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Photography school closing after 30 years Western Academy of Photography shuts doors for ‘financial reasons’ Daniel Palmer News staff
Photo by Ben Gawletz
National award-winner Former Victoria News intern Ben Gawletz captured this picture of James Bay’s Jordan Wilson-Ross being tackled by Burnaby Lake’s Benoit Piffero during the Rounsefell Cup provincial rugby championship at the University of Victoria last year. The photo earned Gawletz first place for Best Sports Photo in the annual Canadian Community Newspaper Awards. Staff photographer Don Denton placed third for Best Feature Photo. The News also recently won several award nominations in the B.C. Yukon Community Newspaper Association competition. Those awards will be announced April 26.
Western Academy of Photography shut its doors permanently on Monday after the private postsecondary institution ran into financial problems. A representative from the Private Career Training Institutions Agency was at Western’s offices (755 Queens Ave.) on Monday to address student concerns, said PCTIA spokesperson Nadia Stefyn. The Crown corporation oversees and approves private education standards for 320 institutions in B.C. “(Western) notified PCTIA of its inability to continue operating due to financial reasons,” Stefyn said. “We are in the process of cancelling the institution’s registration.” In an email signed by managing director and owner Garry Dodds, the school’s 16 students were asked to accept either a partial tuition refund or possibly continue “teach-out” courses through another institution, in accordance with PCTIA bylaws. Andrea Kucherawy, program manager at Western, confirmed the school was working with PCTIA and students to determine “what will happen.” Kucherawy refused further comment. Dodds did not return calls, and it was unclear when Dodds first became aware of the school’s financial difficulties. Tuition at Western Academy of Photography costs $14,900 for 43-week programs in professional photography and journalism/photojournalism. The school has been in operation since 1984. Dodds assumed ownership in 2000. dpalmer@vicnews.com
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