Accessibility Tools

Science Horizons Youth Internship Program

Department - Organization: Environment and Climate Change Canada
Description:  The program provides wage subsidies to eligible employers across Canada to hire recent university, college and polytechnic graduates for 6 to 12-month internships in the environmental science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors. Wage subsidies up to $25,000. Funding up to $5,000 for wrap-around services (skills development, certification and training, job accessibility, other supports)
Deadline: Four delivery organizations
BioTalent Canada: Currently open.
ECO Canada: Currently closed.
Clean Foundation: Closed March 18th, 2024

Sustainable Jobs Stream - Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy - Union Training and Innovation Program

Department - Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Description: Municipalities are eligible if they partnership with a union representing workers in the Red Seal trade. This funding opportunity aims to support a series of projects that will develop and deliver green training for journeypersons and apprentices in Red Seal trades that are key to reducing Canada's emissions. Up to $10,000,000 per project. 
Deadline: Closed September 5th, 2024

Co-operative Education Incentive

Department - Organization: NS Dept Labour, Skills and Immigration
Description: The Co-op Education Incentive (CO-OP) provides wage assistance to organizations that offer career-related work experiences for university and college cooperative students.
Deadline: 
Apply between August 15th and September 16th, 2023 for the Winter 2024 co-op term.
Apply between December 15th, 2023 and January 15th, 2024 for the Summer 2024 co-op term.
Apply between April 15th and May 15th, 2024 for the Fall 2024 co-op term.
Contact: yepinfo@novascotia.ca

Indigenous Wage Subsidy Initiative

Department - Organization: Clean Foundation/Employment and Social Development Canada
Description: The program connects Indigenous job seekers (age 15 and up) residing in Nova Scotia with qualifying positions in the clean economy in Nova Scotia. Employers can apply to be connected with an elgible employee. Employers can receive a subsidy covering up to 80 per cent of the employee’s salary (up to $10,000, for a maximum period of eight months).
Deadline: Continuous intake

Trail Engineering Assistance Grant Program

Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: The grant is designed to provide trail builders and managers with a source of funding to help them hire engineering expertise when it is required. Hiring engineers when building, maintaining, and supporting multi-use trails and non-motorized single-use to help ensure Nova Scotia’s trails are both safe for trail users and environmentally sound. Applicants are encouraged to contribute to the overall cost of the initiative. The contribution level required depends on the need and the ability of the applicant to contribute.
Example(s): Inspection and assessment of existing trail structures. Components of planning requiring an engineer (i.e. site plan for a bridge). Design of trail components which must be engineered to a specific standard. Rehabilitation plans. Other occasions when it is appropriate to seek the advice of a professional engineer.
Deadline: Continuous intake as of April 1st, 2024.
Contact: cchtrailgrants@novascotia.ca or your regional CCTH manager. 

Mitacs Municipal Support

Department - Organization: Mitacs
Description: They offer funding (non repayable grants) and connect municipalities with post-secondary researchers for innovative projects — from affordable housing, green initiatives, transit, infrastructure, climate change — and more — to tackle your most difficult challenges and create vibrant and healthy communities.
  • Non-repayable funding from $6,000 to multi-million.
  • A custom-built research and innovation team to roadmap your project.
  • Scalable, multidisciplinary projects in all areas.
  • Academic/research team to give you the specialized knowledge and skills that you need.
  • Works with you to resolve the major challenges that Canadian municipalities face
Example(s): 
  • The Pontiac Regional Municipal explored how to solve labour shortages via a pilot project with UQO for the resettlement and support of foreign workers and immigrant families in agricultural areas.
Deadline: Continuous intake
Contact: Form on the webpage

Public Policy and Governance Internship Program

Department - Organization: Public Policy and Governance Program, St. Francis Xavier University
Description: The Public Policy and Governance program offers students an interdisciplinary education to understand how societies solve difficult economic, social, and political problems. Municipalities can offer students paid or volunteer opportunities. The placements are for a minimum of either week between late April and early September. Municipalities will benefit from interns with relevant knowledge and core skills from three years of education in public policy, public administration, economics, and statistics. Organizations taking on an intern should treat the student as a short-term contract employee in accordance with relevant policies.
Example(s): The County of Antigonish had a student who researched policy and program options, contributed to public communications materials, participated in emergency management exercises, drafted MOUs and RFPs, presented a summary of the province’s Road Trails Act to the Municipal Council, provided feedback on their Council Orientation Guide, and assisted with the development of their Housing Accelerator Fund application.
Deadline: Continuous
contact: Peter Kikkert, Coordinator, Public Policy and Governance Program, pkikkert@stfx.ca

Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Programs

Department - Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Description: The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) is a horizontal Government of Canada initiative led by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and delivered in partnership with 11 federal departments, agencies, and Crown Corporations. Together, these 12 partners deliver funding programs to help Canadian youth (15-30) develop the skills and gain the experience they need to successfully transition into the labour market.
Municipalities can often use the subsidies to hire employees 30 and under. Use the Search the available programs using the link below:

Currently Closed, Next Intake TBD:

Canada Service Corps 

Department - Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Description: Municipalities provide volunteer opportunities for youth (ages 12 to 30) to create meaningful change in communities across the country, to gain life skills and experience, and to support lasting civic engagement. propose projects that benefit their community. Funding is available for innovative ideas that engage young people and involve them directly in meaningful service opportunities.
Deadline: Closed December 19th, 2023
Contact: NA-GCOS-SELSC-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Canada Summer Jobs Wage Subsidy

Department - Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Description: Helps employers create summer job opportunities that provide valuable full-time work experiences for youth between the ages of 15 and 30.
Deadline: Closed January 10th.
Contact: NA-GCOS-SELSC-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Youth Canada Works

Department - Organization: Canadian Council of Archives
Description: The program provides funding to employers to create jobs for students and internships for graduates. These programs help youth acquire skills in the heritage, arts and cultural sector, as well as develop their second language. Eligibility: be a Non-profit organization under municipal government, that has distinct objectives, programs and budget related to heritage.
Deadline: Closed January 19th, 2024
Contact: ycw_jct@archivescanada.ca

Green Jobs Initiative

Department - Organization: The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association
Description: This program will provide direct financial support (via wage subsidies) to municipalities, for jobs that focus on green career-related activities.
Deadline: February 16th, 2024

Clean Foundation Workforce Development

Department - Organization: Clean Foundation
Description: Workforce Development offers several internship opportunities including the Science Horizons Internship Program, Green Jobs Internship Program, and the Clean Leadership Summer Internship Program. These programs offer significant wage subsidies for environmental-specific positions. 
Example(s): New Glasgow hired an intern through the Science Horizons program with over a 75% wage subsidy for an 8-month contract. 
Deadline: 
Green Jobs Internship Program: Closed March 18th, 2024
Science Horizons Internship Program: Closed March 18th, 2024
Clean Leadership Summer Internship Program: Currently closed.
Contact: Zeynep Oncu zoncu@cleanfoundation.ca

Community Works Program

Department - Organization: NS Dept of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Description: CWP enables employment for equity-seeking groups, summer students, as well as interested individuals to work within their community and be afforded the opportunity to build capacity in their given field. The program may fund up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $25,000 for each employment project. The applicant needs to fund the balance of the costs.
Example(s): Eligible employment costs include: municipal accessibility coordinators, administrative positions (like public administration and accounting), operational positions (like planning, engineering and communications), tourist ambassador opportunities, and employees to complete approved project work under the Beautification and Streetscaping Program.
Deadline: Closed June 13th, 2024.
Contact: communityworks@novascotia.ca
 

If you can't find a grant that suits your municipality's needs, please reach out. Similarly, if your municipality is applying to any of the listed opportunities, I am readily available to provide assistance throughout the application process.

Lucy MacLeod

Lucy MacLeod,
Fund Navigator
lmacleod@nsfm.ca