RRC Polytech is offering a new housing alternative for students training at its Winnipeg campuses through a partnership with SpacesShared - and is looking for community members to open their doors.
"When a student comes to study at RRC Polytech we want to ensure they are supported - not only in their studies, but also in navigating Winnipeg and learning what our city has to offer," says Giselle Martel, Vice-President, Finance and Administration at RRC Polytech. "We've entered into this partnership to provide students with safe, affordable and convenient options for housing off campus. Having this program in place will reduce the stress for students navigating the housing and rental market on their own and allow them to focus on their training."
RRC Polytech's student residence at the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute has accommodations for 102 students, but there is a need for other options to support students coming from other parts of the province, from across Canada and internationally.
SpacesShared connects students with safe and affordable housing, through intuitive technology, scheduled check-ins, and dedicated human support. The organization is committed to building, sustaining, and supporting intergenerational home-sharing and fostering meaningful connections between students and hosts.
"RRC Polytech is the first partnership SpacesShared has in Winnipeg and we're excited to provide students with a great housing option," says Rylan Kinnon, CEO of SpacesShared. "We've seen success in cities across Canada and know that students at RRC Polytech will create lifelong friendships with their hosts. Bringing people together creates incredible opportunities for bonding and we love to hear from our hosts and students about the experiences they share together."
Currently, there are eight people registered to host RRC Polytech students through the service, with hopes that more will register prior to upcoming academic terms.
Enrico Madrid and his wife are among the first local homeowners to sign up as a potential host through SpacesShared. He says he's looking forward to building connection and maybe continuing his own lifelong learning.
"I enjoy seeing how young people now approach studies and how they learn, because then I learn a new way of doing things," he says. "But hopefully I can help them learn too - math has always been my favourite."
Another reason he signed up to be a host is to potentially learn about different cultures.
"Learning different cultures is an advantage to everyone," Enrico says.
For Hospitality Business Management graduate student Spila Lee, sharing cultures and creating a sense of community was an important part of her experience living in residence as a student at RRC Polytech. Lee says living with a host family would be a great way to integrate into Winnipeg's way of life.
"The first year I was a resident I was quite impressed with all the activities I could join. I met a lot of different people, and I think it could be a similar experience for someone living with a host family," she says. "Living in a house with locals gives you the opportunity to explore the neighbourhood, go to favourite restaurants and try activities that you might not always hear about."
She said the most important thing is that there will be a level of support from host families that can help students be successful in their training.
"Especially for newcomers, we came without any family support - so having someone be supportive really matters. Whether on campus or with a host family it makes a really huge difference," Lee says.
Community members interested in renting a room can visit the Off-Campus Housing section of RRC Polytech's website to learn more or to register.
September 7, 2025
