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Working closely with public health authorities and BC's provincial government, the Canadian College of Technology and Business (CCTB) has developed a detailed plan for students and staff to return to campus safely.
We continue to consult with the province to determine when we can reopen in a way that ensures the health of the CCTB community.
Our Occupational Health and Safety team has assessed classrooms, labs and offices to ensure that we adhere closely to WorkSafeBC standards for post-secondary institutions.
We will reopen our campus to students with blended classes. Our Academic Department is working with faculty to supplement in-class learning instruction with online learning.
Outside of the classroom, the Registrar’s Office, Finance Department, Learning Strategist, Student Affairs and Academic Advising will continue to offer students support. Staff can also refer students to academic resources including, writing coaches, math tutors, academic advising and our learning strategist.
Since the onset of COVID‐19, CCTB has placed the safety of our students, faculty and staff at the forefront of our response. We will continue to adapt our teaching, learning and service delivery methods to ensure students can continue to succeed.
Please review our detailed CCTB Covid-19 Safety Plan.
For international students planning on pursuing their studies at CCTB, please review the student Pre-Arrival Package for detailed information on the Covid-19 procedures that must be followed by international students planning on attending classes on campus.
If you have any Covid-19 questions or concerns please contact us at covidhelp@canadianctb.ca.
If you have any general inquiries about CCTB health and Safety procedures please contact us at healthandsafety@canadianctb.ca.
As part of CCTB’s Pandemic Response Plan, a Pandemic Special Committee (PSC) is assigned to mitigate risk if a case or an outbreak of COVID-19 happens on any of the College’s campuses or during any of its activities.
The plan works by activating a team of managers and a health & safety assistant who work closely with members of our community who may have been exposed to COVID-19. They will also work with any associated academic and administrative departments, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
PSC members will communicate with affected individuals to gather information and will offer assistance and guidance on managing their particular case. They work with departments on any necessary infection control actions and they will work with BCCDC on contact tracing or any other requirements VCH may identify.
The Pandemic Response Plan is activated by the Head of Faculty when the College becomes aware that a member of the college community, based on specific symptoms or history, is legally required to self-isolate, or has a confirmed case of COVID-19 and has been on the campus in the last 14 days.
If the College is informed that a student, faculty, or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 and they have been on CCTB premises in the last 14 days, the incident will be reported immediately to the Health and Safety Team and the Senior Leadership Team. The Head of Faculty will activate the Pandemic Special Committee (PSC) and relay the contact information about the affected individual. The local health authority (Vancouver Coastal Health) will also be contact immediately following the activation of the Pandemic Special Committee.
The Pandemic Response Plan will be activated when VCH or the BCCDC notify the College of a confirmed case of COVID-19 among staff, students, faculty, contractors, or visitors to campus.
A COVID-19 outbreak could last a long time so the impact on the institution and the local community may be considerable. CCTB will work with VCH to determine when the outbreak has ended. Once the outbreak has been declared over:
This guide is for international students travelling into Canada to attend their education at the Canadian College of Technology and Business. This information can also be found in the CCTB student Pre-Arrival Package.
This guide contains the information you need to know before you leave your home country, tips for travelling and detailed information about the federal government’s mandate for all international students arriving in Canada to self-isolate for 14 days, as well as the resources you need to plan your first two weeks in Canada.
Since the onset of COVID-19, the Canadian College of Technology and Business has placed the safety of our students, faculty, and staff at the forefront of our response. We will continue to adapt our teaching, learning and service delivery methods to ensure students can continue to succeed in a safe and responsible manner.
Please review the details outlined in this guide. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at covidhelp@canadianctb.ca.
You have worked your way through the application process, been accepted to CCTB and have obtained a visa. Now you are planning your big move and are getting close to leaving for beautiful Vancouver, Canada. Here is what you need to know prior to departure:
To travel to Canada, you must meet two requirements:
To start with, you must have one of the following documents:
Next, you must have either of the following (please note that US citizens are exempt):
If you apply for an initial study permit outside of Canada, you do not need to apply separately for a TRV. If your study permit is approved and a TRV is required, you will be issued a TRV along with your study permit.
Once you have determined you are eligible to travel, you can take the next steps.
All students, prior to travelling to Canada, must prepare a credible 14-day isolation/quarantine plan under new rules announced by the federal government to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Students will need to demonstrate that they have a suitable place to isolate or quarantine, with access to necessities including food and medication.
Students must also arrange transportation from the airport to their self-isolation accommodation, but it cannot be on public transit (buses or SkyTrain). Some hotels offer airport pickup for free. For a list of transportation options see Appendix A in this guide.
Please note that the Self-Isolation Plan is a legal commitment to self-isolate that is enforceable under the Public Health Act.
The link to the self-isolation plan also includes contact information in case you need help developing your plan. This help is available in more than 110 languages.
For more information, visit:
Self-isolation on return to BC (Government of British Columbia)
Self-isolation and self-monitoring (BCCDC)
Dos and don’ts of self-isolation (BCCDC)
In addition, you can download the federal ArriveCAN app prior to your trip. You can use this mobile app to speed up your arrival process in Canada and spend less time with border and public health officers. Submit your information easily and securely using the app at least 48 hours before arriving in Canada.
CCTB students are requested to submit their travel and self-isolation plans prior to departure from their home country so your information can be verified by the CCTB Team. Please fill out the PDF form here (Appendix D) along with a PDF of your Self-Isolation Plan and send them to covidhelp@canadianctb.ca.
You will be asked to submit the following information to CCTB:
Be sure to bring all the relevant documentation with you for your trip.
Before you arrive, you should send your Approval in Principle (AIP) and visa to the admissions@canadianctb.ca.
It is important to adhere to the following tips to ensure a safe journey to Canada:
If you are abroad and you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been diagnosed with COVID-19:
You have created your self-isolation plan, filled out the CCTB form and sent both to
covidhelp@canadianctb.ca. You have packed, arrived at the airport, practiced safety on your flight and have landed in Vancouver. You have taken a huge step towards starting your studies, but you still need to start and complete your 14-day self-isolation.
You need to travel straight to your isolation accommodation, and you cannot take public transit. You can take a taxi or use a ride hailing service. You can see transportation options in Appendix B and be sure to plan ahead.
During your 14-day self-isolation, our dedicated CCTB team will be providing the following support to monitor your wellbeing:
Students who do not provide proof of valid medical insurance that covers 90 days past their arrival date in Canada will be automatically enrolled into Guard.me coverage by the College. The additional coverage will cost $180.00 for 90 days of coverage.
Once a student has arrived in Canada and has their study permit, they will need to submit their documents to CCTB. Documents should be emailed to the admissions team at admissions@canadianctb.ca.
CCTB understands that some students will be traveling to Canada with their family so we have compiled a list of resources they can access to help ease their transition to Canada and during their time in self-isolation. Please share these resources with them.
MOSAIC is one of the largest settlement non-profit organizations in Canada. They serve immigrant, refugee, migrant and mainstream communities in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley as well as throughout the Province of BC. Learn more on their website.
Here is a list of community and cultural centers in Vancouver as well as the resources and services they offer.
Mental health supports
Vancouver Coastal Health has compiled this list of mental health support services available to newcomers to BC.
Wellness Together Canada offers mental health support. Learn more on their website.
Community Recreation Centers
The City of Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation operates 24 community recreation centers open to all residents of the city. They offer a wide variety of programs and facilities.
Association of Neighborhood Houses of BC
The mission of the Association of Neighborhood Houses BC is to build healthy and engaged neighborhoods by connecting people and strengthening their capacity to create change. Through 7 neighborhood houses and an outdoor camp, ANHBC reaches more than 100,000 people throughout Metro Vancouver with more than 300 programs and services. Learn more on their website.
Translated Video and COVID-19 Resources
The BC Centre for Disease Control has compiled a list of COVID-19 video and other resources that are available in several different languages including Simplified Chinese, Punjabi, Farsi and more. You and your family members can read questions and answers about COVID-19, physical distancing and more. You can find theses resources here.
For students travelling and isolating with children, CCTB has compiled this list of free online activities and resources.
You can read this helpful article about managing expectations while working with children at home, but it applies equally to self-isolating with children.
Additional free online activities and learning resources for children:
While you are self-isolating, you should be watching out for symptoms of COVID-19 in yourself or anyone you are self-isolating with. These symptoms include:
If you have symptoms, you should get tested for COVID-19 by a healthcare provider or at a local collection center.
HealthLink BC recommends testing for anyone with cold or flu symptoms.
If you do not have symptoms, you do not need to be tested. If you are unsure if you should get tested, use this online assessment tool or call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1. If you develop symptoms, you must continue to self-isolate for at least 10 days from when your symptoms started or 14 days from when you started self-isolation, whichever is longer.
For more information, visit:
If you are starting to develop or show symptoms of COVID-19 while in self-isolation, please follow the advice of the public health authorities immediately (as described above) before notifying CCTB at covidhelp@canadianctb.ca.
If a positive test is confirmed, Public Health Authorities will provide you with detailed instructions on what to do next and will lead contact tracing protocols (students and family members should support these efforts).
If you contract COVID-19 during the 14-day quarantine period, you must inform the College. In this case, the University will:
IF A STUDENT TESTS POSTIIVE FOR COVID-19, CCTB WILL:
Congratulations. You have made it this far and your 14-day self-isolation is nearly done. There are only a couple more steps you need to take before you can join us on campus.
The following steps are only for students with no symptoms of COVID-19. If you believe you have symptoms or think you might have COVID-19, please follow the step-by-step instructions listed on Page 11.
You are now welcomed to explore and enjoy your new city but be sure to do so responsibly. All public transit and many stores require you to wear a mask. Remember to physically distance (stay at least 2 metres from others), avoid large crowds and wash your hands frequently.
Welcome to Vancouver and the Canadian College of Technology and Business. We are thrilled that you will be joining us for the Spring 2021 term.
CCTB is introducing comprehensive safety measures as we prepare to welcome students back to our campuses. These safety measures and more are all part of the detailed reopening plan that you can find on our website here.
All air travelers, with some exceptions, are required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering while traveling.
The following people should not wear a mask:
You may also need to wear a non-medical mask or face covering on other modes of transportation that are federally regulated. Before you travel, check to see how transportation measures affect your plans and what you need to pack.
Please adhere to the following rules while travelling from the airport to your self-isolation location (see Appendix C for transportation options):
Student Self-Isolation Accommodation
If you do not already have somewhere where you can self-isolate, please refer to our resource list of Vancouver hotels that offer special rates for CCTB students on under the Student Self-Isolation Accommodation tab in the "CCTB COVID-19 Helpful Information" section following this guide.
Groceries
Travelers to Canada who are in quarantine may not go out to purchase food and necessities.
Students should arrange for someone to deliver their groceries in Vancouver.
Here are a few recommendations:
Restaurant Delivery:
Doordash
Uber Eats
SkipTheDishes
Grocery Delivery:
Parcelpal (also delivers to restaurants)
Instacart
Inabuggy
Transportation from the Airport
Students travelling from the airport to their self-isolation accommodation must not take public transit, including busses or SkyTrain.
Fortunately, students will have a number of options to reach their destination.
Students can find a list of government licensed taxis and their licensed pickup zones here.
Students can also take a ride hailing service if they so prefer:
Uber
Lyft
CCTB requires each student to submit their travel and quarantine plans prior to departure from their home country which will be verified by our team.
Please download the Pre-Departure Checklist from this link.
One you have filled in the form, please submit it to the CCTB admissions team at admissions@canadianctb.ca.
Please refer to the information within the tabs below to get detailed information about student accommodation information as well as important CCTB guides, CCTB checklists, and related government information pertaining to COVID-19 in Canada.
CCTB has established arrangements with the following Vancouver hotels which now offer special self-isolation accommodation rates for CCTB students:
Coast Coal Harbour Hotel
Coast Hotels - Self-Isolation Factsheet for Students
Cost Hotels - Self-Monitoring Checklist
Executive Suites Hotel
Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel
Vancouver Airport Marriot
Sandman Hotel Vancouver City Centre
For international students planning on pursuing their studies at CCTB, please review the student Pre-Arrival Package for detailed information on the Covid-19 procedures that must be followed by international students planning on attending classes on campus.
Other Covid-19 documents for CCTB students:
BC Government Self-Isolation Plan
The Self-Isolation Plan is a legal commitment to self-isolate that is enforceable under the Public Health Act. The link to the self-isolation plan also includes contact information in case you need help developing your plan. This help is available in more than 110 languages.
For more information please visit:
In addition, you can download the federal ArriveCAN app prior to your trip. You can use this mobile app to speed up your arrival process in Canada and spend less time with border and public health officers. Submit your information easily and securely using the app at least 48 hours before arriving in Canada.
BC Government Covid Symptoms and Testing Information: