Finding Family in New Places
From Uncertainty To Belonging
José (left) Grace (right) and Mateo (middle) at the Trellis Bowness Hub
When Grace and José arrived in Calgary on a cold February day in 2024, they carried with them a mixture of hope and uncertainty. Fleeing violence in their home country and seeking refugee status in Canada, they knew they were starting over from scratch with their young son Mateo. They faced the daunting challenge of rebuilding their lives in a new country, with a new language and without the support of family and friends. But then, they found Trellis.
Grace first heard about Trellis through another mother at the Gateway program*, who spoke highly of the Ready, Set, Go preschool at our Bowness Hub. Encouraged by the warm environment and the care shown to the children, Grace enrolled Mateo right away. “I didn’t hesitate,” she recalled. “The teachers were so wonderful and I could see how much they cared about the kids.”
Shortly after enrolling Mateo, Grace attended a back-to-school BBQ hosted by Trellis. It was here that she first met Hannah, a staff member who would soon become a key support in their journey. “Hannah immediately looked out for me,” Grace shared. “She offered her help, guided me and even provided us with winter clothing since we had nothing.” At the event, Grace was also able to collect school supplies, receive basic needs support and learn about additional resources available to her family.
One of the biggest challenges Grace and José faced was communication. While they knew basic English, Mateo spoke none at all. Trellis helped bridge this gap by having Spanish-speaking staff available to assist them. “Being able to ask someone any questions throughout the day was a huge relief,” Grace said. “Even the English-speaking teachers made an effort to use a translator and learn some Spanish.” This language support helped Mateo settle into preschool, and as time passed, he began teaching his classmates simple Spanish words like “hello” and “goodbye.”
Beyond education, Trellis provided the family with crucial resources to meet their daily needs. Through the Bowness Hub, they received assistance with groceries, clothing and even housing support. “Never in my life had I received the support I’ve found here, along with the kindness I’ve been shown” Grace said, “it’s truly surprising.”
Their living situation was another hurdle as their basement suite had poor conditions and a lack of privacy. When Grace became pregnant with their second child, they knew staying there was no longer an option. “We weren’t financially prepared to move and talked to Hannah about our difficulties. She helped us navigate finding a safe home and connected us to Trellis support for first month’s rent.” José said. With this support, the family was able to move into their new place, just minutes from Mateo’s preschool. “It’s perfect,” Grace said with relief. “Now, when our second son, Bruno, is old enough, he’ll go to school here too.”
Grace (right) and Mateo (left) inside the preschool classroom
As they settled into their new home, Grace and José also took advantage of Trellis’ English conversation classes. “They’ve helped me so much, especially with pronunciation,” Grace said. “Now, whether I’m at the doctor’s office, the supermarket or ordering coffee, I feel more confident.” José added, “At first, we only knew the basics, but now we can communicate better and feel more independent.”
Looking back, Grace and José can’t imagine what their journey would have been like without Trellis. “It would have been much harder,” José admitted. “At the beginning, I didn’t have a stable job and we didn’t know where to go for support.” Grace agreed, adding, “Trellis focuses not just on the children but on making sure the whole family is okay. That’s what makes the biggest difference.”
As they prepare to welcome their second child, Grace and José feel a sense of security they never expected to find so soon after arriving in Canada. With support from Trellis, they have a safe home, a supportive community and the resources they need to build a bright future for their family. And for Mateo, staying in Ready, Set, Go for another year means continued stability, friendships and a foundation for success.
“We are still in the process of adjusting,” Grace said, “but we know that if we need help, we can reach out to Trellis at anytime. That means everything to us.”
Follow Trellis Bowness on social media @trellisyyc.bowness
Gateway Partnership
The key to success in moving to a new country, learning a new language, or starting a new career, is ensuring you have the right support in place. Trellis often receives referrals from Gateway, who act as a personal guide to help each newcomer through their unique journey, connecting them to the right programs and services to reach their goals - and build the life they’ve been envisioning.