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Newfoundland International Studies Ltd

NIS Team

The people making sure your stay is amazing.

East Coast

  • Portrait of Barb, Homestay Coordinator

    Barb

    Homestay Coordinator

    Barb has been a host parent for 14 years and a Coordinator for four years. During that time, seven of the students she has hosted have returned several times for vacations because they loved their experience so much. She feels truly blessed to have had the opportunity to host students from Brazil, Germany, Spain, Mexico, and China. Over the years, she has maintained lifelong friendships with many of these students.

    Barb feels that NIS has given her the opportunity to explore the world through the lives and experiences of her students. She looks forward to continuing to meet students from around the world and learning about their cultures through the students who join the program each year.

  • Portrait of Heather D, Homestay Coordinator

    Heather D

    Homestay Coordinator

    Heather has been a Coordinator with NISNL for nearly 15 years and a homestay parent for more than 20 years. Over the years, she and her family have had the privilege of hosting students from many countries around the world. Their very first student, from Mexico, joined them in 2004. He later returned to complete his secondary education in Newfoundland and Labrador and continues to call the province home, where he now lives with his own family.

    In addition to her role as a Coordinator, Heather works as an HR Advisor. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, and volunteering in the community.

  • Portrait of Heather P, Homestay Coordinator

    Heather P

    Homestay Coordinator

    Heather has been part of the Newfoundland International Studies team for over 12 years, welcoming students from Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France and Italy. Having hosted international students herself, Heather understands how meaningful it is to feel at home in a new country. As a Homestay Coordinator, she enjoys bringing students and families together and helping create welcoming experiences, meaningful connections and lasting memories. Working alongside a caring, collaborative team makes her role especially rewarding.

  • Portrait of Lisa, Homestay Coordinator

    Lisa

    Homestay Coordinator

    Hi, I’m Lisa Gear. I’m proud to call beautiful Bell Island, Newfoundland, my home. Since 2017, I’ve been welcoming and coordinating international students, helping them settle into a new environment while creating meaningful experiences and lasting memories.

    When I’m not working as a nurse or tending to my honeybees, you’ll most likely find me outdoors, exploring nature, trying something new, or setting off on my next adventure. I have a love for the simple things in life, the beauty of the outdoors, and the special connections we make along the way.

    I believe life is best lived with an open heart, a curious mind, and a sense of adventure. There’s truly no place like home, and I love sharing a little piece of Bell Island, its beauty, and its welcoming community with others.

  • Portrait of Lori B, Homestay Coordinator

    Lori B

    Homestay Coordinator

    Lori has been welcoming students into her home for many years. She is also a Homestay Coordinator and organizes the Adventure Club, where students enjoy monthly outings such as ziplining, skiing, and whale watching.

    Lori loves to travel and speaks French, as well as a little Spanish and Portuguese. She enjoys learning more about the world and other cultures through the many students she welcomes into her home.

    Lori looks forward to meeting you.

  • Portrait of Margaret, Homestay Coordinator

    Margaret

    Homestay Coordinator

    Margaret has been part of a supportive and welcoming host family since 2015. This experience inspired her to become a Coordinator, as she wanted to become more involved with the organization, and particularly its students.

    Margaret is proud to call Newfoundland and Labrador home and is one of her province’s biggest cheerleaders. She is especially passionate about showcasing and supporting the local arts community. Margaret wants to do her part to share the province’s culture and history, as she believes Newfoundland and Labrador is a wonderful, welcoming place for NIS students.

    Margaret lives by the motto, “Kindness is free – give it away as often as you can.”

  • Portrait of Patrick, Homestay Coordinator

    Patrick

    Homestay Coordinator

    Patrick and his wife have been welcoming NIS students into their home for well over 20 years, sharing their love of Newfoundland and Labrador and helping students feel at home in a new country. In addition to being a host family, Patrick also serves as a Homestay Coordinator, supporting students as they settle into their new surroundings.

    Patrick is also employed by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Finance, as a Finance Officer with the Division of Treasury Management.

    Before beginning his careers with NIS and the provincial government, Patrick proudly served for two decades in the Canadian Armed Forces with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. During his military career, he gained a wide range of experience through postings with the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Atlantic Region Canadian Rangers. He also participated in Katimavik’s Military Option through an attachment to the Secretary of State’s program before returning to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

    A lifelong learner, Patrick continued his education following his honourable release from military service, returning to school to study Business with a focus on accounting and human resources. He has also maintained an active membership with Toastmasters International for more than 30 years, reflecting his ongoing commitment to personal and professional development.

    Through his experience, dedication, and passion for lifelong learning, Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge to his role as a Homestay Coordinator. He and his wife take great pride in welcoming students into their home and sharing the warmth, hospitality, and unique culture of Newfoundland and Labrador.

  • Portrait of Shirley, Administrative Team Lead for St. John’s

    Shirley

    Administrative Team Lead for St. John’s

    I have been involved with NIS for the past 18 years. One of my favorite things about the program is listening to the students when they talk about the great experience they are having with their host family and how much they feel a part of the family. This speaks to the commitment of our awesome host families.

Central

  • Portrait of Sherry, Homestay Coordinator

    Sherry

    Homestay Coordinator

    Sherry has been a Homestay Coordinator with NIS since 2017, overseeing student placements throughout Central Newfoundland. In 2024, she expanded her role to include coordinating student placements in St. John’s and the surrounding areas, helping even more international students find welcoming homes and suitable school placements.

    Alongside her work as a coordinator, Sherry and her husband have welcomed 13 international students from Spain, Germany, and Brazil into their home as a host family. As retired educators, they share a passion for learning and take great pleasure in sharing their knowledge, experiences, and love of Newfoundland and Labrador with the students they welcome.

    Based in Central Newfoundland, Sherry loves introducing students to the beauty and unique adventures her part of the province has to offer. From skidooing and quad adventures to kayaking, she enjoys helping students experience the outdoors and discover the many things that make Newfoundland and Labrador so special.

    Sherry also loves exploring the province with her students, creating opportunities for them to experience its breathtaking scenery, rich culture, and welcoming communities. Her goal is to ensure every student feels welcomed, supported, and included while making meaningful connections, creating lasting memories, and enjoying all that Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer.

West Coast

  • Portrait of Cathy, Homestay Coordinator

    Cathy

    Homestay Coordinator

    Cathy and her husband Kirt have been hosting international students for 15 years now, but this is her fifth year as a coordinator. Her family has had an awesome experience hosting and coordinating students from Brazil, Italy, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Colombia and the Netherlands. In the past, Cathy worked in Home Care but now focuses on being a stay-at-home mom for homestay students and a homestay coordinator for NIS. Cathy and Kirt have maintained lifelong friendships with the students they have hosted. Kirt is a Commercial Driver Instructor at College of the North Atlantic. They love it when they form a family bond with the students. She says it’s a special feeling. Cathy and Kirt try to give students the best experience and create lifetime memories on the West Coast of Newfoundland.

  • Portrait of Kelly, Homestay Coordinator

    Kelly

    Homestay Coordinator

    Kelly is the coordinator for the Green Bay/Green Bay South area and firmly believes that some of the best international exchange memories are made right here, but she might be a little biased.

    Kelly and her husband, Stephen, began hosting international students in 2017. Since then, they’ve welcomed nine students into their home and their family, and they look forward to welcoming many more in the years to come.

    A teacher at Indian River High School, Kelly is passionate about supporting young people, building connections, and creating opportunities for students to learn about the world beyond their own communities.

    When she’s not teaching or coordinating exchanges, Kelly keeps busy with volunteering, hockey, cycling, and plenty of other adventures. For Kelly, hosting is about more than welcoming a student to your home. It’s about building relationships, sharing cultures, and creating memories that last a lifetime.

  • Portrait of Lori S, Homestay Coordinator

    Lori S

    Homestay Coordinator

    I have been welcoming international students into my home for nearly 15 years, and for the past two years I have also taken on the rewarding role of Homestay Coordinator with NIS.

    I truly enjoy welcoming students into our community, helping them feel comfortable in a new country, and sharing experiences that allow us to learn from one another’s cultures. Being part of a team that supports and guides our students is something I value greatly.

    Alongside my role with NIS, I work as a clerk at Western Health and as a Medical Service Aid.

    I am proud of my Indigenous heritage and the cultural traditions that are important to me. I value diversity and believe in treating everyone with dignity, respect, and understanding. Through my travels and the many people I have met from different backgrounds, I have gained a greater appreciation for different cultures, traditions, and ways of life.

    I would describe myself as an animal lover who loves to travel, explore new experiences, and meet new people. Above all, my family is my heart, and they mean the world to me.

  • Portrait of Rhonda, Homestay Coordinator

    Rhonda

    Homestay Coordinator

    Rhonda is the Lead Homestay Coordinator on the west coast of Newfoundland. Rhonda and her husband, Troy, have hosted six students over the past four years. Each student is unique, and they love them all. Every student leaves a special place in their hearts.

    Rhonda enjoys the fun and excitement of watching students try new experiences for the first time. She also loves getting to know each student and creating lasting memories with them that they will cherish for a lifetime.

  • Portrait of Shelley, Homestay Coordinator

    Shelley

    Homestay Coordinator

    Shelley has been opening her home to international students since 2014 and has been a Homestay Coordinator for the past two years. She enjoys creating a welcoming, comfortable home where students can feel like part of the family while experiencing life in Newfoundland and Labrador.

    Outside of homestay, Shelley keeps busy as the Commanding Officer of 3023 Codroy Valley Army Cadet Corps. Known affectionately as the “Swiss Army Knife,” Shelley is always taking on a new project or adventure. When she’s not teaching cadets locally, she travels across Canada to teach and support Canadian Armed Forces Cadet Instructors.

    When Shelley does manage to slow down and stay home, you’ll often find her sewing Memory Animals or working on one of her many creative projects. Shelley and her spouse, Dennis, have five children and three grandchildren, making the holidays a lively time in their home.

    During the summer months, Shelley and Dennis enjoy getting outdoors, whether they’re exploring Atlantic Canada on their motorcycles or heading off on an adventure in their teardrop trailer. Of course, no introduction to the Hibbs household would be complete without mentioning their three small dogs: Meeko, Moxie, and Mochi, who are very much part of the family.