Feature Story

Experience Learning: Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

Drake Reed, a Westgate CVI high school student prepares for a career in Skilled Trades as a Heavy Duty Equipment Technician via the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) through Cooperative Education with Itec 2000. Co-op/OYAP programs combines in-class and on-the-job training opportunities to maximize student learning and skill development as they pursue the apprenticeship pathway.

Host Placement Students In Your Workplace.

Engage with young talent early on in the recruiting process.

Trial new talent before committing to a hire or a formal apprenticeship.

Develop your own talent pool – help shape the kind of employees you want.

Bring youth perspective to your business.

Increase awareness of your company within the community.

Support young, enthusiastic and skilled students.

Learn More Below About:

  • High School Placements
    Give students with entry-level skills a chance to explore their fields of interest before they make post-secondary commitments.
  • College Placements
    Give students with new skills the opportunity to practice their craft under your experienced guidance.
  • University Placements
    Employ highly-motivated students from many different disciplines through project-based and short-term contracts.
  • Funding Opportunities for College and University Placements
    To offset the cost of hiring the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) could provide you with a wage subsidy of up to $7500 per hire.

More Stories

Experience Learning: Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

Drake Reed, a Westgate CVI high school student prepares for a career in Skilled Trades as a Heavy Duty Equipment Technician via the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) through Cooperative Education with Itec 2000. Co-op/OYAP programs combines in-class and on-the-job training opportunities to maximize student learning and skill development as they pursue the apprenticeship pathway.

Watch video

High School Placements

  • unpaid
  • WSIB is paid by the Ministry of Education
  • students work 2.5 hours a day Mon – Fri for 14 weeks, typically September through January or February through June
  • skill levels vary
School Contacts - Lakehead Public Schools

Hammarskjold High School
(807) 767-1631

Superior C.& V.I.
(807) 768-7284

Westgate C.&V.I.
(807) 577-4251

School Contacts - Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board

Saint Ignatius High School
285 Gibson Street
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A 2J6
Tel: (807) 344-8433
Fax: (807) 345-1237
email: stignatius@tbcschools.ca

Saint Patrick High School
621 S. Selkirk Street
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 1T9
Tel: (807) 623-5218
Fax: (807) 622-0164
email: stpatrick@tbcschools.ca

School Contacts - CSDC des Aurores boréales

Catherine Paquette, Specialized Programs Teacher, Placement Coordinator

Telephone : (807) 343 4081
Fax : (807) 345-2662

School email: escdlv@csdcab.on.ca

ÉSC de La Vérendrye
175, High Street North
Thunder Bay ON
P7A 8C7

School Contacts - Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School (NNEC)

Heather Lammers, Special Education & Co-operative Education Teacher
Telephone: 807 623-8914
Fax: 807 623-2918
School email: hlammers@nnec.on.ca

Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School
315 N. Edward Street
Thunder Bay, ON
P7C 4P3

Why Host a
High-School Co-op?

Support young, enthusiastic and skilled students

Work with a student/potential employee on a trial basis before committing to them as an apprentice

WSIB Covered and no salary required

Increase awareness of your company within the community

Placements From Lakehead University

There are two offices involved in student work experiences at Lakehead University.

Career Services & Co-operative Education 

Lakehead University’s Co-operative Education program has a continuous cycle throughout the year, which includes job postings, interviewing and selection. This allows employers to engage with highly qualified and skilled candidates in an efficient way.

 Career Services at Lakehead offers opportunities for employers to connect with student talent on campus. Create an employer account to access a free, on demand job-posting service, and to receive information and updates about employment events and career fairs on campus.

Co-op & Work Placement Services Contact Information

Career Services & Co-op Contact Information

Online: www.lakeheadu.ca/careerzone

Caitlin Reeves, Co-op Advisor
Email: Coopadvisor@lakeheadu.ca
Telephone:  (807) 343-8010 ex. 7190

Taylor Gynane, Career Services Coordinator
Email: careerservices@lakeheadu.ca
Telephone: 807-343-8010 ex. 8986

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Placements

WIL at Lakehead University offers employers four different ways to involve students in the workplace.  These options are designed to give students experience in specific business tasks, activities or projects that will help prepare them for potential employment in their industry or discipline. 

  • Placement options include:
    • Unpaid, For-Credit Work-Integrated Field Placement
    • Paid Site Placements
    • Paid Site Projects
    • In-class Projects and Cases
  • Students are enrolled in Lakehead’s Business program or Entrepreneurship Certificate program
  • Available to private and public-sector employers
  • A mix of paid and unpaid placements
  • Employer is responsible for WSIB coverage
Work-Integrated Learning Contact Information

Learn more about this program at https://wil.lakeheadu.ca/

If you would like to submit a project or placement proposal, or would like further information please contact:

Huiqi (Vicky) Ye, MBA
Experiential Learning Navigator
Faculty of Business Administration
Lakehead University
hye3@lakeheadu.ca

Placements From Confederation College

  • A mix of paid and unpaid placements
  • WSIB is covered by the employer
  • Semester-long placements (approx. 4 months, full-time)
  • Students have developed competency in their skill-sets and are looking to improve them through practical experience under your guidance
Placement Coordinator Contact Information

More info at confederationcollege.ca

Melissa Covello
Academic Work Placement Liaison
Co-op & Work Placements, Confederation College
807-630-9643
Melissa.covello@confederationcollege.ca

The Magnet Student Work Placement Program

Employers hiring post-secondary students can receive up to $7,500 in wage subsidies.

Learn more.