Laurie in France: from Canadian working holiday maker to entrepreneur

Hi, my name is Laurie. I’m a proud Canadian and Québécoise. I grew up in Greater Montreal in Oka and Laval. I’ve been living in France on a Working Holiday Visa since December 2021. Time flies in this beautiful and diverse country, especially when you’re eating cheese and chocolate croissants! I love traveling, the mountains, discovering new landscapes and cultures, staying active, eating well and drinking well.

I studied communications in Montreal and worked in my field for about four years. I did a few trips here and there, but I dreamed of one day taking a long trip (which turned out to be much longer than expected). After spending three months in Asia, I was already planning my next solo destination: Australia on a Working Holiday Visa! I met several travellers in Asia who had just returned from their own working holiday in Australia and they strongly recommended the experience. I had a few worries before taking the leap, including my level of English, but hearing so many positive stories from travellers gave me the confidence to take the leap. I got my Working Holiday Visa and took a flight to Sydney in December 2018.

Incredible road trips discovering Australia, great encounters, a work contract with a Cirque du Soleil show in Melbourne… Unfortunately, COVID hit and I had to return to Canada earlier than planned, with only one thing on my mind: embark on a new adventure ASAP! I changed my plans, bought a car and drove across the country to Western Canada where I lived and worked for a year and a half. I discovered a passion for the mountains and skiing, which is why I ended up in Chamonix in the French Alps in December 2021 on a Working Holiday Visa.

For several reasons… I wanted to keep living in the mountains and I dreamed of skiing in the Alps. I first did some research about living and working in Switzerland, but Switzerland doesn’t have a working holiday agreement with Canada. I therefore opted for France, where the WHV is relatively easy to obtain.

I found a job in Chamonix in the French Alps that included room and board. It was close to Switzerland. My mother had also skied the famous Vallée Blanche descent in her younger years. This destination therefore made a lot of sense for me — the Alps are magical! I had also met many French people throughout my travels, including a French woman with whom I stayed for one month in Australia, as well as my French roommate in Western Canada… As a French-speaker abroad, you’re generally much more likely to run into French people than other Québécois. I feel like they travel more (maybe the five weeks of paid vacation per year or the travel culture…?). They’re often quite curious about their Québécois cousins, so I naturally formed friendships with French people from different regions, who shared with me the richness that France offers in terms of landscapes, architecture and gastronomy. During my university studies, I had also considered doing a semester abroad in France, which I ultimately didn’t do, so this felt like the right time to make up for it!

Very well! I’m lucky to have a family and friends who are open-minded and love travelling. We encourage each other in our different ambitions. Some family members and friends have already come to visit me in Europe. Long live cheap short-haul European flights! That said, I try to return to Quebec once or twice a year and keep as much contact as possible with my loved ones by all possible means: phone calls, texts, FaceTime, voice messages, postcards, etc. Being far from them and missing several important moments is without a doubt the hardest part of being an expat.

There’s a lot of paperwork and the procedures aren’t always clear. However, from what I understand, as Canadians we’re lucky not to reach the annual quota of available spots for the French WHV. This means we have little chance of being refused, as long as we meet the required criteria and put in a bit of effort. The process to obtain the Australian WHV was completely online, simple and clear (more expensive, though), and I got it within just a few hours. For the French WHV, on the other hand, we have to go in person to a VFS visa centre to submit the application.

First, it was difficult to find an available appointment online. Second, in my opinion, the lists of required documents are confusing (thank goodness for Facebook groups for Québécois in France and now the pvtistes.net articles on the subject). I went to the nearest VFS visa centre, which was in Vancouver – a 4.5-hour drive from my home. I arrived at the appointment with my application and supporting documents, but it turns out I had checked the option “work” as the reason for my stay on the form, when the correct answer was “other” (Working Holiday)… Because of this minor mistake, I wasn’t able to submit my application and had to book another appointment online.

I managed to get an appointment in Montreal one month later. The application submission went smoothly but I was surprised to learn that they keep your passport while processing the visa and that it can take several weeks. However, I was leaving for Mexico in ten days. I explained the situation to the manager and I was lucky enough to get my passport back fairly quickly, along with my WHV inside! The WHV is valid for one year and renewable for a second year. The renewal is done with the prefecture of your department in France.

When I arrived, my plan was mainly to ski as much as possible and enjoy the mountains during my four-month work contract in the Alps. I also wanted to take advantage of it to visit other regions of France and other European countries. Then I met my partner in Chamonix, who had lived in Canada for two years also on a WHV. In short, I was far from imagining when I arrived in France that I would end up creating a business!

Searching for a job from Canada in French ski resorts was fairly easy. I found a Facebook group called “Chamonix Job Offers.” I applied to two job postings for head server/waitress (I had experience), I quickly had two video interviews and I was hired for both positions. I chose a restaurant that was only open in the evening, with room and board included, and free days to ski. Businesses in ski resorts seem used to hiring foreigners (I worked with an Italian woman and an Argentinian man). I spoke English with customers more than half the time in Chamonix, so being bilingual was a significant asset. France is one of the most visited countries in the world, so there’s a strong need for labour in certain destinations during tourist seasons. For these reasons and in this context, my job search went smoothly.

It was a completely different story when I moved to Montpellier in June 2022 and started looking for a job related to my university studies and work experience. There were few job openings, even though I was quite open and flexible with my criteria. I didn’t get any responses, even when applying for junior positions with relatively low salaries… Personally, I had never had difficulty finding work in the Montreal area. I had been lucky to find an employer with good working conditions after my studies, so this was a new challenge for me. I wanted to feel professionally fulfilled now that I was considering staying in France long-term. I could easily find jobs in the restaurant industry, for example, but that wasn’t what I wanted. The job search experience in France can obviously vary depending on the field, required education, desired region, and so on… but from my short experience job hunting in southern France, the Canadian job market was much more favourable in my field.

In the fall, my partner and I eventually accepted a sales position at various events across France. This job gave us a certain freedom to travel and see the country while earning a decent salary. I stopped actively looking for other jobs at that point, since I was happy with my situation even if it wasn’t my plan A. I was also considering potentially going back to school for a short training program to work in a field that would allow me to freelance or work remotely in France for a Canadian employer… But sometimes life works itself out, even when it doesn’t go as planned! From this professional experience, which was initially a plan B, came new learnings, additional skills, new encounters, the discovery of beautiful French regions and the creation of our company in March 2023!

My partner Jeremy had dreamed of starting his own business. A gourmet grocery store, a bistro… a place that would allow him to share his passion for good food and quality products! From the beginning, I wanted to get involved and help with this dream, but I always imagined myself having “my job” on the side because maybe I couldn’t believe that I could be a business owner; there were too many unknowns and uncertainties (similar to the doubts before launching my first solo trip). And yet, today it makes perfect sense with our company and I feel professionally fulfilled!

Jeremy and I have fairly similar paths: we studied, worked a few years in an office, dropped everything for the unknown, travelled and worked contract after contract in different companies. Through these professional experiences together, we discovered the enthusiasm that the French have for Canada, its terroir and its unique products. There’s a strong link between Canada and France, and many French people have already been there on vacation, for studies, to live, or simply dream of going.

As a proud Canadian, and with Jeremy having lived two years in Montreal, it was therefore obvious for us to create a business to share with the French our love for Canadian terroir and represent great companies from back home. We focus on our favourite Canadian products, mainly craft beers, spirits and maple products. We launched this project that reflects who we are and what we’re passionate about, and we believe in it 100%. We also aim to develop bigger partnerships with Canadian companies, and also take advantage of the business travel to see my family and friends (the best of both worlds).

I also see many parallels between living abroad and entrepreneurship. Our international experiences have helped us develop adaptability, relational skills, open-mindedness, risk-taking, stress management, resilience and optimism – all key strengths in entrepreneurship. I also believe that the reasons that pushed us to live abroad are similar to those that motivated us to start a business: the desire for freedom, independence, living off a passion project, challenging ourselves, a taste for risk and adventure, and the desire to realize our dreams. Running a business comes with ups and downs, unforeseen events, successes and challenges, just like expatriation does.

Starting a business as a foreigner without a local support network can, of course, come with its own difficulties. Jeremy’s family and friends were instrumental to the success of the business, whether for finding storage space, extra hands at events, administrative steps, or sharing contacts and advice that saved us considerable expenses. In addition, Jeremy, as a French citizen, has access to aid programs, training and legal frameworks that I didn’t have access to as a Canadian on a WHV. My new family residence permit thankfully gives me more accesses. If you want to come to France to start a business, the WHV isn’t the best option, but you can still create a micro-enterprise. Otherwise, there’s also the temporary residence permit “Entrepreneur / self-employed professional” or the multi-year “Passeport Talent – Business Creator” residence permit. Learn more.

Where to begin… Gastronomy, wine, cheese, champagne, bakeries, fresh fruits and vegetables, eating oysters right at the oyster farm, and so on. Good local products are more accessible, more varied and cheaper than in Canada. I also love the tradition of apéro. I think the French generally take more time to gather around a meal, to stretch it out and really enjoy the moment. For example, we get together almost every Tuesday evening with my in-laws around a meal, starting with apéro, then an appetizer, the main course, cheese, dessert and coffee!

The architecture, nature and the diversity of landscapes within short distances. France has mountains, the sea and the ocean. I find it incredible to live in Montpellier close to the sea, where winters are mild and sunny, and also be able to drive a few hours for a ski weekend in the Alps, or be in Spain within two hours by car. I also love mountain huts (less common in Canada) for multi-day hikes, with less stress about potentially running into a bear at any moment! Proximity to other European countries for travel, as well as the richness, landscapes and unique terroir of each region in France. The ease and accessibility of public transportation, carpooling, biking and low-cost flights in Europe. The ease of getting around on foot and by bike year-round in southern France. Personally, the cost of living is lower in Montpellier than when I lived in Montreal or in Western Canada. I also feel that the French are less homebodies than Canadians. I’m not naturally a homebody, so this is something I appreciate. No matter the day of the week, there are always good reasons to go out. The French really know how to enjoy life!

THE ALPS! Clearly one of my favourite places in the world. More specifically, skiing the Vallée Blanche in Chamonix for my partner’s birthday, followed by dinner at a restaurant where I met his family for the first time! Every time I return to the Alps, I’m just as impressed, amazed and at peace… I feel good there.

The way I was treated at one of my jobs in France. I don’t want to go into details, but it was an accumulation of bad experiences. Work culture is different in the two countries, and I found the adjustment quite difficult, with a lack of recognition for my work. Otherwise, the minority of French people who make unpleasant comments about the Quebec accent.

As explained at the beginning, this wasn’t my first solo trip. However, I didn’t have the same mindset arriving in France as I did during my previous travels, where I discovered that incredible feeling of freedom. After travelling a lot, moving around constantly, chaining contracts, making new friends and having more (or less) fleeting relationships, I arrived in France wanting to build real, long-term human connections, to be more grounded, and potentially settle down both romantically and professionally. I also thought long and hard before starting this WHV – not out of fear of the unknown this time, but because it somewhat contradicted my mindset, which was seeking more stability. I still had that taste for adventure, though, so I followed my instinct and went for it!

I remember an article comparing the French to a watermelon and Canadians to a peach, if I recall correctly. Canadians are easier to approach at first, but maybe harder to truly get close to afterward (being invited into their home, meeting their friends, etc.). The French are harder to approach at first, but after a few apéros and cracking their shell, it’s easier to enter their lives and build a true friendship. I find this cultural comparison fairly accurate based on my experience in France. When I arrived, I stayed in Paris for a few days and I have to admit I felt quite lonely.

Customer service in France can also be a small cultural shock at first (in restaurants, for example)… Paris is a lively and beautiful city, but I couldn’t wait to settle in the mountains, which probably influenced my experience as well. From day one, I fell in love with Chamonix, the atmosphere and the landscapes, and I loved my ski-work-sleep routine, even on my own. I did underestimate one important aspect of travelling solo: accepting a job contract in a small restaurant with a tiny team, which means fewer coworkers to form friendships with and do activities after work. For example, when I worked in a large ski resort restaurant in Western Canada, I had many coworkers and our goals were pretty similar: enjoy the setting, party and ski (the ski pass was even included). The experience was easier. I was therefore quite surprised to learn that many seasonal workers in France work in ski resorts more for the money than for the experience. They also had little time to enjoy the mountains due to split shifts and long working hours. I easily met other seasonal workers to party with, but fewer to ski with. Locals in Chamonix aren’t necessarily interested in meeting seasonal workers who are only there for a few months, which I understand. I therefore had to make more effort to meet people than in my other travels. Maybe it just took time to crack the “French watermelon” shell.

I posted a message in a Facebook group to meet other skiers, and after a few weeks, I formed friendships with wonderful people and met my partner. One of the advantages of travelling alone is that you’re more receptive to meeting people. On the other hand, it can also be exhausting to be constantly meeting new people, searching for work or housing without references or contacts, moving, dealing with difficult situations far from loved ones, losing your bearings, planning everything yourself, and not being able to share certain expenses (car rental, housing, taxis…). Sometimes it’s nice not to have to organize everything yourself, to rely on a travel partner, or to confide in someone whom you trust. I thank my partner for being that precious person today, who sometimes fills several roles in my life!

I’ve mentioned a few negative aspects of solo travel to be realistic, but I sincerely believe there are more pros than cons, and that anyone who wants to try this kind of travel should go for it. It’s an incredible realization to see that we’re capable of managing and being happy and self-sufficient, that we have control over our lives in a way, and that we can do (almost) anything with determination – even starting from scratch in a new country! It’s a great confidence boost, maybe even a kind of accelerated therapy.

Just go for it! You’ll probably surprise yourself by managing on your own, stepping out of your comfort zone, meeting incredible people, trying new things and, above all, learning more about yourself than ever before! Everything is temporary and time flies. What’s the worst that can happen if you don’t like the experience? You go back home to your comfort zone. Your loved ones, your routine and maybe even your job will still be there, and you’ll have no regrets.

Don’t plan everything from A to Z – follow your instinct. It probably won’t go as planned anyway, and that’s the beauty of it. Keep some flexibility to adapt your itinerary to the people you meet, other travellers’ recommendations, opportunities along the way, your favourite places, your instinct and the present moment. The WHV gives you this precious flexibility and the time to travel differently! My best advice would probably be OPEN-MINDEDNESS! Be open to adapting to the local culture, be curious and take the opportunity to learn! Don’t compare everything to your home country. Be open to meeting new people. Say yes to invitations, even if they’re from what you do back home. Sit with strangers, spontaneously invite someone to join you for an activity, or exchange contact info even if you’re shy. You’ll probably never see that person again – you have nothing to lose.

Be open to trying new types of work depending on opportunities — it’s the perfect time! For example, my partner worked in restaurants, human resources, IT, and even shoveled roofs in Canada on a WHV! Also, don’t hesitate to aim for seasonal and/or contract jobs. Employers are more likely to hire you for these types of roles with your work permit. Ending a job contract can also be an opportunity to go on a road trip or find work in another region to discover a new part of the country, if that’s what you want.

Oh, great question… Everything is about circumstances, and for me it makes sense to stay in France right now. If it weren’t for my husband and our company, I think I would have returned to Quebec, mainly for family and professional opportunities. I’ve always viewed my WHV experiences as temporary, with the idea of returning to Quebec eventually. For me, settling “for real” in France is a much bigger unknown than coming here on a working holiday.

Even though I don’t doubt my decision or my relationship, I often miss my family, my friends and my country. I’m lucky that Jeremy isn’t closed to the idea of living in Canada. We talk about it openly, and that open door reassures me. The best of both worlds would be to live in both countries, but it’s not that simple. So I’m working hard to give our business more flexibility on that front!

All of our energy is focused on our business Okanada and on launching our online store soon, the Nancy Christmas market starting shortly, and opening a physical location in Montpellier in 2024. We have no shortage of ideas! Feel free to also follow our adventure on Facebook “Okanada – comptoir canadien” or Instagram @okanada.fr.

A trip to Quebec in January to see family and friends, discover new Canadian products and meet companies for potential partnerships! Continuing to enjoy France and Europe, possibly a ski trip in the Italian Alps this winter! On the other hand, I’ve been living in Montpellier for just over a year, but I’ve spent little time at home due to business travel and trips. I’d therefore like to enjoy my beautiful city, further develop a routine at home, find balance, sign up for a sport, take time for myself, slow down a bit and give myself time to truly settle into my new home.