Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) – ImpAct Internships

ByMaurice

Description:

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) will contribute up to 100% of the salary or participation fees, to a maximum of $10,000, for youth to become Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) ambassadors.

Comments on Funding:

Funding of up to $10,000 is available for up to 100% of an intern’s salary. Employers must cover the Mandatory Employer Related Costs (MERCs).

Reimbursement will be dispersed midway and at the end of the internship when the required documentation, including intern paystubs, is submitted.

Eligibility:

Eligible employers must:

  • demonstrate that they are committed to meaningfully responding to up to three or more Canadian SDG ambitions identified in the 2030 National Strategy. They must also demonstrate their commitment to helping youth transition into the labour force and help them secure employment at the end of the internship.
  • have an established payroll system (for wage subsidies), be set up to receive payments by direct deposit,
  • have a process for supervising and mentoring participants or interns, and
  • be a Canadian organization or subsidiary in one of the following categories:
  • post-secondary education institution;
  • indigenous organization or association;
  • not-for-profit organization;
  • non-government organization (NGO);
  • small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME), less than 500 employees;
  • municipal or local government;
  • provincial or territorial government, institution, agency or Crown corporation;
  • large corporation, more than 500 employees.

Interns must be:

  • be between the ages of 15-30 (inclusive) at the start of the internship;
  • be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or persons granted refugee status in Canada;
  • be legally allowed to work according to the relevant provincial and Canadian legislation and regulations;
  • be available to participate for a minimum 3 months (13 weeks) to a maximum of 6 months (26 weeks) in a full-time capacity;
  • not be employees of the hiring employer prior to the start of their internship (does not apply to previous coop students or student interns).

Special initiatives may be time-limited and include hack-a-thons, competitions, audits, etc. that may not fit a part-time or full-time schedule. For example, they could last a week, a weekend, etc. Examples of activities that youth can do to help advance the SDGs:

  • organize a youth-led food drive;
  • educate others on healthy food, diversity and inclusion, importance of vaccinations, protective hygiene practices for a specific demographic;
  • plan and implement an energy or water conservation or ‘buy local’ campaign;
  • develop a campaign for alternatives to single occupancy vehicles;
  • audit local cycling and pedestrian infrastructure;
  • organize healthy outdoor activities that reduce air pollution while increasing physical activity;
  • create and implement activities to reduce land and water pollution;
  • advocate for and plant trees in urban areas;
  • develop a business plan that offers sustainable products and services;
  • conduct research on ethical supply chains;
  • develop and implement branding strategies, digital marketing tools, and/or social media campaigns on sustainable agriculture.

Other Things to Note:

  1. Applications are currently closed. Past application cycle: Fall 2021.
  2. CICan Internships are funded by the Government of Canada as part of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.
  3. Funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the Government of Canada through CICan’s ImpAct initiative, these internships aim to advance meaningful SDG-aligned initiatives in our communities while providing Canadian youth critical skills for the 21st century.

About the author

Maurice

Maurice (Moe) Muise learned the ins-and-outs of government while an employee of the Government of Canada in Ottawa for 10 years. His current focus is helping small businesses in Ontario to identify and maximize government grants to grow their business. Click here to learn more about Moe’s background and how he can help your business.

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