I remember
In 2003, when my wife, son and I arrived in Quebec, the first thing that struck us was the rain in June. We came from Morocco, and in this North African country the only areas where it rains in summer are in the mountains when a storm occurs. Other than that, it is brilliant sunshine all summer long and the heat is so oppressive that all the beaches are crowded, whether on the Mediterranean or the Atlantic coast.
The second thing that caught my attention in Quebec was the phrase written on the license plates, in this case, “Je me souviens”. So, to understand the origins of this phrase, I did my research and discovered that it was Eugène-Étienne Taché*, the architect who designed the building that currently houses the Quebec parliament, who inscribed it on the front of this majestic building.
This time, I was not surprised, but rather, captivated. I appreciated the attachment to this collective memory. While each of us has our own memories from personal experience as individuals, we all participate in the construction of this history that we nourish daily through the events we share.
If the first Quebecers came from France, others followed from all over the world: from Asia, Africa, elsewhere in Europe, Latin America, etc. What these populations have in common is the search for a better life. Each group brings with it its own memory, like a seed that it will sow in the soil of Quebec so that its offspring will not forget where it came from, because the memory of peoples remains alive and is transmitted from parents to children, if only through the stories that the latter like to hear from their predecessors.
For me, Mr. Eugène-Étienne Taché was not only a great architect, but also a humanist visionary because, by highlighting this phrase, he incites Quebecers to never forget their history. Each individual living in Quebec, regardless of his or her origin, colour, religion, etc., participates in the weaving of this great blanket that is the collective memory. to warm us and protect us from the icy cold of all individualism unfavourable to this social cohesion. If Eugène-Étienne Taché said “I remember”, we must return the honour of reminding us of the importance of our history by saying: “We will all remember together”.
The question is how to get this social cohesion going so that we do not fall into the trap of some countries? In my opinion, the best way to do this is to help newcomers achieve the dream for which they came here, especially by helping them to improve their situation through integration into the world of employment, by demolishing the obstacles that could stand in their way, whether linguistic, administrative, or other. Quebec is full of opportunities, so let us make sure that this benefits all Quebecers.
*Quebec’s motto “je me souviens” by Deschênes, Gaston
Text by: Karim Bouaoui, Administrative Assistant
Edited by: Irène Yan, Development Agent, Patricia Bélanger, Employment Counsellor, Frantzy François-Jeudy, Employment Counsellor and Marie-Claire Poulin, Employment Counsellor