How Canadian host families are screened and matched, what a homestay includes, and what families typically pay each month.
For most parents, the hardest part of a Canadian high school plan is not the classroom. It is the moment they imagine their child closing a bedroom door in someone else’s home, thousands of kilometres away. Who are these families? Who checked them? What happens if something goes wrong? These questions are natural, and they have clear answers.
How host families are chosen
Homestay programs linked to school boards and established providers screen families before any student arrives. Each provider has its own process, but screening typically includes:
- Home visits: checking that the home is safe, clean and has a suitable private bedroom.
- Background checks: adults in the household are checked before hosting a minor.
- Interviews and references: coordinators learn about the family’s routines, values and reasons for hosting.
- Ongoing monitoring: coordinators stay in touch with students and families throughout the year.
Matching then considers diet, allergies, pets, interests and personality, so the student joins a household that suits them.
What a homestay includes
A student normally receives a private bedroom, meals and daily support from the host family. More importantly, they gain a window into everyday Canadian life: family dinners, weekend outings and conversation in English every single day. For many students, this is where fluency and confidence grow fastest.
What it costs
Expect about CAD 950–1,700 a month, depending on the city and provider, plus a one-time placement fee. For example, Canada Homestay Network charges CAD 300 for placement and CAD 130 a month for monitoring minors. Some school boards publish package prices:
- Ottawa-Carleton DSB: CAD 15,843 for 10 months, with custodianship included.
- Edmonton Public Schools: CAD 16,290 for 10 months, all-inclusive with custodianship and airport transfers.
- Winnipeg School Division: CAD 1,200 a month.
- Nova Scotia: CAD 950 a month.
Questions to ask before you choose
Ask who screens the family, how often the coordinator checks in, what happens if the match does not work, and who the student can call at night. A good provider will answer every question without hesitation. It also helps to prepare your child: a short message to the host family before arrival, a small gift from home and an open mind about new routines make the first weeks much easier for everyone.
Learn more on our homestay and custodianship page. Then book a free pre-assessment with Canadian Edu Centre. We work with providers we know and introduce you to the arrangements before departure, so your child’s new home feels safe from the very first night.