Representatives from top Canadian universities are setting up stands at the Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center (CCCN) today for the first Canadian college fair ever hosted at the center in San José's Barrio Dent.

Some 15 private and public colleges including Concordia in Montreal and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver are here scouting for young minds. Anyone interested in enrolling can introduce themselves to university representatives at the event starting at 6 p.m.

The fair is open to students looking to study abroad either during a bachelor's or postgraduate degree, according to Cilia Chaves, senior education adviser at CCCN.

Many of the college reps arrived yesterday to tour Costa Rica's bilingual high schools and were greeted by Canadian Ambassador to Costa Rica Neil Reeder, said Chaves.

Chaves said it's uncommon for Ticos to study abroad in Canada – “maybe because they haven't heard about (the opportunities to do so).”

The college fair, she said, will be similar to U.S. university events the CCCN has organized in previous years at the Marriott hotel.

For more information, phone the cultural center at 207-7566.