Bears, Canadian Adventures, and France
From Palm Trees to Ontario Wildlife
Olivia Baudet grew up near Marseille in the south of France — palm trees, Mediterranean coast, light salads, fresh fish. In 2017, at 18 years old, she moved to Sudbury, Ontario. The reason was bears. Canada has them. France doesn’t. That was enough.
She now works as a research and biodiversity technologist — greenhouses, fish hatcheries, environmental projects across the Sudbury region. This summer alone she spotted 40 to 50 black bears. Each one still interesting.
Bears
Olivia knows her bears. Black bears are not aggressive by nature — unless cubs are involved. If charged, back away slowly, avoid eye contact, and do not run. Climbing a tree is also a mistake. It triggers the chase instinct. Grizzlies are more unpredictable and attack more frequently. Polar bears are strict carnivores. Pandas eat bamboo. Each species operates by its own logic and Olivia has spent enough time in the field to respect all of it.
Interview
Name: Olivia Baudet – Occupation: Bear researcher-conservation
Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada – From: Marseille, Provence, France
From Marseille to Sudbury
The contrast between her two homes is significant. Provence sits at around 15 degrees in winter. Sudbury hits minus 25. The landscape shifted from coastline to boreal forest. The food shifted from light Mediterranean cooking to the kind of hearty meals that make sense when you are working outside in sub-zero temperatures.
Language was its own adjustment. French-Canadian accents caught her off guard early on — she found English easier to navigate than Québécois French. The early days involved a fair amount of miscommunication. She got through it.
Her fridge in Sudbury is stocked with vegan feta, Parmesan, and mozzarella. She has also developed a strong appreciation for beaver tails — the Canadian pastry, not the animal. They are exactly as good as people say.
France: Travel Tips
Olivia’s advice for anyone visiting France: skip the Paris tourist traps. Instead, go to Brittany or along the southern coast. The landscapes are better, the prices are lower, and the crowds are manageable. Marseille and the surrounding region offer everything that makes France worth visiting — without the theatre of the capital.
She has been in Canada long enough now to feel at home. The wildlife exceeded her expectations. So did the people. Canadians are as friendly as advertised — she confirms it firsthand.
