International Student Program Homestay Guide Enjoy the journey of cultural learning isp.lrsd.net CONTENTS Welcome ....................................................................3 Health Insurance Guide ...........................................................10 International Student Program Manitoba Health ........................................................................11 Homestay Guidelines ................................................................ 3 What to Do and How to Claim ...............................................11 Information Changes ................................................................ 3 Helpful Website Links and Contact Numbers .................... 4 Living in Canada ........................................................................12 Contact Information, Location and Map .............................. 5 Events and Permission Forms ...............................................16 Activities and Things to do in Winnipeg ............................... 6 Who Signs What? .....................................................................17 Fun Family Activities ..................................................................7 Homestay Program ................................................. 18 Arriving in Canada .....................................................8 What is Expected from the Homestay Family..................20 Airport Arrival ............................................................................. 8 Homestay Food Do’s and Don’ts ..........................................23 Keeping Your Student Safe ..................................................... 8 Host Family and Student Expectations ..............................26 Communication Protocol ......................................................... 9 Homestay Family Do’s and Don’ts .......................................29 Homestay Travel ......................................................................32 Going Home – End of Program Checklist .............. 36 Homestay Family Agreement ................................ 38 FAQ .......................................................................... 40 Conclusion ............................................................... 41 2 WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL Winnipeg STUDENT PROGRAM HOMESTAY GUIDELINES International Students will also be given further information during orientation Welcome to the Louis Riel School Division’s (LRSD) about specific topics once they arrive. This information International Student Program (ISP)! This information will assist you in dealing with certain topics that are too has been designed to explain our Homestay Program and lengthy to include in this guide. International Students outline some rules and expectations the International are encouraged to discuss any of these topics with their Student Program has for its participants. Homestay Family or ISP staff if you require further Please note that the rules and expectations that follow clarification. do not cover all situations. They do, however, provide sufficient information for the International Students to make good decisions. Certain rules and expectations Information Changes are very precise and imperative, while others call for judgment on the part of the International Students and This booklet is intended as a guideline only. Please their Homestay parents. consult with the LRSD ISP staff for additional information. Homestay parents, like biological parents, can’t always rely on rigid rules, but often they must take risks and make decisions based on their understanding of the situation and the maturity of their International Student. All of this will develop and evolve during the semester/ year if the International Student and the Homestay Family members respect and communicate with one another. Our International Student Program has established certain rules that protect the International Student, the Homestay Family and the International Student Program. Please read this booklet carefully to ensure you understand the basic rules and expectations of our Program. 3 Citizenship and Immigration Canada – Students can HELPFUL WEBSITE apply for a study permit online and organize all of their application information. This needs to be completed LINKS AND CONTACT outside of Canada and before a student comes to NUMBERS Canada. www.cic.gc.ca/english/e-services/index.asp Some of these links are found in other sections of this guide. They are Study Permit Extension Application: Students can also apply online to extend their study permits. If they wish included here for quick access. to extend their permit, they should apply before their current permit expires. School websites have helpful information including contact numbers, addresses with maps and school www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/ calendars. School websites can be found through the extend-student.asp Louis Riel School Division website at: www.lrsd.net/school/community-of-schools/Pages/ default.aspx Living in Manitoba – A Government of Manitoba website where students and their parents can go to find information about living in Manitoba. It includes useful Louis Riel School Division International Student information on climate, education and Canadian culture. Program website: www.immigratemanitoba.com isp.lrsd.net City of Winnipeg website – A municipal government Province of Manitoba International Education website providing information about events, places to information: visit and other items of interest for people living in or visiting Winnipeg. www.gov.mb.ca/ie/index.html www.winnipeg.ca/interhom Guard.me - All international students in the program are covered under a mandatory Guard.me health insurance Winnipeg Transit – Find out about bus passes, including plan. Students do not need to purchase additional travel costs and where to purchase them, bus schedules and insurance. Please read the coverage and claims details at: search bus routes. www.guard.me www.winnipegtransit.com Manitoba Health – In addition to Guard.me insurance, Winnipeg Airport – Check arrival and departure students studying for longer than 6 months will receive a information, travel tips and security information. wallet-sized Manitoba Health card. Manitoba Health will www.waa.ca cover students for the same services Manitoba residents receive. For details about Manitoba Health coverage, visit: http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/mhsip/#5 4 City of Winnipeg 311 - Information Service www.winnipeg.ca/interhom Winnipeg Weather – The Government of Canada website for current weather, forecasts and historical weather information. weather.gc.ca Tourism Winnipeg – Find out about things to do in Winnipeg, including places to eat, events to watch, activities to enjoy and more. www.tourismwinnipeg.com Travel Manitoba – Explore Manitoba, find out about the places to visit, cultural events and activities happening in the Province. www.travelmanitoba.com/things.to.do Restaurant Guide – Winnipeg’s most popular and unique dining experiences. www.visitwinnipegnow.com/where-to-eat PHONE NUMBERS Louis Riel School Division, International Student Program Main Line – 1.204.257.7827 Working hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) Afterhours and emergency, please see ISP contact info (pg 6) Health Links is a 24-hour, 7-days a week telephone information service available in Manitoba. Whether a student has a small medical question or a more urgent need, they should first call Health Links at: 1.204.788.8200 City of Winnipeg general information – 311 Emergencies (police, ambulance, fire) – 911 LOCATION & MAP 900 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2M 3R3 Canada International Education Department Louis Riel School Division Board Office Phone 1.204.257.7827 Fax 1.204.237.7179 Open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 5 ACTIVITIES AND THINGS TO DO IN WINNIPEG Homestay families are not expected to be tour guides, but international students do appreciate and benefit from participating in family activities. Families are asked to take part in at least one planned activity per month, if possible. Winnipeg offers many activities that are popular with international students. Information about most of the following events and activities can be found online at travelmanitoba.com, http://tourismwinnipeg.com or www.winnipeg.ca/ interhom. The following list is a sample of the events and activities; there are many others as well. Winnipeg’s Top Festivals Parks, Museums and and Special Events Historical Sites Fall Events (September – October) • Lower Fort Garry • Canada Goose migration • Mennonite Heritage Museum • Manitoba Culture Days • Riel House National Historic Site • Manitoba Dragon Boat Festival • Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum • Corn Maze • Canadian Museum for Human Rights • The Manitoba Museum (Science Gallery and Winter Events (November – February) Planetarium) • Canad Inns Winter Wonderland • Manitoba Children’s Museum • Santa Claus Parade • Manitoba Electrical Museum • Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra New Music Festival • Western Canada Aviation Museum • Festival du Voyageur • Winnipeg Railway Museum • Springhill Winter Park • The Forks Historical Site • Harbour View Recreation Complex • Living Prairie Museum Spring Events (March – May) • Fort Whyte Alive • March 21st Human Rights Film Festival • Oak Hammock Marsh • Dance Manitoba: Provincial Dance Festival • Assiniboine Park and Zoo • Teddy Bear’s Picnic • Fun Mountain • Winnipeg International Airshow • St. Vital Park and Duck Pond Summer Events (June – August) • Provencher Park • Winnipeg International Children’s