Custodian Responsibilities 

Canada is known all over the world as a country of perfect educational opportunities. Many people choose it as their destination for school, college, and university studies. Those who come to the country before they reach the age of majority and are not accompanied by their parents - must have a custodian in Canada. 

The age of majority differs in the provinces and on the territories of Canada. In Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan this age is 18. In the provinces and on the territories of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon the age of majority is 19. All students who are younger than that are considered minor children who need supervision in Canda. Their stay in Canada is possible only after the signing of the Custodianship Declaration. This legal document, certified by a Notary Public, states that the minor child has a custodian in Canada, who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. 

According to the standards of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, a custodian is an adult in Canada for whom legal arrangements have been made and they can act in lieu of the student`s parent(s) or legal guardians. Custodians are allowed to make the decisions for the minor children in the same way that a parent would in their home country. 

The custodian is responsible for the proper care and supervision of the student on a day-to-day basis, and including the emergency situations when medical attention or intervention is required. Before signing the Custodianship Declaration, both parties (student`s parents or legal guardians and a custodian) read the official Custodianship Guidelines to know all the required by the government of Canada responsibilities.

General requirements to the custodian include:

1. Citizenship: A custodian must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada.
2. Age: A custodian must be over the age of 25. 
3. Legal Proof: A custodian must present a Passport or Permanent Resident Card to prove two of the abovementioned requirements (age and citizenship/permanent residentship).
4. The number of students: Each custodian can only have a limited number of students to take care of. If they have more, they have to assign a delegate. To do that, the custodian must provide written delegation notice and photo identification of the delegate to the schools he works with.

Typical responsibilities of a custodian in Canada include the following:

1. A custodian must help prepare the student`s arrival to Canada and provide all the necessary details of the arrival.
2. Custodians of the secondary school students often attend the Assessment Test at the orientation center of a chosen school. They make appointments with the school and bring all the original documents, listed on the application, in order to register the student and course selection.  They can also provide parental advice to their students regarding the school program and other extracurricular activities.
3. They check student’s health insurance and guarantee that proper medical care is provided as required by Canadian law.
4. Custodians control that their students visit a chosen medical clinic within three months from the arrival and bring an English version of the Immunization Record. The details of this requirement (and record) may differ depending on the province and the territory of Canada where the chosen school is situated.
5. Custodians must assist students with the renewal of their details for school, check whether a student receives a school renewal form in time, and contact parents when tuition payments are due.
6.  Custodians assist their students if they want to transfer to another Canadian school or School Board. They help to fill in the School Transfer Form and arrange an appointment with the new school and accompany the student to select the courses.
7. Custodians help students with the update of their Study Visa or Study Permit and sign forms as required by the Canadian legislation.
8. A custodian serves as an official contact person with a chosen school for all matters concerning the student. A custodian also attends all the necessary parent‐teacher interviews at school.
9. Custodians have to communicate regularly with school and parents regarding school matters and are allowed to provide consent as required by the school for academic programs and extracurricular activities.
10. Custodians must maintain correct and current contact information with the chosen school at all times and provide an emergency contact if they cannot be reached in the situation of emergency.
11. Custodians often act as their students` advocates in Canada. They advocate for students on behalf of parents regarding any academic, attendance, behavioral or emotional issues. They inform and advise parents immediately for any of these issues, and provide written notes to the school as required for student attendance.

Students who come to Canada from all over the world, have to adjust to a new environment. It is the responsibility of their custodians to introduce them to some basic aspects of everyday life and studies in Canada (banking, mobile phone, Internet, transport system), making their immersion smooth and comfortable. It is vital for custodians to maintain regular contact with the students they care for. Also, they have to be in contact with a chosen Canadian homestay provider and coordinate custodial duties with this homestay provider. If any changes in homestay and home address are made, the school must be informed immediately.

Sometimes, a custodian can be unavailable or needs to leave the province or country, if so - the school must be informed in writing. All Custodians are obliged to appoint a delegate in writing if they are going to be unavailable for more than 48 hours or if they leave the province or country.

Sometimes a person wants to stop being a custodian. In this case, they need to write a letter informing the parents that they no longer wish to be their child’s custodian. The parents must be guaranteed to have a 30-day notice to be able to appoint another custodian. The previous custodian is responsible and will remain the main contact person until a new notarized form is submitted to the chosen school in Canada.

It is worth mentioning, that custodians are not responsible for students that return to their home countries during the month of July and August.

 

 

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