Back
Deadline: January 15, 2026
Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations (YCWHO):
Young Canada Works (YCW) offers eligible employers wage subsidies and access to a pool of talented youth with innovative ideas and competitive skills. Subsidies to eligible employers enable the creation of about 2,300 job opportunities per year in the fields of heritage, arts, culture and official languages.
The YCWHO program helps Canadian students to acquire, through summer jobs and short-term jobs (usually 6 to 16 weeks), the knowledge and skills needed to prepare for the heritage sector labour market, and to consider career choices in the heritage sector.
Youth facing barriers to employment are particularly targeted by YCW programs to help them develop their skills and enhance their employability. For example, additional financial assistance can be provided to employers to facilitate the participation of people with disabilities.
The specific objectives of YCWHO are:
For students:
- Help youth find short-term employment in order to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to work in the heritage sector to increase their employability;
- Provide them with opportunities to network with heritage sector professionals;
- Increase their knowledge and appreciation of significant local and national achievements and of heritage field;
- Encourage them to consider a career in a heritage field.
For the heritage sector:
- Help heritage organizations maintain their operations in key functions through the work of youth.
An employer may be eligible for funding if it is:
- an incorporated, non-profit organization in Canada with a heritage mandate, such as a museum*1, archive, a library, or an organization managing built heritage (heritage site*2);
- an educational or cultural institution that has distinct objectives, programs and budget related to heritage;
- a non-profit organization under a provincial, territorial, regional or municipal government, that has distinct objectives, programs and budget related to heritage;
- a professional heritage service organization; or
- an Indigenous regional government or governing body (band/tribal council) and/or Indigenous organization with a mandate to preserve and support Indigenous heritage (First Nations, Inuit or Métis); and
- stable and financially healthy.
Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage (YCWBCH):
The YCWBCH program helps college and university graduates to acquire, through career-oriented internships in Canada and abroad (usually 4 to 12 months), advanced skills and professional experience, and to integrate into the labour market in the heritage, arts or cultural sectors.
Internships in Canada:
- In heritage fields related to the key functions of museums, archives, libraries, or heritage sites (built heritage);
- In conservation sciences; or
- In arts or cultural fields.
International museology internships:
For more details on international museology internships, please communicate with the Canadian Museums Association.
Youth facing barriers to employment are particularly targeted by YCW programs to help them develop their skills and enhance their employability. For example, additional financial assistance can be provided to employers to facilitate the participation of people with disabilities.
The specific objectives of YCWBCH are:
For graduates:
- Help youth find career-oriented internships in order to acquire knowledge and specialized skills in key areas that will help their transition to the labour market in the heritage, arts or cultural sector;
- Help them integrate into the labour force in the heritage, arts or cultural sector after their internship, or pursue post-graduate studies.
For the heritage, arts and cultural sectors:
- Heritage, arts and cultural organizations have professional human resources to maintain their operations in key functions
To be eligible for funding, your organization must be:
- an incorporated, non-profit organization in Canada with a heritage mandate, such as a museum, archive, a library, or an organization managing built heritage (heritage site), or an arts organization;
- an educational or cultural institution that has distinct objectives, programs and budget related to heritage;
- a non-profit organization, under a provincial, territorial, regional or municipal government, that has distinct objectives, programs and budget related to heritage;
- a professional heritage or arts service organization; or
- an Indigenous regional government or governing body (band/tribal council) and/or Indigenous organization with a mandate to preserve and support Indigenous heritage (First Nations, Inuit or Métis); and
- stable and financially healthy.
WEBINAR: YCW 101 for Employers – An Introduction to YCW:
Learn the fundamentals of the YCW program, including:
- How the program supports youth and employers
- Types of eligible positions and funding streams (YCW-HO & YCW-BCH)
- The employer experience: expectations, goals, and benefits
- How to start your application
Dates: December 4, 2025, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
TUTORIAL: How to Submit a Successful YCW Funding Application:
Take your application to the next level with tips and best practices for success. This session will cover:
- Crafting strong job descriptions
- Aligning with YCW priorities and goals
- What happens after you apply
- Common application pitfalls to avoid
Dates:
January 8, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
