It was work that led Jean-Marc Ngosso, his wife Priscille and their daughters Hannah and Julie-Cléophée to join the community of Thompson in 2018, but it was the warm and supportive welcome of the people of the northern town that made them decide to settle there.
Originally from the Congo, the Ngosso family began their immigration to Canada, first through Gatineau, Quebec, before moving to Ottawa for Jean-Marc to study education at the University of Ottawa.
“At the end of my teaching studies, the university had organized an event where different school divisions were present. After talking to several of them, the DSFM (Division scolaire franco-manitobaine) offered me the opportunity to join them. I accepted the opportunity!”
The Ngosso family then headed to Thompson so that Jean-Marc could join the team at La Voie du Nord community school. He remembers the moment well: “When the DSFM told us we were going to Thompson, the first thing we did was look up where it was on a map. We weren’t sure where we would end up, but we were motivated!”
It was in the summer of 2018 that the Ngosso family began their new life in Thompson. Jean-Marc Ngosso recalls these beginnings with nostalgia and gratitude:
“When we arrived, we had a first shock. The city of Thompson was very different from what we knew, very different from Gatineau or Ottawa. But we were very lucky because we were able to find a place to live very quickly. It made it easier for us to get our bearings.
“Not to mention the school principal and his family, who made us feel very welcome. They were very supportive of our adaptation process.”
Arriving in a new city means having to adapt to a whole range of new things, and accepting to change your habits a little. The Ngosso family was happy to do so.
The father of the family confides: “It’s true that here we have fewer activities than we were used to before, because Thompson is a small and rather isolated town. But you can always find something to do. Thompson is a perfect town if you like nature, open spaces and outdoor activities. Soon enough, we started to take part in the various activities offered.”
Jean-Marc Ngosso also credits his experience at the school. He says the school community played a big role in his family’s successful integration into Thompson.
“It’s a working environment that I like very much. I feel very comfortable here. If we have managed to adapt, it is partly thanks to the help of my colleagues and the school principal. Today, we are still adapting, but we feel at home.”
And even for the girls, school played a key role. “We had always been in a French-speaking environment, so when we started going to parks to have fun, they didn’t understand what the other kids were saying. They wanted to go back to Quebec. But thanks to the school, they were able to make French-speaking friends very quickly. Afterwards, everything was easier for them.”
Pursuing the Mission of French Schools Throughout Manitoba
Alain Laberge, Executive Director of the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine:
“Year after year, the DSFM is looking for candidates to teach in its schools. This is an even greater challenge in rural areas, since there are more positions than candidates.
“Bringing in professionals from outside Manitoba allows our schools and communities to pursue their mission beyond our provincial borders, and to pick up the knowledge and winning practices of our newcomer educators, who bring with them the knowledge and wisdom of their country of origin.”
“Getting involved in cultural activities in my town has allowed me to meet people, and also to give back to the community that welcomed me and my family so well.”
