Summer Work Student Exchange
“We’re grateful to be able to participate in the YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange. It’s always been a very positive experience for the students as well as us, the employer. The students work very hard and it’s always a pleasure to meet them and get to know them — we miss them when they leave!”
– Employer participant from 2021
Each year SWSE partners with over 400 non-profit and public sector organizations to provide meaningful jobs for program participants. Employers provide mentorship and support to 16 and 17 year old second official learners. This program is often the first real work experience for youth participants, and almost always the first time they experience working in their second language. At the conclusion of the program, employers are reimbursed for up to 210 hours at the provincial minimum wage for the youth’s employment. Participants have worked in a wide variety of settings including childcare and summer camps, museums and cultural centres, offices and senior homes.