Archive for category: Blog

Vancouver, a city on Canada’s west coast, is affectionately known as Raincouver due to its frequent rain. Situated in a lush, green region called a temperate rainforest, Vancouver gets rain throughout the year. Winters are mild but wet, while summers are drier but still see occasional showers, which keep the city’s nature vibrant and green.

Despite the rain, Vancouver’s natural beauty shines. Stanley Park, a famous urban park, thrives with towering trees and scenic trails thanks to the rainfall. Residents and visitors embrace the outdoors, wearing rain jackets to enjoy parks, beaches, and waterfronts even when it’s drizzling.

The Raincouver nickname isn’t just about the weather; it’s part of the city’s culture and art. Writers and artists find inspiration in misty mountains, reflections in puddles, and the fog that sometimes blankets the skyline. Vancouver’s cultural scene also thrives indoors, with theaters, galleries, and cozy cafes bustling on rainy days.

Locals take pride in Raincouver with humor and resilience. Rainy days are perfect for exploring indoor markets, meeting friends at breweries, or enjoying comforting meals made with local ingredients. The rain also contributes to clean air and supports diverse wildlife, enhancing Vancouver’s natural environment.

As Vancouver grows as a global city, its Raincouver identity remains strong. It symbolizes the city’s resilience, natural beauty, and a lifestyle blending city sophistication with outdoor adventures. Rain in Vancouver isn’t seen as a problem but as part of what makes the city unique and charming, where every raindrop adds to its character and allure.

About Cloud Nine College  

Cloud Nine College is a premier vocational (Co-Op) college offering a range of specialized co-op courses and comprehensive Intensive English Programs, including test preparation courses for IELTS and general and business ESL courses to international students. It coordinates its programs uniquely in such ways that students can advance their education to the next level at universities and job opportunities.  

CNC is also an online education platform offering online certificate, diploma, higher diploma, and postgraduate diploma programs progressing to online and offline undergraduate and postgraduate degrees awarded by various educational institutions and universities around the world.

Cloud Nine College started as a language training institution back in 2010 and now has expanded into providing career training programs:  

• Hotel and Restaurant Management Co-op Diploma  
• Hotel and Restaurant Management Co-op Certificate  
• International Trade and Business Management Co-op Diploma  
• Professional Sales Co-op Certificate  

Learn more about CNC at www.cloudninecollege.com/ 

The cherry blossom, or Sakura, is the flower of trees in Prunus subgenus Cerasus. “Sakura” usually refers to flowers of ornamental cherry trees, such as cultivars of Prunus serrulata. Cherry blossoms have been described as having a vanilla-like smell, which is mainly attributed to coumarin. (reference)

The history of cherry blossoms in Canada relates to the enduring friendship between Canada and Japan. The first cherry blossom trees were given to the residents of Toronto in 1959 by the Japanese ambassador to Canada. (They were given on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo in appreciation for Toronto’s acceptance of re-located Japanese Canadian refugees. Robert Kadoguchi, the eventual founding president of the Japanese Cultural Centre, was instrumental in arranging the shipment. He described the gift as “a tangible expression of Japan’s gratitude to Toronto for accepting us warmly during the distressing period of the Second World War and the years immediately following the termination of hostilities.”) (reference)

Toronto’s High Park is one of the most iconic cherry blossom locations in the country. Thousands of people come here every spring to see the beautiful pink petals. Comparably, the Cherry Blossom Festival in Vancouver draws both locals and visitors, honouring the beauty of the flowers with activities including picnics, concerts, and art exhibits.

This gesture marked the beginning of a tradition that has since grown across the country. Over the years, more cherry blossom trees were donated to numerous Canadian cities, such as Ottawa, Vancouver, and Montreal. The everlasting friendship and cross-cultural interaction between Canada and Japan are represented by these.

The cherry blossoms have become a cherished symbol of springtime in Canada, representing renewal, beauty, and the enduring bonds of friendship between nations. They serve as a reminder of the importance of cultural exchange and the beauty that can emerge from such connections.

About Cloud Nine College  

Cloud Nine College is a premier vocational (Co-Op) college offering a range of specialized co-op courses and comprehensive Intensive English Programs, including test preparation courses for IELTS and general and business ESL courses to international students. It coordinates its programs uniquely in such ways that students can advance their education to the next level at universities and job opportunities.  

CNC is also an online education platform offering online certificate, diploma, higher diploma, and postgraduate diploma programs progressing to online and offline undergraduate and postgraduate degrees awarded by various educational institutions and universities around the world.

Cloud Nine College started as a language training institution back in 2010 and now has expanded into providing career training programs:  

• Hotel and Restaurant Management Co-op Diploma  
• Hotel and Restaurant Management Co-op Certificate  
• International Trade and Business Management Co-op Diploma  
• Professional Sales Co-op Certificate  

Learn more about CNC at www.cloudninecollege.com/  

Vancouver is the city called “the most desirable place to live in the world!” Though it’s a chic metropolis, the vast outdoors is only a short distance away. As well as beautiful summertime with its moderate temperature and long daytime, Vancouver in wintertime is also attractive with many to do!

The great thing about Vancouver is that you can not only look at it, but also actively play with the illuminations.

First and foremost, you must visit the “Capilano Suspension Bridge Park” at least once in your lifetime. Attracting over 800,000 visitors annually, the forest that the West Coast’s temperate rainforest nurtures has grown into a big park. The park, which opened roughly 130 years ago, has a ton of exciting attractions! During wintertime, the bridge and forests all around is decorated with colourful illuminations which attracts about 10000 visitors a day. Though it is almost the end of this illumination period, please visit next year!

Second option to enjoy Vancouver in winter would be Grouse Mountain, one of Vancouver’s three ski resorts. It is popular for its abundance of skiers and snowboarders, but it’s also a great place to go just for sightseeing as well as in the summer. To go to Grouse Mountain, take a sea bus from downtown to North Vancouver, then transfer to another bus. The obstacles are few and you can get there on your own, even if you are just visiting for tourism.

For most of the season, there is no snow at the foot of the mountain. However, when you go up in the gondola, you can see the view of complete white, a true winter wonderland.

Please don’t hesitate to visit Vancouver in winter, thinking it would be super chilly and dark!!

Vancouver offers various unique experiences with the aim of savouring winter.

About Cloud Nine College  

Cloud Nine College is a premier vocational (Co-Op) college offering a range of specialized co-op courses and comprehensive Intensive English Programs, including test preparation courses for IELTS and general and business ESL courses to international students. It coordinates its programs uniquely in such ways that students can advance their education to the next level at universities and job opportunities.  

CNC is also an online education platform offering online certificate, diploma, higher diploma, and postgraduate diploma programs progressing to online and offline undergraduate and postgraduate degrees awarded by various educational institutions and universities around the world.

Cloud Nine College started as a language training institution back in 2010 and now has expanded into providing career training programs:  

• Hotel and Restaurant Management Co-op Diploma  
• Hotel and Restaurant Management Co-op Certificate  
• International Trade and Business Management Co-op Diploma  
• Professional Sales Co-op Certificate  

Learn more about CNC at www.cloudninecollege.com/  

It was during the pandemic in 2020 that we started thinking about going to Canada. We initially took the express entry route, but it was challenging to look for a direct employer that would provide a job offer. Later on, we decided to change our pathway to student, though it’s more expensive, but why not take the risk?

Luckily, we were given a chance to immigrate here—my partner as a student and myself as an open work permit. It was in the fall of 2022 when we arrived in Canada. Right after we settled into our new home, I got a job and started working. Honestly, it was not easy at first because it’s not the same work experience I had back in the Philippines. I work two jobs, one in the casino and one at Tim Hortons. I have managed to continue working at the casino because I love interacting with people. As time went on, I quit Tim Hortons, but it was a great experience, and I liked it. I never thought that I could get things out of my comfort zone. I quit Tim Hortons because of a better opportunity, which is as admin staff at Cloud Nine College. Again, not my line of work back home. It was a whole new experience, and it’s great working with diverse people, including professors and students.

As for my partner, she is studying and working at the same time. Since the government lifted the allowable hours of work for students, she took advantage of working full time, and during her rest days she must be at the school. Juggling studies and work is also a tough thing to do. It is not a bed full of roses. You should endure the sacrifices you made. I think this is the reality of life here in Canada, but I must say it was all worth it to take the risk! It’s been a year since we came here. We have managed to strike a balance between study and work and are enjoying our stay here!

In conclusion, it is all about being 100% ready for whatever decisions you make in life. If you are physically, mentally, spiritually, and financially prepared, everything and anything is possible! To all the aspiring immigrants, if you want it, pursue it. If you made it here, no turning back; just move forward, whatever it takes, as there’s no shortcut to success!

About Cloud Nine College  

Cloud Nine College is a premier vocational (Co-Op) college offering a range of specialized co-op courses and comprehensive Intensive English Programs, including test preparation courses for IELTS and general and business ESL courses to international students. It coordinates its programs uniquely in such ways that students can advance their education to the next level at universities and job opportunities.  

CNC is also an online education platform offering online certificate, diploma, higher diploma, and postgraduate diploma programs progressing to online and offline undergraduate and postgraduate degrees awarded by various educational institutions and universities around the world.

Cloud Nine College started as a language training institution back in 2010 and now has expanded into providing career training programs:  

• Hotel and Restaurant Management Co-op Diploma  
• Hotel and Restaurant Management Co-op Certificate  
• International Trade and Business Management Co-op Diploma  
• Professional Sales Co-op Certificate  

Learn more about CNC at www.cloudninecollege.com/