Q & A Lethbridge

Conversation with Erica Pyska and Karleen Straat

Lethbridge Family Services joined the National Connector Program in early 2021, and hit the ground running in Southwestern Alberta. The National Connector Program fits within their immigrant services department, but every department and the organization as a whole strives to improve the well-being and quality of life for individuals and families in Southwestern Alberta. We chatted with the two Connector Program coordinators, Karleen Straat and Erica Pyska about the Connector Program and its impact in their community.

Interview by Alida Campbell.

Alida manages the National Connector Program and continues to be inspired by the stories of connection and growth that participants share across the country.

Alida:

Lethbridge is fairly new to the Connector community, but already you are seeing results. How is the program impacting your community?

Karleen:

The Connector Program is like a forest. When one tree or plant is alone, it is open to the elements, and thus has to work much harder to grow and thrive. When it is surrounded by others, a network of various plants and trees, it is protected, stronger, and more resilient. Making these connections, creating this network allows people to be more resilient, stronger and more engaged in the community – and that in turn, makes the community stronger and more resilient.

Erica:

It allows individuals to make contacts that they never would have been able to make otherwise. We are able to look at people’s background and skills and match them – because we know them both and know that they would be a good fit. For example, a flower salesperson and an irrigation salesperson – they wouldn’t have asked to be matched, but when they were, it was really beneficial for them both!

Alida:

What a great metaphor to describe the program! What about your organization? Lethbridge Family Services is quite large, how does the Connector Program fit and bring value to it?

Erica:

It’s part of the wheelhouse of services to offer clients. It’s a good way to quickly connect newcomers to a community who need to make new connections. It enables them to network in their own profession, which can be very difficult when one just moves to an area. It’s not for everyone, but for those who fit into the program, it’s the perfect solution to continue their personal and professional development.

Karleen:

Having good relationships with Connectors is very valuable to Lethbridge Family Services, as it increases our engagement in the community. When someone has a positive experience as a Connector, it is a positive representation of our organization in the Community.

Alida:

Karleen and Erica, for yourselves, why is the program important for you? What gets you motivated to do the work you do?

Erica:

It allows me to be successful in my job. With the National community, it’s refreshing to see other program’s successes and bring that back to ours here in Lethbridge. It’s also nice to know that we are not alone. There is help with our workload, in that we have access to resources and ideas from other communities – we don’t have to continually create everything from scratch.

Karleen:

It is so rewarding to see people flourish, and this program helps accomplish this. The other National Connector Communities are also great- It’s a positive group, they are always filled with stories and good spirits, it’s uplifting to have our chats and meetings.

Alida:

Thank you all for the work you do in helping newcomers secure employment and make connections that truly matter for them. Creating that local network, or forest as you mentioned Karleen, is so important for newcomers, and helping them accomplish that has a huge impact on the community. We look forward to working together for a long time to come!