Youth internships

Finding skilled talent to move a new initiative forward can be challenging, especially when you’re exploring projects tied to emerging or high-growth sectors. For organizations in Northern Ontario, the Youth Internships program offers a way to bring fresh expertise into your team while advancing projects aligned with Canada’s Economic Strategy Tables. Delivered through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) and local Community Futures Development Corporations, this initiative helps employers hire recent post-secondary graduates to support innovation-focused work.

The program is designed for organizations taking on projects connected to priority areas identified by the federal government, such as advanced manufacturing, clean technology, digital industries, and other sectors where Canada has a competitive edge. By offsetting a significant portion of the costs associated with hiring a youth intern, the funding makes it more feasible to test new ideas, expand capabilities, or move a strategic project from concept to execution. At the same time, it creates meaningful, paid work experience for young professionals at the start of their careers.

Funding amounts vary depending on the scope of the project and the role of the intern, and support is provided as a non-repayable contribution. Applications are typically handled on an ongoing basis through regional CFDCs. For Northern Ontario organizations interested in building capacity while contributing to long-term economic growth, learning more about how this internship program works could be a valuable next step.