About Argus

At Argus, we offer 24/7 homelesness prevention and shelter diversion services to youth in crisis anywhere within the Waterloo Region. In addition to our food, shelter and constant staff support, we also offer a voluntary life-skills acquisition program whose main goal is to mobilize young people experiencing homelessness towards a healthy and viable re-integration into their community.

24/7 Support Line

Administrative Contact

(519) 650-0452

1 (877) 818-0388

Youth Employment Skills Strategy (YESS)

Youth Employment Skills Strategy (YESS)

Providing Opportunities for Youth to THRIVE

What Do We Do?

In collaboration with the Government of Canada, Argus offers the YESS Program, which is a paid job skills training for youth, between the ages of 15-30.  Argus provides 30 hours of paid employment training per week, over ten weeks. For 22 hours of the week, participants are provided with hands-on experience at our store, Uptown Thrift. For 8 hours of the week, participants are enrolled in professional development workshops. As a participant, you will learn important skills to help you succeed in today’s job market.  You will be developing skills such as Goal Setting, building a Dynamic Resume, Mock Interviewing, Communication, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Conflict Resolution, Leadership and Self Awareness all while being paid for your time. You will then have an opportunity to test these skills in an Eco-friendly retail store where you will learn all aspects of running a store, customer service, receiving, marketing and branding, merchandising, cash handling, social media marketing and more! It’s a great opportunity!

Who Do We Support?

While we thank you for your interest, BEFORE applying please read the following requirements for this Employment and Social Development Canada Youth Employment & Skills Strategy (Y.E.S.S.) program:

  • Must be eligible to work in Canada
  • Cannot be attending or returning to a currently enrolled school program
  • Candidates cannot have participated previously in government funded employment program
  • Candidates cannot have current employment
  • Must be in, or close to, Waterloo Region to participate in any hands-on training required
  • Must be between the ages of 15-30
  • Are interested in securing full time employment or maybe have considered returning to school
  • Must be serious about learning new job skills and would like to test these skills in a fun and friendly retail store
  • Is eager and available to work 30 daytime hours per week (does include Saturday hours), compensated at minimum wage for 10 weeks

How Have We Helped?

Last year, 89 percent of participants from the YESS Program returned to school or secured employment.  Here are a few Testimonials:
  • Before the YESS program, I had many doubts about my abilities. I was afraid I might not be capable of working at all. By working in such a supportive environment, I had a chance to try many job skills I was curious about and realized my fears were completely unfounded.
  • The program has given me a space where I can try my hand at things that I would have otherwise been apprehensive to approach like the social media marketing project and playing around with the store’s visual merchandising/displays. It was in these moments that I was challenged to draw from my visual creativity, something I am weak in, and my intuition which is better than I had originally thought.
  • • As I look back on my time with Argus YESS, I see a version of myself that is much stronger than the one who arrived. I came in as a new staff looking for a start; I am leaving as a professional with a diverse toolkit of skills

How Can You Connect with Us?

If you are interested, please call 226-338-9966 for more information or drop off a resume to 742 King St. East, Cambridge.