Youth Employment Initiative

NOTE: The BOLD program has concluded. Thank you to our students and employers for their participation in the BOLD program. 

Welcome to our new collaborative partnership with the Coady Institute, Student Career Services, and the Diversity Engagement Centre, Youth Employment Initiative. 

Student Info

The primary goal of the Youth Employment Initiative Program (YEI) is to increase students’ self-awareness, career goals, workplace connections, and employability in Nova Scotia. A similar program started with the Tramble Centre for Accessible Learning and has been running for five years and in 2023-2024, Student Career Services offered the BOLD program. 

The Youth Employment Initiative will support diverse students including African Nova Scotians, Indigenous and Mi’kmaq, and other historically undeserved groups with career planning, job search, and connecting to the world of work. Throughout the academic year, students will be able to participate in workshops, one-one assistance, and a leadership conference.  In addition, we are able to support ~20 Indigenous, Mi'kmaq and African Nova Scotian students for the summer 2026 with the YEI wage subsidy program.

What does the YEI Look Like?

This program consists of two opportunities. Students can access one or both opportunities. First, students can access assistance with cover letter & resume writing, job search, interview skills and career-related questions. Second, through the YEI work experience program, Indigenous, Mi'kmaq and African Nova Scotian students will be able to work in a paid summer 2026 role within Nova Scotia. While completing the work experience, we will be checking-in with students and employers regarding how the work experience is progressing. 

Employer Info

YEI, organized by St. Francis Xavier University Student Career Services & the Diversity Engagement Centre, is an employment program to assist underrepresented students secure summer employment, gain work experience, and develop their professional skills and competencies.

Subsidized funding is received from the Nova Scotia Government’s Labour, Skills, and Immigration department. One of the goals of YEI is to support employers in advancing positive, inclusive, and antiracist workplaces, build inclusive workplace competency using best practices such as cluster hiring, coaching, and staff development. If you are a registered Nova Scotia business or charitable organization with the Registry of Joint Stocks, Canada Revenue Agency and are up to date with source deductions, you qualify for funding. Employers must confirm that no current workers will be laid off because of the wage subsidy payment. This is a pilot wage subsidy program for the summer 2026.

Youth Employment Initiative Contact: Glence Glasgow, @email