Zainab Al-Mehdar
Shawville May 25, 2022
La Paysannerie is offering to house and offer a job to a Ukrainian family in need.
It all started when they posted a job offering on a Facebook page and a person living in Nova Scotia sent them a message asking to assist them in the process of connecting them to a family in need since she spoke Ukrainian.
Isabelle Lajoie and her husband, Marc Bergeron who recently purchased the former M&R feed mill in Quyon, found that the hardest part was . . .
finding people who wanted to come and live in a rural area, but also were understanding as many people they spoke to come from the city.
“It seems easy to just open up your doors and get some family here but they’re scared. It’s a big move for them, and they’ve been through a lot of stress as well and it’s a big decision for them to come to Canada,” said Lajoie.
Looking to hire labour on their farm, Lajoie said when the war broke out and many people where displaced, they saw it as an opportunity to offer their three-bedroom home on their property to a Ukrainian family.
The idea was sparked as they wanted to help a family settle in the area and give them a start here in Canada, and if they wish to move on after a few months, then at least they were able to help out in some way. “But if they’re interested to stay then that’s what we’re looking for long-term people to work with us on the farm,” she said.
The process begins once they post the job offer. They wait to be contacted by a Ukrainian family and from there they share information on where they are located and what the job entails. Its consisted of them having multiple conversations with different families on what they could expect upon arrival and the sort of life and work they would be getting into.
If a family has shown interest, their online friend in Nova Scotia steps in and has conversations with them to get to know the families more. If there is potential, their friend sets up a zoom meeting for the two families to chat and get to know each other. This has been going on since March pointed out Lajoie. It’s not easy she said.
She understands many families might be hesitant due to the language barriers, and the long process but nonetheless she said, “I think it’s worth the try, and at the same time trying to help some people that really need it,” she said.
She believes the Pontiac has a lot of potential, and even if not on the farm there are a lot of other services that could use some help and hopes that people can find their place here.
Lajoie is currently waiting to hear back about a family of five who has shown interest, the family is waiting on their visas to be processed before they know for sure if they will be able to make it out here.
Lajoie is also looking for vacant homes in the Bristol area. If anyone is willing to help out a family, Lajoie and her husband would cover the rental but said it has to be close to their farm.
She explained that there is also a government program that is offering to help teach newcomers French and that she hopes it will help them when they arrive in the Pontiac as it is a bilingual area, she highlighted.
“Offering them French classes, and they’ll hear a lot more English and we’ll try to get them into school for the kids, and give the parents a chance to start new here. We’re willing to ease their stress by giving them as much as we can,” said Lajoie.
