COVID-19 UPDATES/Plan

For their first few months of living in Canada. Living with a host family helps you practice English daily and learn about different cultures and lifestyles. Most host families are immigrants who can share their experiences with you.

Responsibilities while living in homestay usually include:

  • Pay your rent on time
  • Keep your bedroom/living space clean
  • Keep the washroom organised, especially if sharing with the host family
    or other students
  • Do your own laundry
  • Pay for any long distance phone calls you make from the homestay
    family’s phone

Additionally, it is important to:

  • Respect the rules and routines of the family
  • Let them know when you won’t be home for dinner, or if you’ll be late for
    any appointments with them
  • Practice English, even if your host family speaks the same language as
    you
  • Ask permission before inviting friends over
  • Ask permission to use the telephone

Remember: In homestay, communication is your key to comfort and success. If you have any problems with your host family, talk to them. Share your point of view politely! If you don’t feel comfortable doing so, talk to you Homestay Program Coordinator.

Renting your own place

If you want to rent your own place, the easiest way to look for your new home is by using online websites. Be aware that unless the advertisement/ posting says differently, you are renting from the home owner (landlord), not a company.

Some popular websites to find housing include:

When searching through postings/advertisements for housing and apartments, be aware of:

  • Rent fee (per month)
  • Lease (one-year, six-month, month by month, etc)
  • Photographs that CLEARLY show the space/condition
  • Location
  • Detailed written information about the place, size, and type
  • Detailed written information about the amenities (stove, fridge,dishwasher, laundry, etc) and if they are included in the rental price
  • Exactly what the rent covers (water, heat, internet, cable tv, etc)

How to reach Acadia!

Transportation in Metro Vancouver

Public transportation in the metro Vancouver area is run by TransLink. Your U-Pass BC allows you to use all forms of public transportation in Metro Vancouver, which includes:

Skytrain. Bus. Seabus

For more information, routes, and schedules for all public transportation in metro Vancouver, visit translink.ca

To plan your trip, go to:
tripplanning.translink.ca or Download the smartphone app: mtranslink.ca

IF YOU NEED TO PAY FOR THE BUS AND DO NOT HAVE YOUR U-PASS OR A TICKET, BE AWARE YOU MUST PAY IN EXACT CHANGE USING THE MACHINE AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE TO THE BUS

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