Recently, we spoke with Kaelee, a French teacher at Dawson Creek Secondary School (Central Campus), about her journey into French education and her experience teaching in School District 59. Her story is one of rediscovering her language, embracing challenge, and building meaningful connections in a northern community she now calls home.
Choosing to Teach French: A Challenge and an Opportunity
Kaelee didn’t initially plan to become a French teacher. She began by simply accepting substitute work across various schools in Dawson Creek. One day, she was called to substitute in the French Immersion program – and something clicked.
“I liked it… it was a level of challenge… and I was having so much fun.”
She accepted a French contract not only because she enjoyed the classroom experience, but also because she saw it as a professional opportunity to strengthen her own French. Teaching, she says, has been a way to rebuild confidence in her French-speaking abilities over the years.
Why School District 59? A Small Town With Big Opportunities
Like many educators who arrive in Dawson Creek, the decision to move north began with her partner’s job. But staying, and thriving, has been her own choice.
“I love the region. People are really kind… it’s calm, and it’s a really good place to relax a little, take time for yourself, and grow professionally.”
She describes Dawson Creek as a place where teachers gain experience quickly, take on meaningful responsibilities, and build real relationships with students.
What surprised her most? The sense of community.
“You see your students everywhere… you’re invited to hockey games, to extracurricular programs… The relationships you build, it’s especially noticeable here.”
She recalls a moment early in her first year that made her feel truly integrated:
“I was invited to a skating night… the girls wanted to show me their outfits, their song… It was the first time I really thought, ‘You’re really part of the community here.’”
Life in the North: First Impressions and Daily Living
Kaelee’s early days in the Peace Region were marked by surprise and quiet reassurance: “When we landed, I was surprised it was so small… but it was beautiful. The trees, the colours… I thought maybe everything is going to be OK.”
Since then, she and her partner have built a fulfilling, slower-paced life; hosting friends, running trivia nights, and exploring the area whenever they can. While Dawson Creek offers fewer urban amenities, she sees this simplicity as an advantage: “It’s an opportunity… to get to know yourself, to grow… to really find something you’re capable of doing.”
Ultimately, her outlook captures what life in the North can mean: if you embrace it as an opportunity, you’ll thrive. Challenges will come – but at the end of the day, you did it. And you’ll do it again tomorrow.
Hear the full story on our socials: