L’Isle-aux-Grues is located just a few kilometers from Montmagny and is the only one of the 21 islands in the archipelago that is inhabited all year round. Of the 130 or so inhabitants who have embraced island life, around a dozen are temporary foreign workers, most of whom are employed by the Isle Cheese Factory, while others work on dairy farms producing milk for the cheese factory. Let’s delve into the lives of the TFWs who have adopted this way of life.
Text, photos et video : Marie-Anne Dayé. Translation: SIARI
To reach L’Isle-aux-Grues from the mainland, you have to take the ferry… or an airplane if the tide is too low. In winter, you have no other choice: the plane is the only way to reach the island. On the island, we meet some of the workers at the cheese factory and the manager of the production site, Daniel Roy, who briefly describes life on this small piece of land. “It has its charm!” he says immediately. “You need a somewhat contemplative attitude. It’s quiet here, you can take a deep breath.” You have to plan your excursions, as there is neither a school nor a large grocery store. In winter, the cheese production is delivered by a small plane with the seats removed to make more space. One thing is certain: every logistical operation has to be carefully planned.
Edison Guerrero and Yudi Stella Rivera, Colombia
Edison and Yudi took a leap of faith and said goodbye to their two children, aged 24 and 25, and to Spain, where they had lived for 20 years, after leaving Colombia for new experiences in Canada. With a visitor’s visa in hand, they were recruited by a recruitment agency in Montreal to work for a multinational company. Unfortunately, they soon discovered that, contrary to promises, they had been working for several months without a valid work permit. A class action lawsuit is currently underway on this issue. Fortunately, with the support of the Immigrant Workers’ Center (IWC), they were able to obtain an Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers (OWP-VW).
After a presentation by the MRC Montmagny team during a visit to Montreal, they were able to secure employment at the Isle Cheese Factory. On April 15, 2024, they settled on this small, 9 km long island with their dog Kloe, whom they had brought with them from Spain. “Our plan for the future is to start a legal process in Canada. To do this, we first need to apply for a closed work permit with the company, learn the language and get a driver’s license… All these things contribute to our integration. We have made it in another country. We know we need to fully understand the culture and learn everything Canada has to offer,” says Edison.
- Working in Quebec
To work in Quebec, you need a valid work permit. Thank you to a temporary measure that has been extended until 2025, certain foreign nationals who are in Canada as visitors can, under certain conditions, apply for a work permit without leaving the country. However, this procedure is subject to certain conditions. Be sure to find out about the requirements before you start working. Finally, you should note that your employer cannot initiate the immigration procedure without your active involvement. You must make sure that an application has actually been made in your name. Read the guide for temporary foreign workers to find out more about employees’ rights and employers’ obligations.
Serge-Alain Konan, Ivory Coast
Serge-Alain, who came from the Ivory Coast in 2023, enjoys life on the island, even if it is “a bit of a different world” due to the lifestyle on the island. He works as a cheese ripening specialist, having previously gained experience in the yogurt industry in his home country. “This is my first year in Québec and I am working in this cheese factory that makes delicious cheese,” he says with a broad smile. “If you want to live on the island, you have to love the peace and quiet,” he adds, pointing out that there are many activities to enjoy here, including pétanque, fishing and goose hunting. He hopes to extend his work permit, which expires next year, and bring his 5-year-old daughter to live with him. “I feel at home on L’Isle-aux-Grues, I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else !”
Jonh Fredy Cifuentes Bedoya, Colombia
Jonh arrived on L’Isle-aux-Grues in an OWP-VW under similar circumstances to his compatriots Edison and Yudi. He appreciates the peace and quiet on the island, as he himself has a quiet nature. His goal is to “build a better future, because the situation in Colombia is complex in many ways.” First of all, he believes, he needs to master the French language perfectly in order to apply for a permanent residence permit. Who knows, maybe he will find the love of his life here, he wonders. Being far away from his parents, who have remained in Colombia, is a challenge, but “these are situations you have to face, because that’s life!”
Lucio Rodolfo Hurtado Navas
Lucio, who is originally from Santa Rosa, Guatemala, is working his third season on a dairy farm on the island this year, supplying milk to the cheese dairy. “I didn’t have a steady job in Guatemala. My brother recommended that I come here and it was a great opportunity,” he says. He usually arrives in February or March and leaves again in September. When he first came here, to this remote place, it took him a few months to settle in, but he managed because, as he says, the body can adapt to anything. “I even told my boss that I wanted to see snow before I came back to Guatemala,” says Lucio, who appreciates the cooler temperatures.
