The Counselling Foundation of Canada is committed to ensuring that learnings and knowledge derived from its grants are shared as broadly as possible. Disseminating this content promotes the intellectual legacy of a grant as it allows others to learn from the efforts of the initiatives we have supported.
Below is a sample of materials (for instance, project implementation handbooks, manuals and training guides) that have been developed from grants the Foundation has made in the past decade. Feel free to download, use, adapt and share this material as need be. If you have questions about any of these materials, please contact the appropriate authors at the respective organizations.
The following materials are arranged by topic categories:
Initiatives that promote career exploration and/or provide skills development opportunities
The Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC)
The Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) was awarded a one-year grant in September 2014 to revise its The Art of Managing Your Career (TAMYC) resource to meet the needs of Aboriginal artists, including special consideration for those in Canada’s North. The CHRC was established in 1994 as a sector council and its mission is to initiate, co-ordinate and promote human resources planning management, development and training in the cultural sector. Developed by artists and cultural workers, TAMYC provides emerging self-employed artists and cultural workers with pertinent and practical information to better manage their careers.
The Art of Managing Your Career Workshop for Aboriginal Artists
The Art of Managing Your Career Workshops for Nunavut Artists
CHRC’s TAMYC Career Workshop for Aboriginal and Nunavut Artists teaches business skills to self-employed Aboriginal artists in the context of their unique worldview and perspective. More information about TAMYC for Aboriginal and Nunavut artists is available on the CHRC website www.culturalhrc.ca.
Everdale
Everdale is a farm-based organization that provides hands-on, solution-based food and farming education to build and engage healthy local communities. One of Everdale’s program offerings is a Sustainable Farming Certificate (SFC) that involves comprehensive, on-farm skills training for people looking to get into or develop their local sustainable farming experience. In 2014, Everdale received a two-year grant from the Foundation to, among other things, develop a manual for those who want to start or modify similar farmer training programs.
Sustainable Farming Certificate: A Manual for On-Farm Curriculum-Based Training for New Farmers
The SFC program is an on-farm curriculum-based training program for people who want to immerse themselves for a single growing season in the world of local sustainable farming, and learn how to grow fresh organic vegetables on a market garden or small farm scale. The SFC program is a 12-32 week-long training program that takes place at Everdale’s Hillsburgh Community Farm in southern Ontario, Canada. The SFC program is unique as it combines the social impact of the informal farm internship experience with the comprehensive and focused curriculum of a college or university course.
FoodShare Toronto
FoodShare Toronto received a two-year grant in 2010 from the Foundation to support its Pathways to Youth Employment program. FoodShare Toronto is a non-profit community organization whose vision is Good Healthy Food for All. This organization takes a multi-faceted, innovative, and long-term approach to hunger and food issues. At FoodShare Toronto they work on food issues “from field to table” – meaning that they focus on the entire system that puts food on our tables: from the growing, processing and distribution of food to its purchasing, cooking and consumption. Funding from the Foundation allowed FoodShare Toronto to hire a coordinator to work with local food service business to ensure that the program’s training makes youth job-ready for those businesses. The learnings gathered in this process were used to develop a program manual to be shared with other organizations across the country looking to create youth employment opportunities based on food services.
Focus on Food—Pathways to Youth Employment Program Manual
This manual provides insight into how this program works and the components of this innovative youth employment program. It includes a detailed elaboration of why and how the Focus on Food—Pathways to Youth Employment program was designed as well as a breakdown of its policies and procedures. Content about the program’s placement model is also provided along with templates of the various administrative and marketing forms used in this initiative.
Furniture Bank
Toronto’s Furniture Bank was awarded a three-year grant in September, 2011 to support its Leg Up Skills Training and Job Placement Program. Furniture Bank focuses on taking gently used furniture from individuals and organization and providing it for free to newcomers to Canada, women and children coming out of abusive situations and the formerly homeless. The agency developed the Leg Up Skills Training and Job Placement Program to teach workplace skills to at-risk youth in Toronto. Participants receive training in warehousing, trucking, logistics, call centre operations and client services. Those who complete the program receive assistance in finding gainful employment. The Foundation’s initial grant allowed Furniture Bank to hire a Program Manager as a means of expanding and formalizing its approach. Phase II permitted the organization to imbed impact assessment measurements in the Leg Up model, prepared Furniture Bank for eventual expansion, and to develop a program implementation guide.
Furniture Bank’s Documenting the Evolution of Leg Up: Furniture Bank’s Skills Building and Employment Program Manualcontextualizes the agency’s growth into a highly successful social enterprise that includes a skills training and employment program. It also provides an overview of all the facets of the Leg Up Skills Training and Job Placement Program including much of the supporting administrative documents used in this intervention.
Futureworx Society
Futureworx Society was awarded a grant in May, 2012 to enhance and digitize its Employability Skills Assessment Tool (ESAT). Futureworx Society, a community based non-profit organization from Nova Scotia, has responded to the ever changing employment and skills development needs of clients since 1984. The agency developed ESAT as a web-based tool for assessing, tracking and supporting the development of nine employability skills: motivation, attitude, accountability, time management, stress management, presentation, teamwork, adaptability and confidence. Training programs that use the ESAT methodology can gain insights in a learner’s behavioural barriers to employment then work with them to develop different behavioural strategies that are more aligned to the needs and expectations of the workplace.
Employability Skills Assessment Tool
More information about the ESAT resource (available in French and English) is offered on the Futureworx Society website.
Mennonite New Life Centre
The Mennonite New Life Centre received a two-year grant in 2010 to support its Mentoring Internationally Trained Counsellors project. This model offers professional mentoring and supervised work experience to internationally trained psychologists and counsellors, while also mobilizing their skills and experience to meet critical mental health needs in newcomer communities. The Mennonite New Life Centre is a multi-cultural settlement agency that supports newcomer families from diverse cultural backgrounds to participate and contribute in all aspects of Canadian life: social, economic, cultural and political.
Mentoring Internationally Trained Psychologists: Manual and Discussion Guide 7.06 MB 31 downloads
This Manual and Discussion Guide is rooted in the experience of the Mennonite New Life Centre. It is the story of walking with newcomers through pain and resilience, supporting them along the journey to hope and wholeness in a context where culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services are few and far between. It is the story of partnering with internationally trained professionals to offer these services within the context of a community-based settlement agency, where newcomers bring not just discrete settlement, language and employment needs, but whole lives and stories as well. It is the story of learning to better support internationally trained professionals in their own career development, that they might bring new eyes, new ideas and new gifts to the mental health profession in Ontario.
Université Laval
The Service de placement de l’Université Laval (SPLA) was awarded a three-year grant in December, 2012 to adapt and distribute its Webfolio outside the university. The SPLA supports student independence by providing services that will prepare them for the labour market and facilitate their transition to their specific career. The SPLA likewise promotes its students to employers and liaises with business groups to facilitate recruitment. Université Laval is a leading multi-disciplinary institution located in Quebec City, Quebec which offers undergraduate and graduate level courses. In 2009 the Service de placement de l’Université Laval introduced a web-based career-exploration tool for its students. The Webfoliowas launched to allow students to employ a career-related reflection platform to choose the strategies to prepare for their career of choice.
Webfolio (French and English)
This online tool allows users to delve into their aptitudes and skills, identify matching careers through up-to-date labour market information, and develop their own pathway to entering the labour force. The Webfolio has been adapted for use in secondary schools, post-secondary institutions, and employment agencies.
University of Toronto
The Foundation provided a grant to The University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) in 2003 to support the development of a training tool for new family physicians. The DFCM is the largest Family Medicine training program in North America. The department is recognized internationally for its clinical, educational as well as research excellence, and its teaching units are at the forefront of primary care renewal. A new grant was awarded in May, 2012 to revise the training tool, add new modules and, most importantly, digitize the entire material so that it could be accessible online at no cost to physicians’ in-training, practicing family doctors, other healthcare professionals and the public. The resultant Working with Families Workbook gives health care providers the ability to offer excellent care in all areas of medicine, especially counselling in psychosocial issues.
Working with Families Workbook Online Tool
This online teaching tool offers over two dozen modules including “Adolescence: Helping Families Through the Transition”, “Working With Dying Patients and Their Families: A Task-Oriented Approach”, and “Working With Families That Have Special Needs”.
University of Victoria
The Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies Department in the University of Victoria Faculty of Educationreceived a three-year grant to support the Walking in Two Worlds (WITW) project for the Indigenous Communities Counselling Psychology (ICCP) graduate program. The University of Victoria was established in 1963 and serves over 20,000 students annually, including an increasing Aboriginal population. The WITW Mentoring project was designed to support ICCP graduate students to bridge the two worlds of western counselling and traditional Indigenous helping. Developed in collaboration with Indigenous scholars, helpers, and educators, the WITW Mentorship Program Guide and ICCP Program Orientation and Support Modules are beneficial to Indigenous and non-Indigenous helpers who grapple with the competing demands of the two worlds.
These resources outline an approach for blending and integrating traditional Indigenous ways of learning and healing with recognized western theory and practice in counselling and helping-type training programs. Please note that the WITW Mentorship Program Guide is a collaborative living document requiring active community participation in its ongoing co-creation. Please contact the WITW project lead Dr. Anne Marshall with comments, suggested additions, or materials.
The University of Western Ontario
The Board of Directors awarded The University of Western Ontario (now Western University) a two-year grant in 2009 to support the formalization, documentation and dissemination of the Building Bridges: Women’s Links Program materials. This initiative was launched in 2006 as a result of a partnership between The University of Western Ontario’s Faculty of Education and the Thames Valley District School Board. The Building Bridges program is an alternative education program for women who have experienced abuse. The program aims to teach women life skills, help them achieve literacy and complete their secondary school education. The ultimate goal of the program is to enable women to access stable employment, achieve financial independence and participate fully in our community.
The Bridges Project Manual provides an overview of the need for the program, an exploration of learning and teaching in the context of violence, as well as how to set goals and a transition plan. It likewise contains the various program templates.
Youth Employment Services, Montreal
A three-year grant was awarded in 2006 to support the Quebec Employment Service Roundtable. Begun in 1997, the Roundtable has grown, through partnership building and information sharing, into a highly successful community driven vehicle that keeps each of its members informed about critical issues unique to employment service providers delivering services in English and that directly influences the practitioners and the delivery of those services. As a not-for-profit organization, YES Montreal enriches the community by providing English-language support services to help Quebecers find employment and start businesses.
This content includes an overview of the content for this 20 session course: (1) Welcome & Orientation and Defining Success; (2) Anatomy of a Business; (3) Uniquely You! The Language of Personality; (4) Exploring Your Business Idea; (5) Building A Plan: Overview of a Business Plan; (6) The Four Aspects of Self: Well Being & Being Well; (7) Market Research; (8) Identifying Your Learning Preferences; (9) Change, Fear & Risk Taking; (10) Filing & Organization; (11) Financial Literacy: Money Does Matter; (12) Communications & Assumptions; (13) Basics of Business Law; (14) Bookkeeping Basics; (15) Effective Communications; (16) Business Insurance; (17) Witnessing Or Experiencing Addictions; (18) Plan Your Website; (19) Business Skills Wrap Up; and (20) Final Day.
Business Skills for Creative Souls: The Montreal Artists Handbook
Youth Employment Services’s (YES) acclaimed publication Business Skills for Creative Souls: The Montreal Artists Handbook is a comprehensive guide giving creative minds the necessary business knowledge to pursue a career as a successful self-employed artist. Over 50 credible local artists in various fields contributed their guidance and success stories, including renowned fashion designer Hilary Radley, stand-up comic Sugar Sammy, and painter Josée Nadeau. Artists of all genres gain valuable advice on essential topics such as marketing and financing their artistic work, legally protecting their work, and constructing business plans. Also included, is a resource section which artists can consult for further information about funding their artistic careers.
Youth Employment Services YES Toronto
Youth Employment Services YES Toronto received two-years of funding to support the “Empowering the Employment Sector to Serve Youth with Mental Health Issues” initiative. This package provides resources and tools for Employment Specialists who are looking to expand their programming and adapt their practices to better serve youth with mental health issues. Topics such as basic mental health, how to best adapt employment service practices to fit the needs of youth living with mental illness, and how to prepare youth living with mental health issues for new employment are covered.
Empowering the Employment Sector to Serve Youth with Mental Health Issues
This resources includes a Facilitator’s Guide, Training Webinar, and six pre-employment workshops specifically created to help prepare youth living with mental health issues seek and maintain employment.
YWCA-Muskoka
The Foundation awarded a three-year grant to YWCA, Muskoka in 2008 to support EmployABILITIES Programming pilot project for boys and men. YWCA, Muskoka champions equality for women and girls and support individuals at critical turning points in their lives. Turning points may include depression unemployment, separation, divorce, trauma, violence, poverty, homeless, grieving, returning to the workplace, etc.
Projects where family members enhance their abilities to support their kin leading to fulfilling careers
Dad Central/Papa Centrale Ontario
Dad Central/Papa Central Ontario (DCO) was awarded a two-year grant in May, 2013 to support the development as well as piloting of various content and activities community agencies could use in an intervention to enhance father involvement in the lives of their children from early childhood to adulthood. DCO was established in 1997 as the Father Involvement Initiative—Ontario Network with a mandate to promote and support responsible father involvement as a significant aspect of healthy child development. The resultant My Dad Matters toolkit allows community service providers to assess their readiness to offer a father engagement initiative and what is required to launch a father involvement program including an overview of sector leading practices, strategic planning procedures and impact assessment options.
This toolkit is a framework for organizations considering implementing a father involvement program. It includes seven sections: Principles of Welcoming Fathers; Initial Considerations in Welcoming Fathers; Preparation; Organisational Assessment; Overview of Best Practices; Strategic Planning; and Evaluation. It also offers links to the seven module My Dad Workshop Series.
Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Centre
The Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Centre received a two-year grant in 2010 to support its Engaging Families in the Early Years project – a peer outreach and leadership model designed to support diverse newcomer families and young children. Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre is unique: it is both a neighbourhood centre and a community health centre. A neighbourhood centre is a nonprofit, multi-service organization – a community hub that works towards building supportive communities. A community health centre provides primary care for clients using a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, nurses, nurse-practitioners, counsellors/therapists, dieticians and medical administration staff.
The Workshop Training Toolkit captures a series of workshop modules and recommendations for practice that were created to support a peer outreach and health promotion service initiative of the Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre. This initiative was designed to help the Centre to reach out to parents and caregivers with children – birth to age six – specifically isolated families, newcomers and pregnant women living in Davenport, as part of the agency’s commitment as an Ontario Early Years Centre.
Family Services Ottawa
Family Services Ottawa received a three-year grant in 2008 to expand programming for families with a parent or parents who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc. The program aims to reduce discrimination, homophobia, bullying and exclusion experienced by children in schools and the greater community. Family Services Ottawa offers counselling and support services to anybody in Ottawa who needs it. Their programs are run by counsellors who are highly skilled and trained in each of its service areas whether it is providing support to cope with an abusive relationship, coping with stress and anxiety, or adjusting to a divorce or separation.
While the Toolkit provides information and resources to help parents and educators create safe, nurturing and inclusive learning environments for all children, the Resource Kit includes extra tools, handouts, and resources including annotated booklists and websites.
Family Services Ottawa
Family Services Ottawa (FSO) provides a broad range of counselling services and programs for families in the Ottawa region. The agency is staffed by professionally trained counsellors who have obtained a master’s degree in social work, counselling, or psychology. FSO launched its Around the Rainbow LGBTTQ+ program in 2005 to provide education, counselling and support services for the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two spirit, queer and questioning (LGBTTQ+) communities and allies. Of note is its education component covering an array of LGBTTQ+ topics including: Human rights, Use of inclusive language, Myths of LGBTTQ+ families, Issues for children and families, Practical tools and strategies, Parent/educator relationship, Toolkits and information, Online resources and books, and Current LGBTTQ+ research.
Around the Rainbow: Creating Inclusive Spaces for LGBTTQ+ Families in Ottawa 4.33 MB 15 downloads
This program manual explains the factors which compelled the agency to launch this program, the initial components of the Around the Rainbow program, lessons learned and plans for the future. The content includes resources agencies can use to launch their own program to support LGBTTQ+ families.
Endeavours that contribute to internal capacity-building, strategic reviews and/or offering new programming to meet mission aims
Queen’s University, Career Services
A three-year grant was awarded to Queen’s University Career Services in 2007 to support the An Integrated Model for On-Line and In Person Career Counselling project. Queen’s is one of Canada’s leading universities with an international reputation for scholarship, research, social purpose, spirit and diversity. Their mission is to prepare students and recent alumni in three areas, counselling, employment assistance and career information.
E-Learning and Website: Project Plan (On-line and In Person Career Counselling) 2.09 MB 53 downloads
This Project Plan was developed to:
- To optimize information sharing so that students (and those who support them) can maximize their learning.
- To integrate all elements of Career Services in an online environment (MyCareer MAP, MyCareer SERVICES, MyCareer ACCOUNT/ LOGIN) and facilitate easy transition between them.
- To increase work flow efficiency for adding, changing, removing material
University of Toronto, First Nation House
First Nation House at the University of Toronto received a three-year grant in 2006 to support the publication of The First Nation House Magazine. First Nations House is not only the home of Aboriginal U of T students, it also provides a link to Toronto’s Aboriginal community, allowing others in the university to learn and network. First Nations House provides a number of culturally supportive student services and programs to Aboriginal students and the general university community, including: Academic counselling, tutors, financial aid counselling, bursaries and scholarships, resource Centre/Library, WorkStudy Program, Elder-in-Residence, cultural events, student recruitment, admissions support, housing, daycare & employment referrals, and student computers labs.
First Nation House Magazine editor: “Why a magazine? This was one of the questions that I asked myself when this idea of publishing one surfaced in a monthly meeting with Marilyn Van Norman, the former director of Student Services, a few years ago. At first, it was to be an expansion of the “Eagle’s Cry,” the quarterly newsletter of First Nations House. Then it dawned on me that it couldn’t be just a bigger version of what we were doing. First Nations House had evolved; the students had evolved; Aboriginal issues and the community at the school had evolved. Our newsletter, however, was stuck. We needed to find a way that could show that the Aboriginal community within the University of Toronto was alive and kicking. The publication needed to grow up. Fast-forward to 2008, and what you have in front of you is a glimpse of the richness that the Aboriginal community has to offer, not only to the University, but also to society at large. Whether it is a student or faculty member, an Elder or staff, there is really brilliant work being produced that largely goes unnoticed. This is our way of introducing, or re-introducing, our community to you. You may be a professor, a student, a parent or someone who is thinking about going to school. We believe that you will find something in here that will grip you. So enjoy, learn and allow yourself to be drawn in.”
YMCA, Greater Toronto
YMCA (Greater Toronto) received a three-year grant in 2005 to support the cost associated with the development of the “YWCA Girls Centre” for disadvantaged girls ages 10-18 – facing an increasing number of issues that are critical to their positive development, social status, income, culture, sexuality, violence, peer pressure, education, media and health. The YWCA of Greater Toronto has made a strong commitment to a strategic plan to increase much-needed services to girls to enhance their positive development.
The purpose of this Strategic Plan is to give direction to volunteers and staff in their work on behalf of the Association. It is the compass that the Board of Directors and senior staff use to monitor and manage operational performance. It is also one way to communicate the Association’s priorities, agenda and case for philanthropic support to current and prospective collaborators, donors and partners.
The plan was developed over an eight-month period and involved close to 700 people across the entire Greater Toronto Area (GTA) through consultations. Led by a task force of the Board of Directors with the support of a project team of staff from across the Association, the strategic planning process was designed to be transparent and inclusive. An external advisory committee of community leaders served as a source of counsel and as a sounding board.
Interventions where mentoring is used for capacity-development and providing support to promote labour market entry and career progressions
Business Mentorship Institute of Saskatchewan Inc.
The Business Mentorship Institute of Saskatchewan Inc. (BMI) received a grant in 2009 to support the Entrepreneurial Mentorship Support Network, a transfer of a program originated in Quebec that aims to become the leading provider and resource for mentorship supporting businesses in Saskatchewan. Economic and business development organizations in Saskatchewan have partnered with BMI to provide mentorship matching services to their stakeholders. BMI is a resource to its partners whether they are geographically community-based, industry-based, or serve a special interest group.
The Mentor and Protégé handbooks provide an overview of the necessary components when developing a Mentor/Protégé relationship. They likewise provide insight into how to promote the best outcomes from a mentorship program.
Canadian Arab Institute
The Canadian Arab Institute received a grant in 2016 to launch the Irshad mentorship program. Irshad facilitated the exchange of knowledge of established Canadian Arab professionals in different industries with graduating, or recent graduate university students, as well as internationally trained young professionals who recently arrived to Canada. The mentorship program was a 4-month mentoring commitment between the mentor and mentee. The program encompassed an orientation session, career development workshops and networking sessions and finally, about 20 hours of face-to-face meetings (online &/or in person) between the mentor & mentee. As a result of this program, a number of resources were developed including:
- A set of guiding principles and code of conduct
- A mentor-mentee contract template
- A short guide to planning the first mentor/mentee meeting
- A template to help develop your own vision and mission
- A self-reflection template for mentees to better understand what they want out of a mentorship
- A personal evaluation
- A mentee workshop
Canadian Youth Business Foundation
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) received a three-year grant in 2009 to support and expand its Newcomer Entrepreneur Program in Toronto, Halifax, Montréal and Vancouver. The CYBF Newcomer Entrepreneur Program provides specialized resources and support to young entrepreneurs who are new to Canada. CYBF is a national charity dedicated to championing tomorrow’s entrepreneurial nation-builders.
The Newcomer Mentoring Guide was created for Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) mentors who will be working with newcomer entrepreneurs who have received start-up financing from the CYBF. It is intended to supplement the materials and tools provided by the Ment2B™ online program. The goal of this guide is to help mentors better understand how their mentoring approach can be tailored to meet some of the distinct needs facing a young newcomer entrepreneur. The CYBF’s Business Resource Centre also provides other valuable resources for newcomers and their mentors that the general public can use.
Ce guide a été créé à l’intention des mentors de la Fondation Canadienne des Jeunes Entrepreneurs (FCJE) qui travailleront avec des entrepreneurs nouvellement arrivés au Canada et qui ont reçu du financement de démarrage de la FCJE. Il a été conçu pour servir de complément aux outils et aux documents fournis dans le cadre de l’atelier en ligne Entre NousMD. Ce guide a pour but de vous aider à mieux comprendre comment personnaliser votre approche de mentorat, de façon à répondre aux besoins spécifiques des nouveaux arrivants entrepreneurs. Le Centre de resources pour les entrepreneurs de la FCJE offre aussi d’autres outils pour les nouveaux arrivants entrepreneurs et les mentors disponible pour le publique.
Ryerson University
The Counselling Foundation of Canada provided a three-year grant to Ryerson Polytechnic University (now Ryerson University) in 2000 to support the development of its Tri-Mentoring Program. A two-year grant extension was approved in 2004 to further develop this mentoring program. These grants were part of the Foundation’s Focus on Mentoring national mentoring initiative which served to launch mentoring programs at several post-secondary institutions across the country. Ryerson’s program is unique as it reaches outside the university to individuals and communities (specifically racialized groups, immigrants and first generation students) that have been traditionally under-represented in post-secondary education, and encourages them to aim higher in their career and educational aspirations. Ryerson’s Tri-Mentoring Program quickly became a model for other universities and institutions across Canada and beyond.
The Multi-Stage Mentoring Model—The Tri Mentoring Program How-To Manual provides a blueprint of a program that uses a multi-stage mentoring model to create a mentoring community, to increase retention rates, and to facilitate employment upon graduation. This programs approach rests upon three structured programs: First Generation Project, Peer Mentoring, and Career Mentoring.
| Tri-Mentoring Program 350 Victoria Street—POD 54 Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3 |
or
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tmentor@ryerson.ca |
St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University received a three-year grant from The Counselling Foundation of Canada in 2010 to develop a Peer Mentorship Program to support its students. St Francis Xavier University (StFX) is a small, primarily undergraduate university located in the rural town of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, with an enrolment of approximately 4500 students of whom approximately 1900 reside in on-campus residence buildings. The Peer Mentorship Program was devised as a means of offering counselling support to the university’s student body as the local municipality has limited services. Peer Mentors help with everything from home sickness, to information about StFX resources, to finding a counsellor when needed. They also provide student workshops to aid students balance their social and academic life. The former are trained student volunteers who range from sophomores to seniors and represent all academic programs and a variety of perspectives. StFX provides extensive training to Peer Mentors and professional counsellors supervise their work. Peer mentorship offers student volunteers invaluable training and experience as student leaders.
St. Francis Xavier University’s Peer Mentorship Program Guide outlines the cornerstones of this initiative (i.e. (a) program description and activity timelines, (b) peer mentor training, (c) placement process, (d) support for mentors, (d) infrastructure requirements) and provides the templates of various administrative documents used in this initiative.
Université Laval, Service de Placement
A three-year grant was awarded to Université Laval in 2006 to support the development of a Mentorship Program which included drafting a practical pedagogical tool to help university students enter the job market. Université Laval has been a pioneer in program assessment and strategic planning, and remains at the vanguard of the internationalization of teaching and research.
The Programme de Bord (implementation handbook) and Guides des Mentors (mentorship guide) offer a blueprint of the project design and approach as well as a mentoring relationship model linking university students with professionals employed in their field of interest.
University of Victoria
The Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies Department in the University of Victoria Faculty of Educationreceived a three-year grant to support the Walking in Two Worlds (WITW) project for the Indigenous Communities Counselling Psychology (ICCP) graduate program. The University of Victoria was established in 1963 and serves over 20,000 students annually, including an increasing Aboriginal population. The WITW Mentoring project was designed to support ICCP graduate students to bridge the two worlds of western counselling and traditional Indigenous helping. Developed in collaboration with Indigenous scholars, helpers, and educators, the WITW Mentorship Program Guide and ICCP Program Orientation and Support Modules are beneficial to Indigenous and non-Indigenous helpers who grapple with the competing demands of the two worlds.
These resources outline an approach for blending and integrating traditional Indigenous ways of learning and healing with recognized western theory and practice in counselling and helping-type training programs. Please note that the WITW Mentorship Program Guide is a collaborative living document requiring active community participation in its ongoing co-creation. Please contact the WITW project lead Dr. Anne Marshall with comments, suggested additions, or materials.
Vancouver Island University
The Foundation awarded Vancouver Island University (VIU) a three-year grant in May, 2011 to support the design and implementation of a tri-mentoring program (Students/Alumni/Elders) for the benefit of its Aboriginal student body. Located in Nanaimo, British Columbia, VIU is a comprehensive, publicly-funded institution that offers trades, college and university programs. The Community Cousins Aboriginal Mentorship Program was developed under the guidance of the Office of Aboriginal Education to reduce barriers to participation and enhance completion rates of Aboriginal learners while promoting ties to the local community. It was inspired by the Outreach Mentorship Program which the Foundation also supported from 2008 to 2010. The grant has led to the elaboration of a Community Cousins Aboriginal Mentorship Program—Training Manual to guide other organizations wishing to implement this type of intervention.
Vancouver Island University’s Community Cousins Aboriginal Mentorship Program—Training Manual includes materials used to prepare Aboriginal mentors who will participate in the university’s tri-mentoring initiative for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students. Much of the content is exercised-based to promote self-reflection throughout the mentoring training process. Completing the exercises provides insight into the mentoring process as well as the importance of self-awareness and appropriate communication in a mentoring relationship.
Vancouver Island University
Vancouver Island University received a one-year grant in 2008 to support the costs associated with running their Mentorship Outreach Program. This initiative is designed to capture the interest, excitement and active involvement of students from non-traditional backgrounds. Vancouver Island University is a public, degree-granting institution that offers both university and college programs.
These materials include a program curriculum as well as various templates to be used by mentorship program administrators and participants.
York University
York University received a three-year grant in 2008 to launch a peer-to-peer mentoring program for students with Asperger’s syndrome. This mentoring program offers renewed hope for students with Asperger and others mental health challenges. Asperger Syndrome is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), although Asperger’s Syndrome can be first detecting in childhood, many individuals are not diagnosed until well into adolescence or adulthood.
This manual outlines the development of the Asperger’s Mentorship Program. Its primary purpose is to provide an explanation of how the program founders developed this university support service, the goals of the program, individual components of the program, integration of research and evaluation, and future development aims. It is important to note, that this manual was not created as a “how-to” resource to develop a mentorship program; however, it may be of assistance to those universities or colleges in the early stages of developing a similar program.
Youth Employment Services, Montreal
Youth Employment Service (Montreal) received a grant in 2003 to support the development of mentorship-related materials for at-risk youth. As a not-for-profit organization, YES Montreal enriches the community by providing English-language support services to help Quebecers find employment and start businesses.
These materials offer guidelines for developing a successful mentoring relationship dedicated to supporting at-risk youth to find employment. The materials include: (1) What does mentorship mean?; (2) Mentoring Program Agreement; (3) Mentor and Mentee Preparation Checklists; (4) Rule and Guidelines for the Mentor/Mentee Relationship; (5) and advice for Mentors and Mentees.
Projects dedicated to allowing youth to develop knowledge and skills that will support their educational and career pathways
4Rs Youth Movement
The 4Rs Youth Movement, a youth-led collaborative, aims to change the country now known as Canada by changing the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people. Three years of funding was awarded to 4Rs Youth Movement to support the delivery of national cross-cultural dialogue training. 4Rs Youth Movement uses experiential training to ground their work and have documented their framework.
Seeding Reconciliation on Uneven Ground: The 4Rs Approach to Cross-Cultural Dialogue
This resources is intended as a learning document. Youth interested in cross-cultural dialogue and reconciliation are encouraged to participate in a 4Rs gathering. Watch this video to learn more about the movement!
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, Toronto
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, Toronto received a two-year grant in 2006 to support the cost associated with implementing the Youth Leadership for 21st Century Teens in to the nationally successful Keystone Club project of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. This group program focuses on leadership, education and career development, economic/political awareness and social recreation – elements that are crucial to channeling the high energy of teens in a positive direction. Keystone Clubs are for Boys and Girls Club members 14 years of age and older. The Keystone Club approach was founded on the principles of cooperation and teamwork, and its focus on citizenship and leadership development continues to provide young people with opportunities for growth, service to others and life-long learning.
This Leader’s Guide is intended provides a framework to develop a Keystone Club, and some concrete suggestions on how to put your plans into action. The content was derived from focus groups and conversations with Keystone Club enthusiasts from across Canada to reflect current goals and ideas and what is really happening in Boys and Girls Clubs.
Each core area comes equipped with: (1) A set of Core Area objectives to focus your activity planning; (2) An overview of some of the background issues affecting outcomes; (3) Practical suggestions on how to incorporate these ideas into your program; (4) Sample activities provided by Keystone Club advisors and youth program workers across the country (most activities require at least three people-be creative in how you adapt the activity to suit your group size); (5) and hints and tips on how to make your Keystone Club successful.
FCJ Refugee Centre
FCJ Refugee Centre was awarded a two-year grant in September 2013 to support a new initiative Open Education Program for Uprooted Youth (commonly called “Uprooted U”), an open education program for uprooted youth. Uprooted U was designed for refugee and newcomer youth facing barriers accessing post-secondary education due to precarious status. Uprooted U is a semester based program that brings students together in a classroom environment to learn from volunteer professors. Students are able to learn curriculum in an accessible and flexible environment.
The Uprooted U Toolkit provides an overview of the program structure and administrative resources such as application forms, acceptance letters, and learning contracts.
FoodShare Toronto
FoodShare Toronto was awarded a two-year grant to support the “School Grown Social Enterprise” initiative. The goal of School Grown was to develop a self-sustaining school farming project that would involve you in all aspects of farming – from seed to market. School Grown involves youth in all aspects of the project and provides student employment.
Lessons Learned in School Grown
If you are interested in developing your own school farming project, the School Grown Lessons Learned includes a webinar series and several downloadable resources including the School Grown Harvest Guide, School Grown Curriculum, and School Grown Field Map. Topics such as Youth and Curriculum Writers, Crop Planning & Harvesting at a School Farm, Selling at Farmers Markets, and Crowdfunding 101 are explored in depth.
Near North District School Board—Parry Sound High School
Parry Sound High School in the Near North District School Board received a two-year grant in December, 2011 to pilot an initiative to promote female student engagement. The Relevance Project was specifically designed for grades 9 and 10 as school officials recognized that many female students begin exhibiting signs of “checking out” at that point. Parry Sound High School in Ontario serves students from the town of Parry Sound and the surrounding areas. It has just over 900 students including over ten percent from the nearby six First Nations reserves and Inuit as well as Métis who reside in the region.
The Relevance Project: Relevant Learning Here and Now—Curriculum Connections Manual 51.37 MB 42 downloads
The Relevance Project: Relevant Learning Here and Now—Curriculum Connections Manual provides insight into a unique student engagement program for female high school students who might be at-risk of not graduating. It includes an overview of the program and the administrative documents used in this initiative.
Partners for Youth
The Counselling Foundation of Canada awarded a two-year grant to Partners for Youth (PFY) in 2011. The mission of PFY is to engage youth in New Brunswick facing challenges and obstacles in their lives to become capable, connected and contributing members of their communities. Partners for Youth achieves its mission through innovative programs and services which promote experiential learning in safe, supportive and rewarding environments, in collaboration with public, private and not for profit partners. Part of the funding is earmarked to support a two-year Financial Literacy pilot designed to help youth-at risk who are enrolled in alternate education sites to learn about budgeting, saving, credit, investing and financial planning issues that are connected to both their educational outcomes and real life situations.
Partners for Youth—Financial Literacy and Independence Program: Program Workbook 1.04 MB 31 downloads
Partners for Youth—Financial Literacy and Independence Program: Starting Line Survey 230.42 KB 19 downloads
Partners for Youth—Financial Literacy and Independence Program: Student Profile 125.62 KB 24 downloads
Partners for Youth is excited to share template materials that have been developed for the Financial Literacy pilot project. This content is used to assess a participant’s financial situation and knowledge as a means of developing a clear path to meeting their financial goals.
Partners for Youth
This grant approved in 2007 over two years to support the Youth Works project for youth at-risk inlcuding the Making Waves/Vague par vague initiative. The latter is a relationship violence prevention program for teens. Partners for Youth is a non-profit organization built on a community partnership model that assists youth to learn, grow, develop positive self-esteem and gain the skills to make positive life choices.
The Student Manual offers information on the following topics: (1) Resource List; (2) Help and Information; (3) Abuse and Violence; (4) All About Relationships; (5) Dealing with Abuse; (6) Sexual Assault, Boundaries and Communication; (7) Stereotypes; and (8) Making Your Own Waves.
St. Stephen’s Community House, Toronto
A two-year grant was awarded to St. Stephen’s Community House to support the cost associated with running the VENUS Program for Youth Women and the development of new programming content. This program provides young women with support and guidance to take charge of their future. Since 1962 St. Stephen’s Community House has been offering innovative programs and services to youth at-risk, homeless men and women, new immigrants, families with young children, people and organizations in conflict, isolated and frail seniors, job seekers and expectant mothers in downtown west Toronto.
The Venus Girls Survival Guide offers advice to young girls entering high school about physical health, sexuality, how to cope with common obstacles, and mental health issues.
St. Stephen’s Community House, Toronto
A grant was awarded to St. Stephen’s Community House in 2003 to support the Arcade Revelations program. A highly structured community program, developed by and for youth living in Kensington Market and surrounding neighbourhoods the program is delivered through the established drop-in program model. It aims to link current and new drop-in activities under specific themes, in an effort to engage more youth in daily activities, to reduce violence levels in the community, promote healthy lifestyles and encourage academic excellence. St. Stephen’s Community House is a unique, community-based social service agency that has been serving the needs of Kensington Market and surrounding neighbourhoods in downtown West Toronto since 1962. St. Stephen’s addresses the most pressing issues in its community – poverty, hunger, homelessness, unemployment, isolation, conflict and violence, AIDS, racism, youth alienation and the integration of refugees and immigrants.
Little Black Book for Girlz (Annick Press)
The Little Black Book for Girlz is a no nonsense guide to sexual well-being for girls. Written by teens for teens. This is not just a book about sex, but a look at girl culture. When a diverse group of teen girls from a community youth project had questions about their own bodies, about relationships and about sex, they went out and found the answers. They collected stories, poetry and artwork from other girls and interviewed frontline health experts to get solid facts. The result? A powerful mix of real-life examples and life-saving info. Topics include: Birth control, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections / AIDS, sexual assault, and dating.
Little Black Book for Guys (Annick Press)
Lots of guys talk the big talk, but what’s really going on with sex? That’s what a group of young men sat down to figure out for the Little Black Book for Guys. To get behind the hype, they talked to other teens and collected stories, poems, essays, and art about personal experiences. They also interviewed health professionals to get the facts they need to make healthy choices. The result is a revealing collection of personal thoughts and need-to-know information. Topics include: Puberty, wet dreams, masturbation, penis size, dating, safer sex and birth control, and sexually transmitted infections/AIDS.
YWCA-Halifax
A two-year grant was awarded to the YWCA, Halifax in 2009 to support the Girls Changing The World (GCTW) Youth Leadership pilot project. The goal of GCTW is to increase the leadership skills, engagement, and empowerment of African-Canadian young women in Halifax. The mission of the YWCA is to build community be engaging and supporting women of all ages to participate fully in life, both as individuals and as valued members of their communities.
The Girls Changing the World curriculum is an innovative program to engage girls and young women in social change, via the YWCA Halifax’s proven and effective peer-leadership model. This program is designed to stand alone and run as a 10-week initiative for any group of youth that identify as girls or young women.