Series - Editorial Fellowship: Transforming Volunteerism and Work

Could Canada’s largest union tackle the non-profit wage gap? One Calgary counselor believes it can

Author Brennan Doherty
“I’m not blaming employers. Employers are doing the best they can with the meager funds that they’re provided with.”

Why It Matters

Provincial governments depend on frontline non-profits and charities to provide basic services to clients who are unhoused, impoverished or have complex mental health issues. Without additional funding, today’s alarming rate of worker turnover will lead to a weaker social safety net.

var TRINITY_TTS_WP_CONFIG = {"cleanText":"Could Canada\u2019s largest union tackle the non-profit wage gap? One Calgary counselor believes it can. This independent journalism is supported by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.\u00a0See our editorial ethics and standards here . Garry Lehmann has seen a lot in his 30-year career in frontline mental health services. Between stints at group homes, working with high-risk youth in schools and \u201chardcore\u201d treatment programs, he\u2019s seen just how grim the conditions for frontline workers can be. Now a counselor at a Wood\u2019s Homes facility, a children\u2019s mental health centre headquartered in Calgary, and the president of CUPE Local 4731 \u2013 which represents six frontline non-profits across Alberta and the Northwest Territories \u2013

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