Stanstead College is located in a small town in the beautiful Eastern Townships of Quebec. The school is the major employer in the area and works hard to maintain a positive relationship with the town. This is a great strength as well as a challenge. The setting is spectacular. The school provides transportation to and from Montreal as some find the school a little out of the way. International students are greeted upon their arrival at the airport if requested.
I grew up in Stanstead (which is somewhat uncommon for a Stanstead student) and from a Stansteader’s point of view, the school is held in high regard. The students frequently partake in community service events and once a year, the entire school ventures out to clean up and help out the town of Stanstead. The town of Stanstead is very safe and friendly which is likely reassuring to a international parent. The size of Stanstead (population of approximately only 2000 people) may be somewhat surprising to a student coming from a city. However, with many of their fellow students experiencing the same transition, the adaptation to living in a quite town like Stanstead is made much easier.
Stanstead is a very small town on the Quebec-Vermont border. While students do venture off school property their options are pretty limited to the ice cream shop, convenience store, grocery store etc. That being said, the campus and surrounding areas are very picturesque, and the school offers a number of regular activities to keep students engaged, and focused within this beautiful environment.