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

Bridges for Youth (Employers)

Bridges for Youth (Employers)

Argus is proud to partner with the Government of Canada’s Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities to support youth in building skills, gaining experience, and reaching their employment goals. The program helps build skills and find meaningful work. It aims to reduce the employment gap between people with and without disabilities. Through this program, community organizations across Canada receive funding to offer support such as skills training, job placements, self-employment opportunities, and other services that help people succeed at work. The program is part of a larger effort to improve employment opportunities for Canadians with disabilities and create a more inclusive workforce. From the Government of Canada’s website: Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/opportunity-fund-disability.html The Opportunities Fund program funds projects that align with and advance the three goals of the Strategy, which are:
  • Individuals – help them find and maintain good jobs and advance in their careers
  • Employers – help them to diversify their workforces by creating inclusive and accessible workplaces; and

Hiring through Bridges for Youth is a great way to grow your team while making a positive impact! It’s a win for you!

Call Our 24/7 Support Line

Bridges for Youth Program

Bridges for Youth helps young persons build skills and find good jobs. It also supports employers in creating inclusive workplaces where everyone can succeed. Across Canada, community organizations receive funding through this program to offer services like skills training, job placements, self-employment support, and other helpful resources. Employers can also access training and tools to better hire and support employees. This program is part of a national effort to improve employment opportunities for young Canadians. Argus, partners with the Government of Canada through the Opportunities Fund to deliver the Bridges for Youth program. Bridges for Youth supports young adults aged 15–30 in preparing for, finding, and keeping meaningful jobs. The program helps participants overcome barriers and build confidence for the workplace. Participants receive personalized job coaching and complete a 12-week employment training program. After that, they are matched with jobs that fit their interests, skills, and career goals. Employers who participate receive:
  • Wage support for up to 21 hours per week for 3 months
  • Access to additional training to support employee success
  • Ongoing support to create an inclusive workplace
Hiring through Bridges for Youth is a great way to grow your team while making a positive impact. It is a win-win opportunity for employers!

Program Objectives

  1. To support young persons, prepare for, find and maintain employment or become self-employed, thereby increasing their economic participation and independence.
  2. To assist employers, through a range of hands-on supports, to diversify their workplaces and to create inclusive and accessible work environments for employees, assist those who support persons in employment and employers that hire them by assisting them to increase their skills and capacities.
  3. To support career advancement of persons who are employed full-time or part-time to gain greater knowledge, experience and essential skills to advance in their careers or have more job responsibilities

Eligibility

  1. Willingness to support a Bridges for Youth program
  2. The Employer is prepared to participate by providing Bridges for Youth with the service of employing of the participants on a fixed term, temporary basis at least of 12-weeks, minimum wage.
  3. It’s a win for you! You will be fully reimbursed at minimum wage for 21 hours/week for 12 weeks.

Outcomes for the Employer

Bridges for Youth primarily provides funding to organizations that help young person prepare for and find employment, which in turn offers employers access to a more diverse, inclusive workforce and support in removing workplace barriers.

Contact

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Nancy Murray at this email: nancy.m.bridges@execulink.com  or phone (519) 404-1521 .