Case Studies
Nicole Han
Nicole was the first Canadian and first CRHC employee to participate in the GEM Programme, completing her CIH certification with full employer support in the same year.
Nicole grew up in an upper middle class Canadian suburb, with both parents working in finance. She studied Accounting at college, but always felt pulled towards something more people-focused. A trip to Singapore with her father — where she discovered her parents had grown up in poverty — was a turning point. It gave her a deep understanding of the stigma around affordable housing and set her on a different path entirely.
She began her housing career coordinating homeless shelters in Edmonton before joining Capital Region Housing Corporation, where she has now worked for over a decade across multiple departments, from Applications to her current role in Customer Relations.
Being on the GEM Programme has forced me out of my comfort zone both professionally and personally. I am now more comfortable taking risks, putting myself out there and pursuing things that I am passionate about.
Since completing the GEM Programme, Nicole co-founded Leftovers, a volunteer-run non-profit that rescues surplus food from restaurants, bakeries and delis and redirects it to homeless shelters, soup kitchens and churches across Edmonton. The organisation tackles both food insecurity and waste — diverting fresh produce, dairy and grains from landfill while feeding those who need it most. All collections and deliveries are handled by volunteers, so vendors simply stop throwing food away.
Visit rescuefood.ca ↗At the end of the day, Nicole is making a difference in someone's life. Working on the front lines of a social housing organisation, she sees first-hand how rising living costs force impossible choices — and she is committed to being part of the solution.
Don't be scared. There will be plenty of challenging moments on the GEM Programme — scenarios that push your limits and force you out of your comfort zone. These are the moments that help you grow. Give it your all and reap the rewards.
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