YCW - Building Careers in Heritage

My organization would like to hire a student
I am a student looking for work

YCW at Building Careers in Heritage (BCH) helps unemployed or underemployed graduates (up to the age of 30) acquire hands-on experience and build advanced skills in career-related work. The program is intended to 

help recent college and university graduates make the transition to heritage and arts-related trades and professions in Canada. Work experiences last from 4 to 12 consecutive months (a minimum duration of 4 consecutive months for internships in Canada).

Please note that the National Trust only accepts applications for internships within Canada.

The application period for 2017 is now open. Application deadline March 15th 2017. Read our success stories and get inspired for the 2017-2018 program year!

In 2017 YCW in Heritage Organizations created 14 internships across the country. Thank you to everyone involved who made it a very successful year.

Employer Applicants

Program Criteria

Your organization is eligible if it is:

  • an incorporated, non-profit organization in Canada engaged in the heritage sector (such as a museum, archives, library, historic site, heritage building, zoo, botanical garden);
  • 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;
  • an Aboriginal regional government or governing body (band/tribal council) and/or Aboriginal organization with a mandate to preserve and support Aboriginal heritage; and
  • stable and financially healthy.

Your organization is not eligible if it is:

  • a federal department, federal agency or a Crown Corporation*;
  • a provincial or territorial government department; and
  • for-profit.

*Note: Incorporated, non-profit heritage organizations in Canada with a mandate in support of a federal entity may be eligible if they are operationally independent of the federal entity and will be the employer of a student or intern.

Employers participating in YCW-BCH must staff intern positions through a fair and balanced selection process (including open competitions and unbiased adjudication of eligible candidates) and respond to applicants in a timely manner. Employers must also verify that all YCW employees are registered on the YCW interactive website.

Please note that the National Trust places emphasis on historic places and therefore will give preference to those employers who are offering internships and experience in this sector.

The maximum YCW contribution is $10,000 per internship in Canada. At least 80 percent of the contribution is reserved for the intern's wages and allowances. There is a possibility that the remaining 20 percent be allocated, to cover administration costs related to the internship.

If you have hired a participant with a disability, the National Trust, upon prior approval, may reimburse reasonable costs related to job accommodation requirements up to a maximum of $3,000 per participant.

How to Apply

The application period for 2017 is now open. Read our success stories and get inspired for the 2017-2018 program year!

All applications received by the deadline will be considered and evaluated through a peer review process.

Your application will be evaluated on the following information:

  • The objectives to be met during the work term.
  • The benefits of creating the position in question.
  • The parties who will benefit from the creation of this position.
  • A detailed work plan.
  • Transferable skills to be gained by the employee.
  • The profile of your ideal candidate, including level of education and other specific skills;
  • Description of the orientation and workplace that will be provided to the participant during the employment period.
  • Characteristics of the work environment and city where the work will take place.
  • Any other relevant information and/or opportunities that will be offered to the student.

For more information on the selection criteria please visit http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1466191409480

All applicants to the National Trust for Canada will receive a response.

Student Applicants

Program Criteria

All internship applicants must:

  • be legally entitled to work in Canada;
  • be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada. Note: Non-Canadian students holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent status are not eligible;
  • be between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment;
  • meet the eligibility criteria of the program for which you have been approved;
  • be registered in the YCW on-line candidate inventory;
  • be willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment;
  • not have another full-time job (over 30 hours a week) while employed with YCW;
  • be an unemployed or underemployed college or university graduate, that is, not employed full-time;
  • be a recent graduate who has graduated from college or university within the last 24 months;
  • not be receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits while employed with YCW;