Transcript – “My New Home: Yellowknife”

Louis-Gaëtan

Yellowknife is a capital city but it has a real community spirit and sense of mutual aid.

Adeline

I was pretty surprised that there was a Francophone association.

Narrator

Welcome to “My New Home,” a deep dive into Welcoming Francophone Communities across Canada, a podcast of Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada.

Adeline

Hi, I’m Adeline.

I’m 33, from southeastern France.

I’m the acting director of the Réseau TNO Santé and I moved to Yellowknife in 2014.

Louis-Gaëtan

Hi everyone, I’m Louis-Gaëtan.

I was born in Madagascar, I’m 33.

I’ve been living in Yellowknife for 10 years now and I am a firefighter and paramedic.

To me, Yellowknife means peacefulness.

Life here is really calm and stress-free.

Being isolated creates a kind of small bubble that feels quite special.

Being in the capital of the Northwest Territories means having it all.

We have all types of services and stores.

In fact, we really have everything you’d have in a big city, except with the relaxing and less stressful lifestyle of a small town.

Louis-Gaëtan

I almost want to say that we have the advantages of a big city without the drawbacks.

Adeline

I arrived on a working holiday permit with my spouse, who also came with a WHP.

A WHP is a work permit that lasts for one or two years and allows you to work or travel across Canada.

We came to visit Yellowknife during our road trip across Canada.

We were supposed to stay for two weeks, just to go fishing.

Instead, we continued to prolong our stay. First one week, then one month, and eventually several years.

Louis-Gaëtan

I discovered Yellowknife through the “Destination Canada” forum, which takes place every November in Paris and Brussels.

Basically, all Anglophone provinces in Canada are represented by their French communities.

There was no lineup at the Yellowknife booth.

That’s what enticed me the most.

And that’s where the adventure started.

I arrived at the airport, saw some Somalians, Ethiopians, Zimbabweans, Indians, Chinese and Japanese people.

I basically saw every continent in the world represented at the airport.

There really is a variety of cultures and nationalities here, on top of the various Indigenous communities.

It’s really fulfilling.

Adeline

I also find it pretty incredible, and it was completely unexpected. I think it’s also one of the factors that makes us want to stay.

In our first year, we were just fascinated to be meeting people from all over the world, each with a different story.

Hundreds of ethnicities; I think there are hundreds of ethnicities in Yellowknife right now, all living in harmony.

There’s a real richness to that.

For such a small town in Canada, it’s quite exceptional.

Louis-Gaëtan

I knew what I signed up for, I knew it was going to be cold.

But I didn’t realize it was going to be quite this cold.

I hold the CDETNO responsible.

CDETNO stands for “Centre de développement économique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest.”

They were the ones at the “Destination Canada” forum trying to sell people on Yellowknife, you know, the beauty of Yellowknife, and all its opportunities.

But they might’ve underplayed the weather.

I was told it was a dry cold.

But minus 50 degrees is still minus 50 degrees, dry or humid.

Regardless of what people might say, it’s cold.

Minus 50 degrees is cold.

Adeline

I don’t necessarily agree.

I mean, the cold here is really, really cold, for sure. But when you are well dressed and covered up because you know it’s minus 50 outside, when you protect yourself properly, when you dress properly, I think it’s really quite manageable.

But then, I do understand that some people find it hard to take. And when you’ve been here for 10 years like Louis, you get tired of it.

I think you got tired of it pretty quickly but…

Louis-Gaëtan

No, no, no, no.

Don’t blame this on the 10 years I’ve spent in Yellowknife.

This is something you tend to hear over and over.

Everyone who works in offices in Yellowknife says: "Yeah, the cold is okay. As long as you dress properly, it’s not that bad."

No way.

Ask people who work outdoors.

I work outside and I say, ”No, no, no, it’s bad. Minus 50 is bad.”

Adeline

When we got here, we decided to stay longer than intended so we started looking for work. A few hours later, my spouse applied for a job he saw online. After discussing it with the employer over the phone, he was set to start the next day.

So it happened quickly. Really quickly.

Louis-Gaëtan

Yellowknife is a capital city but it has a real community spirit and sense of mutual aid.

We basically all come from somewhere else.

So, there’s a sense of, “I was once in their shoes.”

If I can help someone, I will. And people don’t hesitate at all, and it brings us together.

Adeline

It’s really nice to be greeted by people we barely know, who really want to welcome us and make us feel at home.

What ends up happening is that we automatically pass it on, we behave in the same way toward others.

Louis-Gaëtan

In terms of my arrival in Yellowknife, it started with the CDETNO.

As I said before, CDETNO is the Centre de développement économique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest.

They referred me to the FFT, which is the Fédération franco-ténoise.

And then to the AFCY, which is the Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife.

That’s where it all began.

It started with this Francophone association.

Adeline

Here, all Francophone associations bring something to the table.

Meaning, immigration as much as culture.

So we were immediately steered toward using services and seeking help in all aspects of life, from social insurance to weekend entertainment.

It’s actually a great help for Francophones when they arrive here.

Actually, I was pretty surprised that there was a Francophone association here.

Louis-Gaëtan

Before I even set foot in Yellowknife, I was in contact with an employee of the CDETNO , asking them: “How can I find a place to live?” ”Could you show me around?”

She put me in contact with another Francophone, a Quebecer who was here, looking for a roommate. So that’s where it started.

Adeline

I found a job as project coordinator for the Réseau TNO Santé.

And a few months ago, in January actually, I became the acting director of the Réseau TNO Santé.

It’s true that this is something I would not have imagined anywhere else in the world. Definitely not in France.

So I am really lucky to be able to be where I am today, professionally.

And for many people in the trades, the career prospects are excellent, in my opinion.

Louis-Gaëtan

Competition is not the same.

Adeline

Yes, that’s true.

Louis-Gaëtan

There is not as much competition, so there is much more opportunity for someone to move up quickly in their field.

It’s still a developing city, there’s room to accomplish a lot here.

So, for someone who has the ambition to create something, to do something, Yellowknife is the place to be.

With that said, it’s important to point out that in Yellowknife, everything is mainly in English.

Work is mainly in English in Yellowknife.

Adeline

The Government of the Northwest Territories has made an effort to offer services in French in every sector.

It makes sense, since it’s the country’s second official language.

So it’s true that, from health to legal services, everything should be available in French as it is in English.

When it comes to health care, it’s reassuring to be able to speak in your native language because you’re vulnerable and can sometimes be so anxious that English becomes difficult under stressful circumstances.

So yes, having services in French is certainly, for me, a bonus.

Louis-Gaëtan

We have Radio Taïga, which is the Francophone radio station in Yellowknife, and Aquilon, which is the weekly paper.

I like reading the news in French.

And listening to various shows on Radio Taïga on the way to work.

Yeah, it’s nice.

Adeline

We’re lucky to have French daycare and schools in the Northwest Territories.

One of my kids attends daycare in French and the other attends school in French in Yellowknife.

It’s a great opportunity and it’s reassuring for us since we’d really like our kids to maintain a connection with French and French culture.

So it’s true that it’s a benefit to have these services here.

Louis-Gaëtan

In the Northwest Territories, there are 11 official languages, 9 of which are Indigenous languages.

50% of the population of the Territories, including Yellowknife, is Indigenous.

Adeline

When we got here, we met different people also involved with the Indigenous community, with the Dene specifically.

Louis-Gaëtan

For those who don’t know, the Dene is an Indigenous community here in Yellowknife.

Adeline

We were invited to Indigenous New Year in the Detah community, which is a few kilometres away from Yellowknife.

We then attended the drumming ceremony.

The sound of drums was fascinating. It was really something special.

I had never experienced anything like it before.

I was speechless, touched really, it was really powerful.

It was a truly amazing experience.

Louis-Gaëtan

Indigenous culture is respected and showcased here.

Adeline

My life today is nice and quite beautiful because I really like the backdrop of my life, the environment around me.

Nature gives us the opportunity to do different things, meaning we can enjoy kayaking on the water in the summer.

We can build a small fire on a rock in the summer, in the winter, whenever.

I love being able to go out and be surrounded by nature at all times.

Louis-Gaëtan

What I enjoy, is serenity.

You can’t talk about Yellowknife without mentioning the northern lights.

You have to see them to know the extent of their beauty.

Adeline

And even then, you can’t get over it.

Louis-Gaëtan

I could never give up the northern lights.

Adeline

The first time I saw the northern lights, I was blown away.

It was just a magical moment.

Each one is unique, none of them look like the other.

That’s what’s really crazy.

And then they explode, move around, change colour.

It’s pretty incredible.

Every time I see the northern lights, I feel grateful.

I tell myself, “Wow, I live here, and I can see this sight every day if I want to.”

It’s marvelous.

We’re really lucky.

Louis-Gaëtan

You’re right about the gratifying aspect of the lights.

Words cannot explain… they don’t do them justice, honestly.

You want to experience what it’s like to see the northern lights?

Come to Yellowknife, that’s all I’m going to say.

Come to Yellowknife.

I was 23 years old when I came.

23, 24 years old, you know…

When I realized what opportunities were available in Yellowknife, it really changed my way of thinking.

Adeline

I agree with you, Louis.

I really feel that my way of thinking has changed a bit, that I’ve become more open-minded.

Generally speaking, I know that travel can change people.

But living in Yellowknife, with all the experiences I’ve had, whether professional or personal, my current job, my previous jobs, I really feel like I’ve grown.

I also had two kids during my time here.

So obviously, becoming a mom here sure was something.

It taught me a lot about myself, and it changed my life.

And for sure, having them grow up here is a gift because, deep down inside, I feel homesick for my home country.

But it’s really nice to see them grow up here.

And then, for example, showing them the northern lights the other night, seeing them look at foxes in our yard – because it happens every day.

It’s pretty amazing.

I would tell someone who’s thinking about coming, “Come, don’t hesitate.”

“Go for it because there are all these adventures and experiences waiting for you, and many, many things to discover.”

And it doesn’t have to be forever.

You can give it a try for a couple of months, and then leave.

Or you can be like us: come intending to stay for two weeks, and then end up staying for ten years.

Yellowknife has a lot to give. The Territories have a lot to give.

Louis-Gaëtan

I like it when you avoid talking about the weather.

I’ll get to it. Don’t worry.

Don’t worry, I will cover that.

Well, I would tell someone who wants to come to Yellowknife, first of all, that it’s going to be cold.

For eight months out of the year, it will be cold.

But if you want adventure in Yellowknife, I say:

You have nothing to lose.

I came in winter just to see how it would go.

And it’ll be 10 years this year.

Come and see.

Come and see, you won’t regret it.

Speaker

Thank you for tuning in to “My New Home.” A podcast of Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada featuring Welcoming Francophone Communities. Don’t miss other Welcoming Francophone Communities across Canada episodes.