International students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) went rock climbing with the goal of creating a community and making new friends.
For some students, such as Diego Martinez, moved from Mexico to attend KPU, events like this help build his community in Canada.
“Most of my friends I’ve met at KPU, I’ve met through events. I’ve met more friends here than in classes because in class everyone is just focused on what they need to do but these kinds of events everyone is very friendly and they want to meet other people,” says Martinez.
Martinez said starting school as an international student comes with many hurdles, one of which is not feeling a sense of home or community.
That’s something Dmitriy Yerzikov, a Student Life Coordinator, hopes to curb.
“Events like this are important because they help students explore the city, discover new places and feel comfortable here,” says Yerzikov.
For Martinez, it’s not just the people that are new.
“I’ve never done anything like this. Where I’m from we don’t have this sort of thing, so it’s pretty exotic,” he says.
KPU International supports international students and fosters global engagement. It provides a wide range of services, programs, and cultural experiences to enhance the international student experience and promote cross-cultural understanding.