Homestay in Victoria

Homestay in Victoria

When you decide to study in Victoria, Canada, a big part of your educational success is determined by your living arrangements. Homestay in Victoria is a great way to make new friends, learn first-hand about Canadian culture, practice English, and have a supportive home-away-from-home experience. Before discussing homestay in Victoria in more detail, it is worth learning more about the city and its educational institutions.

Overview of Victoria

The capital of the province of British Columbia, Victoria, is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island with access to the Pacific Ocean. It is close to the biggest city in British Columbia, Vancouver, and the seaport city of the United States, Seattle. The total area of the city is 19.47 km2, while the Greater Victoria area is 696.15 km2. Victoria is home to about 91,867 citizens, while the metropolitan area has 397,237 people. Residents of the metropolis are of English, Scottish, Irish, German, French, Dutch, Chinese, Ukrainian, North American Indigenous, Polish, and many other ethnic origins.

Named after the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Victoria, the city is one of the oldest settlements in the Pacific Northwest, starting its history in 1843. It has preserved many historic buildings, in particular the Parliament Buildings and the Empress hotel. By the way, Victoria’s Chinatown is the second oldest, after San Francisco’s, in North America.

Also known as Garden City, Victoria is in the top twenty cities in the world for quality of life. The main sectors of the Greater Victoria area economy are technology, tourism, education, banking, public and private schools, food products manufacturing, and light aircraft manufacturing. It is one of the major tourist destinations in Canada, with over 3.5 million visitors per year who add more than a billion dollars to the local economy.

Secondary and Post-Secondary Schools in Victoria

Today, about 150,000 international students pursue education in British Columbia. Many of them decide to find a school and homestay in Victoria. Minor international students who decide to earn secondary education in the city can consider Esquimalt High School, Lambrick Park Secondary School, Mount Douglas Secondary School, Oak Bay High School, Spectrum Community School, and Victoria High School. All schools are managed by the Greater Victoria School District.

Greater Victoria hosts three public post-secondary educational institutions: the University of Victoria, Camosun College, and Royal Roads University. In addition, there are numerous private post-secondary schools, such as Victoria College of Art, Pacific Rim College, the Sprott Shaw College, the Christ Church Cathedral School, the Chinese School in Chinatown, Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific, and Glenlyon-Norfolk School.

Importance of Homestay in Victoria

Now, it is time to discuss the peculiarities of homestay in Victoria. According to the Greater Victoria School District, minor international students are strongly encouraged to stay with Canadian families. It is the best way to ensure the safety, well-being, and academic success of the students. Homestay in Victoria allows international students to focus on their studies, confident that their domestic needs are met. Local families also provide children with authentic insight into the Canadian lifestyle and opportunities to improve their English language skills. Thus, international students easier integrate into Canadian society.

While minor international students are required to have a homestay in Victoria, the adult student can choose to live on-campus, off-campus, or with the host family.

Requirements for the Host Family

The school or the homestay agency must check and evaluate the host families. In turn, host families must obey provincial homestay guidelines, including a police screen for any person within the household who is more than 18 years old. It is done to offer international students a safe and caring homestay in Victoria.

To be more specific about the procedure, host families are all citizens or permanent residents of Canada who speak English or French at home. They ought to provide students with a private bedroom and study area, parental support, and acceptance of students as part of the family. To become part of the homestay in Victoria program, host families must go complete training with the school’s department to ensure they understand the importance of providing a nurturing and caring environment for minor international students.

Then, the Homestay Coordinators match the host family and the student based on the information provided in their application forms. Moreover, they regularly speak with international students to ensure they have a suitable homestay in Victoria and assist them in adjusting to their new life in Canada.

Speaking about the international students enrolled in post-secondary education, Camosun College, University of Victoria, and Royal Roads University offer homestay in Victoria services for all interested international students.

Some parents prefer that their children live in a private homestay in Victoria with their custodians. Hence, they need to follow several requirements.

1. They must be a citizen or a permanent resident in Canada who are over 25 years old.
2. Custodians ought to live within one hour’s distance of the student’s school.
3. They should submit a copy of the Custodianship Application to the school.
4. Custodians need to inform the school about any change in custodianship or homestay arrangements.
5. They must provide guidance, supervision, and support to the international student.
6. Custodians ought to keep in touch with the school and parents of the international student.
7. They should handle all the emergencies and report to the student’s parents and school staff after all incidents.
8. Custodians need to ensure children’s regular attendance and satisfactory academic performance.
9. They must follow the International Student Homestay Guidelines of the British Columbia Ministry of Education.

Types of Homestay in Victoria

To find a homestay in Victoria, you should know its main types. The full-board homestay means that international students have a full meal plan. In other words, they will enjoy having breakfast, lunch, and dinner with the host family.

The half-board homestay means that students have breakfast and dinner with the host family, but lunch they have at the school cafeteria or somewhere else.

The Roomstay homestay offers full independence for international students since meals are not included in the service. They can prepare meals at home or eat out. Nevertheless, the roomstay type of homestay in Victoria is available only for international students who are above 18 years old.

Homestay Fees in Victoria

Homestay in Victoria can be costly compared to other types of accommodation in Canada. However, international students have more time for studies since the cooking and cleaning are taken care of by the host family. On average, homestay in Victoria costs from 900 up to 1,200 CAD per month. The price can vary depending on location, the number of meals, facilities, and additional services.

General Recommendations for International Students

It can be challenging to adjust to the homestay in Victoria, but several tips can make this process easier.

1. You may communicate with the homestay family as soon as you have their contact information.
2. You need to check before arriving whether your host family has any pets and make sure you feel comfortable with them.
3. You should find out what you have in common, such as soccer, and spend more quality time together.
4. You can use mealtimes with your host family to learn more about each other.
5. You should be prepared to share your national food with your host family and show them how to prepare it. You can even bring along a few condiments from home to add a familiar taste to food.
6. You must offer help with chores. Cleaning dishes, walking the dog, or washing the car are all part of living at a homestay in Victoria, which allows you to feel like a part of a family.
7. You need to communicate with your own family and tell them about the things you are learning about Canada’s culture and people.

In case, if you need help with Homestay and Custodianship in Victoria, please fill in application below or contact us directly.