Living with a homestay family on the North Shore allows students to experience daily life in a Canadian home. Students are expected to participate respectfully in daily life while maintaining independence and responsibility. Homestay placements reflect the diversity of Canadian families and offer opportunities for cultural exchange through everyday interactions, shared routines, and mutual respect.
To apply to attend one of West Vancouver Schools elementary or secondary schools, please click on the button.
Please note that we are full in all grades for the 2025–26 school year, with only limited space in Grades 10, 11, and 12 for February 2026 entry. Before submitting an application, please contact mfrankowski@wvschools.ca
Applications for September 2026 will open on October 15, 2025, at midnight (Vancouver time).
– Living with a homestay family offers students practical insight into daily life in Canada. Homestay placements reflect the country’s multicultural society and include families from a wide range of cultural, linguistic, and personal backgrounds.
– Canadian host families may be traditional or non-traditional and can include one or more host parents, with or without children. Households vary in structure, routines, and lifestyles, and students are expected to be respectful of these differences.
– Many Canadian families have pets, most commonly dogs or cats, which typically live inside the home and are part of the family. Students should be prepared to share living spaces with the family’s pets.
– Commuting is a normal part of daily life for many students and families on the North Shore. Travel to and from school often involves public transportation, and bus rides of up to 60 minutes are common. Public transit is widely used by Canadian high school students and is considered a safe and reliable way to travel for school and daily activities.
For students arriving in Canada for the first time, the West Vancouver Schools International Program can arrange transportation from Vancouver International Airport to the student’s assigned homestay.
This service is available only to new, registered students and does not include accompanying family members or visitors. Airport transportation must be requested in advance in order for arrangements to be made.
Homestay accommodations include three daily meals that support a balanced diet, along with reasonable access to snacks and beverages. Host families also provide basic household items such as bedding, towels, toilet paper, hand soap, and laundry detergent. Students have access to standard home amenities, including internet, heating, and hot water, in accordance with household guidelines.
Students are expected to supply their own personal items, including toiletries and grooming products, cosmetics, clothing, electronic devices (such as a laptop or computer), and any equipment required for sports or extracurricular activities.
Some host families may allow temporary use of household items such as a hair dryer or curling iron, or may choose to provide basic toiletries. Availability varies by household. Students are encouraged to communicate with their host family in advance to confirm what may be available and to plan accordingly.
The North Shore, which includes both North and West Vancouver, covers a large geographic area extending approximately 40 kilometres from Deep Cove to Lions Bay. The region includes residential neighbourhoods built along the mountainside and extending to the Pacific Ocean, shaping a diverse landscape and neighborhood layout.
Due to the size and geography of the area, commuting is a normal part of daily life for many students. Commuting times of up to 60 minutes each way using public transportation are common for both domestic and international students.
Living farther from campus can offer access to a broader range of community amenities, such as shopping areas, beaches, and connections to Downtown Vancouver. Public transportation is widely used and supports student independence and mobility.
Students are encouraged to develop independence in navigating the local area using the public transportation system, which is widely accessible, reliable, and straightforward to use.
Gifts are not required, but a small gesture can be a thoughtful way to share your culture and express appreciation to your homestay family. There is no need to spend a significant amount; simple tokens of gratitude are meaningful and welcomed.
Students may or may not be placed in homestays with other international students. It depends on each host family’s hosting capacity and availability.
Students from the same country and/or who share a common language may be placed in the same homestay. Regardless of their native language, students are expected to communicate in English at all times within the home.
Homestays families are expected to speak English at all times as well, regardless of their native language.
The first step is to discuss your reasons for requesting a change with your Homestay Coordinator. They will work with both you and your host family to address concerns and identify possible solutions. In most cases, issues can be resolved within the existing placement. If a resolution is not possible, the Homestay Coordinator will guide you through the next steps that may be available to you.
Please refer to the Tuition Fees page for current fees.
Monthly homestay fees are calculated on a per-night basis. You can track the nightly rate using the Homestay Payment Grid available on our website.
Refer to the Returning student summer homestay fees section on our website under Arrival and Departure
Refer to the Returning student summer homestay fees section on our website under Arrival and Departure