Originally from Côte d’Ivoire, Jean Boris Aka arrived in Canada in 2022. After a first year in Gatineau, he chose to settle in the Pontiac in 2023. Today, he teaches 5th grade.
His journey illustrates how integration can take root in a welcoming workplace and an open community.
An arrival guided by a warm welcome
Even before officially settling in the region, Jean Boris discovered the Pontiac through the Carrefour jeunesse-emploi, which allowed him to explore the area and its attractions. This initial immersion helped him better understand the environment in which he was about to evolve.
Upon his arrival, he was struck by the availability of the people. The religious community he attends welcomed him warmly. His employer and colleagues were also present and attentive.
His director played a decisive role: open, human, and deeply caring, he supported him in his early days. Some colleagues also supported him in his daily activities. One of them even rented him a house and helped with transportation and errands.
For someone arriving for the first time in a region where there is no public transportation, these gestures make all the difference.
Adapting and teaching differently
Trained as a secondary school French teacher, Jean Boris was called to teach at the elementary level in a predominantly English-speaking context. He therefore had to adjust his practice and adapt his methods.
This change represented a significant professional challenge. He learned from his colleagues, observed, adjusted, and developed a new way of teaching.
He sees this transition as an asset. His background and origins nourish his practice. He speaks of a cultural blending in teaching: a way of approaching the language and the subject with a different perspective, complementary to that of the local environment.
This diversity of approaches becomes an asset for the students.
A curious and caring community
Jean Boris highlights the openness of the people of the Pontiac. Citizens are curious, interested in discovering other cultures, and eager to exchange.
He quickly felt a climate of kindness. Connections were made naturally, both within the school environment and in the broader community.
It is these human relationships that allow him to feel at home.
Giving and receiving
Through his work, Jean Boris contributes to the development of the region’s youth. He brings not only his pedagogical skills but also a cultural openness that enriches the school environment.
In return, he receives concrete support and professional recognition that strengthen his commitment.
For him, integration does not rely solely on individual adaptation. It is based on the ability of an environment to welcome and support.
Advice for newcomers
Jean Boris encourages people who wish to settle in the Pontiac to build connections as soon as they arrive. In a territory where transportation services are limited, openness and human relationships play an essential role.
Being ready to reach out to others, accepting the help offered, and getting involved in the community greatly facilitate integration.
According to him, the Pontiac offers an environment conducive to those who wish to invest themselves and contribute.
Today, he sees his journey as an experience of mutual enrichment: he learns from the environment as much as he contributes to it.
Discover the full video testimonial of Jean Boris Aka