Jeane Galvao da Graca-LeClair and all the John Waynes

Jeane Galvao da Graca-LeClair is a newcomer to Sault Ste. Marie and loves this community.

Jeane, 45, moved to the community in July with her husband Randy LeClair, and hails from the bustling metropolis of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Sao Paulo is a city of 11 million people (add that city’s surrounding areas, and the official population figure is a whopping 19 million people).

It comes as no surprise then, that one of the biggest and most pleasant differences she notices about Sault Ste. Marie is our area’s natural beauty and a slower, relaxed pace.
 
Jeane loves her native land but states “people are always in a hurry in Sao Paulo. Here you have more time to spend with your friends and family. It’s awesome.”
 
Canadians are known all over the world for our politeness, which is another feature of Canadian life Jeane appreciates.
 
“All the time it’s ‘thank you, thank you, thank you!” she told SooToday.com.
 
Jeane is articulate with a sunny personality, and enjoys working with children.
 
The professionally-trained teacher, with over 20 years experience as an educator in  Brazil, is currently waiting for her credentials to be officially recognized in Ontario.
 
Jeane is experienced in working with children with special needs, and is trained in child psychology and early childhood education.
 
She is also considering studying social work.
 
Jeane is currently brushing up on her English language skills.
 
“I always enjoyed learning English in Brazil, but we learned from Brazilian teachers. Here, I found you speak English so fast. Sometimes it’s like the Western movies. I thought oh my gosh, there’s a lot of ‘John Waynes’ here!”
 
Jeane has worked at Northern Heights Public School as a volunteer, working with a child with special needs.
 
“(Brazil and Canada) are different countries, but kids are the same everywhere,” she says.
 
Jeane has no children of her own, but enjoys the company of her three dogs.
 
While waiting for official Ontario government approval of her teaching credentials to come through, Jeane works as a server at Gusto’s Bar and Grill, a Portuguese restaurant located in Wellington Square Mall.
 
“I enjoy meeting and talking with people there… here in Sault Ste. Marie, people have more time to talk, people like to talk to me in the restaurant, especially older people. In Sao Paulo, people never have time to talk.”
 
“Here you have more time to enjoy life. I go to the gym and do yoga, learn English and spend time with Randy and the dogs.”
 
She met her husband Randy, an interlocker and landscaper, over the Internet in 2009.
 
The couple met face to face in Smiths Falls, near Ottawa, in July 2010. 

Randy then accompanied Jeane to Brazil to meet her family. 

The two married in December 2011 in Brazil and eventually made Sault Ste. Marie their home in July 2012.
 
Jeane’s first experience in Canadian winter weather was in Smiths Falls.
 
“The snow was amazing, it is beautiful” though she said she grew tired of wearing heavy winter gear.
 
Jeane said she enjoyed tobogganing at Finn Hill this winter and is looking forward to enjoying summer activities, such as canoeing, this summer.
 
She has visited Gros Cap and enjoys its rugged, natural beauty.
 
“I love that place. It’s really cool.”
 
Jeane has noticed Canadian prices for groceries, for example, “stay pretty much the same. Prices can fluctuate wildly in Brazil.”
 
She adds that while Brazil is not lawless, she appreciates tighter laws in Canada in regards to legal drinking age and better enforcement of traffic laws.
 
Jeane notices that Canadian women, especially single mothers, enjoy better social support than in Brazil.
 
“There are professional women in Brazil, even the President of Brazil is a woman, but women have more opportunity in Canada. Women here are encouraged to pursue any career they want,” noting she was surprised to see female bus drivers in Canada.
 
Reiterating her own career goals, Jeane said: “I’d like to be a teacher here, it’s something I really love. Even at the library, I like how they have classes for kids.”
 
Jeane says she would definitely recommend Sault Ste. Marie to her Brazilian friends, adding word of the city’s reputation as a welcoming community seems to be getting out there, with a recent influx of Brazilian students at Algoma University.
 
“I like the environment. I love this place. We have the river, the lake, the surrounding hills, the fresher air.”
 
“It’s not as stressful as Sao Paulo,” she states.
 
“You can enjoy your life here.”