Top Marks for Camosun College Travel Grad
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Travel, training and professional development tickets to globe-trotting career for Camosun high achiever.
April 24, 2008
The Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC) recognized the academic achievement of Camosun College graduate Kelsey Janssen this month. She received CITC’s Wayne Church Award April 5 in recognition of earning the highest mark on the entrance exam written by a candidate from the BC and Yukon region. Janssen scored 95 per cent on the exam.
After graduating from Camosun College’s Travel Counselling certificate program in July 2007, Janssen is now working toward earning her Travel Counsellor certification through the CITC.
The travel and learning bug has bitten hard. Her goal is to be a Certified Travel Counsellor by the end of 2008, and she’s on track to achieve her latest aspiration.
Janssen, a Cowichan Valley resident, went to work for Marlin Travel in Victoria the day after graduating from Camosun College, and is now with Marlin Travel in Duncan.
Ultimately her goal is to specialize in escorting travel groups, particularly cruises and walking tours. Currently Janssen belongs to a women’s travel club that meets once a month to learn about geography and world culture, to hear guest speakers, and as Janssen adds, “to start planning the next trip”.
She caught the travel bug early. “We immigrated to Canada when I was a child,” notes Janssen.”I remember loving the sense of discovery.”
Janssen has travelled extensively in Great Britain, Europe, Canada and the United States. She’s visited Egypt, China and the Panama Canal. New Zealand, Machu Picchu and the Norwegian fjords are on the wish list.
“You have to be passionate about people and travel to be a good travel agent,” says Janssen. “Whether it’s a get-away weekend to Vancouver, or a around-the-world trip, I find I bring all my curiosity, training and experience to the planning process.”
Janssen’s career path is rich in experiences as well. From sign language interpreter for high school and college students, to sales, to law enforcement and farming, Janssen has followed her dreams.
In 1989, she discovered the Cowichan Valley when she was transferred from Regina as an RCMP officer. Early after the move to the valley, she helped her mother-in-law plant and run an organic apple and pear orchard. The sale of the orchard in 2007 provided the opportunity to retrain. Becoming a travel agent was something she’d been thinking about for a while.
“I gave my family one guess at what I wanted to do and they all said travel agent,” laughs Janssen. “Even relatives in England!”
As the educational wing of the Canadian travel industry, the national, non-profit CITC promotes the professional designations, CTC (Certified Travel Counsellor) and CTM (Certified Travel Manager).
Many education and training programs across Canada are recommended by CITC, a status that allows the provider to offer approved credits, a key component of the certification process. Camosun College’s six-month Travel Counselling Certificate Program is endorsed by the CITC.
The next Travel Counselling Certificate Program at Camosun College runs January 19, 2009 - June 19, 2009. camosun.ca/ce
Contact
For media enquiries for Kelsey Janssen
250-748-2594
kelsey.janssen@marlintravel.ca
Paula Carr, Travel Counselling Certificate Program Coordinator
250-370-4065
carr@camosun.bc.ca
Last updated: March 17, 2010 2:17 pm
