UPDATE: Thanks to your support, the administration has agreed to restore six of the sixteen cut sections! The cancellation of ten sections is still unjustified by any enrolment data. It is part of a pattern of discrimination against Chinese language courses over the last five years. Please continue to demand that the administration treat Chinese language instructors and students fairly and equitably by restoring at least four more sections of Chinese in line with enrolment projections. 

🌟 Stop Chinese Exclusion at Langara!

Administrators at Langara College have decided to cut the majority of Chinese language program as of the fall 2025 term.  For decades, Langara’s Chinese program has upheld high academic standards, enriching the College and Vancouver’s multicultural society. Let’s stand together to reverse this decision and protect Chinese language and cultural education in British Columbia!

🌟 There are many reasons not to cancel the majority of the Chinese program at Langara:

Students demand Chinese language education

📊 The Chinese community is Vancouver’s largest ethnic group (24.5% of the total population) --Statistics Canada 2021

🗨️ Chinese is the world’s second most spoken language and the most common non-official language in Metro Vancouver (with 48.4% of Richmond residents reporting Chinese language capacity) --Statistics Canada 2021

💬 The Vancouver School Board (VSB) commits to Chinese language education through Mandarin Bilingual Programs, reflecting strong local demand.  

Vancouver's large Chinese population and vibrant cultural heritage fuel ongoing demand for Chinese courses.

Learning Chinese provides global career opportunities for students

🌏 China is Canada’s #2 trading partner—Learning Mandarin enhances job prospects --World Bank

💼 Chinese language skills are a competitive asset in diverse fields, including business, tourism, education, and diplomacy.

Students with Chinese language capacity gain a competitive edge in the job market.

Chinese language courses are an essential part of Langara's University Transfer academic curriculum 

📚 University Pathways: Beginner to advanced levels, covering Chinese language and literature, are transferable to UBC, UVIC, SFU, and other BC universities and are key components of many students’ degree programs.

🌟 Expert Faculty: Highly experienced instructors, with decades of service at Langara (and UBC) receive outstanding student feedback.

📈 Proven Excellence: Established in 1985, the Langara Chinese program is highly respected throughout the BC academic community.

🚀 Student Choice: Despite challenges posed to all post-secondary programs by recent federal policies, current enrollment in Chinese courses demonstrates continued student interest. 

Eliminating the majority of the Chinese program ignores student demand and deprives students of the option to learn the second-most spoken language in Vancouver and the world.

Cultural & Community Connections

🏫 Diversity and Inclusion: Cutting the majority of the Chinese program contradicts Langara’s equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles and disregards Vancouver’s multicultural community. The Chinese program plays a crucial role in the College’s commitment to EDI.

🤝 Community Ties: The Chinese program strengthens Langara’s connections with Vancouver’s large Chinese-Canadian community.

Cutting the majority of the Chinese program would weaken Langara’s community connection and undermine our EDI objectives.

We support the continuation of the Chinese language program and advocate for a diverse, inclusive, and globally-oriented academic environment and respectfully request that the Langara administration:

• Suspend the plan to eliminate the majority of the Chinese language program.
• Engage in transparent discussions with students, faculty, and communities to explore sustainable solutions.
• Recognize the growing importance of Chinese language skills in today's globalized world and commit to preserving this essential program.
• Develop a long-term strategy for language education that aligns with Langara's mission for global engagement and equity, diversity, and inclusion.

🚨 Sign the petition to demand:

📣 Keep the Langara Chinese program! 

      Yes to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion! No Chinese Exclusion!