Working Women Community Centre - Settlement, English classes and family programs for immigrant women

Helps immigrant women and families with settlement (including help with permanent residence and work permit applications and sponsoring family), LINC English classes, tutoring for students, and parenting programs.

For: Newcomer women and families in Toronto; HIPPY Young Moms is for mothers aged 16 to 29 facing financial difficulties, and On Your Mark tutoring is for students struggling with reading, writing or math.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Pathways to Education - Toronto sites (Lawrence Heights, Regent Park, Rexdale, Scarborough Village)

Support for high school students in low-income neighbourhoods to finish school: tutoring, mentoring, one-on-one support, lunch vouchers, transit passes and scholarships for college, university or training.

For: High school students in grades 9 to 12 who live in a Pathways neighbourhood; Toronto sites are Lawrence Heights (Lawrence Heights, Neptune and 615 Lawrence Ave W area), Regent Park, Rexdale and Scarborough Village.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Second Harvest

Canada's largest food-rescue charity, based in Toronto, with individual and group volunteer shifts and a youth volunteer award for under-21s.

Canada-wide · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Toronto Public Library - Volunteering (Leading to Reading, Teen Councils, Seniors E-Connect)

TPL volunteer roles for teens: one-to-one reading help for children (Leading to Reading), Teen Councils, and helping older adults with technology (Seniors E-Connect).

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto - Mentoring for children and youth

The wait for an assessment is about 2 to 3 months; in Rexdale, Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough a match usually takes 6 months to 1 year because of a shortage of mentors.

Matches children and youth with trained adult volunteer mentors through the Ignite Mentoring Programs and the Little By Little Program.

For: Children aged 7 to 16 whose parent or guardian lives in a Toronto 'M' postal code (or who are referred by another agency); youth 16 and over can apply on their own; volunteer mentors must be 18 or older and give about 2 hours a week.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

JVS Toronto

Free employment services across Toronto and York Region, including youth programs (ages 15-30) with paid training, placements and mentorship.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

The Career Foundation

Nonprofit employment agency serving job seekers of all ages across the GTHA, with a youth program for ages 15-30 ('Completing the Circle').

Toronto & GTA · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

City of Toronto Free Centres and free drop-in recreation

Registered programs open by season: registration starts at 7 a.m. on most start dates (10 a.m. for Older Adult programs).

The City has 43 Free Centres, community recreation centres in lower-income neighbourhoods where all City-run registered and drop-in programs are free for every age, and many other centres offer free drop-in leisure swimming, skating and more.

For: Toronto residents of any age (non-residents pay at Free Centres); free drop-ins at other centres are for children, youth and older adults, and adults 60+ get 50 per cent off registered adult programs.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

FoodShare Toronto - Teen volunteers (ages 14+ with a parent permission form)

Almost all shifts are Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, plus a few special events.

Volunteer with FoodShare: gardening at FoodShare sites, onsite composting, helping with food literacy workshops in schools, special events and office support.

For: Ages 14 to 18 can volunteer with a permission form and photo release form signed by a parent or guardian; anyone under 14 must come with a parent, guardian or teacher.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

NPower Canada - Free tech job training (Junior IT Analyst, AI and Data Analytics, Network Security)

Applications are rolling. Junior IT Analyst cohorts listed: starts 2026-10-05 (ends 2027-01-29) and starts 2026-11-30 (ends 2027-03-26), both open to Ontario. Recruitment starts 4 to 7 weeks before each start; if a cohort is full, your application moves to the next one.

Free 15-week online tech training (IT support, AI and data analytics, or network security) with industry certificates and help finding a tech job afterwards.

For: Adults 18 and over with a high school diploma or equivalent who can work full-time in Canada (citizen, permanent resident, or open work permit valid more than 1 year past the start date), with individual income under $50,000 and household income under $105,000, who are unemployed or underemployed; non-native English speakers need CLB 7 or higher; international students cannot apply.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Second Harvest - Volunteer hours for high school students (age 16+)

Roles run year-round; for example Food Sort Team Leader shifts are 3 hours, Tuesday to Thursday.

Volunteer with Canada's largest food rescue charity: help drivers distribute rescued food, support the warehouse, or sort food.

For: High school students aged 16 and over who need volunteer hours to graduate (event volunteers must be 19+).

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

SickKids - High School Volunteer Program

The Hospital for Sick Children's high-school stream: a July or August summer program (3-hour weekday shifts) and a semester co-op for Grade 11-12 students.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Skills for Change - Free career coaching, bridging and trades programs

Coaching and workshops run all year; training programs have their own start dates, so ask when you call.

Free career coaching and job search workshops (resumes, cover letters, interviews, networking, mentoring) plus training such as occupational bridging, skilled trades and pre-apprenticeship, and youth employment programs.

For: Job seekers in Toronto, especially newcomers and refugees who bring education or work experience from outside Canada, and also women and youth; each training program sets its own entry rules.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

WoodGreen Community Services - Free employment help and job training

Job counselling is available all year. Training program start dates are not posted on the programs page; ask the employment line about the next intake.

Free one-on-one job help (career counselling, resumes, interview practice, job leads) plus free skills training such as pre-apprenticeship trades, building maintenance and CNC machining.

For: Ontario residents looking for work or training; some programs add rules, for example Building Maintenance Operator training is for ages 18 to 29, Pre-Apprenticeship and Trades is for ages 18+ with grade 12 or equivalent, and Foundations for Youth Success is for ages 15 to 24 facing barriers.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Youth Employment Services (YES)

Toronto-based nonprofit (founded 1968) offering free counselling, training, workshops and job placement for youth, plus a job board.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

BGC St. Alban's Club - Free teen drop-in, homework help and youth volunteering

Youth Hub runs Monday to Friday 3 to 6 PM; the Youth Volunteer Program runs on a seasonal basis.

A BGC (Boys and Girls Club) at 843 Palmerston Ave with a free after-school Youth Hub, free basketball, skateboarding and homework help, and a Youth Volunteer Program where teens earn community service hours helping with children aged 5 to 12.

For: Youth Hub is for grade 7 and up, Learn On homework help and tutoring for grade 6 and up, basketball for ages 14 to 17, skateboarding for ages 12+; club membership is free; the Youth Volunteer Program does not state a minimum age.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Burger King Scholars Program (2027-28, open to Canada)

Deadline: 15 December 2026

Scholarships from $1,000 up to $60,000 for students starting college, university or trade school, judged on grades (33%), school and community activities plus work experience (34%) and financial need (33%).

For: Students living in Canada who graduate from grade 12 in 2027 with at least a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent) and will study full time for all of 2027-28 at an accredited 2- or 4-year college, university or vocational-technical school; Burger King employees and their families can also apply.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Islamic Foundation of Toronto (IFT)

Mosque and Islamic centre at 441 Nugget Avenue, Scarborough, with a youth wing (IFT Youth), events and a community hot-soup program.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) - ROMKids camp volunteers and Youth Cabinet (ages 15 to 21)

The page still lists the March Break 2026 and Summer Club 2026 ROMKids volunteer applications; dates for the next round are not posted. The Youth Cabinet runs from January or February to June or July.

Students help instructors run ROMKids children's camps at the museum during March Break and summer, and youth aged 15 to 21 can join the ROM Youth Cabinet to plan youth projects and events (volunteer hours given if needed).

For: ROMKids volunteer roles are described as ideal for high school and post-secondary students (minimum age not stated; most other ROM roles need volunteers 18+); the Youth Cabinet is for ages 15 to 21, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, meeting weekly in person for 1 to 2 hours.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Scarborough Health Network - Volunteer Services (Summer Pathfinder for high-school students)

Hospital volunteer program with a Summer Pathfinder stream for high-school students (15+) and a Real-World Experience stream for post-secondary students (18+).

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Skilled Trades Ontario - Start an apprenticeship (apply and register as an apprentice)

The official way to become a registered apprentice in Ontario: find a sponsor, apply to Skilled Trades Ontario, then sign a Training Agreement that registers you as an apprentice.

For: People 16 and over with legal permission to work in Canada (for example a valid SIN) who meet the education requirement for their trade and have a sponsor in Ontario; applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian to sign.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

YMCA of Greater Toronto - Free youth programs (Teen Nights, mentorship, youth leadership)

Free youth programs including Teen Nights, Black Achievers mentorship for high school students, newcomer youth leadership, entrepreneurship and money-skills workshops; the Youth Leadership Development program also lets teens collect volunteer hours for school.

For: Youth in the Greater Toronto Area: Teen Nights ages 13 to 18, newcomer youth leadership ages 13 to 24, money skills ages 14 to 24, entrepreneurship ages 15 to 24, Black Achievers for Black high school students, and Youth Leadership Development ages 11 to 18.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

City of Toronto - Toronto History Museums Youth Volunteers

Volunteer roles for high-school youth aged 14-18 at the City's history museums, promoted as earning hours toward community service.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

City of Toronto - Youth Job Seekers (Toronto Youth Job Corps, YEP Network, TYPE)

City of Toronto hub listing its youth employment programs: Toronto Youth Job Corps (paid 5-week training + up to 8-week placement), the YEP Network and TYPE case management.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Daily Bread Food Bank - Volunteer hours for high school students (Take Action Project food drives)

High school students earn community service hours by running a food drive for Daily Bread: every 25 non-perishable food items collected counts as 1 volunteer hour.

For: High school students (no minimum age stated for food drives); regular warehouse shifts are typically 18+, ages 11 to 14 may join public food sort events only with a parent or guardian, school groups in grades 6 to 12 can book Tuesday mornings, and club or faith groups need members aged 15+.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Focus on Youth Toronto (FOYT) - Paid summer jobs for high school students (TDSB and TCDSB)

The 2026 program ran July 2 to August 7, 2026 (at least 6 weeks, minimum 35 hours a week). Dates for summer 2027 are not posted yet; in 2026, agencies applied for student staff from March 4 to March 26.

Paid summer jobs and leadership training for high school students, who work in free summer programs for children and youth held in schools in Toronto's inner-city neighbourhoods.

For: High school students in Toronto; the latest TCDSB call (summer 2025) was open to all youth enrolled in a TCDSB high school born in 2009 or earlier, offering 4 or 6 weeks of paid work and 2 high school credits; TDSB's student rules are not posted on its page.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Healthy Smiles Ontario (free dental care for children 17 and under)

Apply any time. The ontario.ca program page shows a last update of October 21, 2021, so confirm the current income limits with Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600.

Free preventive, routine and emergency dental care for children and youth from low-income Ontario families, including check-ups, cleaning, fillings, x-rays, scaling and extractions (braces and whitening are not covered).

For: Children and youth 17 and under in Ontario households with family net income at or below $24,347 for 1 child, $26,189 for 2 or $28,032 for 3 (higher limits for bigger families); children whose families get Ontario Works, ODSP, Temporary Care Assistance or Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities qualify automatically.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Kids Help Phone

Free, confidential and anonymous counselling and crisis support for young people by phone or text, 24 hours a day, anywhere in Canada.

For: Kids, teens and young adults anywhere in Canada, including Toronto; Indigenous youth can ask for a First Nations, Inuk or Metis crisis responder.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Loran Award (2027)

Deadline: 15 October 2026

Canada's largest undergraduate merit award, selected on character, service and leadership, with an annual stipend, tuition waiver at partner universities, summer program funding and mentorship.

For: Canadian citizens or permanent residents born between Jan 1, 2005 and Sep 1, 2011 entering university for the first time in September 2027, with a minimum 88% average (or R score 29+ for CEGEP).

Canada-wide · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Schulich Leader Scholarships (2027)

Deadline: 27 January 2027

100 STEM entrance scholarships awarded annually across 20 partner universities; students must first be nominated by their high school, then submit an online application with essays, video, transcript and references.

For: Canadian citizens graduating high school or CEGEP in 2026/27 who are entrepreneurial-minded and entering a STEM program at one of 20 partner universities (U of T, York, TMU included).

Canada-wide · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

TD Scholarship for Indigenous Peoples (2027-28, run by AFOA Canada)

Deadline: 31 October 2026

Up to $60,000 over 4 years ($10,000 a year toward tuition plus $5,000 a year toward living costs) and a paid four-month summer internship at TD each year; 25 scholarships are given each year.

For: First Nations, Metis or Inuit students who are members or citizens of their community, are permanent residents of Canada, and have applied to, are enrolled in or are accepted to a full-time program of at least 2 years at an approved college or university; you must be able to do the TD summer internship and pass TD's background and credit check.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Volunteer Toronto - High School Volunteers page

Volunteer Toronto's page for high-school students: searchable opportunities, info sessions (incl. at TPL branches), an annual volunteer fair and 1-on-1 advisor calls.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Canada Summer Jobs (ESDC)

Federal wage-subsidy program creating paid summer jobs for youth aged 15-30; youth find CSJ jobs on Job Bank during the hiring period.

Canada-wide · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Horatio Alger Canadian Scholarships (financial need, grade 11)

Undergraduate applications are taken January 1 to March 31 each year, closing at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 31; the page does not yet post 2027 dates or the application link. Vocational and technical scholarships (up to $9,000, for certificate or diploma programs) take applications May 1 to June 30.

Scholarships of $10,000 (160 Canadian Scholarships) or $25,000 (10 National Entrepreneurial Scholarships) for grade 11 students who have overcome hardship and plan to earn a bachelor's degree; the money is paid to the school for tuition, fees, residence and books.

For: Full-time grade 11 students anywhere in Canada who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, keep at least a 70% average, and whose household net income is $80,000 or less.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Toronto Youth Cabinet (TYC)

Non-partisan youth advocacy body based at Toronto City Hall; youth join monthly cabinet meetings and issue working groups (housing, transit, education, employment, etc.).

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline

Canada's suicide crisis line: call or text 988 to talk with a trained crisis responder, any time of day or night.

For: Anyone in Canada who is thinking about suicide, is not sure whether they need help, or is worried about someone else.

Canada-wide · checked 3 October 2026 · everything we know

Job Bank (Government of Canada) - Free job search and job alerts

The federal government's free job board (website and app): search thousands of jobs across Canada or near you, set job alerts, save jobs and mark the ones you have applied to.

For: Anyone looking for work in Canada; it is free, has no hidden fees, and you do not need to register to search.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

OHIP+ (free prescriptions for people 24 and under)

No application and no deadline; coverage ends on your 25th birthday.

Ontario pays for more than 5,900 prescription medications, such as antibiotics, asthma inhalers, diabetes, mental health and ADHD drugs, for children and young adults who have no private drug plan.

For: Anyone 24 or younger with OHIP coverage who is not covered by a private drug plan; coverage ends on your 25th birthday, and people with private insurance may get help from the Trillium Drug Program instead.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

RBC Future Launch Scholarship ($1,500, ages 15 to 29)

Applications are accepted all year and reviewed on an ongoing basis; the page says hundreds of scholarships are given throughout the year.

A $1,500 scholarship to pay for a short course, workshop, certificate, or the equipment and books you need for your next step; grades and transcripts are not required.

For: Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 15 to 29 who are studying part time or are not in school at all; RBC employees and their dependants cannot apply.

Canada-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know