"We're a second career college," says Kathy Bell, Director of Education at Integra College. "We've developed programs for people who are recently retired or transitioning to a calmer working lifestyle, but who don't necessarily want to stop working."
Integra College was founded by Bob Hanley, its current president, and is based on Bob's experience in teaching health practitioners to better serve our ageing population. Kathy, meanwhile, spent over twenty years in the post-secondary education sector and is passionate about working with people.
"Integra College combines Bob's experience in the field of seniors' wellness with my career in teaching college-level courses and English as a second language (ESL) to academics and professionals," Kathy explains.
Offering a combination of online and classroom instruction Integra College operates a campus in Port Moody. Programs are designed for students who have spent a lifetime in caring professions—such as teachers, doctors, and nurses—and who want to continue interacting with people and contributing to society as they enter retirement.
"We offer programs for people who want to embark on a second career, but who don't want to take a long, drawn-out course," says Kathy. "For example, a full massage program can take two years or more, whereas our certificate course focusing on chair massage can be completed in as little as 30 days."
Integra College is accredited by the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA), part of the Ministry of Advanced Education of B.C. that is tasked with regulating educational standards in British Columbia's post-secondary training institutions.
"Students can feel confident that we offer high-quality programs," says Kathy, "and be confident that they are dealing with a reputable college."
For more information about Integra College and their courses, phone 604.475.8665, visit their website at http://www.integracollege.org, or email [email protected]. The campus is located at 320-205 Newport Drive, Port Moody. Integra College can also be found on Facebook and Vimeo.
