Find Yourself Overseas With The


International Rural Exchange Program

Hosting a Foreign Participant on your Canadian Farm

Hosting with the International Rural Exchange program can be a very enlightening, worthwhile experience. Host families are given the opportunity to learn about the different cultures and advanced farming techniques in other countries by not only hosting their own participant, but also from their contact with other participants on the program.

IRE aims for each participant to leave Canada with a positive view of the Canadian farming industry, Canadian people and our country. To provide a valuable agricultural exchange experience for our participants, IRE relies on the commitment of the host families. IRE seeks hosts that are willing to provide their participant with:

• an opportunity to improve their agricultural knowledge and skills through a variety of farm related tasks.

• encouragement and assistance to improve their language skills where English is not the participant's first language.

• an opportunity to be involved in both family and community events.

• adequate living accommodation.

• safe working environment.

• a training allowance that is set out by the IRE board.

• 3 weeks unpaid holidays for the 7 month program.

In return, you will get:

• extra assistance during your busy seasons.

• the opportunity to learn about another country and culture.

• the opportunity to learn how farming techniques vary from the Canadian ways.

Before a participant is accepted on the IRE program, he/she is carefully screened for their practical experience and training levels. A participant's eligibility depends upon but is not limited to, the following requirements:

Care is then taken in matching up the needs and personalities of both the trainee and hosts in the placement process. All IRE participants will have a Canadian work permit that is valid for only agricultural related work. All participants will have a return airline ticket and medical insurance which covers both work and non-work related incidents/accidents. Participants will open a Canadian bank account and be issued with a Social Insurance Number for tax purposes. An orientation seminar is held about a week after their arrival in April to go over important paperwork, Canadian laws, IRE ground rules, and other 'need to know' information.

IRE offers three main programs for our inbound participants. The programs are aimed to take in the busy seasons on the farms. Occasionally other arrangements can be made to accommodate a special request. Please take into consideration that we are an agricultural exchange program, NOT an employment agency.

Available Programs:

1. 3 month program ~ designed to take in the harvest season. Therefore, a 3 month placement is available ONLY from August 1st to November.

2. 7 month program ~ designed to take in both the seeding and harvest seasons. Therefore, a 7 month placement is available from April 1st to November.

3. 12 month program ~ available for beef or dairy farms. Placements are available from April for 1 year or from August for 8 months up to 1 year.

Note: If a host requires their participant to start earlier than April 1st, we try our best to accommodate the request as we do occasionally get applicants who wish to start in February for the calving season.

The majority of IRE host families are satisfied with their participant placement. Most young people who participate on the program have invested both time and money and therefore, are very motivated, have a positive attitude, and a keen interest in improving their knowledge and skills in the farming industry. IRE aims to make the placement a win/win situation for both the participant and the host. An IRE supervisor normally visits the host farm after about 6 weeks to assist and support the participant and host and to resolve any difficulties or miscommunications. Hosting a participant on the IRE program should be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for both the participant and host, therefore, if the placement is unworkable, IRE will make other placement arrangements for the participant.

~ For more detailed information on our hosting program please send an e-mail to info@irecanada.ca and make sure to indicate the time frame you would like the participant to stay. We will then send you our hosting information booklet and application form.

International Rural Exchange ~
Box 367  Alameda, Saskatchewan
S0C 0A0
CANADA
Tel: 1-306-489-4407
Fax: 1-306-489-4607
e-mail: info@irecanada.ca