The majority of newcomers come from major urban centres, mainly the greater Montreal area. But we’re increasingly seeing families who have chosen to leave their home countries and adopt our beautiful region — like Julie Mazeau and Élodie Agathe, whom Tempo met to learn about their motivations and the challenges of settling in.
Julie Mazeau
Julie Mazeau’s family left France in March 2024 and settled in Lac-Brome, where her partner had already been working since 2023. After obtaining her work permit, she joined the team at Brome Lake Ducks. The couple lives within the municipality with their young son.
Élodie Agathe
Originally from Mauritius, Élodie Agathe arrived in the summer of 2022 with her young daughter to join her husband, who was already working in the Granby area. With help from the owner of Domaine Jolivent, she was able to obtain her work permit and now handles customer service and sales development. The family now lives in Waterloo.
Why Did You Choose Our Region?
Julie: My husband had long dreamed of living in Canada. When an opportunity came up for him to work in Brome Lake, we decided to make his dream a reality. The quality of life in Quebec was also an important factor in our decision.
Élodie: The recruitment of foreign workers by local businesses is a key factor in choosing this region. The region is welcoming. People are curious about our origins. We don’t sense any reserve or wariness toward newcomers. People are open.
How Did Your Arrival Here Go?
Julie: Our move happened in two stages. While my husband was doing his first work season, I came for a visit in the summer of 2023 to see the conditions we’d be living in. We came back to settle in March 2024. We had already found an apartment during our first visit, which made the move much easier. Getting a daycare spot quickly was also a big help.
Élodie: The fact that my husband was recruited by a local company that initially provided housing made our settling-in process much easier. A good part of the logistics were already sorted out by the time I arrived. SERY (Solidarité Ethnique Régionale de la Yamaska) helped us a great deal with the immigration paperwork.
What Challenges Did You Overcome When You Arrived in Lac-Brome?
Julie: Getting government paperwork like a RAMQ card is a long process, whereas opening a bank account is much simpler than in France. Being far from family is also something that affects your motivation to keep going through the immigration process.
Élodie: Finding housing. There were more options for families in Waterloo. That said, local residents are very welcoming and support integration.
What Would Make It Easier for Newcomers to Settle into the Region?
Julie: Quick access to medical services, especially for children. A wider variety of activities for families, particularly before school age.
Élodie: Activities for families with young children, affordable housing for service workers. The connection with SERY makes it easier to navigate school enrollment. Newcomers also need to make an effort to engage with the host community. The school plays a big role in integrating children and their families.
What Are the Region’s Strong Points?
Julie: The calm of the region. We wouldn’t want to live in a big city. The working conditions (benefits) are advantageous.
Élodie: Not feeling excluded when we arrived. The friendly environment. You can walk in nature and everything is beautiful. It’s a peaceful, safe environment for families. The welcome we received in the region made integration easier.
You must be logged in to post a comment.