Therapy Instructor - Pine River Institute

My adventure started in September of 2009 when I started in the Tourism - Travel & Eco-Adventure program on a canoe trip in Quetico Provincial Park. I had always been into the outdoors as a kid and thought myself a bit crazy to pursue it as a career.

Heather and co-worker

This program has opened so many doors for me and taught me so many things; I have to thank the instructors for their constant belief in me and their continued support to this day. The Tourism - Travel & Eco-Adventure Program has given me the life I never dreamed was possible. Thank You!

"Adventure is Out There"

During this program we went on many adventures, trips and hikes. Some were planned by the staff and some by the students. We spent weeks at the Nor’West Outdoor Centre near Thunder Bay, giving me the chance to learn different leadership initiatives and group dynamic activities. We learned about Risk Management and Heritage interpretation as well as everything you would need to know to work in the Tourism industry. The teachers worked with me throughout the program to make sure I had all the tools I needed for success in the outdoor industry. They suggested certifications and courses I might want to take to expand my experience in the industry.

I graduated June 2011 and went off into the world to try and make it as an Outdoor Enthusiast. I started small, I worked as a canoe tripper at a summer camp I had worked at in previous years, and migrated from that to a relief position at the Ganaraska Forest Centre in the fall. I spent the winter as a Dog Sled Guide in Algonquin Park and then moved home and worked as a manager at Joyride150 Indoor Bike Park for a year.

I had always thought "no one works in outdoor recreation full-time or as a career" I am now a Full-Time Wilderness Therapy Instructor at Pine River Institute. I work year round in Algonquin Park with youth at risk. It's an amazing adventure and every single day at work is exciting and different. I get the opportunity to take kids out of their Social Media society and teach them the truly amazing things the outdoors can do for your soul. Every night I go to sleep in a sleeping bag with a headlamp in my pocket, and every morning I wake up to the sunrise on the lake.

Heather Gawley