On August 30, 2025, ActionDignity convened its Men’s Symposium, bringing together 21 participants from African, Caribbean, Latinx, East Asian, Southeast Asian, and South Asian communities.
The event opened with two keynote speakers who shared powerful lived experiences about the mental health toll of being unrecognized in the Canadian labour market—stories of foreign credentials being devalued and the constant demand for “Canadian experience.”
Through storytelling, journey mapping, and collaborative exercises, participants charted employment and wellbeing pathways, identified systemic barriers, and named the supports that make a difference. Small group discussions used a solution tree exercise to refine concrete actions, all guided by facilitators who emphasized culturally responsive practices and systemic accountability.
The day closed with a call to join our Gender Justice Advocates Community Leadership Team, inviting participants to continue building momentum for change.
Key Insights
Three themes clearly emerged:
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Credential non-recognition and Canadian experience filters drive underemployment, anxiety, and relationship stress.
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Survival jobs and limited professional networks undermine income security and family stability.
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Culturally safe peer spaces accelerate trust, well-being, and help-seeking.
Next Steps
ActionDignity will build on the momentum of the Symposium by:
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Sustaining safe spaces that generate actionable data for advocacy.
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Convening profession-specific cohorts to engage directly with regulators.
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Producing a concise policy brief for employers and decision-makers to advance the dignity of immigrants while ensuring equitable economic participation in Canada.
Together, these actions move us closer to a society where all workers—regardless of origin—can thrive with dignity and opportunity.