Youth Skills Link ( YSL ) Programs are short-term, paid work place training opportunities for youth ages 15-30 inclusive (that means that people who are 15 years old, 30 years old, or any age in between can access these programs) who are finding they have extra barriers to employment.
There are multiple Youth Skills Link Program Sites in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge that offer paid work and practical training in small business, creative initiative, and social enterprise environments. These projects are funded by the Government of Canada’s Skills Link Program
The Working Centre hosts the Youth Skills Link ( YSL ) Program out of our Community Tools Projects. We typically hire five youth for 25 weeks: we host two positions in Maurita's Kitchen, two positions in the Queen Street Commons Cafe, and one position at Worth A Second Look. The first three months of a participant's time is spent working at The Working Centre, followed by three months working for an employer in the community.
Keep reading for brief job descriptions, further eligibility requirements, and contact information.
Brief Job Descriptions:
Retail Sales & Service — Worth A Second Look (1 position)
Become part of this fast-paced community project providing affordable furniture and housewares.
- handle sales and provide customer service in a used furniture and housewares store
- receive, sort, clean, price and shelve inventory
- test and fix donated items
Food Preparation — Maurita’s Kitchen (2 positions)
Build your cooking and food prep skills preparing healthy vegetarian meals for the Queen Street Commons Café.
- gain experience in food preparation, menu planning and safe food handling
- prepare seasonal vegetarian dishes and desserts for Queen Street Commons Café
- prepare and bake pizzas and breads
Food Service — Queen Street Commons Café (2 positions)
Work in a café which creates an affordable gathering place for community development exchanges such as sharing meals, music, crafts, and learning.
- provide hospitality and basic food prep service to café patrons
- prepare specialty coffees and teas
- wash dishes, bus tables and operate the cash register to handle sales for café and gift shop
Eligibility and Other Details
- This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Skills Link Program.
- Projects are funded for 25 weeks, for 30 hours per week, at minimum wage
- Participants must be between the ages of 15-30
- Participants cannot be in receipt of EI benefits
- Participants must be a Canadian citizen, legally entitled to work in Canada, permanent resident, or granted refugee status
- In accordance with funding requirements, priority in hiring will be given to youth facing barriers to finding and keeping employment
