Estevan will see a few travellers over this summer, with some of them coming over as part of a student exchange program from France. The program sees those students come to Estevan to take in the local culture and practice their English with the locals.
Debbie Ackerman, the Saskatchewan coordinator for the nacel Student Exchange Program, says that plenty of students come down over the summer.
"Every summer we have approximately 60 kids come from France, they're high school kids. 30 in July, 30 in August, and they come here to better their English and experience Canadian culture. They basically come and hang out with you and your family for four weeks and just learn about how we live as Canadians."
Those kids also help out with chores, as those kids are given beds and three meals a day here in Saskatchewan.
Ackerman says those kids don't meet up over the course of the program, as the intent is to get them as immersed as possible into the Southeast.
"We don't get them all together, because then they'd just be French. They're here to better their English, so they're basically integrated into your family for four weeks, and they just do what you guys do, and it's a fantastic program. They remain friends forever, it's just, I can't say enough about it, it's just a great program."
With 21 years in the program, Ackerman says it's changed surprisingly little.
"It really hasn't changed much. It's just the same every year, pretty much. I have lots of repeat families that take kids, and this year I'm getting more than I was expecting. Therefore, I am short a few families that I really need to find."
With more families needed, Ackerman is hoping that people will reach out and help make those French students' summers a special one.
"Just give me a call if they're willing to host a student for four weeks. Give me a call, we'll talk, I'll come and meet you, and we'll get the paperwork filled out. If you have any questions, I can answer them, and just go from there."
People looking to join the program can do so by calling Ackerman at 306-737-2054 or by emailing her at debackerman@sasktel.net.