Homestay in Manitoba

Homestay in Manitoba

Manitoba is the best choice for international students to meet their educational goals. The internationally recognized education system and schools of the province have leading-edge facilities and first-rate teachers. That is why more than 11,000 international students decide to study in Manitoba every year.

Schools provide students with opportunities to learn through experience and critical thinking, but homestay in Manitoba ensures their safety and well-being. International students tend to live with local families since they can focus on their studies. Homestay in Manitoba also provides students with an authentic insight into the Canadian lifestyle and smooth integration into Canadian society.

Overview of Manitoba

Before discussing the details of the homestay in Manitoba, it may be interesting to learn more about the province itself. Manitoba borders Ontario, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, and the US states of North Dakota and Minnesota. Its total area is 649,950 km2, and its population is 1,342,153 residents. It is the only Canadian province with over 55% of its population in a single city, Winnipeg. It is also the capital and largest city in the province. Winnipeg is home to the seat of government, the Provincial Court, and the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

The largest ethnic group in the province is English, followed by Scottish, German, Ukrainian, Irish, French, Filipino, Métis, Polish, First Nations, Mennonite, Dutch, Indian, and Icelandic. The ten most spoken languages are English, French, Tagalog, Punjabi, German, Hindi, Spanish, Mandarin, Cree, and Plautdietsch.

Manitoba has a moderately strong economy, which relies on agriculture, tourism, electricity, oil, mining, and forestry. The most common agricultural activities are cattle husbandry, assorted grains, and oilseed. Also, the province is the biggest producer of sunflower seed, dry beans, and potatoes in Canada.

Manitoba has a large tourism sector. Churchill’s Arctic wildlife is the main tourist attraction. The city is a world capital for polar bears and beluga whale watchers. By the way, Manitoba is the only province with an Arctic deep-water seaport at Churchill.

The widely varied landscape of the province also draws tourists from all over the world. It changes from arctic tundra and the Hudson Bay coastline in the northern regions to dense boreal forest, large freshwater lakes, and prairie grassland in the southern regions.

Manitoba has above 110,000 lakes. Its major lakes are Lake Winnipegosis, Lake Manitoba, and Lake Winnipeg, the tenth-biggest freshwater lake in the world. The traditional First Nations lands of 29,000 km2 and the boreal forest on the east side of Lake Winnipeg are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Pimachiowin Aki. Hence, international students will have a chance to visit these sights during the homestay in Manitoba.

Secondary and Post-Secondary Schools in Manitoba

Manitoba has public, funded private, and non-funded private schools. Public and funded private schools have certified teachers, offer the Manitoba curriculum in French or English, and issue Manitoba High School Diplomas. The province has 38 public school divisions and 65 funded private schools, which can arrange homestay in Manitoba for international students.

Among the best public high schools are Sisler High School, R. D. Parker Collegiate, Gordon Bell High School, Windsor Park Collegiate, and Steinbach Regional Secondary School. International students who want to study at funded private schools can consider Westpark School, Silverwinds School, St. Boniface Diocesan High School, University of Winnipeg Collegiate, and the King’s School.

As a rule, non-funded private schools do not help international students with a homestay in Manitoba. They are not required to meet the educational standards of Manitoba, have certified teachers, follow the Manitoba curriculum, and issue Manitoba High School Diplomas. There are 44 non-funded private schools in the province.

The post-secondary educational institutions can help international students with the arrangement of homestay in Manitoba. Among the high-quality public post-secondary schools of the province are Red River College, University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, University College of the North, Assiniboine Community College, Université de Saint-Boniface, Brandon University, and Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology. Manitoba also has four private religious institutions with degree-granting authority, namely Providence University College and Theological Seminary, Booth University College, Steinbach Bible College, and Canadian Mennonite University.

Arrangement of Homestay in Manitoba

Secondary and post-secondary institutions are the main source of up-to-date information about homestay in Manitoba. Still, international students should know about the four options for homestay in Manitoba.

1. School administrations match students with host families without the help of third-party providers.
2. Schools collaborate with approved agencies that arrange homestay in Manitoba for international students.
3. School administrations have a list of local homestay service providers.
4. Private homestay agencies offer their services to international students. Still, students need to consult with their schools before using the services of these agencies.

Requirements for the Host Family

During the study in Manitoba, host parents become the second family for international students. Thus, providers of homestay in Manitoba ask students to submit a homestay application to learn more about their hobbies and interests. The homestay coordinators also conduct a comprehensive selection procedure for host families.

1. Host parents need to be at least 25 years old and speak English at home.
2. They ought to complete the homestay application.
3. The prospective host families must provide the criminal records of family members over 18 years old.
4. The homestay coordinators need to interview prospective host families and ask family-related questions.
5. They should check whether the households meet Manitoba Building Codes and Standards.
6. Coordinators must score prospective host families based on the designated selection factors.
7. Homestay coordinators ought to match international students with approved host families.

Facilities of Homestay in Manitoba

According to the policy of homestay in Manitoba, host families should prepare basic facilities for international students. They need to offer furnished private rooms, access to the internet, and laundry facilities. The number of meals depends on the chosen type of homestay in Manitoba.

International students who want to have three meals a day need to ask for the full-board homestay. Those who wish to have breakfast and dinner with the host family and lunch with friends can choose the half-board homestay. International students who are over 18 years old can choose the roomstay homestay in Manitoba since it does not include a meal plan.

Homestay Fees in Manitoba

The range of fees for homestay in Manitoba varies on the offered facilities, the meal plan, the school’s location, and other additional services. To be more specific, the roomstay option can cost around 700 CAD, the half-board option can cost about 800 CAD, and the full-board homestay costs nearly 900 CAD per month. 

Responsibilities of Host Families During the Homestay in Manitoba

Parents of international students need to be sure that host families offer a safe and comfortable homestay in Manitoba for their children. Hence, host families have four main responsibilities.

1. They must follow all guidelines prepared by the homestay provider.
2. Host families need to create a caring and supportive environment for international students.
3. They ought to report to the homestay provider about the students’ inappropriate behavior or law violations.
4. Host parents must inform students about house rules and a curfew.

Recommendations for International Students During the Homestay in Manitoba

To enjoy their homestay in Manitoba, international students also need to follow these recommendations.

1. They may contact the homestay family as soon as they get their personal information.
2. Students need to respect all family members and accept their habits.
3. They should find out their common interests, such as hockey, and spend more quality time together.
4. International students can take part in community events to learn more about Canadian traditions.
5. They should use mealtimes with their host family to learn more about each other. Students can also show them how to prepare their national dishes.
6. Students can help the host family with chores, such as cleaning dishes or walking the dog.
7. International students should stay connected with their families and tell them interesting facts about Canada’s culture and people.
8. They ought to inform parents, custodians, or homestay coordinators about any issues during the homestay in Manitoba.

 

In case, if you need Custodianship and Homestay in order to study in Manitoba or other provinces of Canada, please fill in application below or contact us directly.