Text: Francisco Salazar
Photo: Courtesy of Karla Duenas
Before moving to Canada, Karla Dueñas was a well-known radio host, a communication professor at the Autonomous University of Guadalajara, and an enthusiastic event organizer. She spearheaded benefit concerts for suicide prevention campaigns and 5K races in support of the fight against breast cancer. As she describes herself, she has always been “a woman under construction”, constantly seeking a deeper meaning in everything she has done, does, and will do.
Arriving in Canada with a dream
Love was the main motivation behind Karla’s decision to move to Canada. “I met my partner, a Quebecer, during a trip to Europe, and from the beginning, despite our cultural differences, we discovered many affinities,” she confesses. Her mother also played a crucial role, encouraging her to see this challenge as a dream, an extraordinary opportunity for personal growth.
From newcomer to head of the PSTM program at L’ANCRE
Karla’s integration into L’ANCRE began while she was completing her French language course in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Her connection with the organization was instantaneous: “I thought it was a great idea to work in a community organization that helps newcomers integrate and access information,” she recalls.
After participating in a couple of events organized by L’ANCRE, Karla was invited to be part of the team as a settlement counselor. A year later, she took on the challenge of leading the Support Program for Migrant Workers (PSTM), a role she embraced with enthusiasm. A few months later, Karla directed and lent her voice to the Spanish audio version of the information guide for temporary foreign workers, produced and published by Immigrant Québec.
A warm and trusted voice
As the project lead, Karla continues her mission to educate and empower others, just as she did back in her radio days in Mexico. Now, she collaborates closely with temporary foreign workers (TETs) to help them understand their rights, responsibilities, and the free resources available to them. Having navigated the challenges of adjusting to a new country herself, including unfamiliar labor laws and limited access to support, she is determined to be the guide she wished she had when she arrived in Quebec.
Building trust through empathy
Her experience in radio broadcasting has given her a unique ability to connect with people. “Radio taught me how to use my voice to express warmth and build trust from the very first interaction,” she explains. Thanks to this empathy, Karla plays a vital role in supporting TETs in Montérégie at key moments in their lives. Whether it is helping them complete forms, acting as an interpreter during crucial phone calls, or organizing cultural and sports events, Kara is dedicated to fostering integration and well-being for the workers supported by L’ANCRE.
The power of a dedicated support network
For Karla, collaborating with the PSTM network of organizations is essential. “Without the support and commitment of all the organizations in the program, TETs wouldn’t have access to the services they have today,” she emphasizes. From legal consultations to medical assistance, the services provided by these organizations are a lifeline for TETs in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
Though Karla modestly admits she cannot fully measure the impact of her work, she strongly believes that supporting TETs with kindness, respect, and admiration for their hard work is an essential form of recognition. “Listening to their stories and helping restore their confidence during such a tough time—so far from their families—is something I hope makes their stay a little easier,” she reflects.
Changing lives, one TET at a time
Karla Dueñas didn’t just find love and a home in Canada—she also deepened her passion for radio and communication, blending it with her commitment to supporting migrant workers. Her journey is a testament to how dedication, compassion, and a human-first approach can profoundly change lives—one TET at a time.
