Where you learn shapes how you grow

North Vancouver Island is a special place. It’s a land of mountain peaks, secret ocean beaches, glacial ice, rolling fields and dense forests. Surrounded by this natural beauty, learning at NIC doesn’t just happen in classrooms, it’s inspired by the world around us and has been for the last 50 years. 

Some of NIC’s programs, like adventure guiding, take students right out into this  wilderness, whether it’s through whale tours on  the ocean or wildlife adventures  in the mountains. Students can lead rafting trips or guide sea kayaks. They can learn skills like first aid, navigation and leadership, all while in the breathtaking great outdoors. 

There are also unexpected opportunities to explore the environment that might not seem so evident, like engineering students travelling to beautiful Denman Island to visit farms and learn about solutions to real world challenges in agriculture. 

Beyond these, NIC offers the chance through its commitment to Indigenization for students to learn about culture and the ties to the land around us. A program like Island Pre-Health Science provides students going into the health sector with framework to identify challenges and opportunities in North Island communities, as well as a focus on Indigenous ways of knowing. 

As NIC marks 50 years, the college continues to shape learning that’s rooted in the land, guided by community and inspired by the natural world that surrounds us. 

From decentralized to four campuses

NIC began in small offices, school buses and even whaling vessels, bringing education to remote communities. Today, we offer learning across four vibrant campuses.