Celebrating 25 Years of the Gulf Islands International Student Program (GIISP)
by Steve Dawson

In 1999, Gulf Island Secondary School had a problem. Unlike the colourful mosaics and stained-glass windows in the building’s modern design, GISS students had little diversity and came largely from the same ethnic backgrounds. While global awareness and cultural understanding were key values held by the school, they were not exactly reflected in reality. To address this, Scott Bergstrome, then Vice Principal, developed the Gulf Islands International Student Program (GIISP).

Bergstrome led the program as Director and brought Sheri Wakefield on board as Homestay and Student Services Coordinator. They launched GIISP by welcoming 118 students from Kobe, Japan, for a 10-day visit to the island and school. This initial challenge ended up being a glowing success. The team soon followed up with a second achievement: the first full-time international student at GISS. And with each following year the program grew and grew.

Just five years after launching the program, classes were enriched by students from five different countries. These new student numbers helped keep the classrooms full as the local student population declined. It was clear then that the program was working, and that each student could breathe new life into the school and Salt Spring community.

The program would go on to welcome nearly 2000 students from 20 different countries. While some students would stay short-term (less than a month), most would attend GISS for a single semester, a full school year, or several years to complete their studies and graduate.

From the beginning, GISS teachers, students, and staff have maintained inclusive and engaging relationships with international students, dissolving barriers and building lasting connections.

“I will never forget the warm, nurturing atmosphere of the community and the people around me,” Ryo, from Japan, reflects, “who have been and will always be the most important part of my life.”

Unique experiences weren’t limited to school hours, either. Students cultivated unique connections with their hosting family, known as homestays. Homestays have played a vital role in the program since the beginning. These kind and reliable Salt Spring residents open their homes to international students, providing shelter, food, and support.

The benefit for homestays and their students is mutual. Reciprocity is a key component of the program, as demonstrated by positive experiences from all involved. While homestays are compensated for hosting services, the true value extends well beyond this.

“Students bring a level of renewed energy into the home…” reports Lina, a homestay for almost 3 years. “Some only stay for a short time, and some become lifelong friends.”

Melanie and Simon, homestays for nearly a decade, found the entire experience positive and rewarding, even considering their students as family. This sentiment is echoed by another homestay, Sue: “You gain a new family member, and sometimes a whole new family.”

Salt Spring businesses have also sung the praises of international students, especially local restaurants and cafes. The island is well-known as a tourist hot spot during the Spring and Summer, but business typically dips in the Fall and Winter months. As full-time students study between September and June, they often dine out and bolster business during these slower seasons.

Now, 25 years later, GISS has welcomed nearly 2,000 students from an expanding list of nationalities. Celebrating a quarter century of global education, the international program continues to enrich cultural understanding for Salt Spring in general and its secondary school in particular. With pride for the past, gratitude for the present, and optimism for the future, the GISS International Program ensures that international students and the island community continue to flourish together.

For more information on the GIISP or being a homestay, please contact Sheri Wakefield at swakefield@sd64.org or visit us on http://www.studyinbc.ca