362 Mariposa Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1M 0T3, Canada
1003 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4P3, Canada
1891
1979
730
1700
4 to 12
9 to 12
Coed
Coed
Homestay, Day, Boarding
Day, Boarding
English, French
English
Academic
Academic
Traditional, International Baccalaureate
Traditional
17
12 to 22
Accelerated curriculum
In-class adaptations
$33,720
$76,380
$3,000
Yes
No
10%
0%
7 to 12
None
$15,000
$0
81
425
15%
100%
70%
86%
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
9, 10, 11, 12
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Dec 01, 2023
Rolling
Rolling
Rolling
Yes: grades 4 - 12
No
No
No
information not available
While some schools pride themselves on being small, Columbia finds its strength in being large—with a student population in excess of 1800, it is easily the largest boarding school in Canada. What Columbia might lack in intimacy it gains in the ability to provide a wealth of supports and programs that smaller schools simply can't. The school maintains extensive liaison offices, a dedicated guidance staff, and even its own medical clinic. The faculty, through size and experience, is remarkably adept at providing a quality, well-rounded education with an eye to success in postsecondary education. The school provides ESL to students who need it, and liaises directly with universities in Canada and beyond in order to facilitate the transition to postsecondary education. In all, the school excels at doing what it was created to do: to support the university-bound international learner who is living away from home within a culture, and at times a language, that is unfamiliar.
Read The Our Kids Review of Columbia International College
Ashbury celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2021, making it one of the oldest schools in the nation. Of that class, it’s also one of the larger schools, with an annual enrollment in the 800 range. There are benefits to size, and Ashbury displays them, with a wealth of extra-curricular activities and co-curricular programs. The school was founded by a graduate of Oxford, Canon George Penrose Woollcombe, who cast the school within the academic tradition that Oxford was, and is, an example of. That said, times change, and certainly Ashbury did as well. The school was an early adopter of global education, most obviously with the addition of the IB program in 1976. Girls were enrolled in 1982, and while the boys still marginally outnumber the girls, the school continues to move toward gender parity. The list of alumni is impressive, including a prime minister, John Turner, and a Nobel laureate, Douglass North. The ideal student is one looking for a challenge, and who can function well in very active curricular and extracurricular environments.
View full reportWhile some schools pride themselves on being small, Columbia finds its strength in being large—with a student population in excess of 1800, it is easily the largest boarding school in Canada. What Columbia might lack in intimacy it gains in the ability to provide a wealth of supports and programs that smaller schools simply can't. The school maintains extensive liaison offices, a dedicated guidance staff, and even its own medical clinic. The faculty, through size and experience, is remarkably adept at providing a quality, well-rounded education with an eye to success in postsecondary education. The school provides ESL to students who need it, and liaises directly with universities in Canada and beyond in order to facilitate the transition to postsecondary education. In all, the school excels at doing what it was created to do: to support the university-bound international learner who is living away from home within a culture, and at times a language, that is unfamiliar.
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"Established in 1891, Ashbury College is an IB coeducational facility recognized as one of Canada’s leading day and boarding schools for students in Grades 4–12. Motivated students from 60+ countries benefit from rigorous academic programs, over 70 co-curricular activities, 100% university placement rate, and an average class size of 17."
"Columbia International College is Canada’s largest private boarding school, offering Grades 9 to 12 programs. Our Total Care Education System® ensures that every student’s academic, social, emotional and physical needs are tended to. We are #1 in offers of admission from the University of Toronto, University of Waterloo and McMaster University. We are also #1 in scholarships awarded by universities. We offer the only official University of Toronto partnership program - the Elite Pathway Partnership Program."
"Ashbury offers our students boundless opportunities for learning beyond the classroom from our broad range of co-curricular activities, athletic opportunities and artistic endeavours to our Internship Program that provides students the chance to explore various career options. Ashbury is actively involved in the Round Square Program including the opportunity for our students to take part in the International Exchange Program."
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"Ashbury is proud of its 100% IB Certificate completion rate and university placement record. Attending Ashbury opens doors to the future for our graduates."
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"The location of the Ashbury in the heart of the Nation's Capital, Ottawa, provides a number of unique opportunities for our students including access to a multitude of museums, galleries, and learning centres such as the Global Centre for Pluralism. Ottawa is surrounded by a variety of greenspaces in which to learn and play. Ashbury actively engages our students with the greater Ottawa community through our charitable activities and our ongoing relationship with our local Indigenous partners."
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"Given our rich history, many families are surprised to see our state-of-the-art education spaces including our Design Technology and Science labs, Arts studios and Music facilities, and Library and Learning Commons. Your child will have access to vibrant, modern learning facilities that are truly conducive to teaching innovation and learning."
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Together towards the future—Ensemble vers l’avenir.
From our home in Canada’s capital city, Ashbury College is a centre for excellence in international teaching and learning, where enthusiasm permeates life both in and out of the classroom. Our goal is to not only get students to new destinations but also to help them develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed and adapt to the challenges they will face.
This is a close and diverse school community that integrates young children with pre-university students. In a supportive environment, we challenge students to step out of their comfort zones and to think critically and globally—all while ensuring the simple, yet important, formalities of manners and respect are not overlooked.
A wealth of co-curricular clubs, sports, and arts activities bring learning to a lively stage, and our international orientation permeates school life on so many levels. Bien entendu, l’école se trouve dans la capitale nationale, et l’école démontre l’importance des deux langues nationales, en offrant plusieurs options bilingue. As we look past our 130+ years teaching bright young minds, being innovative while not abandoning the tried and tested will inspire our teaching and learning pedagogy and prepare students for the future.
Ashbury College is an exciting place to be, and I invite you to discover the advantages and experiences we have to offer.
Norman Southward
Head of School—Directeur
Welcome!
As Principal of Columbia International College, my belief is that in order for your children to be successful as international students, they need to be cared for as if they were at home with you. All my teachers and staff share the same belief.
The need for students to learn in an environment where they are well supported is the chief concern that thousands upon thousands of parents have shared with us over the years. From its beginning in 1979, CIC was built to address this concern. We wanted to make sure that every international student could study in a fully supported environment of caring: academically, socially, emotionally and physically.
We created an approach that would do just that – look after the whole child around the clock. We call it the Total Care Education System®. It’s a study environment where the academic program, the staff and the facilities are fully integrated as one – all geared towards helping students achieve success and give parents peace of mind.
After almost 40 years, we are proud of how well our Total Care approach works. Our students are most successful in getting admitted to some of the world’s best universities and receiving admission scholarships. Our consistent, proven track record has gained the confidence among parents from over 100 countries.
But most important to me, it’s how the students have achieved success: in a supportive environment, one where they can study in health, safety and happiness and where their parents can be fully confident that they are being cared for.
Columbia International College can make the difference in how your child can go higher with their future: positively building their character and helping them to be responsible, global citizens. Through our brochure and website, you can learn more about how Total Care Education System provides peace of mind for parents and fosters success for students.
If you have any questions about our approach, please reach out to me personally at [email protected].
Traditional
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Traditional curricula tend to be very content-based and rooted in the core disciplines. It is a structured approach that involves the teacher delivering a unified curriculum through direct instruction. Students usually learn by observing and listening to their teacher, studying facts and concepts in textbooks, and completing both tests and written assignments - which challenge students to not only demonstrate their mastery of content but their ability to analyze and deconstruct it critically. Class discussions are also used to create critical dialogue around the content of the curriculum.
Traditional curricula tend to be very content-based and rooted in the core disciplines. It is a structured approach that involves the teacher delivering a unified curriculum through direct instruction. Students usually learn by observing and listening to their teacher, studying facts and concepts in textbooks, and completing both tests and written assignments - which challenge students to not only demonstrate their mastery of content but their ability to analyze and deconstruct it critically. Class discussions are also used to create critical dialogue around the content of the curriculum.
Some private schools offer International Baccalaureate (IB) programming. The "Diploma Programme" is offered to students in the final two years of high school, while the "Primary Years Programme" (ages 3 to 12) and "Middle Years Programme" (ages 11 to 16) serve as preparation for the diploma program.
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The liberal education provided by the Ashbury College teaches students to think, speak and write clearly, critically and creatively. It leads them to explore the core subjects that comprise our human heritage and are the hallmarks of an educated person. It develops a healthy body and illuminates the spirit by inspiring students to look beyond themselves towards the greater good. Ashbury graduates enter university with the knowledge, skills, integrity and compassion born of careful scholarship, richly rewarding faculty contacts, physical activity and spiritual reflection.
CIC offers a wide variety of courses to enable students to meet the admission requirements for their desired university programs. https://www.cic-totalcare.com/total-care-education/total-care-learning/courses/ CIC has a Traditional approach to Curriculum. Traditional curricula tend to be very content-based and rooted in the core disciplines. It is a structured approach that involves the teacher delivering a unified curriculum through direct instruction. Students usually learn by observing and listening to their teacher, studying facts and concepts in textbooks, and completing both tests and written assignments - which challenge students to not only demonstrate their mastery of content but their ability to analyze and deconstruct it critically. Class discussions are also used to create critical dialogue around the content of the curriculum.
Equal Balance
Traditional Math typically teaches a method or algorithm FIRST, and THEN teaches the applications for the method. Traditional algorithms are emphasized and practiced regularly: repetition and drills are frequently used to ensure foundational mastery in the underlying mathematical procedures. The traditional approach to math views math education as akin to building a logical edifice: each brick depends on the support of the previously laid ones, which represent mastery over a particular procedure or method. Traditional Math begins by giving students a tool, and then challenges students to practice using that tool an applied way, with progressively challenging problems. In this sense Traditional Math aims to establish procedural understanding before conceptual and applied understanding.
These math programs feature an equal balance of “Traditional” and “Discovery” methods.
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Whole Language reading programs eschew sublexical (under the word-level) training, focusing instead on getting students to infer and guess at words based on their understanding of the larger meaning of the sentence (“context-clues”). Students are given ample opportunity to read actual literature (age-appropriate) along with strategies for using semantic-based clues to pronounce unrecognized words.
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Programs that balance systematic and process approaches equally likely have an emphasis on giving young students ample opportunities to write, while providing supplementary class-wide instruction in grammar, parts of sentences, and various writing strategies.
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Equal Balance
Science programs that balance expository and inquiry learning equally will likely have an equal blend of tests and experiments; direct, textbook-based instruction and student-centred projects.
Science programs that balance expository and inquiry learning equally will likely have an equal blend of tests and experiments; direct, textbook-based instruction and student-centred projects.
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Evolution as consensus theory
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories
Evolution is not taught
Evolution as consensus theory
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories
Evolution is not taught
Physics
Equal Balance
These literature programs draw in equal measure from “Traditional” and “Social Justice” programs.
These literature programs draw in equal measure from “Traditional” and “Social Justice” programs.
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Ancient lit
English lit
World (non-Western) lit
European (continental) lit
American lit
Canadian lit
Ancient lit
English lit
World (non-Western) lit
European (continental) lit
American lit
Canadian lit
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The Thematic approach organizes the curriculum around certain themes or cultural universals. Students might spend time focused on food. Then they might focus on transportation or government, and so on.
Not applicable
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Equal Balance
These programs represent an equal balance between the perennialist and pragmatic approach to teaching the humanities and social sciences.
These programs represent an equal balance between the perennialist and pragmatic approach to teaching the humanities and social sciences.
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Equal Balance
These programs feature an equal blend of the audio-lingual and communicative styles of language instruction.
These programs feature an equal blend of the audio-lingual and communicative styles of language instruction.
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Hebrew
ESL
Spanish
Russian
Latin
Japanese
Italian
Greek
German
French
Chinese-Mandarin
Chinese-Cantonese
Hebrew
ESL
Spanish
Russian
Latin
Japanese
Italian
Greek
German
French
Chinese-Mandarin
Chinese-Cantonese
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Equal Balance
These programs have an equal emphasis on receptive and creative learning.
These programs have an equal emphasis on receptive and creative learning.
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Acting
Dance
Drama/Theatre
Graphic Design
Music
Visual Arts
Acting
Dance
Drama/Theatre
Graphic Design
Music
Visual Arts
Medium integration
Effort is made to integrate the development of digital literacy through the curriculum. However, this is not a dominant focus.
Effort is made to integrate the development of digital literacy through the curriculum. However, this is not a dominant focus.
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Web design
Robotics
Computer science
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Not applicable
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Standard-enriched
The main curriculum accelerates beyond the pace of the provincial one; ALL students do the work of OLDER public-school peers in tangible and measurable ways. This accelerated pace is maintained by the teachers and school, (through textbook selection, topic selection, grading, assignment standards and expectations, etc).
Broadly-speaking, the main curriculum -- like that of most schools -- paces the provincially-outlined one. This pace is steady and set by the teachers and school. The curriculum might still be enriched in various ways: covering topics more in-depth and with more vigor than the provincial one, or covering a broader selection of topics.
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Rigorous
A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.
A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.
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"We honour and distinguish our brightest students, using them as examples for other students to follow."
"We honour and distinguish our brightest students, using them as examples for other students to follow."
Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
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CompetitiveComp. |
RecreationalRec. |
CompetitiveComp. |
RecreationalRec. |
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Badminton |
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Baseball |
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Basketball |
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Canoeing/Kayaking |
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Cricket |
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Cross-country skiing |
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Cycling |
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Downhill skiing |
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Equestrian |
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Fencing |
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Field Hockey |
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Figure Skating |
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Football |
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Golf |
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Gymnastics |
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Ice Hockey |
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Ice Skating |
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Lacrosse |
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Martial Arts |
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Mountain biking |
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Racquet Ball |
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Rowing |
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Rugby |
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Running |
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Sailing |
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Skateboarding |
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Snowboarding |
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Soccer |
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Softball |
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Squash |
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Swimming |
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Tennis |
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Track & Field |
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Volleyball |
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Weightlifting |
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Wrestling |
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Archery |
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Curling |
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Ultimate |
Ballet and Classical Ballet
Yoga
Yearbook
Student Council
Scouting
Science Club
School newspaper
Round Square
Robotics club
Radio club
Poetry/Literature club
Photography
Paintball
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Club
Online Magazine
Musical theatre/Opera
Math Club
Jazz Ensemble
Habitat for Humanity
Foreign Language Club
Environmental Club
Drama Club
Debate Club
Dance Club
Computer Club
Community Service
Choir
Chess Club
Band
Audiovisual Club
Astronomy Club
Art Club
Animation
Ballet and Classical Ballet
Yoga
Yearbook
Student Council
Scouting
Science Club
School newspaper
Round Square
Robotics club
Radio club
Poetry/Literature club
Photography
Paintball
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Club
Online Magazine
Musical theatre/Opera
Math Club
Jazz Ensemble
Habitat for Humanity
Foreign Language Club
Environmental Club
Drama Club
Debate Club
Dance Club
Computer Club
Community Service
Choir
Chess Club
Band
Audiovisual Club
Astronomy Club
Art Club
Animation
7 - 12
10%
0%
$15,000
$0
70%
86%
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
9, 10, 11, 12
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Dec 01, 2023
Rolling
Rolling
Rolling
Yes: grades 4 - 12
No
No
No
No
No
Yes: grades 4 - 12
Yes: grades 9 - 12
No
No
No
No
We are looking for curious and engaged students who will contribute to Ashbury College in many different ways. We have a very diverse student body that is highly involved in many different aspects of life at Ashbury College.
Students who are pursuing OSSD and post-secondary education.
Confidential Reference
We require one Confidential Reference per applicant from their Math or English teacher. The Confidential Reference Request is found in the applicant's checklist found on the MySchoolApp portal.
Application Fee
The $200.00 application fee is non-refundable and is payable by Visa, MasterCard or American Express.
School Reports
The applicant’s final report card from their last completed academic year, as well as any interim report cards as they become available, may be uploaded to the MySchoolApp portal.
Interview
All applicants will be interviewed during their Day Visit. Applicants unable to visit Ashbury College must participate in a telephone or Zoom interview. To schedule your interview please contact us at [email protected] or +1.613.749.5954.
Day Visit
Grades 4–8 applicants must spend a day at the school at any time during the application process. Grades 9 – 12 applicants are encouraged, but not required, to spend a day at Ashbury College at any time during the application process. Applicants living at a distance are excused from the Day Visit requirement. Please email [email protected] or call +1.613.749.5954 to make arrangements for a Day Visit
Entrance Examination
The Entrance Exam consists of an online standardized multiple-choice test for reading and mathematics skills at the applicant’s last completed grade level. Registration information will be sent through the online application process.
Students may also write the SSAT (Additional Fee).
Financial Assistance Program
If you are interested in financial assistance, please contact us at [email protected] or +1.613.749.5954.
Students are asked to submit their transcripts from their previous school with their application form.
362 Mariposa Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1M 0T3, Canada
1003 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4P3, Canada
