Val-d'Or wooing immigrants who can't find jobs in Montreal

Following a day of job interviews and of touring the city of Val-d'Or, roughly 530 kilometres northwest of Montreal,YosriBlegui is exhausted.

Ashe hops on abusheadedtothe Val-d'Orairport to return home in Montreal, he's also in disbelief.

After immigrating to Quebecfrom Tunisia in July,hefinally found a job.

Blegui said since arriving in Montreal,he has beengetting training andknocking on doorsto find work.

"And then I came to Val-d'Or, which a week ago I knew nothing about, and now I'm here," he said.

"I'm about to accomplish my dream."

Land of opportunity

Blegui'slife-changing trip to Val-d'Orhappened during a recruitment mission called UnemploiensolQubcois, the local chamber of commerce'sanswer to a major worker shortage in the region.

Qualified immigrants from the Montreal region are flown to Val-d'Orfor a tour of the city and a job fair. On this particular trip, 28peopletook part in the event. They were recruited through various organizations that help newcomersfind work.

It's where Bleguihad a sitdown with ALSGeochemistry,a company that provides chemical analysisservicesfor mining companies in the region,

With hisdegree in biological sciences, hewas hired on the spotas a technician in one of itschemical analysis labs.

"I don't want to compare with Montreal...but it's big and youwon't always have the same opportunities there."

One job at a time

Now in its third edition, the recruitment efforthas helped at least a dozen newcomers find work, saidStphanFerron,the head ofVal-d'Or'schamber of commerce.

That might not sound like a lot, but in a region in desperate need of workers,every person helps, he said.

In turn,newcomersbring their families,which means dozens of new residents in the region.

That's the ultimate goal, Ferron said showcasethe areaas a place to live and raise a family.

"It's larger than only a work opportunity,"he said.

"You know, it's a nice place with nice people and everything we need, we have it here."

Marina Stavilaagrees originally from Moldova, she and her husband moved to Montreal seven years ago.

After her husband foundwork for amining company, the couple moved to Val-d'Orwith plans to stay for three years.

"After 11 months,we bought a house anddecided to spend ourlives here," she said.

Sense of belonging

During the event, Stavila spoke to Blegui and the other newcomerswho came to visit the cityin the hopes her story will convince them to stay.

She saidfor an immigrant, heading to aplace like Val-d'Ormight seem overwhelming because it's far from Montreal.

Butpeople shouldn't be afraid of travelling500 kilometres farther if it means being able to fulfil their dreams, she said.

"We feel accomplished, both family-wise and professionally," Stavilasaid, beaming.

"We are happy here."

She saidwhat helped with hertransition and integration to Val-d'Orwas her work environment.

Stavila is a health and workplace safety advisor for a mining company, and said she always felt supported and could tell people were concerned about her well-being, something she saidwasn't the case at her jobs in Montreal.

"I have always felt like I was a partof their family," she explained.

"I go to work with a smile."

A history of immigration

Paul-Antoine Martel works for the city of Val-d'Orand is one ofthe people in charge ofthenewcomers' welcoming committee.

Val-d'Ormight not come to mind when thinking about diversity,he said, but ever since the city was founded in the 1930s, people have flocked here from all over the world:Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, France andBelgium.

"People are usedto seeing other cultures," Martel said.

However, he acknowledgedthere's still work to do to make sure people in town are open to immigration.

In the aftermathof allegations of mistreatmenttoward Indigenous women at the hands of provincial policein Val-d'Orand the ensuingVienscommission, Martel saideverything is being done to have an honest and open discussion about racism.

"I can't say racism is totally absent here. I can'tsay there's no discrimination. But there are more and more initiatives bringing up diversity," he explained.

"We must just create opportunities,create experiences for people to get to know each other and that's how we'll bring upmore acceptance."

He saidone example is an adult soccer league that brings together players from several African countries.

It's something Bleguimight look into when he returns to Val-d'Orin the coming weeks. Right now, his priority is to sublet his apartment in Montreal and find a placeto live in his new city.

And have a good night's sleep.

"I need to rest up now and think about the future."