Saskatoon Public Schools' International Education program is seeking new host families. Hosting an international high school student enriches the life of the visiting student but also the host family. You will expand your horizons without leaving home. Hosts also receive a generous stipend to cover the associated costs.

International Education Program

Renée Clemens, International Education Director with SPS, says we are proud to attract students from all over the world to take a semester or year of high school in Saskatoon. We currently have international students in seven of our collegiates and the program is continuously growing. Visiting students have the opportunity to improve their English language skills alongside peers whose first language is English. They also have the opportunity to experience Saskatoon life through their placement with a local family. This means joining family meals, running errands, attending activities, and taggling along on visits with friends and family—essentially, immersion into the household.

Host Perspective

Laurie Bletsky, a longtime host, says it's been amazing to host many students from all over the world.

"It's just great to be able to learn from students who have no idea what Canada is like, and to show them what our city is like," says Laurie. "I think that we live in the most amazing place in the world, so I think it's great to see our city from their eyes and to see them experience things like snow for the first time."

Asked what she would tell someone considering hosting, Laurie says: "I would say probably the biggest thing is to be open to new experiences and to just be willing to accept a student into your family as part of your family. I can say that, for myself and my family, it's been a fantastic experience."

Benefits of Hosting

• Allows you to see your city through new eyes.
• Builds awareness/supports learning about a different culture.
• Broadens worldview.
• Opportunity to forge new lifelong relationships.
• Create new networks that can, potentially, lead to reciprocal host arrangements.
• Reinforces the adage that 'people are people' despite differences.
• Receive stipend/allowance. 

Learn More

Visit the Saskatoon International Education > Information for Hosts webpage or email sie@spsd.sk.ca.