Mount Royal University’s StartWork program has already helped 40 refugees in Calgary secure meaningful employment, allowing them to move off government income support.

Now, the initiative plans to expand to assist another 300 newcomers.

The program, run through MRU’s Institute for Community Prosperity, focuses on equipping refugees with certifications, skills, and confidence to enter the workforce. It uses a model called “outcome procurement,” where non-profits help participants find jobs and adjust to life in Canada, while the government pays for those services instead of providing ongoing income support.

Afshan Khurshid, a refugee from Pakistan with a PhD in chemistry, struggled to find work despite applying to jobs in labs, libraries, and retail stores.

“We want to do work. We came

See Full Page