Tears and Hugs: Time for Airport Farewell!

Quest students say goodbye at Toronto's Pearson Airport before flying home to Brazil

This weekend was the final goodbye for many of our students, so you could say there were a few tears shed...

Goodbyes are hard for us at Quest since our students always leave lasting impressions on us. Plus, it's never nice to see your students sad!

To ensure we get the chance to say a proper goodbye, our team members will escort students to the airport and hang with them until they are ready to go. 

Airports are magical places and we are happy to share the final moments in Canada together. 

Here's to another amazing summer at Quest and to many more in our future!!

Quest students wave goodbye on their final day together as a group in Toronto. 

Every year, students like to use Canadian flags as mementos of their time here in Toronto. 

Time for Graduation!

Graduating students of Quest scream goodbye to camera at our summer campus. 

Hat's off! It's time for graduation! 

This week saw the bulk of the Quest summer students graduate and we couldn't be happier. 

After three to four weeks of challenging classroom work, each student gets the honour of receiving an official Quest graduation certificate. The certificate comes with their photo on it, so it's perfect for hanging on the wall! 

Every student worked amazingly hard this summer and we are proud of the dedication of each and every one of them. 

However, while we are proud, we are also sad.

Graduation is always a bittersweet moment for us teachers since it also means saying goodbye to our students.

We will us miss you very much and wish you return to Canada soon. 

See below for more graduation photos!

Laser Tag!

Quest smile while bowling at RINX in Toronto

Who doesn't love a good ol' game of laser tag?

And maybe some bowling?

And oh, also, why not some rollerskating, fuzzball, basketball, bumper cars, and billiards? 

Sounds like an awesome day, eh? Well, it was for the Quest students!

They got to spend the day at RINX in Toronto, an entertainment complex that houses all of the above-mentioned activities. 

Students got to compete on the bowling lanes, hold hands (to ensure they don't fall!) on the roller-rink, and drain some 3-pointers in games room. 

This event was held near the end of the program, so it gave most of the students to catch up with old friends and let loose by having some fun.  

Quest students are well focused on the fuzzball at hand

New York, New York!

Quest students stylishly pose for a photo in New York City, USA. 

While Toronto may be the biggest city in Canada, it will seem a bit smaller once you visit New York City, North America's second largest city with more than 8 million people (compared to Toronto's 3 million).

New York City is one of the most famous cities in the world, so visiting it is an amazing experience for Quest students.

This year, students spent one weekend touring the "Big Apple," exploring one of the largest English speaking cities in the world.

Quest students smiling in Times Square, New York City, USA 

Students got to explore the Brooklyn Bridge, shop in Downtown Manhattan, gaze from the Top of the Rock, and of course, be amazed by the lights in Times Square.

While the experience was unforgettable, many students admitted that they preferred Toronto over New York City.

Woohoo! Go Toronto :)

Tasting Canadian Cuisine

Quest students smile before digging into their meals

New Quest students to Canada always ask us teachers, "What is Canadian food?"

It's a hard question to answer. 

Living in Toronto, we don't really have any "Canadian food." Instead, we have food from all over the world. 

You want Japanese Sushi? Okay, we have plenty. 

You want Indian Samosas? Yup, we have plenty of that too. 

How about some Jamaican Jerk Chicken? Oh yeah, we have that too. You could even say we have the best outside the Caribbean.

Eating out in Toronto is like travelling the world and every summer Quest students get to explore a world of tastes. 

Aside from plenty of amazing restaurants, some students even check out food festivals as well. In the summer, it seems as if every weekend in Toronto is a celebration of a different culture or dish.

Mhmmmm.... Bon Appétit! 

Boat Cruise

Quest students from Russia (far left) and Mexico (two on the right) pose for a photo on Lake Ontario

There's no better way to experience the skyline of Toronto than by boat at night.

Add some music and some friends to that boat and you have yourself an awesome evening!

This summer, the Quest students got to experience this at a boat cruise off of the Toronto harbour. 

Coasting on Lake Ontario, the boat offered students the chance to make new friends, dance to Canadian (as well as international) music, and to simply take-in the majestic view of the city. 

Students enjoyed the chance to dress-up nicely and pose for photos near the water and the skyline. 

Afternoon in High Park

Quest students sneak into the garden to snap a quick picture at Toronto's High Park

While it may be one of the largest recreational spaces in Toronto, High Park still seems like a hidden gem to most Torontonians.

So, every summer, it feels as if we are sharing a little secret with our students by showing them the beautiful park.

Situated in the West End of the city, High Park feels similar to New York City's Central Park in that it allows residents a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Home to countless animals, flowers, and trees (including the beautiful Japanese Cherry Blossom Trees), High Park is a place to take-in some nature, go for a peaceful hike, and connect with your friends. It's a place free of technology and full of vibrancy.

Fun Fact: A pair of capybaras once escaped the zoo at High Park in 2016 and were hilariously spotted wandering around downtown Toronto. It took more than a month to find and safely return the mammals!  

Class Trips: University of Toronto

If you didn't know, Toronto is home to one of the best universities in the world: the University of Toronto.

Built in 1827, this public university - commonly known as "U of T" - has a beautiful campus in downtown Toronto that we love to show off to students.

During our tours of the school, we love to chat to students about what life is like for a university student to hopefully inspire them all to continue onto higher education.

This summer, our class trip proved to be motivating since we had many, many students ask us, "How do I apply to be a student in Toronto? I must study here!!!"

We hope they one day get the chance to study where they desire and that they never stop learning!

Canada's Wonderland x2...WaterPark Time!

Quest students pose with their teacher, right, at Canada's Wonderland in Toronto.

Here at Quest, we love Canada's Wonderland so much that we sometimes go twice! 

Situated in the north end of the city, Canada's Wonderland is not only the biggest theme park in Canada, but also one of the biggest water parks. 

Thus, on our second trip, we give students the chance to explore this awesome water park!

The water park has so many amazing slides, pools, and rides for students to embark on. By the end of the day, all the students have lost their voices from screaming so much on the slides. Woohoo!

Double-Decker Bus Tour

Toronto is an amazing city to tour by foot, but sometimes it can be quite tiring...

This is why we take double-decker bus tours! 

This amazing sightseeing buses stroll all of the city's main streets, allowing students to explore different Toronto neighbourhoods without lifting a leg.

The bus rides high above all other cars, offering students an unparalleled vista of the city's streets.

The best part about Toronto is the diversity of its neighbourhoods, so we love to have students embrace each culture! 

Time Travelling at Medieval Times

Imagine the time of powerful kingdoms, jousting knights, majestic horses, and battles to the death?

Well, technically that era was hundreds of years ago, but this summer Quest students got to go back in time and experience this medieval culture! 

At Toronto's Medieval Times, student watch six honourable knights battle it out in a theatrical performance full of fast horse riding, explosive jousting, and action-packed sword battles. 

Based in a castle, the performance is paired with a delicious four-course meal that the students eat with their bare hands... Yup. No cutlery allowed!

After the show, the students meet the knights and shop back in time at the Medieval Times gift shop, which is always a hit.

Shopping at Toronto Premium Outlets

Students shopped til' they dropped today at Toronto's Premium Outlets, an amazing outdoor mall in Toronto.

Situated in the suburbs of Toronto, this brand new mall features brand names, such as Nike, Coach, Ralph Lauren, Gap, and Polo, for ridiculously cheap prices!

For those who don't want to shop, the mall also has tons of restaurants and offers students a chance to make some new friends on their own independent time.

We love seeing students exploring on their own and connecting with other students.

Quest Dance

Quest students pose for the camera at our annual dance

Put on your dancing shoes, it's time for the annual Quest summer dance!

This year, we had more than 300 students attend our dance held in downtown Toronto and it was a blast. 

Students got dressed up, hit the dance floor, and jumped around to songs from in English, as well some Portuguese, Spanish, and French music (which everyone seemed to love). 

It was awesome to see all the students from different countries laughing and having fun together. 

My highlight of the night was when one student from Russia came up to the teachers and yelled, "Wow! This is the best night, ever!" 

Quest Olympics

Quest students competing in a game of "limbo" on Toronto Island

Get ready to compete!

Today was our annual Quest Olympics and all of students did amazingly well at our competitions. 

The Quest Olympics occurs every July on the beautiful Toronto Island and offers the chance for students to work with their classes to compete in seven different sports.  

These sports test both physical and mental stamina and include old-fashioned games such as: limbo, and wheel-barrow races; as well more physical ones like: dodgeball and tug-of-war.

All of the students of Quest pose for a photo after completing the Quest Olympics on Toronto Island.

This year saw more than 300 students compete with each other, with some classes going undefeated in the event.

The activity is important way for the students to practice their English as each class has to speak English to work together. Not everyone in each team has the same first language, so communication is key to winning!

We want to thank all students for working hard and being patient as we sorted the games out.

We look forward to having an even better Quest Olympics next summer!

Quest students play dodgeball on Toronto Island

Exploring the Distillery District

Students pose with the Peace Sign at Toronto's Distillery District  

If you didn't know it, teenagers love Instagram, and there's no better place for trendy photos than the Distillery District in Toronto.

Home to cobblestone streets, national historic buildings, hip cafes, and plenty of art galleries, the Distillery District is the heart of both Toronto's past, future, and present. 

The car-free neighbourhood allows students the chance to learn about Toronto's industrial past while appreciating the city's newer identity as an artistic hub.

Fun Fact: The Distillery District has the largest collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America.

Quest students laugh while posing for a photo
in Toronto's historic Distillery District

Toronto Subway Adventures

Quest students pose with street performers at Yonge-Dundas Subway Station in Toronto 

Every summer Quest students get to explore Toronto's amazing transportation system.

From subways to streetcars, buses to ferries, commuting in Toronto is full of adventures, nice views, and funny surprises (as pictured above with Spiderman and Ironman). 

Many Quest students purchase a monthly transit card that allows them unlimited access to explore Toronto. 

It's great to see how quickly students adapt to using public transportation, since some do not use public transportation in their home cities and towns. 

By the end of the month, most of these students know the subway and streetcar lines better than us teachers!

Fun Facts: In Toronto, we call a metro a subway, while we call a tram a streetcar. 

Finally! A Yellow School Bus!

Quest students happily pose in front of a yellow school bus in Toronto

Each summer, students quickly ask us upon arrival to Canada: when will be see the yellow school buses!?

While it's something all kids in Canada are accustomed to, some countries do not have big, bright yellow school buses that shuttle children to and from school. 

Constantly featured in American movies, the yellow school bus has become a symbol of American life, so you can probably understand why many children are excited to take part in the ride!

Here at Quest, we use the yellow school buses to transport the students to far away attractions, so you can rest assured that you will get to see the famous yellow school buses.

Vroom...Vroom!

Quest students and teachers smile on their yellow school bus in Toronto. 

Bonjour, French Canada!

Quest students visit Canada's Parliament Buildings in Ottawa 

For those who didn't know, Canadians don't just speak English!

Canada is home to a vibrant French-language population, with some areas of Canada only speaking French and having zero knowledge of English.

French Canada, which is predominately in the province of Quebec, but also in the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick, and Manitoba, houses some of the oldest communities in North America.

French Canada is also home to countless internationally acclaimed musicians, artists, researchers, architects, athletes, and politicians.

Thus, this summer, we were proud to show Quest students the culture and history of this culture.

Students start off in Canada's capital city, Ottawa, which is an officially bilingual city (English and French) and home to the Parliament Buildings, the Rideau Canal (an UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the tasty Byward Market.

Next, the students head to Montreal, Canada's second largest city and the fourth largest french speaking city in the world. In Montreal, students get to explore new neighbourhoods, try different food, and practice some conversations in French.

"Bonjour...Comment ça-va?"
Quest students smiling as they explore Montreal, Canada's second largest city.

Then, on their last day, students embark east to Québec City, one of the oldest cities in North America.

Students love exploring the cobblestone streets and artisanal shops of Québec's Old City, which offers tons of opportunities for amazing photos full of history.

Fun Fact: Canada's Québec City was founded in 1608 and is the only city in Canada and North America to be surrounded by ramparts and city walls. 

Class Trips: Grange Park

A classroom from Quest smiles with their teacher while hanging at Toronto's Grange Park 

After a week of learning grammar and communication in the classroom, students occasionally had the chance to kickback on Fridays at Grange Park.

Situated near Quest's summer campus, Grange Park occasionally acted as a meeting place for Quest students on Fridays. 

It was here that they could interact with other classes, make new friends, and catch up with other students they met earlier in the program. 

These class trips gave students the chance to relax in the grass, play soccer in the field, or teach each other games from their own countries. The game "Brother" from Spain appeared to be a big hit among the students. 

It was amazing for us teachers to see students from all over the world interact with each other so confidently in English. Many students later stated they enjoyed their time at Grange Park since it allowed them to expand their social circles beyond their own classrooms and countries. 

Canoeing to Toronto Island

Quest students paddling through Lake Ontario on the coast of Toronto

Is there anything more Canadian than canoeing in a freshwater lake?

Not according to our Quest students!

Today saw our students dip into Lake Ontario, one of the largest lakes in the world, to try canoeing. For most of the students, this was their first time in a canoe and they all did amazingly well. 

The students had to work together by speaking English in order to ensure they paddled in unison. It was a great team building activity! 

For those who don't know, a canoe is a type of vessel, similar to a kayak. It was used for centuries by the indigenous peoples of Canada and was instrumental to the development of Canada by European settlers.

Thus, it's intertwined with Canadian identity and represents a great way for students to interact with Canadian culture.... plus, it's super fun! 

Quest students pose for a photo before hoping into their canoe

The students were able to paddle around Lake Ontario and head over to Toronto Island, which offers spectacular views of the Toronto skyline. 

After the day finished, many of the students exclaimed that this was their most enjoyable part of the exchange yet! 

Fun Fact: Lake Ontario is one of the 5 Great Lakes, which collectively hold 21% of the world’s surface freshwater!