Contract South Asian Program Leader (Calgary, AB)

Wellspring Alberta is a charitable organization that supports, informs, and empowers those diagnosed with cancer by helping them address the fear, isolation, disruption, and practical problems cancer can bring to their lives.  An affiliate of the Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation, Wellspring Alberta provides a comprehensive range of programs, support, and resources, so anyone living with cancer and the people who care about them can improve the quality of their lives. All programs and services are informed by evidence and offered free of charge and without referral in three centres and online. Our vision is that no one has to face cancer alone.

Wellspring Alberta’s work is made possible through generous contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, and grassroots fundraisers, and with the support of committed volunteers, dedicated staff, and skilled program leaders.

Wellspring Alberta’s Program Leader team is comprised of highly trained professionals with a passion for care and community. With over 70 unique, evidence-informed programs, our offerings are designed to meet diverse needs.

The Opportunity: South Asian Cancer Support Program Leader (Contract Position)

Members of the South Asian community face unique challenges in accessing cancer support care due to cultural and language barriers. As the largest visible minority in Calgary, there is a growing need to provide accessible cancer supportive resources and programming, that are aligned with the culture and values of the South Asian community. In response, Wellspring Alberta aims to support South Asians affected by cancer by developing the South Asian Project. As part of this commitment, we are launching a new cancer support program tailored specifically for South Asian individuals and families affected by cancer. This program is scheduled to begin in Fall 2025, with a tentative start date in September or October.

Sessions will be delivered once a month over 8 to 12 weeks in a community centre in Northeast Calgary, in the afternoon. Each session will be 1–2 hours in length and open to individuals living with cancer as well as their family members, reflecting the program’s inclusive, family-centered approach.

Responsibilities:

• Abide by the standards of leadership and policies outlined in Wellspring’s Program Leader’s Guide.
• Create a safe, warm, and welcoming environment. The professional group leader maintains primary responsibility for the leadership and management of the group process.
• Deliver programming in Hindi and/or Punjabi to ensure language-accessible care.
• Facilitate group sessions encouraging storytelling, sharing, and connection, while remaining flexible and responsive to member needs.
• Collaborate closely with South Asian Community Connector volunteers and the South Asian Outreach Coordinator to shape the content of each session.
• Record attendance and other administrative duties as requested.
• Refer any needs or concerns that require follow up to Wellspring staff.
• Engage in the Wellspring culture of philanthropy by taking opportunities within the program setting to recognize the importance of philanthropy for program delivery.
• Make announcements to program participants, from time to time, based on wording provided by the program team with respect to upcoming Wellspring initiatives or events.
• Communicate in a timely way with the Wellspring program team as required.

Required knowledge and skills: 

• Be a graduate of a recognized post-secondary institution.
• Fluency in Punjabi, Urdu and/or Hindi.
• Embedded within Calgary’s South Asian communities and high degree of knowledge in South Asian cultures.
• Be a professional from a relevant discipline (e.g. social work, nursing, psychology), a member in good standing with the association which governs the profession as applicable (e.g., Alberta College of Nurses), and provide to Wellspring a copy of the registration.
• Experience within a health care or allied health care setting, cancer care in particular, is an asset.
• Have a minimum of 3 years of experience leading groups within a supportive care model.

To apply:

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to tanad@wellspringalberta.ca. Wellspring has a standardized fee structure for Program Leaders. This posting will close once we have found a successful candidate. We wish to thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Inclusion Statement

Wellspring Alberta is committed to being an inclusive organization. We are in a process of expanding the diversity of identities and lived experiences, to be more reflective of the communities in which we work and live. To support this process, we’ve become an employer partner of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, developed an Advisory group, and we are taking action as part of our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion. We understand we are on a journey, which will take time, and that increasing equity in our organization and in cancer care is critical.

We encourage applications from groups that are typically under-represented in cancer-serving organizations including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) individuals, LGBTQ2S+ identifying individuals, persons with disabilities, and candidates from all equity seeing groups.

We welcome you to contact us for a conversation about accessibility and accommodations throughout the recruitment process.

We know that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for roles unless they meet every single requirement. If you’re excited about the role, but your qualifications don’t match perfectly, we encourage you to apply.

We appreciate your interest in Wellspring and warmly welcome all applications.