Thierry Lafontaine-Chicha is originally from Montreal and met his partner while in school at McGill. She was there as an international student and speaks English as a second language. When they were looking for a place to start their life together, Ottawa was appealing because Ottawa has the perfect balance of French and English language culture, which speaks to each of their backgrounds and their comfort with each language.
They both found jobs, one on each side of the provincial line, and have spent the last two years acclimating to the Ottawa Jewish community. They were both impressed with what Jewish life in our city had to offer.
Initially Lafontaine-Chicha reached out to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa through the newcomers page on the website. “When you move to a new city you are really starting from zero. You don't have any friends. You don't know where to buy groceries, so it’s nice to have someone in your corner who can help guide you through. Michael [Reznik], and the Federation by extension, were really nice to me. It meant a lot” says Lafontaine-Chicha who has become a regular at Young Adult Division events.
From there it was an easy transition for Lafontaine-Chicha from newcomer to volunteer. “For newcomers it’s a slow start, but once you start going to events and meeting people there is a pull to start giving back, paying it forward, and getting involved in supporting others. Particularly after October 7 there was a strong awakening in me. I realized I needed a sense of community even more and Federation became that safe space for me.”
Coming to events was a critical piece for Lafontaine-Chicha and his partner. They began to see the same people, be welcomed by them, and started to feel like members of this community. “Knowing we would be welcomed helped us look forward to events and we were able to join this tight-knit community where we felt supported and cared for” recounts Lafontaine-Chicha. “What started with Hebrew classes, led to participating in J-Fellows, then chairing the 2025 J-Fellows program. It’s been great for my confidence and for building my career.”
Lafontaine-Chicha is a wealth advisor and knows how nuanced it can be to learn the ins and outs of a new financial system. For newcomers, particularly the Israeli newcomers who have arrived over the last year, the challenge has been immense. “Not only are they settling in a new country, but their work permits take months to come through and they have a lot to learn about the Canadian financial system. I’m glad I can provide that support.”
Lafontaine-Chicha has been offering a course called the Aleph Bet of Canadian Finances and it has been well received by the Israeli community. Through the course Thierry, the Federation, and the other newcomers can support each other as they start businesses and become entrepreneurs in Canada. “During the course, we talk about how credit scores work, how to build a CV that will resonate with Canadian employers, how to interview for Canadian hiring managers, and more. I had a taste of that when I moved from Montreal, so I can only imagine how overwhelmed these Israeli families are feeling.”
As a Ben Gurion Society donor, Chicha wants to encourage others to use their wealth to support the community. As the incoming chair of the J-Fellows program, he wants to support young business leaders to grow in their fields under seasoned mentors. From there, he’s hoping to encourage others to give back. “I’m looking forward to doing more meaningful volunteer work. Once you realize you are really helping someone, you create a cycle of helping and then watching others who received help, move into a position of being able to help with their time and their resources. This creates networks and connections between people and creates a stronger community.”
Thierry Lafontaine-Chicha is a commuity connector and an Associate Wealth Advisor and can be reached at thierry.lafontainechicha@rbc.com.