This story was shared through the City in Colour's project, "Safer WorkPlaces: Racialized Immigrant Women Experience of WorkPlace Health and Safety".

Animation and design: Alejandra Villanueva

Photography: Natalia Botero

A Latin American professional woman currently working in the trade sector, a strong advocate for equity and social justice shared her struggle to find a job in Canada and the interpersonal discrimination faced due to gender and language barrier:

From travel agent to electrical worker

My name is Marcia Lopez, and I’d like to share how I built my work history here in Vancouver, Canada. I received my work permit after five months of living and volunteering on Coast Salish territories, and I was full of hope to continue my career as a travel agent. I had done that work all my life in Valparaíso. I was an expert in Sabre and Amadeus—two of the main flight booking systems—and I’ve always taken pride in my customer service and sales skills. That was the version of myself I brought with me from Chile.

I sent my resume to every travel agency in Vancouver, to Air Canada, and even to some banks. I went to about 20 interviews, but the responses were always the same: “We regret to inform you…”—you know how it goes.

I felt useless and lost. I kept volunteering—at DEWC, Quest Food Exchange, Kiwassa, Frog Hollow, and Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House—but no paid work showed up on the horizon.

One day, while I was in the kitchen at home, one of my roommates told me about a post she saw in the BC Women in Trades Facebook group. I checked it out and got in touch with the recruiter. She was amazing—she helped me with the paperwork, and together with my WorkBC agent, they made sure I had everything I needed to join the program.

I enrolled in the Security System Technician Program, which lasted five months. Not only did I become an electrical worker, but I also had the opportunity to join the union. I became a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

My practicum went well, and I continued working with the same company for a year and a half. On the first day of work, we completed training on good practices at the job site—but the reality didn’t reflect what WorkSafeBC guidelines promote. Respect for individuals—regardless of race or gender—was not something I witnessed during that first year.

My coworkers mocked my accent, and because I felt responsible for just being there—trying to make a living in this trade—I never stood up for myself. Instead, I laughed along and let them believe it was okay to make fun of someone who is not only learning to speak fluently but also working hard to build a future through her apprenticeship.

I remember coming home in tears on those days, but despite all the frustration, my foreman was an excellent teacher, so I kept showing up with the best attitude I could.

I attended workshops on how to be a good apprentice, learned about workplace laws and workers’ rights, and became an active member of my union. I also joined the Women’s and Minority Caucus committees to find support, build community, and continue growing my knowledge.

One day, my foreman was reassigned to another site, and our entire crew was split up. I started working with six men from India who didn’t greet me in the mornings and spoke only in their own language. They never let me do any tasks on my own. My responsibilities were limited to carrying boxes, hauling ladders, and searching for tools in the truck.

It was tough. I spent three months in that situation. My foreman would text me at 8 p.m. with a new location for the next day, making it impossible to plan my week—I was completely at his mercy. Eventually, he sent me to the warehouse to receive shipments and help organize materials, which meant carrying boxes all day. After three months of doing that work, I was laid off without any warning because things had slowed down.