Small town in Quebec is worn out from playing host to countless Canadians trying to learn French

Marie-France Santerre has been hosting students in her home for the past 23 years but this year might be the retiree's last.

When Santerre's daughter moved out in 2000, the resident of Trois-Pistoles, Que., opened her home to students attending Western University's French Immersion School in the town located 250 kilometres from Quebec City on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River.

"She said 'Mom, this will be fun for you. It'll be a good way to spend your time and make a little money,'" said Santerre.

Over the decades, Santerre says she learned a lot about the students, their hometowns and cultures as people across Canada spent time in the quaint town of 3,000 in order to learn French.

This summer marked her first time hosting students in her home not part of the immersion program. She stopped hosting students directly with the university last year, citing steep housing and food costs associated with the program. 

But it might be her final year of hosting altogether. She says she's getting older and is thinking about moving away. 

Santerre is reflective of the dwindling number of locals hosting students for the university. Since the pandemic, the school has lost over half of its billets, says program director Kathy Asari.

"In 2019, which is our last pre-pandemic year, there were 98 … It went down to 20-something last year," said Asari. "We are in the low 40s at the moment. We are working on it [and] bringing it back, but it's a struggle."

Part of the problem stemmed from the pandemic, says Asari, when locals opted to retire from hosting a few years ahead of schedule.

Coupled with demographic changes and inflation, she says it can be difficult to attract locals. The amount Ottawa kicks in for each student — just over $3,000 — is used by the university to compensate families and to cover all other expenses for the program.

"If the amounts are not sufficient we can't sufficiently compensate the families," said Asari.

"That creates an issue because this is a very long-term engagement we're asking them for."

Asari says talks have been ongoing for several years to increase the value of the bursaries, but it looks as though the total amount for the program is not going to change. As they plan for next year's program, Asari says they are trying to make things work.

"We are continuing to campaign to try to bring in the host families. We did actually increase the host family compensations at our expense which is putting a lot of strain on the resources for us," said Asari.