Columbia International College is a diverse private boarding preparatory school/college in Hamilton, Ontario, in the residential neighborhood of Westdale, within close proximity to McMaster University and Mohawk College. Columbia International College is a member of the Independent School Associations of Ontario (ISAO) and the Industry-Council of Hamilton (IEC). The College is also registered with the Ministry of Education (Ontario) Columbia’s facilities include 3 residences, a teaching campus, and a 700-acre (2.8 km) outdoor education and leadership training center, Bark Lake, located in Haliburton County, Ontario, north of Toronto. Founded in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1979, Columbia International College started off as a six-room university preparatory and ESL school on Mohawk Road West. The College was then known as Columbia Secondary School of Canada. The school quickly outgrew its Mohawk Road location, prompting a move to 430 East, 25th Street in 1981 and another move to 1029 Main Street West in 1985; by this time, Columbia had a student population of 300. Ten years later, in 1991, Columbia Secondary School officially changed its name to Columbia International College.