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HOMESTAY AGREEMENT

Homestay Programme Introduction

To Prospective Hosts and Participants:

The homestay experience is quickly becoming a common and popular way for people from around the world to meet and get to know one another. Both host and visitor gain the opportunity to talk and spend time with one another in a manner that is not usually an option in conventional tourism.

For the visitor, homestay is a chance to participate in the daily life of a Canadian family and to make Canadian friends. And for those studying English, staying with a family provides plenty of opportunities to practice the language and to see how it is used by native speakers. For the host, it is a chance to learn not only about another culture but also to learn more about their own as they see Canada through their visitor's eyes.

Contact Canada's homestay programme is perfect for hosts and visitors interested in forming new friendships and learning from a cultural exchange. It is important that our hosts and visitors be patient and flexible in their relationships with one another and that they keep in mind that the various languages and cultures of the world are not right or wrong - just different. And as there are many differences, both cultural and personal, we ask both parties to remember to always "treat others as you wish to be treated yourself."

Contact Canada has always encouraged suggestions from its host families and participants on ways to improve its homestay programme. Based on the recommendations to date, we have come up with standardAGREEMENTS to be signed by the host family and by the participant before they enter the programme. The terms and conditions are intended to make the homestay experience a rewarding for everyone, and to outline generally what is expected of both host and visitor.

Prospective visitors and hosts whose wish to participate is based solely on financial considerations (i.e. visitors who wish to save on hotel costs, or hosts wanting to supplement their existing income) are strongly discouraged from joining the programme as the experience will generally turn out to be a negative one for everyone involved.
 
 

The following is an Agreement between Contact Canada Educational Services ("Contact Canada") and
___________________________, (the "Participant"), under which Contact Canada agrees to 
provide, and the Participant agrees to accept placement with a Canadian Host Family, under the
following terms and conditions:

Placement
    1. In the event that Contact Canada finds a Host Family with whom the Participant can be placed, 
       such placement may last anywhere from one day to 3 months. The duration of the placement will
       be agreed upon by the parties prior to placement.Except in the case where the Participant is a 
       minor, Contact Canada's responsibilities to the Participant and  the Host Family shall cease after
       the Participant has been with the Host Family for 3months. For the 3month period, all payments 
       shall be made by and through Contact Canada, and the Participant shall not make direct payment
       to the Host  Family. Upon completion of the 3month period, the Host Family and Participant can 
       make such further arrangements as  they deem fit. Contact Canada shall not be responsible for any
       arrangements made between the Host Family and  Participant for any period after the initial 3 months.

    2. Contact Canada will attempt to place the Participant in a homestay environment that will coincide
        as closely as possible with what is requested on his/her application form, however, a perfect match
        cannot be guaranteed.

    3. The participant may request a change in host family for personal reasons; however, a placement fee
        will be charged each time a change is made at the Participant's request. Participants cannot request
       a change in host family based on religion, race, occupation, or cultural differences.

Fee
    4. Upon submitting an application for a host family placement, the Participant will provide Contact
       Canada with the placement fee as a deposit. This deposit is non-refundable except in cases where
       a host cannot be found. Under normal circumstances, finding an appropriate host family will take
       between one and four weeks. If the Participant is interested in a very specific location or family
       structure, more time may be required.

    5. The Participant shall pay the remaining fees (fees for family, airport pick-up, etc.) toContact Canada
       upon acceptance by the Participant of the Host Family arranged by Contact Canada. The entire fee is
      due in advance of the Participant being placed with the Host Family.

    6. The participant’s homestay fee is based on Contact Canada’s fee for the particular region. From this
        fee, Contact Canada will retain a management fee of approximately $1.00/day  for the first 3 months.

Conditions
    7. The Participant will be provided with a room that contains a bed, closet, desk or  study table, chair,
        and good lighting.

    8. The Participant acknowledges that he/she has read Contact Canada's Homestay Guide and will
        abide by the instructions found therein.

    9. The Participant shall notify Contact Canada immediately if a difficulty arises between the Participant
        and the Host Family.

    10. The Participant agrees to request permission to use the Host Family's telephone, and will keep calls
          to a reasonable length of time and shall restrict late night calls after 10 p.m. Any long distance calls
         should be "collect" or using "time and charges" or a calling card. Participants must pay all outstanding
         long distance calls made by him/her.

    11. The Participant will not smoke in the Host Family's home if they are not smokers, and the Participant
          will never smoke in his/her bedroom.

    12. The Participant recognizes that he/she is expected to take part in the Host Family’s daily activities
          and to participate in general chores shared by the family. The Participant shall  respect and follow
          the Host Family’s rules in their home. The Participant is expected to pay his/her expenses when
         participating in family activities that cost money.

Termination
    13. Where a Host Family cancels the placement for reasons unrelated to the Participant's conduct,
         Contact Canada will attempt to arrange for placement with another Host Family. No additional fee
        will be charged for the service.

    14. Where a Host Family cancels the placement for reasons related to the Participant's conduct, a total
         of 1 month’s stay fee will be retained by Contact Canada. Contact Canada will not be obligated to
         arrange an alternate placement for the Participant.

    15. If the Participant terminates the placement for personal reasons, he/she will give the Host Family and
          Contact Canada 1month advance notice in writing. In the event of such termination, or in the case
         of termination by the Participant without notice, the Participant will be charged a penalty fee that is
         equivalent to 1 month homestay fees. Contact Canada shall not be obligated to arrange an alternate
         placement for the Participant in either case.

    16. Contact Canada reserves the right to cancel the placement without advance notice, and  without
          refund to the Participant in the following cases:
         a) where the Participant causes physical or mental harm to members of the Host Family or visitors to
             the family's home;
         b) where the Participant causes damage to the Host Family's home or property; or
         c) where the Participant's conduct is such that continued participation in the homestay or farmstay
             program is not feasible.

    17. Contact Canada reserves the right to terminate this agreement at any time, upon refunding to the
          Participant the total amount of fees that the Participant paid to Contact Canada. In such case,
          Contact Canada shall have no further obligation to the Participant.

Exclusion of Liability
    18. The Participant understands and acknowledges that Contact Canada must rely to a great extent
          on the information provided to it by the Hosts. Contact Canada's screening of the Hosts is limited
          to the information provided by the Hosts in their application process and interviews. While Contact
         Canada will not knowingly retain as a Host any individual it knows to be inappropriate, but ultimately,
         the quality of the experience the Participant will receive from the Host cannot be guaranteed.

    19. The Participant accepts full risk and responsibility for any injury the Participant may incur, or any
         damage to the participant's property arising from participation in the Homestay Program.
         The Participant releases and forever discharges Contact Canada, its respective owners, agents and
         employees, from all actions, causes of actions, suits, claims, or demands whatsoever, that may arise
        from the Participant’s participation in the Homestay Program.

Miscellaneous
    20. The Participant shall secure health insurance for medical emergencies and shall maintain this
          insurance for the duration of the placement. The Participant consents to the Host Family securing
          medical treatment for the Participant in the event of illness.

    21. The Participant acknowledges that he/she is responsible for making full reparations to the Host
          Family for any damages to the Host Family's property.

    22. The Participant agrees not to refer or recommend anyone directly to the Host Family.Participants
          who wish to make such recommendations, shall contact Contact Canada directly.

    23. Both parties agree that this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the
         Province of British Columbia.

Representation

    24. The Participant represents and warrants that all the information in his/her Homestay application
          is true and complete to the best of his/her knowledge.

    25. The Participant represents and warrants that he/she has read all 25 points contained in this
          agreement which is titled PARTICIPANT HOMESTAY AGREEMENT

________________________             _________________________
Participant                                            Contact Canada

NOTE: All parties acknowledge that facsimile copies will be treated as originals.
 

You can download following agreement form by PDF format
     Homestay partipant agreement
 

You need acrobat  reader to open PDF file. 
 
 

2003.12.22