In 2020, Oksana Shpik-Zakalyk left Ukraine and moved to Quebec with her partner and their 4-year-old son. It wasn’t easy in the beginning, especially since they arrived during the pandemic.

Interview by Maude Goyer

“When we got here, we were confined to our apartment. It was hard for me because I led a busy lifestyle in Ukraine. Here, I felt lonely and isolated. My son also had trouble adapting to daycare. He started when social distancing was in place. The educators spoke French and English, but my son didn’t speak either language!

When social distancing ended, he started playing with the other kids and quickly made friends. The educators were super welcoming and helped him a lot.

When my son misses Ukraine and his grandparents, I try to distract him. We draw or we play with modelling clay or blocks. I take pictures of the things he makes—crafts and block towers, for example—so I can send them to family. We also do video calls.

Quebecers have certain qualities that I really appreciate. They have a positive attitude and aren’t afraid to speak out and say what they think. They also seem to value open-mindedness and tolerance. I’m glad my son is growing up in that kind of environment.”

Oksana Shpik-Zakalyk, Adam, and Serlhi, Montreal

Photo: Nicolas St-Germain

In 2023, Léopold Sharangabo, his pregnant wife, and their two daughters, aged 4 and 7, left Rwanda for Quebec. The family touched down in Montreal in mid-February, with winter in full swing. It was an unforgettable experience that Léopold now looks back on with a smile.

Interview by Julie Leduc

“I was still on the plane when I saw snow for the first time. We were coming from a tropical country, so we weren’t dressed for the cold. It was -10°C when we landed! Luckily, immigration services at the airport gave us winter clothes: coats, boots, and even snow pants for the kids.

It wasn’t fun experiencing a cold and windy winter for the first time. For a while, I was scared. I’d taken a training course before immigrating to Quebec where I was told that if you weren’t dressed properly, you could freeze from the cold seeping into your bones.

I remember my first snowstorm. I was outside with a friend who was also an immigrant. We started running as soon as we saw a few snowflakes coming down. We thought we were in danger! Another friend saw us running and told us it was safe.

Little by little, I started getting used to winter. A bit later, an organization in Granby helped us move there. That’s where my daughters learned to play in the snow. They’re actually really looking forward to next winter. My eldest often asks when the snow will be back!

Personally, I like to see folks enjoying winter. I watch people go skating and skiing, but I’m not ready to join them just yet! I’m still getting the hang of shovelling and clearing snow. I don’t share my daughters’ excitement about winter coming around again!”

Léopold Sharangabo, Kaella Erin, Kelsie Emma, Francine Inamahoro, and Karlee Esmene, Granby

Photo: Maxim Morin

Anas Bourouaha and his family moved to Quebec from Morocco in May 2022. For this dad of two young boys—a 4-month-old and a 3-year-old—immigrating was a positive but challenging experience.

Interview by Amélie Cournoyer

“We had a good social status in Morocco, but we chose to move to Quebec anyway, to improve our quality of life and offer our kids a better future.

Immigrating is like pressing the reset button. You’re starting from scratch. There are lots of steps and lots of documents to put together. It can be a difficult process. Everything is so new! We’ve had to learn to adapt to our new reality and to a different culture. But anytime I feel discouraged, I remind myself why we immigrated here.

When we arrived in Quebec, we were fortunate to find work more quickly than anticipated. On the other hand, it took a long time to find housing that met our needs and fit our budget. Luckily, a few Moroccan friends helped us out. Montreal’s North African community is very supportive.

Still, we sometimes get nostalgic for our country and the people there. We left everything behind ... But thanks to modern technology, we talk to our family almost every day.

For me, Canada is a second chance in life. In Morocco, I wouldn’t have been able to change careers, or go back to school at age 34. Here, even with my obligations and responsibilities as a father, I can study accounting full-time. That’s the most incredible and meaningful thing about my experience as an immigrant.”

Ahmed, Anas Bourouaha, Mohammed Mehdi, and Loubna Laksir, Montréal

Photo: Maxim Morin

In 2017, Maria Vela Plasencia left Peru with her 1½-year-old daughter to join her husband in Lanaudière, Quebec. At the time, she didn’t know how to speak French. But for the past seven years, Maria—now the mother of two girls—has made use of every opportunity to master it.

Interview by Catherine Couturier

“At first, my husband acted as my translator. Even so, it was really hard to communicate. It was discouraging. I felt alone—talking to people was hard.

For two years, I learned French on my own. It helped to listen to French music and TV. I’d watch the news, for example, and I learned a lot from the kids’ show Passe-Partout!

Getting out of the house and meeting people who are from here was important. It was really nice to know they believed in me and that they could understand me. When I finally got to the point of being able to communicate with people, I felt less dependent on my husband.

Once I became a permanent resident, I did a year of full-time French courses in Joliette. Nowadays, I’m still learning, especially when I help my 7-year-old daughter with her homework. I can read, understand, and speak, but I’m still working on my writing. My French isn’t perfect, but people understand me ...

Learning French is easier for my kids. My older daughter speaks to me in Spanish. She began learning French words when she started daycare, at age 3. At first, she got Spanish and French confused, but now she speaks both languages very well.

I’d like to go back to school and get a job. I think working would immerse me in the French language even more and help me get better at Quebec French in particular.”

Michel Bérubé, Gaïa Annie, Maria Vela Plasencia, and Luna Sophie, Lavaltrie

Photo: Nicolas St-Germain

In December 2021, less than a month after moving from Haiti to Quebec, Sherlande Sanon gave birth to her third child. When she started working full-time, this busy mom began splitting household and childcare tasks with her husband.

Interview by Amélie Cournoyer

“In Haiti, where I’m from, women do all the housework. When we came to Quebec, we already had a girl and a boy, and I was eight months pregnant with another boy. We didn’t know anyone.

My husband found a job fast. But since we couldn’t get by on a single source of income, I found a full-time job too, in a factory. We needed to get organized. I asked for lots of advice, especially from people at the CLSC. That helped us create a family routine. My husband was on board; he didn’t hold on to the mentality in Haiti. He wants to fit in here.

Every Saturday, we clean the house together. For smaller tasks, my husband and I take turns. For example, one week I’ll cook for two days in a row, while my husband looks after the kids, and vice versa.

I have a good husband who’s always willing to lend a hand, even when he isn’t asked and even if it’s not his turn. He always wants to pitch in.”

Dawensky, Ritchy Sanon, Monel Desil, Joshua Bryan, Sherlande Sanon, Marie-Carmelle Registre, Ana Paula, and Fritza Béa, Drummondville

Photo: Nicolas St-Germain

Behzad Damghani, who has a 4-year-old son and a 9-year-old stepson, moved to Quebec from Iran on his own in 2016. Over the past seven years, he has embraced the Quebec lifestyle while also maintaining a few traditions from back home.

Interview by Maude Goyer

“I was divorced and single when I arrived in Quebec. I met my wife here—she’s from France. We got married in the fall of 2020 at La Fontaine Park, in Montreal. There was nothing traditional about our wedding procession—we were all on bicycles!

There’s so much abundance here. I think it’s a privilege. I’m very aware of it, but I don’t want to be wasteful. For example, I try to be careful about how much water we use for baths and showers. In Iran, water is scarce. It can’t be wasted!

Of the Iranian rituals I’ve held on to, Haft Sin is the most important to me. It celebrates the Iranian New Year, which falls on the first day of spring, around March 20 or 21. It’s also a time to connect with my family in Iran.

I’ve adapted pretty well to the cold in Quebec. We love the outdoors, even in winter. When my son was smaller, I used to pull him in a sled behind me. Our family also has a daily ritual: at the end of every day, we head out for an hour or so to walk around the parks in our neighbourhood. It’s really relaxing!”

Rosemary Lemaire, Navid, and Behzad Damghani, Montreal

Photo: Nicolas St-Germain

In November 2021, Remalyn Bulalet left the Philippines with her 2-year-old son to join her husband in Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon, where he’d been living for some time.

Interview by Catherine Couturier

“Even though my husband had been working here for four years, it was hard to make friends at first. I moved during the pandemic, and it was wintertime. For the first few months, I really wanted to go back to the Philippines.

I’ve made a lot of friends over time, through work and my French courses. They’re from Quebec and all over. I talk to them in a mix of English, French, and Spanish.

We live in a small town, which I think has made it easier to meet people. One lady at a store even learned a few words in Tagalog, my mother tongue. Everyone is so nice! And, unlike in the Philippines, relationships here are very fair and equal, even between employers and employees.

Since we’re the first family in Saint-Gabriel from the Philippines, I try to help the new families who come here. I tell them, ‘Here’s what to expect, here’s what life is like ... You’ll need to learn French, which will be tough!’ We try to be there for each other.”

Remalyn, Mackenzie, and Jomar Bulalet, Saint-Gabriel-De-Brandon

Photo: Nicolas St-Germain

Get help
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ever since I asked for help at my local CLSC, I’ve turned to them anytime I need a hand, whether in terms of how to get a loan, how to buy a car if you don’t have a job, et cetera.”
Sherlande Sanon, mother of a 2-year-old, 5-year-old, and 12-year-old

“Find out about family organizations in your area. There’s a lot they can help you with. In our region, the people at Action Famille Lavaltrie helped us with our papers and registering for French classes. We were so glad we met them! Another organization helped us find a daycare for our son.”
Remalyn Bulalet, mother of a 5-year-old

Create a network of contacts
“Integrating into the community can be harder than you think. Take every opportunity to connect with people. Look for events in your neighbourhood or municipality and put yourself out there!”
Oksana Shpik-Zakalyk, mother of a 4-month-old and 7-year-old

“Avoid limiting yourself to members of your own community. That’s a common mistake! It’s important to form relationships with people from all kinds of backgrounds. That’s how you learn about different lifestyles and make connections.”
Behzad Damghani, father of a 4-year-old and stepfather of a 9-year-old

Do activities as a family
“There’s so much to do when you move to a new country, but you have to remember to spend time with your kids! Listen when they have something to say. Show them you love and care about them. You should also be sure to comply with the country’s laws regarding children’s education.”
Sherlande Sanon, mother of a 2-year-old, 5-year-old, and 12-year-old

“Don’t make your kids stay indoors in winter. It’s important to let them play in the snow. As long as they’re dressed warmly, let them go outside and have fun.”
Léopold Sharangabo, father of a 4-month-old, 4-year-old, and 7-year-old

“When you first come to Quebec, try to explore and enjoy your host city as a family. Once you get caught up in your day-to-day routine, it’ll be harder to play tourist.”
Anas Bourouaha, father of a 4-month-old and 3-year-old

Learn French as soon as possible
“As soon as you arrive, find out how to register for French courses. Before I moved here, no told me there were courses available. I found out from a Venezuelan woman I happened to meet.”
Maria Vela Plasencia, mother of an 18-month-old and 5-year-old

Source:  Naître et grandir magazine, May–June 2024 Research and copywriting: Maude Goyer, Julie Leduc, Amélie Cournoyer, Catherine Couturier

Photo: Fatcamera | Gettyimages