Maltese-owned EC English Language Centres will take over the three centres previously owned by Canada’s longest-established language school, and one of its most respected - LSC Language Studies Canada, which turns 50 next year, and has centres in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

EC’s acquisition of LSC will take effect tomorrow, rounding off a successful 12-month period seeing EC grow from 9 to 15 schools worldwide.

With a presence in Canada, EC will expand into the third largest EFL destination globally. Vancouver and Toronto are two of the most popular destinations in the global language travel industry, and with a school now in Montreal, the acquisition will see EC entering a new market, as the school teaches French in addition to English.

Over the past two years, EC has been strengthening its position in both the UK and USA with new schools in Bristol, Miami and Los Angeles, and has maintained its leading position in Malta and South Africa. Now with its sights on Canada, EC sees a language travel destination that is set to capture the growth in the industry due to its location, value and variety of academic programmes.

EC plans to invest in the Canadian schools’ facilities and to develop a wider-range of academic programmes, including exam preparation courses and university pathway programmes. Already well equipped with 49 classrooms in Toronto, 43 in Vancouver and 23 in Montreal, the acquisition will see the Maltese-owned company leverage its offering to the global EFL industry.

In September of this year, EC won the major accolade of “Best Chain School” at the LTM Star Awards in London, the most coveted title in the language travel industry, beating off stiff competition from other major international players.