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.
Who we support & How to qualify
YEI focuses on historically excluded students, including African Nova Scotians, Indigenous and Mi'kmaq students, and other historically underserved groups. To qualify, you must be a youth aged 18-25, a StFX student in good academic standing and have completed 1, 2, or 3 years of study at StFX.
What we offer
- Career Support (Group or Individual): students can access assistance with resume and cover letter writing, job search strategies, mock interviews, networking and mentorship, and career planning guidance.
- Paid Summer Work Experience: up to 20 Indigenous, Mi'kmaq, and African Nova Scotian students will receive wage subsidies for summer 2026 roles in Nova Scotia. While completing the work experience, we will conduct ongoing check-ins with students and employers for a successful experience.
Extra opportunities
- Leadership Conference (Jan 2026): 1.5 day event with community leaders, elders, packed with career-focused and leadership programming. Click to register for the Leadership Conference.
- Xplore Program (Jan 2026): For first-year students: goal-setting, self-awareness, and connecting academics to career aspirations.
Student Application: 2026 YEI Student Application – Fill out form
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.
This program offers wage subsidies to encourage employers to hire students from historically underserved, African Nova Scotian & Indigenous communities. By hiring a student, you gain access to fresh perspectives and talent, while also helping the student develop valuable skills for their future careers.
Why participate?
- Access subsidized funding from Nova Scotia’s Labour, Skills, and Immigration department is available to cover up to $10.00/hour of the students' wages.
- Contribute to inclusive and antiracist workplace practices.
- Strengthen community participation and development.
- Gain motivated, diverse talent for your organization.
- Support provincial goals from the Ivany Report: Increase employment for First Nations and African Nova Scotians and reduce youth unemployment in Nova Scotia.
Employer Eligibility
- Must be a registered business with the Registry of Joint Stocks, Canada Revenue Agency
- Must be registered with Workers Compensation Board coverage, as well as comply with Nova Scotia labour standards and operate out of a commercial premise.
- Must confirm that no current workers will be laid off because of a wage subsidy payment.
- Must determine a fixed rate of pay – commission-only positions and piece work are not eligible.
- Must have commitment to EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility) principles and potentially attend training on issues of discrimination, harassment, diversity and equity
- Must be prepared to orientate and train the new employee and provide a safe, welcoming learning/workplace environment
- Must participate in a worksite check-in, complete required documentation, and end of work experience debrief.
Employer's Role
- Provide work experience for a student for a maximum of 35 hours per week for up to 16 weeks between May and August 2026.
- Participate in EDIA training (if needed) through StFX’s Diversity Engagement Centre.
- Engage with the YEI Coordinator for ongoing support during the placement.
Employer Application: 2026 YEI Employer Application – Fill out form
Youth Employment Initiative Contact: Jody Cook, @email
Contact
189 Gerald Schwartz School of Business
3090 Martha Drive
Antigonish NS B2G 2W5
Canada
