Towards Each Other
Advancing Gender Equity in Settlement
A gender equity two-part training program that helps settlement organizations make practical service changes to better support inclusion for newcomers of all genders across BC.
Settlement workers are often the first point of contact for families arriving in Canada. Through our Towards Each Other two-part training, we are providing organizations with a practical toolkit designed to examine the barriers that hold back newcomer women and femmes.
This curriculum empowers settlement workers to lead the change in gender equity.
Together, we are shifting the settlement sector toward a culture of true equity and shared prosperity.
The Mission
This project, funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada, provides service providers with a practical, relational toolkit designed to advance the economic security and participation of immigrant, newcomer, and refugee (INR) women.
The Approach
By focusing on positive masculinities and challenging outdated stereotypes, we lead the change in gender equity through this training.
Core Pillars of the Program
Centering All Identities
Evolving how settlement programming, intake, and eligibility criteria impacts clients within settlement.
Healthy Masculinities
Promoting positive expressions of masculinity to foster safety, consent, and healthy relational dynamics.
Intersectional Equity
Applying a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) lens to ensure services are responsive to the diverse needs of all newcomers.
This is a free practical two-part training designed specifically for settlement and newcomer‑serving organizations in British Columbia. Don’t miss out on this training, tickets are limited.
This training was informed by 20+ interviews with settlement sector staff, allied organizations and guided by an Advisory Team with deep experience in gender equity, settlement, and community‑based work. The result is a two-part training grounded in real‑world practice—not theory.
Upon completion of both training modules, your name will be placed in a draw to win 1 of 3 $100 grocery gift cards.
Who should attend
To maximize learning and ensure knowledge is shared back within organizations, we strongly encourage each agency to register 2–3 employees to participate in this training. Agencies we highly recommend are settlement and allied organizations working with newcomer, immigrant, or refugee communities.
Having multiple staff attend helps:
- Reinforce learning through shared discussion and reflection
- Support knowledge transfer to colleagues who are unable to attend
- Build internal capacity to apply the content of this training.
Where possible, we recommend selecting participants from different roles (e.g. settlement worker/case manager/client in-take worker, program manager and team lead), so learning can be integrated more broadly across your organization.
What are the benefits of this training?
- Engage in a comprehensive 6-hour training curriculum designed for settlement staff
- Service providers will engage with a practical, relational toolkit design and action plan dismantle the barriers that hold back newcomer women.
- Interactive activities, storytelling modules, and de-identified interview highlights to encourage critical reflection and self-awareness.
What does the training include?
- 3 hour facilitated online session (Module 1)
- 3 hour in-person session (Module 2)
- Post-assessment survey
- Gender Equity Toolkit & Action Plan
Dates and Locations
Module II – In‑person (choose one):
- May 20 – Nanaimo 11:00-2:30pm
- May 21 – Burnaby 11:00-2:30pm
- May 22 – Surrey 11:00-2:30pm
Have questions?
Please reach out to: equity@icavictoria.org
Our Impact & Reach
- Partnering with 15-20 settlement agencies across British Columbia to pilot and refine these critical resources.
- Engaging with cohorts of newcomer men and staff to ensure the curriculum is culturally sensitive and accessible.
- As of April 2026, we are scaling our training modules to allied organizations and settlement agencies provincial-wide.
Frequently Asked Questions
For Settlement Providers & Organizations
What makes the “Towards Each Other” initiative different from other gender equity programs?
Most programs focus exclusively on women. Our initiative acknowledges that for true equity to exist, we must engage everyone. We focus on Positive Masculinities, looking at men as active allies and partners in the settlement journey rather than just “part of the problem.”
Why is this project focused specifically on the settlement sector?
Settlement workers are the first responders for newcomers. Our research shows that gender roles are reinforced through the settlement reintegration process. This toolkit helps service providers identify areas of improvement in intake, eligibility, and service delivery to advance a gender equity.
Is this training only for male staff?
No. This curriculum is designed for all settlement professionals, regardless of gender. It provides a common language and a relational toolkit to help any staff member navigate complex family dynamics and advocate for gender equity.
“Towards Each Other” is proudly funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) under the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Program.
