In October 1975, after years of moving across continents, cultures, and callings, we arrived back in Canada with our three young children. The years in Vietnam and Delhi had shaped us profoundly, but now a new chapter opened—one marked not by diplomatic receptions or wartime risks, but by the quiet, steady work of building a home, a family, and a future.
Upon arrival, we spent two weeks in a hotel, still in the swirl of transition. Then, like a seed finally finding its soil, we rooted ourselves at 20 Chemin des Érables in Gatineau—a house that would carry our memories for decades. Into this home we brought the treasures gathered during our postings abroad: the carved rosewood furniture from Vietnam, the teak bookshelves, the jewelry box, the carpets woven with silkworm threads from India. These pieces carried stories, places, and emotions within them; they helped transform a foreign house into our sanctuary.
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| Jewelry box specially made by Alankrit, New Delhi, for me. |
2. Building a Family Life
The rhythms of family life settled around us gently but firmly. With Eric, Sunita, and little Marc, our days were full—full of noise, happiness, tears, discoveries, and the small wonders that only parenthood can teach.
For me, adjusting to Canadian life required courage and resilience.
André was my constant companion through every adaptation. His quiet assurance held me steady, and as a couple we grew even stronger, united in the shared mission of raising our children with love, dignity, and values that bridged our Indian and Canadian worlds.
3. André’s Career: Work with Heart and Purpose
At CIDA, André flourished. His work was not merely a job; it was a vocation—a continuation of his lifelong mission to support the poorest and most vulnerable. His sincerity, deep sense of justice, and passion for development earned him multiple promotions.
Yet he rarely spoke about his work at home. He believed that the family deserved his full presence, not the exhaustion of bureaucratic details. When he had to travel—to Africa, China, or elsewhere—for one or two weeks at a time, he always minimized advance notice, wanting to spare me anxiety. My heart would tighten every time he left, but I admired the dedication with which he served.
André gave the best of himself to both the world and to us.
4. Friendships that Became Family
Our neighbours, the Beauregard, the Germain and the Brondex became more than acquaintances—they became lifelong friends. Their warmth, generosity, and steady presence enriched our daily lives. Our children grew together, celebrated birthdays and holidays together, and formed bonds that continue to this day. These friendships offered comfort, grounding, and community in ways that eased my integration into Canadian society.
There were others too—friends made through schools, churches, music classes, community gatherings, and André’s work. Ottawa–Gatineau gradually transformed from a distant land to a second homeland.
5. Raising Three Children Between Two Worlds
Our children grew with roots reaching in two directions—toward India and toward Canada. We raised them with stories from both continents, exposing them to the cultural richness of their heritage.
The years passed quickly—school days, birthdays, celebrations, music, little dramas and big achievements. Each child grew in confidence and identity, shaped by the values of humility, generosity, faith, and responsibility that both held dear.
6. Discovering Identity and Purpose in a New Land
As the children grew, I too grew into my Canadian life. I learned the language, navigated the winters, understood the systems of school, health, and community. I found my own voice again—no longer as a young novice or a woman newly married abroad, but as a mother, a partner, and gradually as someone preparing for a new mission.
It was during these years that the seeds were planted—quietly, almost invisibly—for what would later become our life’s work: SOPAR, Bala Vikasa, and the countless development initiatives that would touch thousands of families across India.
These inspirations came from decades of lived experience:
- from my childhood in Reddipalem,
- from André’s profound compassion for the poor,
- from my father’s handwritten request for a water project,
- from the dignity of villagers and women we met along the way,
- and from our shared desire to give back.
Though the official beginning would come later, the roots of our mission were planted in this home, in this period of reflection, raising children, and rediscovering purpose.
