Red Leaf

Red Leaf has many dedicated families in small to medium sized communities in four provinces of Canada: Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

Families open their homes to a teenager from one of several countries in Europe, South America, Mexico or Asia, and for 2 to 4 weeks, or even as long as 10 months, have the opportunity to share Canadian family life with the student. Limited opportunities also exist to host students from Quebec who study English in Ontario for 5 weeks in the summer.

Host family

If you have a teenager, hosting an international student through Red Leaf could earn your child credit toward a Red Leaf Program abroad. Contact us for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is a host family?	A. A host family could be your family, if you have a little time and care to give to a foreign student or a student from Quebec learning English, who will become part of your family temporarily.
Q. Who is qualified to be a host family?	A. Families who live in the areas where our Summer English and Homestay Program, Homestay and Activities Program, Academic Year Program or Winter English and Homestay Programs are held, and who meet the required interview and background check standards. Interviews are conducted by the Red Leaf Local Coordinator who operates the program in his/her area. If the Local Coordinator has a surplus of families, your name will be placed on a waiting list. Families hosting students are required to provide the student with room and board and three meals per day (including bag lunches on days when students leave for school or excursions), a room, which could be shared with a family member of the same gender and roughly the same age, equipped with a bed, closet and desk or study table, chair and good lighting.
Q. What am I expected to do?	A. Should you be selected as a Red Leaf Student Programs host family, you would be expected to include the student in the normal life of your family, and show the student a little of what makes our country special. Since students come to Canada for the purposes of learning English and discovering Canada, we ask that host families have time to spend with the students during the course of their normal routines, to ensure that they have ample opportunity to practice their language in everyday situations.
Q. How many students can I have in my home?	A. For most programs, you may host two students of different nationalities, to a maximum of 3 students per host family. Check with your local coordinator to find out the local program details.
Q. Do I have to spend all my time with my student(s)?	A. It is not a realistic expectation that families spend all their time with the foreign student. However, families are expected to include their student in family activities, and incorporate them into their daily lives. We encourage families to ensure that some time is available to interact with to the student each day.
Q. Are the members of my family required to undergo a background check?	A. To ensure the safety and protection of our students and host families, we do ask that all family members over the age of 18 submit to a background police check.
Q. Once my family has decided to host a student, whom do I contact?	A. Red Leaf has Local Coordinators in the area of each community in which we run a program. Contact us, and we will refer you to the Local Coordinator in your area.

As I dragged my husband, Ken, to the orientation he grumbled, "I don't remember agreeing to have an exchange student." I replied, as convincingly as possible, "I'm sure you agreed. Don't you recall our big discussion?"

For years I had been intrigued by ads in our Burlington, Ont., newspaper requesting host families for exchange students. I wanted to respond to the trust that parents show by sending their children off alone to a different country. As an empty nester, I thought the time was ripe to try this new experience — except Ken didn't share my enthusiasm.

Perhaps the memory of raising four rowdy teenagers was still too fresh in his mind. Ken grew even more hesitant when he read the introductory letter from 15-year-old David Lievore of St-Malo, France — the student whom Red Leaf Student Programs/Tours Inc. had selected for us. David wrote,"It's the first time I send a letter to a stranger. I am a young child, and it's marvellous to go to Canada during my youth. I want to discover 'the American Dream.'"

Gulp! Would David discover the American Dream in Canada? Would Ken survive the three weeks that David would be staying with us? David arrived on our doorstep with a smile from ear to ear. He had hardly crossed the threshold when he asked, "Mr. Heneke, where is the computer?" Ken, having recently acquired a new model for his 60th birthday, proudly showed it off. David quickly pointed out that his printer was far superior.

David was a computer whiz and was soon teaching Ken. Ken was annoyed at being outdone but he spent hours with David on the computer, learning and comparing the prices and practices in Canada and France. David reset our screen saver, creating a colourful ocean of fish eternally emanating bubbles.

In addition to the continual drone of gurgling fish, the house came alive with David's piano playing. He was something of a maestro. However, he mentioned, "The piano is out of tune." There was no end to David's talents. He was also a tennis star. Mercilessly, he sent me chasing all over the tennis court until I resembled a ripe, red tomato.

David had boundless energy and moved from one activity to the next with the breathless speed of an express train. When David checked out TV, he discovered baseball. "A lot of questions are coming to my brain!" he exclaimed. At last Ken could shine; he patiently explained the game to David, ball by ball. Making tuna melts and watching the Blue Jays together became a common pastime.

During the days, David attended school. Some evenings we gained a reprieve from David when he joined his class on excursions to the CN Tower, Paramount Canada's Wonderland and the Ontario Science Centre. The respite gave us time to reenergize and restock the refrigerator.

One evening David came home later than expected. He claimed to have been lost, but we treated him the same way we did our own children and grounded him. When my son Earl heard about the incident, he exclaimed, "I can't believe you grounded the exchange student!"

We also insisted that David keep a regular bedtime when he had school the following day. He disapproved of bedtime at 10, commenting, "when you start snoring in Canada, we start eating in France."

Of course David was also a gourmet chef. One morning he turned my feeble pancake batter into crepes. He didn't hesitate to assure us that French baguettes, French Dijon mustard and French cheeses were better in France. But he was also enthusiastic about what I prepared. In his haste to reach the kitchen one evening, he tripped coming up the stairs, sending the terrified cat flying like a cannonball of black fur.

All the while, we exchanged cultural differences. David informed us that we live at a much slower pace, as the cars travel much faster in Europe. He was also amazed at how perfect the gardens are here, how little litter there is on the streets and how much less everything costs in Canada. He concluded, "Canada is a very sympathique country."

Despite Ken's initial reluctance to host an exchange student, he grew attached to David, who reciprocated. In a letter David sent when he returned to France, he wrote, "Hi, this is David (your favourite French student). Your house is probably calm without me. My trip to Canada was a real success because I learned many things from you, and it's easier for me to speak without hesitation.

I'd like to travel another time to Canada because, generally, the local people are very welcoming and they take time to listen. Do you realize that with you I've discovered the joy of Worcestershire sauce and the magic of milk shakes? I thank you for your devotion. Those three weeks were unforgettable."

David's visit was just as unforgettable for us. We didn't realize how involved or attached we would become.

David's parents have invited us to visit St-Malo. On the bottom of their letter, David added, "You must come to play the second tennis match between Canada and France." It's time Ken and I had another big discussion.