Summer@CanIL in Beautiful BC, Canada


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Detail map of Langley area

We are located at the Canada Institute of Linguistics (CanIL) at Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia, Canada.

Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest region, The quaint township of Langley, British Columbia, Canada (population 111,000) is sandwiched between the magnificent peaks of the volcanic Cascade Mountains and the beautiful British Columbia coastline. Langley is centrally located in the lush Fraser River Valley, which is known as the "wine country" and equestrian capital of Southern British Columbia, Canada. The region is a place of scenic beauty and offers many opportunities for nearby outdoor activities such as hiking, rafting, mountain climbing, fishing and camping. The spectacular scenery of the Cascades (mountains, lakes and waterfalls) and the British Columbia coast are both within an hour's drive of Langley. We will be organizing two day trips this summer, one to the mountains and one to the coast to enjoy the stunning local beauty. Many students and staff also use these getaways to add a weekend camping trip to their British Colombia experience.

The Canada Institute of Linguistics (CanIL) is situated on the picturesque campus of Trinity Western University, a small liberal arts university located in a rural setting on the outskirts of Langley.

Trinity Western University, established in 1962, has an enrollment of over 3500 of which approximately 25% are Americans. The University offers 38 undergraduate majors and 14 graduate programs and 80% of its faculty hold PhDs.

The Trinity Western University campus includes beautiful trails winding through thickly forested tracts behind the campus, Trinity Lake at the front of the campus, a self-guided nature trail running through a natural area along the banks of the Salmon River (part of the Fraser River Salmon Enhancement Program) as well as multiple open sports fields to enjoy soccer, football or ultimate Frisbee or an evening stroll.

Langley is a place of history, culture and recreation and is a popular tourist destination. Nearby historic Fort Langley was the first European settlement in lower British Columbia and served as the launching off point during the Fraser River Gold Rush of the 1850's.

Winter rains and cool temperatures create an abundance of greenery during the summer and the Summers in Langley usually see very little rain, with an average temperature of 17˚C / 62.5˚F.

Although set in a rural atmosphere, the TWU campus is only a 45 minute drive from downtown Vancouver, one of the world's most spectacular cities. Hemmed in by the shores of the Pacific Ocean on one side and the towering slopes of the Coast Mountains on the other, Vancouver, Canada's third largest metropolis (over 2 million reside in the greater Vancouver area), was recently designated the World's Most Livable City and Top City in the Americas by two well-known publications. Vancouver boasts of being one of the only places in the world where it is possible to golf, hike, ski and swim (outdoors) all in the same day; it is a recreationalist's paradise.

Vancouver is also well known for its magnificent cityscape and ethnic diversity (over half its population speak something other than English as a first language). The city boasts a plethora of exquisite ethnic dining and shopping opportunities, not to mention numerous beautiful open spaces, lush parks and spacious waterfronts. Regional attractions include verdant rain forests, world-class parks, zoos, gardens and museums.

British Columbia is also world-renowned for its majestic mountains and beautiful coast line. Vancouver is also well-known for its nearby alpine skiing at Whistler, British Columbia, and Vancouver (and nearby Whistler) will serve as host for the 2010 Winter Olympics. There is much natural beauty nearby and we plan several weekend getaways (including campouts) together to enjoy the scenic mountain and coastal beauty as well as day trips to local communities to enjoy the multi-cultural urban diversity, all located just a short drive from campus.



Vancouver is an easy destination for foreign travelers and Langley is easily accessible from Vancouver's International Airport. Although located in Canada, Vancouver is also easily accessible for Americans traveling from Seattle as an inexpensive bus service runs between the two cities.