UNESCO Associated School

In 2005, ICVMC was the first of four schools in Canada to receive the official recognition of being a UNESCO Associated school. Today, there are 70 schools in seven provinces. What began in 1953 with a handful of schools has grown into a global network of 10 000 schools across 181 countries.

UNESCO Associated Schools make a commitment to support UNESCO's ideals through four pillars of learning and four themes of study. In practical terms, this means ICVMC is committed to peace, social justice and environmental concerns. These commitments extend into the classroom by way of what students read and learn, as well as extend beyond the classroom by way of clubs and special events.

Some of the internationally acclaimed special guests to visit Institut collégial Vincent Massey Collegiate have included Kim Phuc, Craig and Mark Keilberger, Dr. Samantha Nutt, and Ishmael Beah. ICVMC is a flagship school in Canada and in the world for its innovation and dedication to the UNESCO ideals.

In 2016-2017, we launched a UNESCO diploma for graduates – the first of its kind in the world – to honour and recognize the significant contributions of our students to making peace, social justice and environmental sustainability.

UNESCO associated schools focus their work around UNESCO’s Five Pillars of Learning which are Learning to Know, Learning to Be, Learning to Do and Learning to Live Together, and Learning to Transform Oneself and Society.   UNESCO associated schools also focus their work around the UNESCO themes of study which are Intercultural Learning, Peace and Human Rights, Education for Sustainable Development, ASPnet and UN Priorities.