UNAM’s (the Spanish acronym of the National Autonomous University of Mexico) Extension school in Canada, or ESECA (for its Spanish acronym), was founded in 1995 with the mission of diffusing Mexican culture through the teaching of Spanish and various academic and cultural activities. Thus, ESECA was established as one of UNAM’s important development priorities within the context of its internationalization project.

On June 30 of that year, Dr. José Sarukhan, UNAM’s rector, officially launched the project in the presence of Her Excellency Madame Sandra Fuentes, Mexico’s Ambassador to Canada, and Mr. Yves Ducharme, mayor of the city of Hull (now Gatineau). ESECA’s first principal was Madame Esperanza Garrido, and ESECA’s offices were established in Hull’s Maison du citoyen (city hall).

In September 1995, courses began in classrooms loaned by the Université du Québec in Hull (now the Université du Québec en Outaouais) and by the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

In February 1996 the building which now houses ESECA was purchased in a run-down district of Hull. The renovation of the building began immediately, followed by its inauguration on October 21, 1996. The presence of ESECA triggered an urban renovation, revitalizing everyday life in the district and fostering the establishment of new productive activities nearby.

In 1998, French courses began, followed, in 2002, by English courses. In 2005 ESECA surpassed the milestone of 1,000 students per year.

(Photo : Guillermo Pulido, Esperanza Garrido, Al Groves, Janie Groves, Yves Ducharme, Sandra Fuentes y José Sarukhan)