Young Canada Works (YCW) offers young Canadians the opportunity to develop skills and gain experience in the workplace.

Through job and internship programs, students and graduates can put their skills to the test, build career equity, earn an income and get started on the right career path. The YCW program creates approximately 2,300 job opportunities per year in the fields of heritage, arts, culture and official languages.

The YCW program contains two components:

Job programs

Are you a current high school, college, CEGEP or university student looking for a short-term job that is relevant to your studies? A job can be more than just a way to earn money. YCW offers two job programs that can help students to:

• acquire valuable work experience and skills;
• explore and discover new regions within Canada; and
• earn an income.

YCW sponsors two job programs for students:

Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations (YCWHO)

YCWHO generally lasts between 6 and 16 weeks, and offers students job opportunities with organizations in Canada that have a heritage mandate. Students might organize cultural or recreational projects in a heritage organization, for example, or learn new skills in preserving and promoting our cultural heritage.

Learn about the eligibility criteria of the Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations program.

Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages

YCWBOL lasts between 6 and 16 weeks. It offers job opportunities to students with organizations that conduct activities in both official languages. Students can gain practical work experience while improving their second language skills.

Learn about the eligibility criteria of the Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages and the Languages at Work program.

Internship programs

Interested in an internship in Canada or abroad in your specific field of study? Young Canada Works (YCW) internships are offered to unemployed or underemployed college or university graduates. Participating in a YCW internship can help graduates to:

• improve their skills through a career-related experience;
• establish contacts in the industry related to their field of study; and
• expand their career options by working in Canada or abroad.

YCW sponsors two internship programs for graduates:

Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage (YCWBCH)

YCWBCH offers several types of internships, giving graduates the opportunity to work with organizations that have a heritage mandate. Internships generally range from 4 to 12 months.

Learn about the eligibility criteria of the Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage program.

Young Canada Works at Building Careers in English and French (YCWBCEF)

This program offers 4 to 12 months paid internships:

• in Canada that meet the labour market needs in linguistic duality and where workforce shortages are anticipated in official-language minority communities; and
• in Canada to staff positions in official-language minority community media (radios and newspapers).

Learn about the eligibility criteria of the Young Canada Works at Building Careers in English and French program.