Deadline: 18-Jan-23
The Government of Ontario is accepting applications for the Summer Experience Program (SEP) that provides funding to eligible not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, Indigenous organizations and First Nation communities to create meaningful summer employment opportunities for students.
The summer employment positions must focus on activities supporting key sectors within the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and provide students with training, work experience and skills transferable to the general workforce and to future careers. The positions must focus on activities that support the key sectors of tourism, culture, sport and recreation.
Program Objectives
- The summer employment positions must focus on activities supporting key sectors within the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
- The objectives of SEP are:
- To provide quality, supervised work experience for students in summer positions that develop skills that are career-related and transferable to the general labour market.
- To make positions available in communities throughout the province, particularly in areas of high unemployment (i.e. Northern Ontario).
- To enable greater access to summer employment for students through an accessible and transparent recruitment process.
- To provide transfer payments to eligible organizations within the key sectors noted to support their capacity to deliver summer service and specific projects that align with the Ministry priorities.
Ministry Priorities for SEP Positions
- Tourism: The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport works closely with the tourism sector to help stimulate economic growth and investment and create an environment that allows Ontario to compete successfully in the rapidly changing world of travel and leisure.
- Tourism priorities for SEP positions:
- Work in the tourism sector to attract new tourism investment and provide support to tourism regions, sector associations and Indigenous tourism organizations.
- Support product development, marketing, workforce development and investment attraction programs and services.
- Provide tourists with educational, cultural, recreational, and entertainment experiences and opportunities.
- Support the tourism industry through COVID-19 recovery by establishing policies and programs that support tourism development.
- Culture: The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport is responsible for policies and programs that optimize the contribution of the entertainment and creative cluster, arts, , libraries, museums, and cultural agencies and contribute to Ontario’s economic vitality and quality of life.
- Culture priorities for SEP positions:
- Work for arts and culture agencies and organizations to support them in building and sustaining the sector.
- Support services or program development and delivery in the arts and culture sectors that enable stakeholders to protect and provide access to the arts, museums and libraries.
- Sport and Recreation: The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport supports sport development, participation, excellence and safety in the amateur sport and recreation sectors.
- Sport and Recreation priorities for SEP positions:
- Contribute to delivery and sustainability of high-quality policies and programs that strengthen the sport and recreation sectors, encourage physical activity, and benefit all Ontarians.
- Contribute towards enhancement of the province’s high-performance sport system enabling athletes to achieve success.
- Support community-based organizations so they can deliver effective sport and recreation programming to diverse and vulnerable populations.
Funding Information
- As of October 1, 2022, the provincial minimum wage rate, according to the Employment Standards Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 41 is $15.50 per hour. The applicant employer must pay the SEP employee at least the applicable Ontario minimum wage.
- The maximum funding per position is $3,812.
- To be eligible for the full grant amount, organizations must employ the student for the minimum employment contract length of 232 hours or 32 days at 7.25 hours per day.
- If the minimum employment contract is not 232 hours or 32 days at 7.25 hours per day the organization will be required to submit a refund to the Ministry.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations eligible for Summer Experience Program funding include not-for-profit organizations who have been incorporated for at least one year, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, and First Nations communities. Eligible organizations must be legally incorporated or be band councils established under the Indian Act, Canada.
Eligible employment opportunities
- SEP employment opportunities must offer training, work experience and skills transferable to the general workforce and to future careers. The positions must focus on activities that support the key sectors of tourism, culture, sport, and recreation.
- Position placements are expected to provide employment for a minimum employment contract length of 232 hours or 32 days at 7.25 hours per day.
Eligible Students
- Students hired by recipient organizations must meet the eligibility criteria of the program:
- All students must be currently enrolled in a secondary, or post-secondary institution or within six months of graduation and have reached the age of 15 upon commencement of employment
- Students must be employed full time for a minimum employment contract length of 232 hours or 32 days at 7.25 hours per day
- Proof of student enrolment must be provided to the employer
- Students must be residents of Ontario during the period of employment
- Students must be eligible to work in Canada and have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Students should be living in Ontario at the time they start work
- The intention of the program is to provide career-related experience to eligible students that are also eligible to work in Ontario.
For more information, visit SEP.