Innovative model at MRU gives hope to refugees seeking meaningful employment in Canada

An initiative out of the Institute for Community Prosperity at Mount Royal University is using an outcome procurement model to help refugees secure meaningful employment.

StartWork is a collaborative initiative by the Alberta Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services, Northpine Foundation, and Mount Royal University offering an alternative to Alberta Income Support for refugees and others facing barriers to employment.

Under the program, forty refugees voluntarily have transitioned from Income Support to StartWork, accessing tailored support and four distinct employment paths through expert community partners. This has enabled them to gain vital Canadian work experience and begin building sustainable livelihoods.

The Institute for Community Prosperity is testing StartWork's innovative outcomes procurement approach. This model aims to modernize the relationship between government and non-profits, shifting from competitive funding to a results-driven partnership. By leveraging the marketplace to drive social benefit, outcomes procurement allows non-profits to create transformative community impact while potentially saving the government money. If successful, this investment form could significantly change existing community investment practices.

In the case of StartWork, Northpine Foundation provided the up front investment. The contract payment from the Government of Alberta at ‘12 months off Income Support’ and ‘24 months off Income Support’ was re-invested into a second contract working with up to 300 people to exit Alberta Income Support, and so on for future contracts.

For refugees, many of whom arrive in Canada with advanced degrees and professional experience, the path to meaningful work is littered with obstacles. StartWork’s model aims to bridge that gap, helping participants gain the certifications, skills and confidence needed to succeed in Alberta’s workforce.

Nearly 300 applicants applied for 40 spots in the pilot program. Once accepted, members of the inaugural cohort were able to choose from one of four career paths: hospitality and food services, residential and commercial cleaning including commercial kitchen fire inspection, warehouse readiness and forklift certification, or carpentry. Participants completed employment training in early 2025 and transitioned into jobs. Refugee-serving organizations including Women in Need Society (WINS), Momentum, Fire X3 and the Centre for Newcomers partnered with StartWork to provide employment support. StartWork also provides on-demand support for participants including access to driver’s training and courses to enhance English literacy.

The Institute for Community Prosperity at Mount Royal University has long been a champion of transformative change, empowering individuals and organizations to tackle complex challenges with innovative solutions.Through initiatives like StartWork, the Institute demonstrates its commitment to creating lasting social impact by bridging immediate community needs with a broader vision for systems-level change.

The StartWork initiative also reflects priorities in MRU’s 2023-2030 Academic Plan, which focus on building stronger community connections.

“StartWork exemplifies how MRU’s research institutes are driving real change. By applying an outcomes-based approach to social challenges, this initiative creates meaningful employment opportunities that provide lasting benefits for the participants and the broader community. It’s about equipping people with the skills and confidence to thrive in Alberta, while demonstrating how innovative funding models can strengthen the social and economic fabric of our province.”

— Chad London, Provost, Mount Royal University

“We were excited about this investment opportunity because of the innovative approach to provide meaningful employment outcomes for refugees. StartWork provides comprehensive support to refugees while delivering resources accordingly — and if it fails, there is no expense to the taxpayer,” says Aatif Baskanderi, CEO of Northpine”

— Aatif Baskanderi, CEO, Northpine Foundation

“We know there are many community organizations transforming lives. The opportunity with outcomes procurement is to unlock new resources so these organizations can have even greater impact — without the constraints of traditional funding models. It’s about reimagining how we approach social challenges and creating solutions that are both innovative and sustainable.”

— Barb Rallison, Associate Director, Institute for Community Prosperity

For further information, or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Peter Glenn, Director, Communications
403.463.6930
mediarelations@mtroyal.ca