OBC's Youth Career Catalyst Youth Employment Program
Chantal Solomon
Hi! My name is Chantal, I am a Facilitator with Outward Bound Canada’s Youth Career Catalyst Employment program. I wanted to reach to let you know currently recruiting for our Spring cohort. We are currently inviting youth to sign for our online information sessions. Where they will learn about our unique opportunity to participate in a kayak or canoe journey, workshops, certifications and support with finding a job in their community.
Our Youth Career Catalyst (YCC) program, is funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy program and is building a bridge to meaningful careers. Through this program, we prepare individuals aged 18-30 for employment by combining training, mentorship and immersive outdoor experiences.
The program is made up of 3 distinct parts:
Paid In-Person Training: 24 days of immersive, engaging hands-on training, including
a 10-day outdoor journey and 14 days of experiential workshops. In BC this portion of the program will take place near Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island from April 19- May 14th 2026
Support Work experience: Up to 14 weeks of paid work experience with ongoing support will follow the in-person training. We will work with participants to find a position that fits their interests and needs.
Mentorship and Career Coaching: Personalized guidance to help navigate their career journey.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
This program is designed to support individuals facing unique challenges related to employment. We are looking for youth:
Between 18 and 30 years of age at the start of the program
Eligible to work in Canada
Not currently employed
Not currently in school or a recognized training program
Not currently in an apprenticeship or intern role
We are prioritizing folks who are facing multiple barriers, including Indigenous and racialized youth, and 2SLGBTQ+ youth.
In addition to recruiting for participants, we are also looking for work experience partners, who are interested in hiring youth and would benefit from a wage subsidy. If you think organization would like to explore a partnership for a work experience placement please contact our Work Experience coordinator Thunder via thunder...@outwardbound.ca
I’m very excited to be working with Outward Bound Canada to bring this program to youth experiencing barriers to employment and provide them with tools, support and self-confidence to pursue a meaningful career. I am hopeful that we can work together to find youth that would be served by this opportunity.
I'd love the opportunity to further discuss the program with you, if that's something you are interested in scheduling and/or can also send more details via email. In the meantime if you're interested, please visit our website and check out the attached flyer!
Thank you for your time and attention,
