Languages Canada vows to help students affected by "sudden and disorderly" ILAC closure

Languages Canada is now working to find alternative programs for the 1,362 students left scrambling from the abrupt closure of Canada’s largest language school – announced via ILAC’s webiste late on Friday.

A statement from Languages Canada’s executive director Gonzalo Peralta acknowleded that the “sudden and disorderly closure” announcement – which he said had been communicated to the organisation via a surprise phone call on Friday – would be “a shock to everyone”.

“Many have expressed disbelief, confusion, sadness, and anger,” he said, noting that ripple effects woud be “felt for a long time and across many borders”.

Peralta stressed that Languages Canada’s immediate priority was to find alternative classes for the students affected, although he said placement dates could not be guaranteed. And he warned that travel, accommodation and insurance could not be covered by Languages Canada.

The news that ILAC had filed for bankruptcy protection rippled across the sector this weekend, with staff posting on social media that they had no idea of the impending closure.

We are truly devastated by the news and the impact on the thousands of people affectedGonzalo Peralta, ILAC

It comes just days after the closure of another major player in the ELT sector, with EC English announcing that it was closing all 25 of its global language schools last Monday – citing “challenging financial conditions and the failure to secure additional investment”.

While Peralta said that Languages Canada had managed find alternative places for students affected by EC’s closure within just four days, he warned that ILAC’s sudden closure “multiplies the challenge nearly threefold”.

He said that students whose programs were ending the soonest would be given priority to make sure they lost as few classes as possible. Meanwhile, Languages Canada will work with the Ontario and British Colombia governments to keep them up to date on the situation, he added.

“We are truly devastated by the news and the impact on the thousands of people affected,” said Peralta. “While our immediate operational focus is on the language students at ILAC, we understand that ILAC’s agency partners are also reeling from the news, as is everyone connected with the students.”

“I would also like to recognise all the people working at ILAC and the terrible news they received on Friday afternoon.”

An updated statement from ILAC about its closure revealed that the group had grappled with mounting financial pressures for the past three years, citing “significant regulatory changes affecting the sector”.

“Throughout this period, we have done everything possible to ensure the school has the resources it needs to operate, while continuing to offer high-quality education to our students. Despite these best efforts, ILAC no longer has the financial resources necessary to continue operating,” the statement said.

However, ILAC acknowledged that it “deeply regrets the challenges our community will face because of this news” and said it was working with regulators to help minimise the fallout on students, employees and partners”.

The most recent data from Languages Canada warned that the country’s ELT sector had reached “a state of crisis”, with restrictive immigration policies driving a 13% drop off in student numbers.