He Fled -50°C For Querétaro. Now He’s Teaching English And Uniting The City’s Tech Scene

If you ask Joe Wickenhauser why he moved to Querétaro, he tells a story about cold, darkness, and a decision to live brighter.

“It was -50°C in Canada’s far north, the sun never showed, and I was alone in a lockdown,” he says. “So I chose warmth, light, and community.”

Joe first fell in love with Mexico during a linguistics exchange in Guadalajara. The plan was to return someday and retire. Then the pandemic reminded him that his retirement dream was not guaranteed.

Joe grew up in Canada where he earned degrees in Linguistics and Anthropology and spent more than a decade as a founder and leader in the non-profit sector. And so, when he landed in Querétaro in 2022, he did what he has always done. He got to work building community and connection.

Joe’s first attempts at community organizing in Querétaro were through teaching English and organizing small English-language meet-ups. Since then, he’s started Uncover English–a business language consulting service for executive leaders, individuals, and corporate teams.

His approach is practical and human. Joe helps clients master the unique sounds of English so they speak with clarity and confidence. He describes one client who went from freezing up and going blank whenever she spoke in English to delivering a presentation in English to a room full of people.

“I really love helping people,” Joe says. “And I know that this work has the power to transform lives.”

In addition to helping numerous professionals like architects, accountants, and business coaches, Joe has also worked with leaders at places like Michelin, BLOQUE, as well as with local politicians.

Curious about technology and craving community, Joe posted in the Querétaro Expats group in June 2022 in search of an English technology meet-up. When others in the group commented to say that there was none, Joe agreed to organize the first meeting. Thus, Tech Club Queretaro (originally Querétaro TechPats) was born in a Toks at Plaza Victoria with a group of 5 people.

Today the club has welcomed hundreds of attendees. Foreigners and locals, techies and normies all come together to learn about AI, help one another, and build true connections.

“I always joke that I’m the least techie person in the room,” Joe says. “If you’re genuinely interested, this is also a great place for non-techies to learn about the latest tech trends.”

Events are also designed to spark connection. Tickets often include food and drinks, a featured speaker, and guided networking to ensure everyone meets new people.

“We wanted to make it easy to connect,” Joe says. “And the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”

The community’s generosity fuels the momentum. Presenters donate time, members lend a hand, and volunteer professionals pour in hours behind the scenes to make the magic happen.

Photo: Joe Wickenhauser at Proyecto 7 Alamos coworking space in Querétaro. Photo Credit: Alex Dorantes.

2025 Tech Club Committee Members (from L to R): Ernesto Silva, Tanya Dryden, Lía Lovatto, Joe Wickenhauser, and Mark Donahue.

As one attendee put it, “Tech is certainly more than ‘a bunch of code’. It is a wonderful opportunity to enrich careers and positively impact the lives of others. And I am grateful for the great people I have met at this community, who have inspired me to keep on working on my tech related projects.”

The results speak for themselves every month. People leave Tech Club meetings with new connections from around the world, a chance to practice their English, and sometimes more.

“We've had people come to our meetings and get jobs, others start businesses together” Joe says. “Sometimes we have seasoned presenters and other times we have experts presenting in English for the first time ever.”

Right now Tech Club is on summer break. Programming returns in September and the team is actively seeking presenters for the 2025 to 2026 season.

Joe’s community work extends beyond tech. This year he partnered with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to host a Canada Day celebration at El Encuentro restaurant. He will also join the Canadian Booth at the Festival de Comunidades Extranjeras from October 9 to 12, 2025 at Parque Bicentenario.

“Maybe we’re not changing the whole world,” Joe says. “But we’re making something magical in this little corner, and that’s worth doing.”

Learn more about Uncover English at uncover.mx or by messaging Joe on WhatsApp: 442-282-3608. You can also connect with Joe on LinkedIn.

For more info about Tech Club Querétaro, follow @techclubqro on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to get updates and details.