A Japanese student and host family enjoy a barbeque on the beach

Coming to Cortes: the Discovery Island’s First Homestay Program

The Discovery Island’s first homestay program will start up on Cortes Island this September. 

Rhonda Teramura, the Homestay Coordinator for International Student Programs within School District 72 explained, “I think it’s amazing that we’re finally able to broaden out wider than the Campbell River core of the city. It’ll be a wonderful experience for our district, our local Campbell River students and for internationals alike to expand and explore  and connect with folks that are out in the Discovery Islands.”

Student and host family on a hike – Courtesy International Student Programs, SD 72

While School District stretches from the Oyster River to Sayward, and includes both Quadra and Cortes Islands, all of the 56 students currently enrolled in the homestay program are staying in Campbell River. A Quadra Island family almost agreed to host, but ‘life changes’ brought this possibility to an end. 

Now Teramura is looking for 15-20 placings for students wanting to participate in the Cortes Island Academy.  

The homestay program is offering $900 a month to Cortes Island families willing to take a student into their homes. This is meant to cover food and lodging. Almost everything beyond that comes from the student’s personal money. 

One of the exceptions is a change in diet. For example: if a vegan student boards with a meat eating family, the School District will provide an additional $125 a month so the family can provide vegan meals.

Students will be looking for either 5 month or 10 month accommodations, depending on how much of their course load is on Cortes. 

Two families have already applied to be hosts and a third has indicated they are interested. 

“I’d like to have as many as possible because I will also be helping to place Campbell River kids in homestays,” said Teramura.

Most of the students are in grades 10 and 11, so will need the same guidance, nurturing and support that any teenager does, ‘especially considering they’ve traveled abroad on their own.’

Potential host families will have to go through a criminal record check, a driver’s license clearance and an interview process. 

“We talk about all the various kinds of things that they can offer a student, and why they want to be part of the program,” said Teramura. “Then we really look at matching the personalities of what the student puts on their application, what they’re interested in doing and the kind of family structure they’re used to. We try to make the best possible fit.”

They want students to fit into the host family’s day-to-day chores, activities and social engagements.

“We really hope to see that a connection is formed so that the student is orienting to the host parent as an extension of their own family – and the majority of our students are,” explained Teramura. “Our homestays are expected to provide three meals a day plus snacks.  They’re expected to provide a bedroom with a door that closes obviously, a bed, some storage for clothing, access to bathroom and hygiene facilities.”

Families can host up to two students, providing they have two separate bedrooms.  

Female host and student – Courtesy International Student Programs, School District 72

“Generally we like to keep the students separated based on their first language. So if we’re having two students in a home it would be someone from Spain, for example, and someone from Germany,  rather than two kids from Germany.”

(Campbell River is a preferred destination for German students because of the availability of outdoor experiences.) 

Student at family birthday party – Courtesy International Student Programs, School District 72

Teramura works closely with the program’s stays, communicating with them on a regular basis.

Every year, prior to the students arriving in September, they talk to prospective homestays about the ‘cultural iceberg.’ The most easily observable cultural differences – language, foods etc – are the tip of the iceberg. The biggest differences run deeper and affect how people experience their daily lives. In some cultures, for example, direct eye contact is considered rude and disrespectful, but other nations believe you need to look at the person you are talking to. 

Staff photo: Kim Stix (Academic Advisor), Rhonda Teramura (Homestay and Wellness Coordinator), Karen Geisbrecht (Administrator), Mercedes Hayduk (Global Engagement Manager) and Natalie McLeod (previous Administrator) – Courtesy International Student Programs, School District 72

Teramura says she and the other staff are available to coach people through these situations.  

“The beautiful thing about this program is that it brings people together in a really meaningful way. Some students, especially in the college age group, come to Canada to study, but they’ll stay in dorms or they’ll live in groups amongst themselves. That’s vastly different from a student living in a local home,” said Teramura.“it’s just fascinating how different the world works, when we consider the entire globe.”

Contact Info for International student Program

  • International Student Program
  • 425 Pinecrest Road,
  • Campbell River, BC, V9W 3P2

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