About Us
VOLUNTEERS
Here is the group of incredible professionals who helped turn our House into a reality. We hardly have the words to thank them for all the time, energy, and trust they continuously dedicate to us. Each person’s commitment gives us the strength to keep moving forward, and it’s an honour to have them with us on this journey.
Alexandre Johnson-Chalifour
A member of the Board, Alexandre is the Canadian who translated the first version of our website into French. He graduated in Translation from the Université de Sherbrooke, and in 2024, he received the titles of Terminologist and Sworn Translator in Quebec. In addition to his vast experience translating texts in the fields of finance, taxation and marketing, he works as an inspector for OTTIAQ and leads the terminology team at a multinational translation company. During his adventures in Brazil, Alex paraded at the Sapucaí, drank cachaça in Minas Gerais, and ventured through the jungles and rivers of the Amazon rainforest. In his spare time, he loves watching the Montreal Canadiens games, as well as watching videos of capybaras, sloths, cows and other cute animals online.
Bianca Freitas
Bianca is the Brazilian who led our Communications team from June 2025 to April 2026. With a B.A. in English and Portuguese (UFRJ, Brazil) and an M.A. in Languages (PUC-Rio, Brazil), she has experience in Education, Translation and Marketing. In her current role, Bianca is developing new skills in the risk management sector at Airbnb. She has lived in Canada since 2019 but remains in constant contact with her family and home country. In her free time, she loves writing poems and short stories, assembling puzzles and watching reality shows.
Danny Chalifour
Danny is the trusted advisor behind our administrative and financial decisions. With a career in the audiovisual industry spanning over three decades, he has produced more than thirty films and documentaries for cinema and television. Danny holds an MBA degree and has held senior leadership roles in Finance and Business Relations, both in a Canadian Crown Corporation and internationally. Nowadays, Danny helps us navigate the bureaucratic side of managing our House. A highly talented cook and avid golfer, he loves preparing meals for his family and hitting the course with friends in his free time.
Hélène Fearon
With close to 20 years of management experience in the audiovisual sector, Hélène leads Commercial Relations at Radio-Canada, where she joined in 2015. Convinced that the best projects emerge through collaboration, Hélène values active listening and the complementarity of talents to build trust-based relationships. With an inclusive and transparent leadership, she prioritizes team cohesion and mutual respect among partners. At our House, Hélène contributes to the growth and strengthening of the Board of Directors. Of Franco-British heritage, she is proud to be Québécoise and loves meeting people and learning about their journeys.
Josiane Ribeiro
Josiane Santos Ribeiro was born in São Paulo and has been living in Montreal since 2022. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (UCS, Brazil) and an MBA in Controllership and Finance (UNICID, Brazil). Her professional background primarily focuses on Finance and Accounting, and she developed strong expertise in bookkeeping, financial control, and organizational management. Passionate about cultural exchange and community engagement, Josiane has been collaborating with us as an accounting technician and bookkeeper.
Karine Rutpaulis
Newly arrived in Canada (2025), Karine is the Brazilian expatriate who has structured the methodology of our Portuguese courses. She holds a degree in French and Portuguese Translation (UNESP, Brazil) and holds a teaching license in Portuguese Language from the Claretiano University Center in Brazil. More recently, Karine specialized in Portuguese as a Foreign Language (PUC-Rio). Back when she lived in Brazil, she worked as an executive assistant in the countryside of São Paulo, hometown to her family, and played an important role for more than ten years as an assistant in the coordination department of a language school in Brasília. In her spare time, Karine loves enjoying music (piano) and nature.
Mitsue Siqueira
Mitsue is the creative force on which our House is built. With a B.A. in Language and Literature (UFF, Brazil) and a postgraduate degree in Teaching Portuguese as a Foreign Language (PUC-Rio, Brazil), she has dedicated much of her professional life to translating and proofreading content in various fields. Currently working as a Sourcing and Recruitment Manager at a multinational company, Mitsue has been able to hone her skills in team management, process structuring and working in multilingual contexts. A Brazilian immigrant, she moved to Canada in 2021, and since then, she has come up with a multitude of ideas on how to promote Brazilian culture on Canadian soil. Mitsue is a sworn translator accredited by OTTIAQ, a certified administrator by OAAQ and is affiliated with SIPLE.
Roberta DeLemos
Roberta is a language professional with experience in English teaching, translation, and administrative support. She holds a postgraduate qualification in English–Portuguese Translation from Universidade Estácio de Sá, in Rio de Janeiro, and has recently completed professional training in Secretarial Studies and Representation in French, which has strengthened her interest in organization, communication, and support work within Québec’s professional context. Outside of her volunteer work in our Pedagogy team, Roberta enjoys staying active by biking in the summer and ice skating in the winter. She also loves listening to podcasts and music.
Sidney Arisawa
Sidney is our go-to expert for legal matters. He holds a law degree from Brazil, along with two MBAs in Finance and Tax Management and additional training in Accounting, bringing over ten years of experience in law firms where he worked as both an associate and a co-manager. Since arriving in Canada in 2022, Sidney has also been active in the community sector, supporting newcomers with their integration journey and helping strengthen professional networks within the Brazilian community. Outside of work, he enjoys reading and exploring Canadian culture, and using gastronomy as a way to bridge past experiences with new beginnings. For Sidney, learning (whether through a book, a hike, or a recipe) is an ongoing way to stay open to the world around him.
OUR INSPIRATIONS
Adriana Borgerth
Adriana is the Brazilian fairy godmother who inspired the creation of our House. After earning a degree in Actuarial Science (UFRJ, Brazil), she decided to change paths and started giving German language courses. Adriana fell in love with language teaching, and completed both a Master’s Degree and a PhD in Language Studies (PUC-Rio, Brazil). Her work focuses on the intersection of language teaching and intercultural awareness, exploring how cultural aspects influence language learning. In addition to having a distinguished career as a German teacher, Adriana also teaches Linguistics in the Portuguese as a Foreign Language Teaching Program at PUC-Rio. A visual arts enthusiast, she’s the proud mother of a system developer and a designer, as well as the grandmother to a grandson who brings her great joy. In her spare time, she nurtures her artistic side through drawing and painting.
Ann Johnson
Ann is the Canadian fairy godmother who inspired the creation of our House. People like Ann are the reason Canada is known as one of the most welcoming countries in the world. With a degree in Mathematics, Ann spent over twenty years teaching in the Canadian public school system. She is admired by both colleagues and students for her empathy, active listening, patience and attentiveness. As a lifelong language enthusiast, Ann speaks Spanish, knows a few phrases in Portuguese, and is fluent in both English and French. She loves connecting with immigrants to learn about their cultures and life experiences in Canada. In her free time, Ann enjoys spending quality time with her grandchildren, playing golf, and travelling with her husband, sister and cousin.
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