The 2026 Search Associates (SEARCH) Toronto Job Fair, held February 6–8, once again affirmed Toronto’s role as Canada’s central hub for international educator recruitment. Hosted by Gary and Barbara MacPhie, the fair benefited from the momentum of the AAIE Leadership Conference held in Toronto earlier that week, with many international school heads already in the city and ready to connect with candidates.
Gary and Barbara reflected: “One message was consistent across both candidates and recruiters. In-person conversations still drive hiring. There is no substitute for being in the room. The Toronto fair continues to prove that face-to-face conversations allow schools and educators to move beyond CVs and applications to discuss teaching philosophy, school culture, leadership pathways, and life overseas.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0xRXpVtHvo
Over two focused days, 185 certified educators—primarily from Canada, along with several from the U.S.—met with recruiters representing 50 international schools and more than 320 teaching and leadership vacancies worldwide. School recruiters travelled from 33 countries across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, reinforcing the Toronto fair’s reputation as Canada’s largest and most globally diverse international recruitment event.
The Toronto Fair also saw the return of top Canadian international schools: Canadian College Italy, Sunway International School in Malaysia, and the Canadian International School of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. There is obviously strong alignment between these schools and the candidates at the fair, most of whom are Ontario-certified teachers.
As a smaller, boutique fair, Search Toronto offers a highly personal and engaging experience. The candidate pool reflected both diversity and depth—from fresh graduates seeking their first overseas role to experienced international educators exploring leadership pathways. Many recruiters expressed openness to early-career teachers, recognizing the value of investing in emerging talent.
Siobhan Dean of Chatsworth International School, Singapore remarked: “In-person recruitment fairs are highly important to us as it is a chance to fully experience a person during interview, and between interviews. We also rely on the Search Associates to have developed a relationship with many of their candidates so that we can get a personal perspective from them regarding their experience and fit for our school. Ultimately, it is about building and maintaining relationships both in the short and long term.”
The energy of the weekend was palpable. Candidate Kris Barron noted: “Rarely have I experienced a learning curve so great. The intensity of getting interviews, completing interviews, and attending ultra informative tax and contract analysis sessions along with plenty of stories from peers during breaks, was remarkable. My spouse commented that it was like touring the world in one weekend, with in-depth looks at schools in Japan, Africa, Europe, and so many more....Maximized learning.”
Recruiters consistently emphasize the value of face-to-face engagement. Jessica Gilway of InterAmerican Academy, Ecuador shared: “I have found that at in-person fairs you build a personal connection with people. You can sit with each other and really read in the air between you and a candidate/couple as you engage and interact. I make it my goal to meet as many candidates as possible. I work to support them and educate them in a meaningful way so that even if they don't pick up, and we don't pick them, that we will consider each other in the future! It is really about building strong relationships that will last beyond the fair!”
Adrian Leece, General Director of John F. Kennedy School, Mexico agreed: “A great teacher is not just a holder of a certificate. A great teacher is a person with the right charisma, character, and personality to hold presence in a classroom all day, every day. You can see the right certificate on a CV, but you can only see the right person in the room. I will always do my best effort to get the right person on my team and to support them thereafter. Job fairs are where teachers can show who they are and why we should hire them, and many schools are there to listen.”
Beyond interviews, candidates benefited from a robust schedule of workshops and presentations designed to support informed decision-making and smooth transitions abroad. Sessions included Interview Strategies for International Schools; Evaluating Job Offers and Contracts; Preparing for Relocation and Overseas Life; and Canadian Non-resident Tax Considerations, sponsored by Trowbridge Professional Corp.
SEARCH Director of Leadership Recruitment and Global Partnerships Tim Stuart presented “Evaluating Offers,” alongside Nazgol Adili, while Senior Associate Brian Lettinger led “The Art of the Interview” during candidate orientation. Barbara MacPhie presented “Moving Overseas and Loving It,” offering practical insights into life abroad. A panel featuring Search Associates Tim, Brian and Gary answered a variety of questions from candidates - about teaching overseas, international schools and recruitment practices.
Search Toronto’s longstanding sponsor, Trowbridge Professional Corp., now in its 24th year of partnership, and valued partner Queen’s University once again contributed meaningfully to the weekend. Queen’s faculty and leadership engaged with school leaders on practicum placements, internships, professional development, and long-term collaboration—strengthening the bridge between Canadian teacher education and the international school sector.
The centrally located Marriott Eaton Centre, newly renovated and easily accessible by public transit, provided an inviting and efficient venue. All fair activities were held on one level, fostering strong visibility and natural flow between candidates and recruiters.
Many candidates left Toronto with offers in hand; others departed with interviews in progress, clear next steps, and valuable global connections. Educators accepted positions in Cambodia, Mexico, Bolivia, Qatar, Lithuania, Germany, Lebanon, Philippines, Kenya, Venezuela, Myanmar, Vietnam, Italy, Ecuador, China, Korea the Cayman Islands, and Saudi Arabia—demonstrating the fair’s effectiveness in launching international careers.
Candidate Wendy Novotny shared: “Search Associates provides a comprehensive introduction to international teaching. Toronto 2026 was my first job fair, and I received three official offers within the week. I feel confident, prepared and am SUPER excited to start my first international school experience in a counsellor position in the Cayman Islands. Thank you, Gary and Barbara, for making my dreams a reality!”
Jamie Stout added: “As a fresh graduate, I was worried about my eligibility for a job coming in with such little certificated experience. Being able to speak with recruiters in-person allowed me to connect with people and express myself in a way that I don't think I would have been able to online. I truly don't know if I would have been able to gain this new position if I hadn't gone in-person. It was so, so worth it!”
Darren Tichenoff summed up the experience succinctly: “This is exactly what prospective teachers would expect from a job fair. Plenty of jobs to compete for in many locations.”
The 2026 Toronto Search Fair once again demonstrated the power of bringing the international education community together in one place. By combining global school representation, Canadian educator talent, expert guidance, and trusted partnerships, the Toronto fair continues to serve as a launchpad for international teaching careers and a reliable recruitment channel for world-class schools.
For more about Search Associates’ annual international education job fairs—including Search Toronto 2027—held around the world, click here.
