For Immediate Release:
April 25, 2006
Contact: Doug Prothero
West Island College International Class Afloat
T. 902 476 4314, 902-429-1474
Email: dprothero@classafloat.com
www.classafloat.com

Lunenburg , NS – West Island College International (WICI), the Lunenburg Academy Foundation, the South Shore Regional School Board and the Town of Lunenburg have formed a unique new partnership and are pleased to announce Lunenburg as the base of operations for WICI’s premier education experience Class Afloat and NEW shore campus.

Company and Business Highlights

• Class Afloat has operated for the past 20 years, graduating more than 1000 alumni and operates its own tall ship, the Concordia. The Concordia will now call Lunenburg its homeport.
• Each year students enroll in Class Afloat’s private school (grades 11/12 ) onboard Tall Ship Concordia earning high school credits while sailing around the world.
• New shore campus for WICI’s prestigious private school to be housed within the Lunenburg Academy commencing September 2007.
• 12 faculty and management families to permanently re-located to Lunenburg
• Student housing requirements (55 students immediately, 100 by 2009) for off-season occupancy at local town accommodations
• Additional 500 parental/family member - school year visits (minimum of 10 days) jumping to over 1000 person visits per annum in 2009
• New employment, student housing, ship repair, ship supply, office and general supply translate to $2.5M direct annual investment into the Lunenburg economy.
• Promotion of the heritage of Lunenburg on the world’s stage as 100 ambassadorial students visit 30 ports of call on 5 continents. The school is led by experienced Canadian educators and enjoys the Honourary patronage of Dr. (Dame) Jane Goodall, world renowned primatologist and environmentalist.
• Cultural impact of a broadly diverse student body consisting of 11 th and 12 th grade students from all over the world. These young people are engaged in serious preparation for university entrance.
• Community Service: each student within the Class Afloat community is obliged to make a significant service commitment to the community in which it operates. Services extend to health care, education, tutorials, mentorship programmes, literacy programmes, seniors assistance programmes and environmental initiatives.