Our History

Founded in 1995, the Canadian English Centre is the result of the combination of Prof. Ray von Schmalz’s exclusive English-teaching techniques, books, and audio productions, which began to be written in 1987, together with his passion for Canada and its culture. The name of the school was conceived while Prof. Ray von Schmalz was still in Toronto, Ontario, shortly before his return to Brazil.

At first, the Canadian English Centre had just one classroom and our books were typed on an old typewriter, illustrations were drawn by hand, then photocopies were made for the students. The audio part was recorded on cassette tapes.

The creation of our Practice Programs in 1998 made it clear that the students needed some extra space, so in 2001 we opened our Language Laboratory & Study Centre, with custom-made audio booths, CD-players and video classes on VHS. We also hired an educational assistant to help the students.

In 2006, we launched a pilot project, which included training an assistant teacher to help Prof. Ray von Schmalz. In this project, we tested the results of our method in the hands of a different teacher for the first time ever.

The success of this experiment was so astounding that we had to speed up the expansion plans of the school, and build our new school premises at 154, Dr. Lauro Wolff Valente St., in Curitiba, Brazil.

Click here for more information on our new premises.

The motto of the Canadian English Centre, "Commitment to Serious Education," has always guided every step we make. For us, the quality of your educational experience will always be more important than any profit.

For this reason, the Canadian English Centre has turned down several offers to become a franchise. We are a school, not a business.

Today, the Canadian English Centre has a team of highly-trained and experienced instructors, teachers, linguists, and expert educators, also bringing in teachers from Canada and the United States through its exclusive exchange program, in addition to a team of teaching assistants that service hundreds of students every semester at its 750-square-metre custom-designed school building in Curitiba, Brazil, as well through its exclusive online programs that reaches students all over the globe, even in Canada and in the United States.

Expansion is part of our long-term project, which must be gradual so that we do not compromise our outstanding quality of education and untarnished reputation, which are our greatest assets.