TikTok creators changing how Quebec celebrates its culture — one post at a time
Posted June 23, 2025 2:56 pm.
Last Updated June 23, 2025 5:10 pm.
As Quebecers celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste, CityNews is highlighting young TikTok creators who are reshaping how Quebecers share and celebrate their heritage online.
Earlier this year, to mark Francophonie Month in March, TikTok unveiled its 2025 Francophone Visionary Voices list. This lineup features creators, innovators, and small businesses from French-speaking communities across Canada — including Quebec, the Maritimes, and beyond.
TikTok has become a key platform for French-speaking Canadians, with half of its Francophone users actively seeking content that reflects their identity. From viral trends and comedic skits to meaningful conversations and culinary delights, this community values stories that connect and inspire.
Émilie Lafortune blends Caribbean flavour and femininity
Montreal-based content creator Émilie Lafortune has become a vibrant voice celebrating the rich fusion of Haitian, Caribbean, and Québécois cultures through her engaging cooking videos on TikTok.
“What made me create my TikTok account is because I wanted to share a little bit of my culture, of femininity, of our roots with people,” she explained. “I didn’t know if it would be so big, if it would affect so many audiences.”
Born in Haiti and having lived in Argentina before settling in Montreal in 2021, Lafortune describes her work as a beautiful blend of identities.
“I think it’s a mix of everything. First of all, I think that’s the strong point of culture, but I can also say that it’s my personality, how I sell it, and then the language puts a lot of emphasis on French, because before, I started in Creole, in Creole-Haïtien, I was only touching a Haitian audience. So because Creole, we hear that there are not many people who understand, so I wanted to get out of this comfort zone, to share with a lot more people. And when I start speaking in French, it starts to blow up better. I start to have a lot more audience and a lot more of other communities that follow me.”
@emilie_cuizine ????Une panna cotta tropicale inspirée de notre fameux crémas… et regardez-moi ce résultat !???? Des saveurs douces, un topping en fleur de mangue sculptée avec amour, et ce mini chaudron @Le Creuset Canada qui vient compléter parfaitement ma thématique jaune soleil. Pour une touche de douceur, j’ai utilisé le lait condensé de @Compliments_CA — simple, crémeux, parfait. Et pour relever le tout, une touche subtile de #disaronno , parce que chaque chef-d’œuvre mérite une note raffinée. Quand la gourmandise rencontre la créativité, ça donne un dessert qui fait tourner les têtes… et fondre les cœurs. En tout cas, babe et moi, on s’est régalé. Et vous, vous osez tenter l’expérience ? #DessertTropical #CréativitéEnCuisine #PannaCotta #LeCreuset #Compliments #Disaronno #SpringVibes #dessert ♬ Azul - J Balvin
Since launching her platform three years ago, Lafortune has been overwhelmed by positive responses from viewers.
“I find a lot of positive comments from people who say, ‘Oh wow, I love your content because I love recipes, I love to know a little bit about it. From Caribbean culture, recipes, it looks so good.’ And I also have comments from women, young girls who say, ‘Thanks to you now, I love cooking, thanks to you I learned to do such things. Thanks to you, I feel good about cooking because sometimes I dress up to cook.’”
More than sharing recipes, Lafortune’s message is about empowerment and joy.
“I want to show women that cooking is something where you can share a little, have a moment of sharing with people you like. You can be beautiful, you can be sexy in the kitchen. That’s a little bit the message I want to convey.”
Receiving such heartfelt feedback has been meaningful for her.
“It feels like a little bit of validation, but it’s not that I wait for it. It’s something positive that helps people and encourages me to move forward, to improve myself more and to evolve, to share a lot more content with people.”
Through her passion and authenticity, Lafortune continues to redefine culture and femininity, one delicious dish at a time.
Chris Kabeya shares culture through fashion and lifestyle
Montreal creator Chris Kabeya, who cracked TikTok’s global 2025 Discover List, plays an important role in representing francophone identities on TikTok.
Kabeya, who was born in Congo and immigrated to Canada at the age of 10, first started making content in 2017 on YouTube before transitioning to TikTok as the platform grew in popularity.
“There wasn’t much content for French-speaking people out there,” Kabeya explained. “I felt like I wanted to see people that look like me, that represented my culture and everything. And that’s pretty much the reason why I started creating content in the first place.”
Now known for his videos focused on men’s fashion, grooming, and lifestyle, Kabeya said his content has grown alongside his own life experiences.
“At first, my goal was really to educate men on how to dress better, how to take care of your grooming and just being the best version of yourself physically,” he said. “But now I feel like the more I’m evolving… I’m also talking a lot more about lifestyle. I’m a new dad… that’s my reality right now.”
@iamchriskabeya What to wear for every occasion, part 1 ———————— Quoi porter pour chaque occasion, partie 1 #howtodress #ootdmen #gentsfashion ♬ Blick Sum - Latto
While he initially posted exclusively in French, Kabeya eventually began creating more English-language content to reach wider audiences.
“One of the biggest challenges is visibility. And French doesn’t always travel as far, especially in a social media world heavily dominated by English-speaking people,” he said. “I’m always trying to put some French content out there, but right now it’s mainly English.”
Despite the challenges, Kabeya’s honest, relatable approach has resonated with his audience.
“The response has been good… I’ve gained a lot of following because I’ve been myself. I would try to be as authentic as possible, but also keeping in mind that it’s a job at the end of the day.”
He recalled a turning point in 2019, when a message from a follower going through a difficult time changed his perspective on the value of his content.
“My content pretty much helped him to get out of that dark space… Ever since that moment, I understood that my content wasn’t just… fun and just for myself. Like I had a real responsibility.
“It really showed the impact that my content has for people out there. I was pleasantly surprised by the power that my message can have on other people’s life.”
Kabeya says he uses his platform not only to entertain but to inspire confidence and self-expression.
“I’m always trying to be as positive as possible. And I’m always trying to push the message that whoever you are, whatever you do, there’s a place for you out there and just be your authentic self. And at the end of the day, it’s going to pay off.”
As someone who’s seen the power of digital storytelling up close, Kabeya believes TikTok is reshaping how culture is shared.
“We are at a turning point. Social media used to be about trends, but now it’s more about being relatable, telling stories that feel authentic,” he said.
“I feel like every single person should not only consume, but also create content because it’s not just about being a creator on the platform. It’s also about sharing your own authentic self. And that’s what I’m trying to do on my own scale, I guess.”
