Northern Lights College (NLC) is being recognized on a provincial level, thanks to the outstanding work of one of its leadership team members.
Tony Mei, the Director of International Education for NLC, was chosen as an award recipient from the BC Council for International Education (BCCIE). He received the International Education Distinguished Leadership Award for 2025.
“When I heard about this award, I felt truly humbled,” Tony said during his acceptance speech in Whistler on June 24. “In our field, we rarely pause to reflect — we’re always solving problems, managing change, and supporting students from every corner of the globe. So, this moment is meaningful.”
Tony began his NLC career as the International Recruitment and Business Development Coordinator in 2019 and worked to expand NLC’s international student population, which is among the most diverse in the province. In 2023, he officially became the Director of International Education after serving as the acting director.
Over the last year, changes from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have made it more difficult to come to this country as an international student. Changing what programs they can take and the potential job prospects, dampened the enthusiasm potential students had for coming to Canada.
Tony faced the changes head on and set out to showcase NLC as not only a viable, but also ideal option for international students.
“Tony’s leadership has been fundamental to the success of our international education efforts, especially over the past year as we’ve navigated unprecedented changes to the Canadian international education landscape,” said Scott Clerk, Associate Vice President, Educational Services for NLC. “We are very grateful to have Tony as a colleague here at NLC, and so proud of his accomplishment in winning this BCCIE Distinguished Leadership award”
Congratulations, Tony!