In the 2023-2024 school year, the Mountain View School Division International Student Program (MVSDISP) welcomed 45 students into our schools and communities. These students came from 15 countries and 5 continents. MVSDISP has been able to consistently attract students from all over the world to our program by highlighting the unique aspect of living and studying in MVSD. We promote our safe communities, natural spaces, and abundance of recreational activities. However, the most highly regarded aspect of MVSDISP is our incredible homestay families and supportive homestay program.
Our homestay families are amazing and give international students such a memorable Canadian experience. The students truly appreciate and enjoy all of the experiences that are afforded to them, however what they value most is that our homestay families make them feel like they are part of the family. It is that sense of belonging that our homestay families give to students that make them so incredible. Lois Aitken, who is Homestay Manager East for the program expresses her gratitude for the extraordinary families she has the privilege to work with. “I have had the pleasure of working with some amazing families who have been a part of our homestay program over the last several years. These families have welcomed our students into their homes and have made them feel like they have a home away from home. Living life together and sharing each other’s culture has made for a great experience for everyone.” Flo Branconnier, who is Homestay Manager West for the program shares what a difference our homestay families have made in the students’ lives. “They support the students like they are their own, helping them navigate through social and cultural differences and empowering them to grow as young men and women.”
Our homestay program ensures that our families are supported every step of the way. The homestay managers work diligently to make sure that the homestay experience is rewarding for all involved. Lois Aitken acknowledges the importance of building relationships and maintaining regular communication with homestay families. “Working closely with the homestay families to ensure that this is a good experience for everyone is very important to me. Families need to feel supported and that they are not in this alone. Building and maintaining good relationships on all levels, I believe, is the reason we have a great homestay program. The homestay managers work hard to make sure that students enjoy their stay in their new homes, through regular communication with the students and their homestay families.” Flo Branconnier adds that the relationship formed during the homestay experience does not always end after the students leave. “Most students continue to keep in touch with their families long after they leave. In fact, a lot of our past students have returned to visit.”
As a result of homestay families opening their homes and their hearts to these students, the International Student Program has been able to have a positive impact on our communities. From an education perspective, having international students in our schools presents tremendous opportunities for our local students to have international experiences in their own communities. It fosters international friendships, allows for additional perspectives in the classrooms and facilitates the development of global and intercultural competencies. From an economic standpoint, the impact international students have on our communities cannot be understated. Since 2007, the program has generated revenues exceeding $9.8 million. 100% of revenues come from private funds received from families or government programs from outside of Canada.
Our program will always have so much gratitude for our homestay families and can never thank them enough for all that they do. Without our amazing homestay families, our little outlier program in rural Manitoba would not have seen such incredible success.