Elmwood Homestay Program

Elmwood’s Homestay Program provides an opportunity for students to study at Ottawa’s school for outstanding girls and experience life in Canada's capital city. Students will live with a local family, sharing meals in the household and taking part in family life.

Students will gain an unparalleled cultural experience by living with a host family; they learn what it feels like to live as a Canadian. Also, by taking part in family life and using English to communicate at all times, a student’s language skills are likely to improve quickly. The homestay program will also allow students a certain degree of independence, fostering personal responsibility and maturity in young women.

Friendships forged between our visa students and their host families can be long lasting and rich with possibilities for future travel and cultural exchange.

Why Homestay at Elmwood?

Elmwood is a centre of excellence for all girls’ education. Here, girls are given every opportunity to succeed in all areas of our academic and co-curricular program. We offer the resources and expertise to provide our students with outstanding educational support. Elmwood believes in creating a safe, dynamic environment that nurtures each student's creativity, growth, academic excellence and voyage of self-discovery.

Elmwood is distinguished by its commitment to internationalism. We are proud to say that we currently have thirty-five different nationalities represented in our student body of 400 students. Our teachers come from many different cultural backgrounds and speak a variety of languages. We are unique in Ottawa in offering the International Baccalaureate curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 12, including the prestigious IB diploma programme. Ideally, students stay for at least one academic year, although it is possible to arrange a shorter period of study. We also welcome students who wish to stay for more than one year; students who have ambitions to graduate from high school in Canada and go on to study at a North American or international university.

Why choose Ottawa?

Ottawa is a cosmopolitan, world-class city. Canada's capital has one of the highest ratings for quality of life when compared to other major cities around the world. It offers a friendly, safe and relaxing environment full of beautiful green spaces, canals and river paths. There are plenty of activities to do all year round. Ottawa has some of the country's best museums, an array of international festivals, superb music concerts and theatre productions. Ottawa is also home to embassies from all over the world. Above all else, Ottawa is a friendly, livable city and a perfect place to call home.

How do I apply?

Step 1: Apply to Elmwood for admission

Download and complete this form: Homestay Students (pdf)

Send completed form to: Director of Admissions, Elmwood School

261 Buena Vista Rd, Ottawa ON Canada K1M 0V9

Step 2: Apply to Canada Homestay International (CHI)

Visit the CHI website and complete their Homestay Application as well as the additional forms.

Send completed forms to Canada Homestay International.

Step 3: Elmwood and Canada Homestay International will be in contact to complete the application process.