Blog

Interested in moving to the Lower Mainland to go to school? Known as the City of Parks, Surrey is the second largest city in BC and one of the most diverse municipalities in Canada. There have been many recent developments in Surrey, and more are coming in the following years, including:

More Growth

According to Statistics Canada, the population in Surrey grew 18.6% from 2006 to 2011, compared with an average growth of 5.9% across Canada. Over the same period, the number of residents who occupied private dwellings increased by 16.5%, compared with an increase of 7.1% in Canada, likely thanks to affordable housing in Surrey.
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Have you done your taxes already? If the answer is yes, you should seriously consider becoming an Accounting and Payroll Administrator. If not, here are some tips to help maximize this years tax return! Even if you are a student and/or do not earn a high or steady income, you can still claim tax credits and other significant benefits from Canada Revenue Agency.

If you are attending a post-secondary institution, you may qualify for a student tax credit of $400 (full-time) or $120 (part-time) per month on your tuition fees. That’s per month!
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Have you heard? March 8th is International Women’s Day. First celebrated in 1909 as National Woman’s Day (United States), and internationally since 1911, this is a day for recognizing the rights and achievements of women throughout history and across the world.

The official theme for this year is The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum, a call for change and celebration of progress made towards gender equality. You can read about past themes on the official website, and browse through over 1,000 supporters’ initiatives and events (including pages promoted by governments, charities, and media).
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You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.) (Dr. Seuss)

Commencement season is here! This year, Sprott Shaw will host a graduation ceremony for all Lower Mainland campuses on May 22. If you are one of the participating students, congratulations on your achievement! We hope what you have learned here will help you achieve your career and life goals.

If you were planning to receive your certificate or diploma by mail, here are some stats that might get you in a more celebratory mood:

• By 2016, there won’t be enough post-secondary grads in BC to fill job openings;
• Post-secondary graduates earn significantly more on average than high school graduates (Source)

Convocation will take place at 7:00pm, at the Centre for Performing Arts, 777 Homer St., Vancouver. Cake and refreshments will be provided. Contact your campus for more information.

Whether or not you belong to the 30% of the population (estimated) who are shy or introverted, job interviews can make you feel like a lost Dorothy or cowardly lion. Here are some tips that may help:

1. “What’s that one thing you haven’t got?”

You already have a brain and heart, but getting real certification will help. There is always room to upgrade your education and/or job skills, and you will feel more confident knowing you are highly qualified for the career you want.

2. Follow the Good Witch’s advice

From career counsellors to job search websites, you can now find useful interview advice more easily than ever. Learn about your potential employer and desired position, and prepare interview questions and answers in advance. Friends can also help you on your merry way by, for example, roleplaying or acting out possible interview scenarios with you.
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Our new satellite campus in Richmond has opened! This latest addition to the Sprott Shaw College family is newly furnished and fully equipped, and classes are now running.

Our newest campus features a spacious student lounge, kitchenette, and free Wi-Fi access. This new lounge makes the perfect place for socializing with other students or group study sessions between classes. The campus is located on Cambie Road near No. 3 Road, and is easily accessible by car or public transit (Aberdeen – Canada Line Skytrain station).

Most of our college programs will be available at the new campus. Plus – spoiler alert! – we will soon offer a unique selection of programs tailored to the local community.

Tired of giving “the world’s best back rub” in your living room? You should reach for a real career in the growing industry of spa services with those magic fingers.

Human touch increases your production of the hormone oxytocin – which lowers stress and promotes empathy – helps your body recover from illness and injuries, and reduces anxiety- and depression-related health issues. As a Spa Therapist, you can offer a healing hand (or two) to clients at day spas, clinics, hotels, resorts, hot springs, and even aboard cruise ships. The spa industry gives you the opportunity to promote health, relaxation, and flexibility while maintaining an equally flexible work schedule – this is a career with the human touch!
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Happy Valentines Day from the staff and students of our campuses across the province!

Are you still putting off plans to go back to school? Better stop procrastinating: according to the Research Universities’ Council of BC, by 2016 there will be more jobs that require post-secondary or trades credentials than individuals with such credentials. The Council expects the unmet need to then increase over the following years.

On the plus side, the Council has proposed for more student bursaries and scholarships to be offered, so if you have been putting your education and/or career on hold for financial reasons, this could be just what you need. To help get you going, Sprott Shaw also offers various grants and scholarships, possible payment plans, assistance with BC and Canada student loans, and lifetime career assistance.

Click here to find out more about student financial assistance.

With post-secondary degrees seemingly becoming the norm, this report may come as a surprise. Are tuition fees and/or costs of living too high in BC, or are there more pressing reasons? What do you think?

Remember how, back in third grade, you would not-so-secretly send Valentines to your classmates every February 14th? Remember that one lucky year when you found a voucher for free ice cream in your pile of Valentine’s cards?

This Valentine’s Day, Sprott Shaw wants you to love school all over again. Simply send us a “Valentine”, and you could win a free $50 Boston Pizza gift card.

Here are some ways for you to show us your love:
• Take a picture with your favourite Sprott Shaw instructor, staff member, advisor, or classmate.
• Take a picture of yourself making a heart shape with your hands on any Sprott Shaw campus.
• Write a love sonnet for the school (Disclaimer: Does not have to be a real sonnet).
• Record a video.
• Think of other creative ways of showing your love – surprise us!

Post your photo, poem, or video to our Facebook page by February 15th (late entries aren’t exactly… romantic). We will choose our favourite entry by February 19th, and reciprocate with something you love: free food.

Happy Valentine’s Day!