By Eloïse Speleers, july 2025
Settled in Nelson with his family since October 2024, Mathieu Zeziola embodies the journey of a French expatriate for whom borders are not limitations, but springboards. His accent reveals his roots, and his gaze is firmly set on the future. Balancing remote work, homeschooling, and francophone involvement, he is carving out a unique path in the Kootenays.
Dreams and Realities
Born in the Paris region, Mathieu moved frequently throughout France, from Paris to Bordeaux, then Toulouse. “I’ve done my fair share of roaming,” he says with a smile. That love for movement turned into a life plan when he and his wife made a bold decision: to leave Europe with their two-and-a-half-year-old twins. First stop: New Zealand, then Canada, where the IT professional found job opportunities that allowed him to choose where to live.
At 18, Mathieu dreamed of becoming a basketball coach. He would map out strategies on paper, envisioning courts and teams. But life took him in a different direction: 25 years in the tech industry, a field where he prefers “organizing, communicating, helping” over coding. “What I really enjoy is talking to people.”
He and his family eventually landed in Nelson, won over from the first visit. Driving down Baker Street, they felt an instant connection. “We hadn’t even stepped out of the car yet—we looked at each other and said: this place is amazing.”
Born in the Paris region, Mathieu moved frequently throughout France, from Paris to Bordeaux, then Toulouse. “I’ve done my fair share of roaming,” he says with a smile. That love for movement turned into a life plan when he and his wife made a bold decision: to leave Europe with their two-and-a-half-year-old twins. First stop: New Zealand, then Canada, where the IT professional found job opportunities that allowed him to choose where to live.
Today, they live in Blewett with their four children on an acre and a half of land, with a greenhouse and forty fruit trees. “There’s always something to do, but we love it.”
After eight years in Vancouver, where he appreciated Canada’s diversity and open-mindedness, he now enjoys a true sense of community in Nelson. “In Vancouver, you can live five years without knowing your neighbors’ names.” In Nelson, it’s the opposite. “Here, the bubbles overlap. You know your neighbors, the kids play together. If you pass someone on the street, they greet you.”
A Linguistic Balance
Deeply attached to the sense of community, Mathieu got involved with the Association des francophones des Kootenays Ouest as soon as he arrived. “I can’t set up tents while carrying the kids, but I contribute however I can,” he says. Since early 2025, he has been offering his time, ideas, and entrepreneurial skills as a member of the association’s board of directors.
This desire to engage locally aligns with his vision of building a life that is both rooted and open. The family chose homeschooling—a lifestyle consistent with their values of autonomy and meaningful transmission. “We want to watch them grow, support them. We want to give them the chance to grow into the personalities they choose.”
Speaking French at home comes naturally. But outside, the family makes an effort to switch. “At the park, we try to speak English. Otherwise, without meaning to, we build a barrier around our children.” Aware of these dynamics, the couple adapts their language depending on the setting.
“We want them to feel comfortable in both languages. Homeschooling helps keep French alive. Even if we’ll never move back to France, I want them to know their heritage.”
Mathieu says it proudly: “People know I’m French, even without me saying a word.” And if his children end up being more Canadian than French, he hopes they’ll hold onto the language—and with it, a part of their roots. “We don’t force anything on them. We give them a chance.”
A living heritage, shaped by the mountains of the Kootenays and the memories of another shore across the Atlantic.
