Canada/A rally in Trois-Rivières to integrate newcomers

The Trois-Rivières organization Sur les routes du français is offering a geolocation game to help newcomers learn French, discover the city of Trois-Rivières and establish links with their host community.

The rally is designed to help visitors discover different areas of Trois-Rivières, such as downtown and the Normanville district. Historical and cultural aspects and travel tips are also on the menu.

This is the first year for the rally. In teams of eight, newcomers are paired with local Trois-Rivières residents. The idea behind it? To encourage exchange and the establishment of new human contacts.

Patricia Trinquet, the organization's director, wanted to get involved in the integration process. In just one year, the number of migrants has doubled in Trois-Rivières, so I wanted to create a mix, a way of living together. In 2023, Trois-Rivières' Service d'accueil des nouveaux arrivants (SANA) welcomed 1,400 new arrivals.

Coming from Colombia, Haiti, Syria and the great continent of Africa, they learn a great deal more than just the French language.

I learned that 911 is the emergency number," explains newcomer Chance Nahimana.

For many, the rally was an opportunity to get to know the city of Trois-Rivières better and, above all, to get around better. Keyra Monica, of Haitian origin, who arrived in the city a year ago, notes: "It allows me to find patterns, routes to follow if I get lost or whatever.

What does the future hold for the rally?

Patricia Trinquet hopes there will be a second edition next year. She's noticed a certain craze for the geolocation game: I've really got a lot of entries.

So many that the game will even be extended until August 20.

The activity was set up thanks to funding from the provincial program for the promotion of the French language. Anyone interested can register free of charge.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca