A Canadian consul was on the Island last week to increase interest in studying and training in Canada.

While on the Island, Margaret Gass, consul general from Canada's New York office, met with representatives from the Department of Education, CedarBridge and Berkeley Institute.

She also sat down with Michael Stowe, Executive Officer of the National Training Board (NTB), because of the number of students the NTB sends each year. Mrs. Gass said: "I am here because I work in the immigration section and I am here to recruit interested Bermudians."

The reason to study and train in Canada, according to Mrs. Gass is clear — the cost.

"Definitely cost benefits because in Canada the public education is highly subsidised. Canada has a very multicultural society.

"We feel that international students help the education. We put a premium on very small class sizes and support services for students with special needs."

Subsidised by the Canadian taxpayer, makes the facilities at their secondary schools and universities top-notch without the same price of American or English Universities.

Already Bermuda has more than 200 students travelling to various schools in Canada and the NTB sends between 120 and 130 students for different training courses.

Canada is far easier for students hoping to complete an NTB training course because for the eight weeks they are in the country, the students do not have to apply for visas.

Anyone who studies in Canada for longer than six months must apply for a visa and Mrs. Gass encouraged Bermudians to make sure they are prepared and apply early.

Mr. Stowe, met with Mrs. Gass because of the relationship he has had with Canada since he took the reigns. He said: "The NTB has had a relationship with Canada since I have been here. We continue to seek ways to expand it.

"It's much easier to get there. I am Canada trained so I have a positive bias to sending our students to Canada. We are looking to build more capacity."

That's why next week Mr. Stowe will be travelling to Holland College in Prince Edward Island to research their Maritime Training programme. Training Bermudians in that area is the NTB's focus for 2008-2009, according to Mr. Stowe.