One of the most challenging experiences for newcomers trying to feel at home in Canada is achieving professional stability. For some people, finding a job is easier than expected upon arrival; for others, it is the opposite — especially when searching for meaningful work that allows them to grow both professionally and personally, contributing to a true sense of belonging.
The Carrefour de Ressources en Interculturel (CRIC) is a community organization located in Montreal’s Centre-Sud neighborhood. Its mission is to build bridges of support and solidarity between the Quebec community and newly arrived families and individuals.
One of CRIC’s most impactful projects, launched more than a decade ago, is Femmes-Relais Interculturelles (FR). This program is designed for women — mostly of immigrant background — who are willing to engage in a socio-professional training and integration program (ISP) that helps them feel more confident, informed, and settled in their new country.
Each year, the Femmes-Relais program offers a transformative experience. Participants practice French in group training sessions with other women while also guiding and supporting newly arrived individuals and families in their native languages. Typically, a cohort of 12–14 women from different parts of the world takes part in the program — each speaking different languages and most holding professional qualifications and work experience from their countries of origin.
The lack of advanced French skills and limited knowledge of how the Quebec labor market operates — including the challenge of finding that elusive first Canadian work experience — often makes professional integration difficult. The Femmes-Relais program directly addresses these barriers.
Every January and August, CRIC hosts information sessions about the requirements and scope of the program so that immigrant women with intermediate French can participate in this fully funded and comprehensive initiative. As part of the training, Femmes-Relais complete unpaid internship hours in a supervised professional community setting in Montreal, where they apply what they’ve learned and support others in similar journeys.
At the end of the program, participants receive a certificate from the Centre de Ressources Éducatives et Pédagogiques (CREP) of the Centre de Services Scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM), along with a certificate from CRIC as Community Liaison Agent. Beyond the diploma, they leave with stronger French skills, deeper knowledge of Montreal’s community professional landscape, and lifelong bonds of friendship and solidarity with fellow participants.
Equipped with a strong understanding of how the host society works and the realities of immigration, Femmes-Relais contribute significantly by sharing Quebec’s cultural codes and supporting other newcomers in their migration process — directing them to resources that match their specific needs. For more information, contact Liliana Alvarez Woo, community organizer of the Femmes-Relais project at CRIC.