ActionDignity’s Workers’ Rights Team recently spent a full day with the Cochrane Newcomer Collaborative, a network of more than 10 service providers and community organizations working together to support newcomers and strengthen community connections in Cochrane.
The gathering provided an opportunity for ActionDignity to introduce its work, share information about its programs and community impact, and explore opportunities for collaboration. The team also provided an overview of upcoming learning activities under the Bridging Legal Gaps (BLG) project, which focuses on strengthening legal literacy and access to information for communities experiencing barriers to justice.
The event brought together leaders and representatives from a diverse range of organizations and community groups, including the Cochrane Immigrant Services Committee (CISC), Filipino-Canadian Association of Canada, Ukrainian Association of Cochrane, Black Cochrane Community, Latino Community, Philippine Canadian Nurses Association, and the Cochrane Chamber of Commerce.
Importantly, the discussion also included the perspectives of an internationally trained dentist and a temporary foreign worker, who shared their personal experiences navigating foreign credential recognition and Canadian work-experience requirements during the employment and hiring process. Their experiences highlighted some of the barriers that newcomers and internationally trained professionals can encounter as they seek to build their careers and contribute their skills in Canada.
Beyond sharing information, the gathering created space for open dialogue about community needs, partnership opportunities, and ways organizations can work together to strengthen supports for newcomers, internationally trained professionals, and racialized workers.
ActionDignity thanks the Cochrane Immigrant Services Committee for organizing the event and the Cochrane Newcomer Collaborative members and community representatives for their warm welcome and meaningful contributions.
We look forward to continuing to build partnerships in Cochrane and working alongside community organizations to advance legal literacy, workers’ rights education, and stronger community supports for newcomers and racialized workers.