Host an International Student

School District 5 invites families in Cranbrook, Fernie & Sparwood to host an international student starting in September. Most students come from Germany, Mexico, Brazil, or Japan and will attend Grades 8 to 12 for either one semester (5 months) or one school year. Host families receive a tax-free allowance of $660 per month per student and vacation/weekend coverage is available. Placements for September are finalized in early June. Please contact the homestay coordinator in your area: Ulli Murtagh in Cranbrook at (250) 489-3866 or [email protected]; Kim Hopkins in Fernie at (250) 423-3191 or [email protected]; or Glenda Newsted in Sparwood at (778) 518-0496 or [email protected].

School District 5 invites families in Cranbrook, Fernie & Sparwood to host an international student starting in September. Most students come from Germany, Mexico, Brazil, or Japan and will attend Grades 8 to 12 for either one semester (5 months) or one school year. Host families receive a tax-free allowance of $660 per month per student and vacation/weekend coverage is available. Placements for September are finalized in early June. Please contact Martin Ross at (250) 417-2061 or [email protected], or the homestay coordinator in your area: Ulli Murtagh in Cranbrook at (250) 489-3866 or [email protected]; Kim Hopkins in Fernie at (250) 423-3191 or [email protected]; or Glenda Newsted in Sparwood at (778) 518-0496 or [email protected].

School District 5 (Southeast Kootenay) invites your family in Cranbrook, Fernie or Sparwood to host one or two international students starting in September. Most students come from Germany, Mexico, Brazil, or Japan and will attend school here in grades 8 to 12 for either one semester (5 months) or one school year. Host families receive a tax-free allowance of $660 per month per student, vacation and/or weekend coverage is available, and host families review their student’s application before making a final commitment. Placements for September are finalized in early June. To receive an information package, please contact Martin Ross at (250) 417-2061 or [email protected], or the homestay coordinator in your area: Ulli Murtagh in Cranbrook at (250) 489-3866 or [email protected]; Kim Hopkins in Fernie at (250) 423-3191 or [email protected]; or Jen Hegedus in Sparwood at (250) 425-4455 or [email protected].

To get in touch with the homestay coordinator in your area please contact: Ulli Murtagh in Cranbrook at (250) 489-3866 or [email protected]; Kim Hopkins in Fernie at (250) 423-3191 or [email protected]; or Glenda Newsted in Sparwood at (778) 518-0496 or [email protected].

We encourage families to consider hosting two students from different countries. Such double placements are usually very successful because the students communicate in English and help to entertain each other. Host families come in all shapes and sizes, from nuclear families with school-aged children to retired couples and single parents.

Homestay families host students for many different reasons. Families enjoy getting to know young people from different countries, learning about their culture and hearing different languages spoken. Other host families have a heart for young people and love the additional activity, laughter and chatter their student brings to their home. But by far the greatest benefit is the lifelong friendships that often blossom between host parents and their host son or daughter. It’s amazing how many students return to Canada to visit their host family and friends, and it’s not uncommon for host parents to travel abroad to attend special occasions in their host student’s life!

Host families provide a private bedroom, food for three meals per day, high speed internet, local transportation and a caring home environment. We also encourage families to involve their student in at least a couple of activities each month.