COMOX VALLEY, B.C.- School District 71 is looking for families to host international students throughout the 2018-2019 school year.
More than 300 international students come to the region to study each year, according to Colin Guiguet, SD71’s Manager of Marketing and Recruitment.
“You, as a family, would incorporate them into your home, and way of life to learn about Canadian culture, and provide a suitable home environment for a student studying in high school,” he said.
He explained that home-stay families receive a monthly honorarium for the school year to help support their international student.
“It’s $850 for the 2018-2019 school year, and it’s an honorarium, so it’s not taxable,” he said.
Guiguet said applications are accepted year-round, but there’s an added bonus for families that apply before April 15th, 2018.
“We do have an appreciation dinner that we do every year at Crown Isle Resort, and if new families who have applied and are approved want to participate, we do ask that they have their applications in and through the process by April 15th,” he said.
“The reason we are really making a push right now is that our staff will start placing students, and matching them with families in about the next four weeks, so if you’re looking for a student for the start of the school year, or for the summer, now would be the time to apply.”
The home-stay initiative is brought on by the Comox Valley International Student Program (805 Willemar Avenue, Courtenay), which operates in partnership with School District 71.
Interested families can apply online through this link.
