Managed by Houman Nikmanesh, the Sol Group started out in 1996 and is committed to offering a “boutique like atmosphere in small school settings” for students looking to study and truly immerse themselves into the culture of their destination. Its other schools are in Toronto (HQ), Calgary and Miami Beach.

The new Vancouver venue of the latest Sol International School

Sol Schools International (as the company will be known) realised its decision to expand into Vancouver went against IHWO’s policy of not opening schools in territories of other IH institutions. Both partes say the decision to axe affiliation was on mutual terms, with goodwill on both sides.

“It was an amicable separation,” Sam Stephen, Marketing Director for Sol Schools told The PIE News. “We received a lot of interest from our clients to open in Vancouver. That’s what ultimately drove our decision.”

Despite the transition, the product offering of teacher training and multi-age level modern language courses will not change, said Stephen. The group is looking into other possible affiliations but for the moment it is accredited by Languages Canada and some schools are CELTA and TESOL certified.

Its decision to expand went against IHWO’s policy of not opening schools in territories of other IH institutions

Sol Schools International opened in 1996 in Toronto and now has between 500-800 students per week across all four locations.

The expansion will place CEO Houman Nikmanesh into a strategic role focusing on the development of new destinations and programmes, with Stephen (ex-IH Dubai) joining the team as Marketing Director.

“The SOL group has grown significantly since joining International House, expanding from one school in Toronto to three schools,” said Lucy Horsefield, Chief Operation Officer at IHWO.”Houman Nikmanesh and his team have been valued members of our organisation and we wish them all the best.”