“This program is really important in terms of making LGBTQIA+ and gender-diverse newcomers feel seen,” Ray says. “We show them that they matter.”
Settlement support
The Believe program arose from YWCA’s 2022 decision to become more inclusive – welcoming those who do not identify as a “woman” but still fall into equity-deserving groups. This expansion included programming for gender-diverse and LGBTQIA+ cilents.
“We’ve served 75 clients since September 2023, and those folks come from over 20 different countries,” says Ray. “[The program has] really highlighted the YWCA as a more inclusive and diverse place, a safe place for LGBTQIA+ people.”
He adds that around 50 per cent of their clients have secured employment – their first jobs in Canada. Their team of four offers one-on-one career coaching, networking events and various workshops. The latter has focused on resume writing, interview skills, financial literacy and confidence building.
“We tend to encourage our clients to do the resume and interview skills [workshops] while they’re meeting with their career advisor,” Ray shares. “When they’re meeting with their career advisor individually, the career advisor can tailor their resume based on what they have learned.”
Ray’s team also provides language support through conversation circles. With the goal of helping clients smoothly transition to a Canadian workplace, the focus is on teaching business English, including corporate jargon such as “circle back.” The program also creates opportunities for clients to connect with LGBTQIA+ friendly employers.
“We’ve invited inclusive employers, such as TD Bank and IKEA, to present to our clients about their inclusive and equitable hiring practices as well as how supportive they are of their LGBTQIA+ staff,” the program manager shares. “This has been a great opportunity for clients to actually talk to the employers and get to know more and learn more about what they’re looking for or what kind of jobs are out there.”
Overcoming barriers
These services address several barriers facing LGBTQIA+ newcomers in finding employment. Ray points out that some challenges, like employers’ preference for Canadian work experience are applicable to all newcomers; others are specific to queer communities.
“A straight newcomer can connect with people in their cultural community and build those networks,” the program manager explains. “[A lot of our clients] don’t want to connect with their cultural groups because they’re scared that they might be discriminated against or they might experience violence or oppression.”
Ray adds that this isolation may lead to a lack of confidence, which then affects their clients’ ability to seek employment. Believe aims to help clients build this confidence – a goal that is actioned through their workshops on being ‘out’ in workplaces.
“One thing we’ve noticed is that a lot of clients say that ‘it’s on my own terms,’” Ray adds, noting clients often reflect on past experiences. “A lot of them mention that it really depends on who I’m working with and how comfortable I feel.”
Believe’s clients also face the common settlement challenges of finding affordable housing and food. Ray’s team works with other community organizations to provide wraparound services – complementing services from different providers that address newcomers’ wide-ranging needs.
“It’s so great that in less than two years, we’ve had such an impact on people’s lives,” he shares. “We had one client who didn’t find employment, but he wrote a testimonial where he said that he was so grateful to join the program because we helped him build his confidence.”
Ray recalls how the client also found community through the program’s career advisors and other participants; another success story involves a client landing their dream job. Funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the program is limited to serving only those with permanent residency or refugee status as a Convention Refugee or Protected Person. His team will still direct individuals outside those categories to other resources. The program’s funding was recently extended to 2028.
“Pride month is just once a year,” Ray adds, noting they are planning a queer career fair for the late summer. “But we’re here 12 months a year for the next three years, so we’re providing that space and recognition that pride month gives all year round.”
Believe holds monthly virtual information session for interested participants. Pride season launches in June, celebrating the 2SLGBTQI+ communities and allies across the country.
For more information, see www.ywcavan.org/believe
