Join Our Team!

Seasonal employment: Part-time March to May, Full time June to August
Location: 

• British Columbia: Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Victoria, Kamloops, Kelowna/Vernon
• Saskatchewan: Saskatoon
• Ontario: Durham
• Quebec: Quebec City, Gatineau, Trois Rivières, Shawinigan

For French go here.

Be the Spark! Join our passionate team and help us to achieve great things in our community!

The YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange (SWSE) is a national exchange program coordinated by the YMCA and funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage. Each summer, 16- and 17-year-old Canadian youth spend six weeks in another province, living with a local host, gaining paid work experience, practicing their second official language, and taking part in weekly program activities.

Local Coordinators (LCs) serve as the main link between participants, community members, and the SWSE program. Before the exchange begins, they promote the program to youth and community groups, lead the interview and selection process, and help prepare youth and families for the experience. During the exchange, Local Coordinators act as trusted mentors, guiding youth through a full program of activities and providing support as they adapt to their new environments.

Responsibilities:

• Promote the program in communities and support the selection of youth participants, host families, and employment partners.
• Interview and select youth participants and families/hosts, and conduct a pre-departure information session with support.
• Plan local activities aligned with program objectives and manage an activity budget.
• Build positive relationships with youth exchange participants, host families, employers, and other local partners; visit program sites and respond to conflict and emergencies as they arise.
• Support participant travel between provinces, including traveling with participants to their host community or providing logistical support at departure points.
• Write a comprehensive report at the end of the summer summarizing the program’s results.
• Fulfill administrative duties in a timely manner, including promotional tracking, case noting, incident reporting, expense claim tracking, and file documentation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What you need to succeed:

• Commitment to the YMCA’s Mission, Vision and Values.
• Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services.
• YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Oriented, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter.

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled full-time in a post-secondary program or equivalent experience.
• Valid Emergency First Aid/CPR certification before the start of the exchange.
• Valid driver’s license and access to an insured vehicle; willing to provide a driver’s abstract.
• Previous experience working with youth and/or experiential education programs.
• Internet access for the duration of employment.
• Be able to attend the two mandatory paid trainings in March and April/May.
• Availability to work full-time the first week of June and on travel days.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including days, evenings, and weekends – must be willing to make the Local Coordinator position, your primary professional commitment, from June 1st to August 14th.
• Willingness to travel within Canada.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to interact confidently with youth, families, and community partners.
• Strong customer service skills, ensuring a positive and supportive experience for participants and stakeholders.
• Well-developed organizational skills, with the capacity to manage multiple tasks, schedules, and program requirements.
• A high level of reliability, with a consistent commitment to fulfilling responsibilities and supporting program success.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and building a sense of belonging.

Assets:

• Preference will be given to candidates able to communicate in both French and English
• Prior participation in the YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange program
• Prior training in mental health support and suicide intervention (e.g. MHFA, ASIST, etc.)
• Experience in training and facilitation
• Knowledge and ability to integrate anti-racist, anti-oppressive, 2SLGBTQ-positive, critical disability, harm reduction, and strengths-based principles into practice

Mandatory Training and scheduled work days:

• Two mandatory training sessions will take place. The first session will take place over a weekend in early March and the second in late April/early May.  Exact dates will be confirmed at the time of interviewing.
• Trainings are held in-person and may require travel within Canada for two to four days; all costs related to travel and training are paid for by the YMCA.
• All Local Coordinators are also required to work full-time during business hours the first week of June, and are required to be available on June 27 and August 8 during travel days.

Location, Period of Employment, and Salary:

• Positions are available throughout Canada. Local Coordinators must live within their assigned region.
• Local Coordinators will work 12 hours/week from early March to April 25, increasing to 24 hours/week from April 26 to May 30, and then 37.5 hours/week (full-time) from May 31 until August 15.  The starting salary is $20.50 per hour.

Application deadline: February 8, 2026

Apply

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 170 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services, such as health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2025–2030 strategic plan, Greater Together, which outlines how we are focused on building communities where people feel healthier and more connected to their neighbours.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here. (French: ici)

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.