LA&PS Wage Subsidy Program | Co-op & Career Centre

The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies offers a unique funding opportunity geared to non-profit organizations through the Wage Subsidy Program.

Funded by generous donors, including lead donor Canada Life, this initiative allows for non-profit organizations to hire a LA&PS student and receive funding to provide co-op opportunities for students within the sector. Hiring a LA&PS student allows companies to build their talent pipeline and benefit from fresh student perspectives.

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By the Numbers

Total Years

Grants Provided

Organizations Supported

Students Placed

Employer Testimonials

Our experience with the Co-op Program has been extremely positive. The program connected us with a highly capable and motivated LA&PS student who brought fresh perspective, strong skills, and a professional attitude to the role. The support from the co-op office was consistent and helpful throughout the process, making recruitment and onboarding smooth and efficient. Based on the quality of the student we worked with and the overall experience, I would definitely recommend the program to other employers looking to add value to their teams while supporting student development.

— Job Skills
Social Planning Toronto is a non-profit, charitable community organization that works to improve equity, social justice and quality of life in Toronto through community capacity building, community education and advocacy, policy research and analysis and social reporting. Our LA&PS student supported action-oriented research, assisted with policy change strategies on social justice issues at the municipal level and contributed to provincial election engagement work. Tasks included conducting literature reviews, writing and contributing to fact sheets, blog posts and research reports, accessing and analyzing quantitative data, processing data requests and supporting coalitions.

— Social Planning Toronto
Our experience with the Co-op Program has been extremely positive. We would absolutely recommend it to other employers. The program has been well-organized and supportive, and it's been a great way for us to bring fresh ideas and energy into our team. Having a LA&PS student like Keyara on placement has been a big help to our organization-she brought initiative, professionalism, and a strong understanding of equity work, all while gaining hands-on experience. It's been a meaningful exchange; we've been able to support her learning while she's contributed in real and valuable ways to our work. It's been rewarding to play a part in helping students build transferable skills they can take with them after graduation. Programs like this help bridge the gap between school and work in a way that benefits both students and employers, and we're happy to continue being a part of that.

— Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre
We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Co-op Program, which provided us with a talented LA&PS student hire at no cost for the summer. The experience has been incredibly positive, our student brought fresh energy, strong skills, and a willingness to learn that made a real impact on our team. Not only did she contribute meaningfully to our projects, but she also gained valuable hands-on experience in a supportive work environment. This program is a win-win, offering organizations like ours much-needed seasonal support while helping students develop professionally. We would gladly participate again and highly recommend it to others.

— Big Brothers Big Sisters
Participating in the Co-op Program over the summer was an excellent experience. The LA&PS student we hired through the program was exceptional and brought great value to the work of our organization over the course of the summer program. We would love the opportunity to participate in the program in the future and would absolutely recommend it to other employers.

— The Yonge Street Mission
Participating on the Co-op Program has been a great experience for our team. We gained a knowledgeable student with good transferable skills that allowed us to assign them more responsibilities than was anticipated. As a not-for-profit, this was invaluable during the high vacation season among our staff. This also allowed for the student to develop some high-level skills that they can continue to build on in future employment.

— Native Child and Family Services
We had the pleasure of welcoming a LA&PS student from the Co-op Program at 91��ɫ to our marketing and communications team, and the experience was outstanding. From day one, our co-op student brought fresh energy, creativity, and a strong work ethic to every project. Whether supporting campaign development, contributing to content creation, or assisting with strategic communications, they consistently delivered high-quality work and demonstrated a genuine eagerness to learn. Their contributions made a meaningful impact on our team, and we're grateful for the opportunity to support their professional growth.

— Habitat for Humanity GTA
Our experience with the Co-op Program has been wonderful. This summer, Isabella joined us as a Development Intern and quickly became a valued team member, contributing meaningfully to our work. She brought professionalism, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, delivering high-quality work that reflected the strong preparation provided by the program. I highly recommend this LA&PS Program to any employer seeking motivated interns who can make a real impact.

— Rainbow Railroad
Highly recommend the LA&PS program for other employers. Hope Air has had great success with student placements and will continue to apply for future placements.

— Hope Air
Participating in the Co-op Program has been an immensely rewarding and useful experience for our organization. We look forward each summer to welcoming a LA&PS co-op student!

— Toronto System
Our experience with the 91��ɫ Co-op Program has been nothing short of amazing. The LA&PS students who've joined us have brought fresh ideas, genuine enthusiasm, and a willingness to jump right in and contribute. They've not only helped us move important projects forward, but also become part of our team in the truest sense. We're grateful for the opportunity to mentor them and, in turn, learn from their energy and perspective.

— People to People AID Organization

Position Alignments

SOCIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Positions that will allow for effective strategic thinking, planning, action and development in social justice, equity and inclusion.

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS

Indigenous organizations and communities engaged with the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in areas such as Child Welfare, Education, Language and Culture, Health and Justice to develop community projects.

ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Community organizations, cooperatives, credit unions and other similar organizations which focus on economic justice issues.

Student Testimonials

I strive to engage in opportunities that allow me to support vulnerable and marginalized communities. Through my co-op with the Community Mediation Services of The Neighbourhood Group, I was able to do exactly that. This experience has been one of the most meaningful of my time at 91��ɫ. Not only did I have the chance to educate people on the value of mediation as a resource and tool for community building, but I also deepened my long- standing interest in conflict resolution. I developed invaluable communication and mediation skills, and I witnessed my own professional and academic growth. Experiencing both the impact and challenges of non-profit work confirmed my passion to pursue a career in law while integrating non-profit engagement on an international scale.

— Esmachiah Ankomah, Law & Society
My co-op at a non-profit has been one of the most life-changing things that has ever happened to me. I started out with very little marketing experience, but my supervisor gently guided me through every step, giving me the confidence to create and produce videos, take amazing pictures, and oversee social media initiatives that spread the word about our cause. In addition to the technical abilities, I have developed the ability to speak clearly and confidently, which I now use at every conversation. My career ambitions have completely changed because of this employment. I used to believe I belonged in analytics, but I've come to love content creation, teamwork, and establishing a brand's online presence. I now envision a career in brand narrative and digital marketing, and I have even designed my academic programs to help me along this trajectory.

— Tram Anh Le, Commerce
My co-op as an EDI Assistant with an employment services non-profit has been a window into an office job and has been invaluable to my education. It gave me an insight into the world of HR and non-profits and gave me many opportunities for personal education and development as my work involved research and writing.It has given me an opportunity to consider career paths such as HR, employment services, research, EDI/People and Culture roles, and much more. It has allowed me to learn soft skills such as collaboration in an office setting, independent research and interviewing other people; as well as hard skills like leading committee meetings, taking meeting minutes, Microsoft Suite, and internal HRIS systems.

— Sana Paracha, Humanities
Reflecting on the end of my co-op with P2P Canada, I am beyond grateful and humbled to have interned at such a rewarding organization that is doing so much work in the community. Through coordinating their youth mentorship program, I learned about how to foster equitable academic and career development for over a dozen mentees. I’m so grateful for the donors who were able to allow me to spend my summer working with such an invaluable community organization and look forward to implementing more diaspora-related initiatives to my global development pursuits in the future.

— Salma Ahmed, International Development Studies
During my co-op as a Project Coordinator, I developed skills in project planning, stakeholder communication, and resource management. I learned how to adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment, collaborate effectively with diverse teams, and approach challenges with creative problem-solving. This experience has helped me see how my academic background can be applied to real-world projects. It has also guided me in thinking about future career options, especially in roles where I can contribute to meaningful change while leveraging my organizational and analytical skills.

— Rehma Warsi, Business & Society
I am currently completing my co-op placement at the George Chuvalo Neighbourhood Centre. I am passionate about community work and social justice, and I aspire to pursue a career in forensic social work. My goal is to support individuals who are involved in the justice system, particularly those impacted by trauma and systemic inequalities, and help advocate for fair and supportive outcomes. This co-op experience has been incredibly eye-opening and rewarding. I have had the opportunity to engage with participating in outreach, diverse community members, assist with program delivery, and contribute to creating a welcoming and supportive environment. I have gained hands-on experience that has strengthened my communication, organization, and problem-solving skills. Most importantly, I have developed a deeper understanding of the complex issues that many individuals face daily, including poverty, mental health struggles, and discrimination.

— Keyara Wilson, Social Work
Alongside my studies, I have a strong interest in writing, which led me to complete my co-op placement with Habitat for Humanity GTA as a Social Media Intern. I worked on a variety of projects that gave me hands-on experience in campaign planning and designing marketing materials. I developed and launched a Google Ads campaign for the Corporate Fund Development team, created a newsletter that reached over 70,000 subscribers, and helped plan and schedule yearly social media content. These projects allowed me to improve my communication skills, strengthen my attention to detail, and learn how to balance creative work with measurable goals.

— Duaa Fatima, Humanities