Une histoire de famille.
My great-grandfather, Wilfrid Goulet, was one of nearly a million Québécois who came to New England during the Grande Hémorragie — the great migration that built our mill towns and quietly scattered a culture across the border.
Some of my earliest memories are of my father telling me about when he was a little boy and his family would go to their relatives' cabin in the woods. There they would sing songs and play music, tell stories, all in French. There was food and wine and dancing. It was a uniquely wonderful aspect of French Canadian culture — and something I yearned for my whole life.
Under the Harper government, watching from Vermont, I became aware of changes to the citizenship law. Unfortunately, like many generations before us, it was inaccessible. I never gave up hope.
The Bjorkquist decision in 2023 changed everything. I was very early and applied under the interim measures before Bill C-3 was even a twinkle in Parliament's eye. I was one of the very first #5,000 found Canadians.
I want to contribute to a society that opened the door and welcomed me in with open arms.