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WIC News

New Head of School Announcement – May 8, 2020

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Eric Jabal as the next Head of School at West Island College (WIC).  Mr. Jabal was selected for his passion and dedication to education, his strong leadership experience, and his numerous distinctions and achievements.

Mr. Jabal was born and raised in Montreal. He has been working internationally for the last 25 years and has been looking for the right opportunity to return to Montreal. 

Mr. Jabal grew up bilingually and, from his years living and working in Hong Kong and China, has developed a strong appreciation for Chinese culture and an interest in Mandarin. He started his career as a teacher in France and has been based in Hong Kong since 1995, where he has served three international schools. Mr. Jabal has worked as a Senior School Head (2007-10) and Secondary Principal (2010-18) of a bilingual PreK-grade 12 school. For the past two years, Mr. Jabal has served as a School Support and Evaluation Officer for the Council of International Schools. He has also had the role of Visiting Assistant Professor at the National Taiwan University where he has taught in the College of Education.

Among his academic qualifications, Mr. Jabal holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Toronto, a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Nottingham in the UK, a Postgraduate degree in language & cultures earned in France, and an Honours BA from Queen’s University.

Starting on May 19th, 2020, Mr. Lafrance and Mr. Jabal will work in close collaboration to ensure a smooth transition and continuity for West Island College.

In closing, we would like to acknowledge the exemplary contribution of our current Headmaster, Mr. Michel Lafrance. His dedication to WIC and commitment to our community have brought us tremendous growth and recognition as one of Montreal’s leading educational institutions. In particular, we are thankful for his strong leadership and unwavering support, as we have navigated the recent challenges brought on by the current global pandemic.

Thanks to the strength and depth of the school’s current leadership team, faculty, and staff, we are confident that Mr. Jabal’s transition to WIC will be smooth and seamless. Please join us in welcoming Mr. Jabal to the West Island College community.