TIMMINS — Northern College and BorderPass unveiled a strategic partnership today that promises to advance international student success and regional growth by providing Northern applicants and students access to an advanced digital platform and innovative international student support strategies.

This partnership leverages Northern’s commitment to exceptional and seamless student experiences and BorderPass’s cutting-edge technology to achieve sustainable growth and set a new standard for educational excellence and operational efficiency in Northern Ontario.

International applicants and enrolled students at Northern College will receive access to BorderPass’s comprehensive suite of services, including expert guidance from Canadian immigration lawyers and experts to streamline their study permit applications, along with robust support in visa applications, housing, and long-term planning toward permanent residency.

This collaboration ensures a “wraparound support” structure that enhances student well-being and academic success, while also strengthening Northern’s commitments to successful employment outcomes, community integration, and responsible growth and planning. Highlighting this commitment are the recommendations of Northern’s quality assurance audit under the SPIEQAA (Standard of Practice for International Education Quality Assurance Audit). Northern College volunteered to be one of the initial colleges piloted for establishing and assessing wraparound supports for international students with its participation in this audit.

To further expand international student support, health insurance for students will be enhanced and made more affordable, including 24/7 multi-language support with access to a vast global network consisting of 1.3 million facilities and virtual healthcare.

“By partnering with BorderPass, we’re emphasizing proactive strategies to further our vision of growing the North sustainably and fostering an environment of empowerment through learning,” stated Mitch Dumas, Northern College President & CEO. “This partnership illustrates our commitment to continuing to  improve the experience of international students as soon as they apply, and work through the process of attending our College. Finding efficiencies, improving operational certainty, and ensuring sustainable growth for our institution and the region while being there for our students are all key motivators for us,” he added.

Sally Daub, Co-Founder of BorderPass, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration’s local impact: “Regional support for international students is critical to ensure that northern communities first attract students to learn, and eventually settle and work,” she states. “The partnership with Northern College increases access to legal services to assist with the challenges of studying in a new country, while opening pathways for employment and settlement to help fill gaps the community needs.”

This partnership will serve as a model for responsible and effective collaboration between education and technology sectors, driving forward Canada’s goals of attracting and retaining international talent in a sustainable and operationally efficient way, positioning Northern Ontario as a leader in innovation and inclusiveness.

 

About Northern College:

Northern College, established in 1967, leads the province in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). It holds the top ranking in the province of Ontario in the graduate employment rate category as well as the highest employer satisfaction score for Northern College alumni compared to all English-speaking colleges in Ontario (2023). The College has four main campuses located in Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee and Timmins, as well as many Access Centres, which provide post-secondary education and academic upgrading to Indigenous learners in remote communities along the James Bay coast. Northern College, known as Canada’s Kindest College, is recognized for its warm, welcoming and culturally inclusive environment. A highly respected community and regional partner with close to 50,000 graduates, including the Haileybury School of Mines (est. 1912), the College plays a critical role in the region’s economic development as well as strong global mining influence. Northern College serves the educational needs of post-secondary, apprenticeship, and contract training, both on-site and through remote learning, as well as delivering academic upgrading and employment services. Its catchment area covers 160,000 square kilometres, which is roughly the size of France, and includes over 65 communities—18 of which are First Nations.

About BorderPass:

BorderPass is an award-winning digital platform designed to simplify the immigration journey for students, newcomers, educational institutions, and employers. The platform provides tools and lawyer-verified guidance to study, work, and live in a new country with a full spectrum of services including visa applications, document management, and practical settlement assistance such as housing and career support.

BorderPass was developed by experts in law and technology who believe that increasing access to legal support improves immigration outcomes. This approach facilitates a smooth transition for over tens of thousands of newcomers on the platform, enables regulatory compliance for leading colleges and universities, and promotes sustainable growth for local communities and national economies.

For more information, visit borderpass.ca.

 

Media Contact:

Michael Pietrocarlo

Head of Marketing, BorderPass

michael@borderpass.ca

 

Kyle Gennings (he/him)

Communications & Government Relations Officer
Marketing, Communications, and External Relations

1. 705-235-3211 ext 2276
2. 705-235-6888
3. 705-288-1101