hero_homestay

Homestay Canada

Your home away from home

Live with a Canadian family

Are you looking for a home away from home? Be welcomed into one of ILSC’s Canadian Homestay families, and experience a supportive living environment in Vancouver, Toronto or Montréal. Homestay offers the perfect opportunity to practise your English conversation skills and experience Canadian culture and family life.

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WHAT TO EXPECT
  • Families from diverse backgrounds that reflect the multicultural populations in Vancouver, Toronto or Montréal
  • A clean, comfortable, fully-furnished private room
  • Homes located between 40-60 minutes travelling distance from the school
  • Prepared meals for students who choose a homestay option with a meal plan.
  • A safe and secure homestay, inspected and approved by our Student Accommodation Department
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EMBRACE DIVERSITY

Canada is a multicultural country. Because of this, your homestay family in Vancouver, Toronto or Montréal might have a foreign background. Please be open to embrace different cultures.

ENGLISH WILL BRING YOU TOGETHER

Your homestay family might have other international students, but no one will speak the same language as you.

PET-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT

Canadian homestay families are very pet friendly. Your homestay family might have pets. Please note, if you requested to stay in a house with no pets, we will do our best to accommodate your request.

BEDROOM TYPES

It is quite common in Canada to have a bedroom in the basement. Your bedroom will be located either in the basement or above ground (main floor or second floor).

SMOKE FREE SPACES

All our homestay families do not allow anyone to smoke inside their houses. If you are a smoker, please let us know before your arrival.

HOUSE RULES

All homestay families have house rules. Please talk to your homestay family about their house rules on your first day and do your best to follow them.

GUESTS

Guests and overnight guests are not allowed in your homestay unless your homestay parents give you permission.

PENALTIES

You will be responsible to pay for any damage you have caused during your stay.

MEAL PLAN OPTIONS
  • icon_coffeeFULL-BOARD (Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner)
  • icon_burgerHALF-BOARD (Breakfast + Dinner)
  • icon_plateROOMSTAY (No Meals)
BREAKFAST

Breakfast is usually prepared by the student and may consist of a piece of toast with coffee and/or a bowl of cereal with milk.

LUNCH

Families usually provide a packed lunch, which may consist of a sandwich, drink, and fruit. Ask your family whether or not you are responsible for packing your own lunch.

DINNER

Dinner is prepared by the family. Your family will set the dinner time (typically sometime between 6−7:30 pm). Dinner is usually a well-balanced, full meal.

USE OF THE KITCHEN
FULL-BOARD OR HALF-BOARD

If you choose a full-board or half-board homestay you will not be allowed to use the kitchen. If you would like to use the kitchen, please ask your homestay family first; but be aware that they are not obligated to allow you to use the kitchen.

ROOMSTAY

If you choose a roomstay, you will be allowed to use the kitchen to store food and prepare meals. It is your responsibility to clean after using the kitchen, without exception.

Desk

Desk

Kitchen

Kitchen

Dining

Dining

Living

Living

The perfect homestay option for you

Our homestay options provide different meal plans and levels of independence in a supported environment with a Canadian family in Vancouver, Toronto or Montréal.

All prices are in Canadian dollars. Taxes included where applicable. Rates are per person and booking is subject to availability.

All ILSC & Greystone College homestay bookings require a placement fee of $230 in addition to weekly fees.

Pricing is valid for arrivals in 2024 but is subject to change at any time. Please view 2024 pricing for Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver on our Price List pages.

NOTES: Extra nights may be added upon pre-approval from our Accommodation Department and will be charged a flat rate of $75 per night. When the total extra night fees are greater than the weekly fee, you will be charged the lesser amount.
For special diets, please inquire about availability - if available special diets are an additional $50/week
High season pricing applies from the night of June 1 to the night of September 1, 2024 inclusive, based on the dates of your stay

Full Board

Enjoy a homestay experience with a full meal plan, so that all of your dining needs are taken care of by your homestay family.

  • icon_coffee BREAKFAST
  •  
  • icon_burger LUNCH
  •  
  • icon_plate DINNER
    • WEEKLY RATE FOR 18+
    • $310
    •  
    • WEEKLY RATE FOR UNDER 18
    • $325
    •  
    • HIGH SEASON SUPPLEMENT
    • $40

Half Board

Have your breakfast and dinner taken care of by your homestay family; but enjoy the flexibility to eat out for lunch with new friends.

  • icon_coffee BREAKFAST
  •  
  • icon_plate DINNER
    • WEEKLY RATE FOR 18+
    • $285
    •  
    • WEEKLY RATE FOR UNDER 18
    • $300
    •  
    • HIGH SEASON SUPPLEMENT
    • $40

Roomstay*

Dine your way, with total flexibility to buy your own food and prepare your own meals, or to eat out if preferred.

  • icon_shopping Kitchen access to prepare meals
    • WEEKLY RATE FOR 18+
    • $280
    •  
    • HIGH SEASON SUPPLEMENT
    • $40

*Roomstay is only available for students 18 years or older

WHAT OUR HOMESTAY FAMILIES ARE SAYING

This is a way of me getting to know different cultures. I’ve had all types of students, and I enjoy talking with them, and they enjoy talking with me, so we get to know each other, and how they live. We are different cultures all under one roof. It's an incredible experience.

Teresa Shiavinato
Teresa, Vancouver

Your Questions Answered

We've got answers to your top questions about how Homestay works in Vancouver, Toronto and Montréal, Canada, and what to expect. And if you still have questions, we're always available to offer support.

Homestay families will have Wi-Fi. You can ask your homestay family to give you access to the internet connection. Homestay families will have different Internet packages. It is always better to speak with your homestay about the data available before downloading or streaming from the internet.

Please ask your homestay family about their shower rules. Families might limit showers to one-per-day or limit shower length to 10-15 minutes per shower.

Ask your homestay where they would prefer you keep clothes that need washing. Some may prefer you keep them in a basket in your bedroom, while others may ask you to place them in a basket elsewhere in the house. Some homestays will ask you to do your own washing and will teach you how to operate the washing machine; other homestays will prefer to do your washing for you. When your bed linens and towels need washing, you will be responsible for either washing them, or providing them to your homestay family to wash according to their preference.

Common areas, such as lounge room, can be enjoyed by everyone in the home. Bedrooms are private. You should only enter if you are invited. It is always best to knock first.

There is no curfew or specific time that you have to return each day. Your host family understands that you are an adult; however, they would expect you to inform them if you are coming home late or will not have dinner with the family.

Speak to a homestay
specialist today.

We are looking forward to answering your questions.

CONTACT US

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