Coast Mountains School District seeks host families for growing international student program

The Coast Mountains School District is looking for host families to join its growing international student program. While placements for the current semester are filled, the district is now focused on securing homes for the next semester in January.

The request comes as the program, which is only in its second year, has exceeded initial expectations. “Last year, I was hoping to get five students, but I ended up with 14,” said Joe Dominguez, the administrator for the district’s international student program. This year, the program has already seen 17 students arrive, with more expected in January. Dominguez expressed his hope to secure at least five additional families to host them.

While the immediate need for September has been met, all students have been placed in Terrace. Dominguez hopes more families will step up in the district’s other communities, including Kitimat and Hazelton. “There’s a lot of demand for sure,” Dominguez said, adding that the program is seeing interest from students worldwide, with participants coming from countries like Vietnam, Brazil and Chile.

He adds hosting an international student is more than merely providing a place to stay. “Basically, when you host one of these kids, it’s like bringing them in as part of your family,” Dominguez said.

Host families are required to offer a private bedroom, a private bathroom, and daily nutritious meals, along with a caring and supportive home environment. The school district offers families a $1,000 monthly reimbursement to cover expenses. “I call it reimbursement so that they don’t get taxed,” Dominguez added.

He noted that families have an opportunity to learn from their students while also introducing them to life in the Northwest. “Get involved and learn from them, and at the same time they want to learn about what Canada is all about, especially in our area, because it’s so rich with Indigenous culture,” he said. “A lot of them do want to learn about that, in addition to experiencing the great outdoors.

“I call our area the Hidden Gem of British Columbia, because when the students get here, it’s like holy smokes—they’re blown away with the beauty.”

For more information on the program visit international.cmsd.bc.ca