Holland College was presented with a Welcoming Community Award by the Chinese Canadian Association of PEI at the Chinese New year Celebrations recently for its work with new Canadians.

The Community Service department of Holland College has served hundreds of new Chinese Canadians through the Language Instruction for New Canadians (LINC) program.

The main purpose of the LINC program is to develop communication through reading, speaking, listening and writing so that each student is able to integrate into Canadian society with ease and is able to become a self-sufficient member of his or her community.

“The award accurately recognizes the contributions that the LINC teachers of Holland College make to the lives of new Canadians,” said Lornie Hughes, program manager for Community Services. “Language is a vital key to their success, and our language instructors provide a welcoming classroom in which the students are able to master the English language in order for them to pursue further education or to enter the workforce.”

“Language is the key to a new life on Prince Edward Island,” said Parson Miao, president of the Chinese Canadian Association of PEI. “Holland College received the Welcoming Community award for assisting new Canadians with the difficult task of learning a new language, and providing hope to their students. The Chinese Community of PEI is tightly connected, and Holland College has a good reputation amongst our members.”