Greater Victoria School District (SD61)

Greater Victoria School District (SD61) serves British Columbia's capital on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, a city known for the mildest climate in Canada and an easy, outdoor coastal lifestyle. The district teaches more than 20,000 students across 28 elementary, 10 middle and seven secondary schools, and hosts over 900 international students from around the world. Beyond the standard academic program, where students may enrol for a semester, a year or through to graduation, it offers the Uplands Academic Transition Program to ease newcomers into Canadian classrooms. The district runs its own homestay department with carefully screened host families. Taiwanese families choose Victoria for its safety, gentle pace and welcoming small-city feel.