Young Canada Works – Information for Employer Applicants
Part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, the Canadian Museums Association (CMA) collaborates with the Department of Canadian Heritage in delivering the Young Canada Works program, which offers summer jobs and internships in museums and related organizations. This program is an important investment in the future of the museum industry, creating development opportunities for future colleagues. The YCW in Heritage Organizations (YCWHO) funds summer job placements, while the YCW Building Careers in Heritage (YCWBCH) funds heritage internships for graduates.
Now accepting applications for Peer Reviewers, learn more.
Program |
YCW in Heritage Organizations (YCWHO)YCWHO funds summer job placements for students aged 15 to 30. The 2020-21 program cycle is now open and the application deadline is January 15, 2020. |
YCW at Building Careers in Heritage (YCWBCH)YCWBCH funds heritage internships that can last up to one year in length, for recent college/university graduates between the ages of 15 and 30. The 2020-21 program cycle is now open and the application deadline is March 1, 2020. |
Which organizations can apply? |
The CMA’s priority is to fund museums and related organizations in Canada. Please consult the full YCWHO eligibility criteria on the YCW website. |
The CMA’s priority is to fund museums and related organizations in Canada. Canadian organizations that wish to apply for an international project proposal must coordinate their application with the host museum/organization abroad. Please consult the full YCWBCH eligibility criteria on the YCW website. |
Who are the youth participants? |
Summer positions are aimed at full-time students who are intending to return to full-time studies in the next semester. Please review the YCW participant eligibility criteria here.Given the increasing demand from youth for YCWHO summer jobs, employers are encouraged to give priority to recruiting new participants in this program. Employers whose preferred candidate has previously participated in a YCWHO position at their organization must provide written justification to their delivery organization explaining how the new position will further develop the participant’s skills and knowledge. |
Internships are aimed at post-secondary graduates who have graduated within the past 24 months. Please review the YCW participant eligibility criteria here.Please note that youth participants must not have previously participated in or been paid under this or any other Career Focus internship program funded under the Government of Canada's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. |
Duration of positions |
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How much funding is available? |
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Can international projects be offered? | No. All work locations must be at heritage organizations in Canada. | Yes. YCWBCH funding may support both Canadian and international projects. Please click here for more information on developing an international internship proposal. |
What types of positions can be funded? | The CMA supports jobs that build upon the many functions of a museum, such as:
Applicants should consider offering innovative employment opportunities for our future colleagues that make use of their capacity and passion for the sector. Please note that CMA’s YCW program does not fund general maintenance, custodial, or grounds keeping positions. |
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How to apply? | Submit an online application at young-canada-works.canada.ca before the deadline. The CMA strongly suggests that all employer applicants prepare and save the content of their application in a Word or text file prior to accessing the online application. Consult our Twitter Story for tips on building a good YCWHO application. |
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Next application deadline |
The deadline for YCWHO (summer student) applications for the 2020-2021 program year (summer 2020) is January 15, 2020 . The deadline for YCWBCH (internships) applications for the 2020-2021 program year is March 1, 2020 . |
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How are employer applications reviewed and selected? | All positions are evaluated by a peer review committee of museum professionals. Selection is based on the program criteria established by the Department of Canadian Heritage. Selection criteria for:
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When are decisions released? |
The peer review and evaluation process takes a minimum of two months to complete. Decisions for YCWHO are typically released in April. YCWBCH decisions are typically released in May. All employer applicants will receive a response. |
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What are the YCW program’s service standards? |
Acknowledgement Decision YCW employer contracts Payment |
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If I am selected, what paperwork will I have to fill? |
Approved employers will be required to sign a contract and complete mandatory reports at the beginning and end of the work term. This checklist will provide you with more detailed information.
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How are youth participants selected? |
Approved employers are responsible for conducting their own recruitment. |
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Other resources | Please consult the Employer Guide for more information about this and other YCW programs. Other organizations offering the YCW program in the heritage sector include:
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Was your YCW project a success? | CMA welcomes your success stories! Please tell us about your experience. Please click here for more information. To read past success stories, please click here. |
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Questions? |
For inquiries: |
For inquiries: |