RESOURCES
Please note: The resources listed are partial and do not claim to be the most authoritative on a given topic. For suggestions of additional resources to include please email us at careerservices@centennialcollege.ca Descriptions of many resources are included as they appear on external websites. Claims and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Career Services and Co-op Education Department or Centennial College. Topics are presented in alphabetical order.
BLACK STUDENTS
The Memo: motivating women of colour to achieve their professional and personal goals, provide a variety of career-related resources
CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals: Toronto-based charity dedicated to addressing the economic and social barriers that affect Black youth ages 14+ who are not in employment, education or training (NEET). Offers training programs and an online job board
Caribbean African Canadian Social Services (CAFCAN): registered charitable organization who primary focus is on building and strengthening the service framework for African Canadian children, youth and families includes employment services among other services
Black North Initiative: mission is to end anti-Black systemic racism throughout all aspects of our lives by utilizing a business-first mindset
Black Business and Professional Association: charitable organization that aims to advance Canada’s Black communities by offering programs that support business and professional excellence, higher education and economic development. This includes courses and videos, as well as resources for young professionals, youth entrepreneurial development and entrepreneurship.
Black Mentorship Inc: Black Mentorship Inc (BMI) is dedicated to the empowerment of Black Professionals in Canada. BMI fosters leadership by connecting Black youths, professionals and entrepreneurs at different stages of professional growth with industry experts through a unique mentoring program
Manyatta Network: Manyatta’s mission is to create professional networking opportunities for the African Diaspora. We champion positive change by showcasing social entrepreneurs and organizations which are making a positive impact in our community
Onyx Initiative: aspires to be a catalyst for the professional growth and development of Black Canadians as they launch their careers after university/college, providing support through access to placements, mentorship and professional development
COMPANY/ORGANIZATION RESEARCH:
Glassdoor: Explore reviews that describe what it is like to be an employee of a given company
Indeed Company Reviews: Explore reviews that describe what it is like to be an employee of a given company
Canada’s Best Diversity Employers: recognizes employers across Canada that have exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs
DISABILITY
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA, 2005): Ontario law mandating that organizations must follow standards to become more accessible to people with disabilities
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work: A Canada-wide network of organizations and individuals whose mission is to promote and support equitable employment of people with disabilities
Canadian Hearing Society: for employment services and resources for those that are culturally deaf, oral deaf deafened or hard of hearing
Canadian National Institute for the Blind: for individuals with sight loss. Provide resources to support academic and workplace success
Career Edge: offers internships for alumni with disabilities as well as recent grads and skilled newcomers
Connexions Weekly Newsletter: sent from the Ontario Public Service Accessibility Office. The intent is to support students and graduates with disabilities to find meaningful employment
Discover Ability: free online portal and resource funded by the government of Ontario that connects people with disabilities directly to Ontario businesses
Job Opportunity Information Network: community-sponsored job board for persons with disabilities in Ontario
Lime Connect: global non-profit matches university students and alumni with disabilities with full-time, co-op, internship and scholarship opportunities
March of Dimes Canada: provides a wide range of services to people with disabilities throughout the country
MentorAbility: provides a unique mentoring experience in which job seekers who self-identify as having a disability are matched with individual mentors to explore different career pathways and opportunities in their desired field of interest. The experience can last from 1 hour to 1 day long
National Education Association of Disabled Students (NEADS): features employment and internship opportunities, as well as resources and information specifically for Canadian post-secondary students and graduates with disabilities
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP): provincial government-run program offers employment supports for people with disabilities
People in Motion Employ-Ability Program: for Canadians to support students with physical disabilities to prepare for future employment. Offered at no cost to those who qualify
Skills2Sector: focused on building local capacity in Ontario’s Agricultural and Mining sectors to employ people who have a disability
Specialisterne: connects individuals who identify as Neurodiverse (e.g. ASD, ADHD/ADD, OCD, anxiety, learning disability) with jobs in a variety of industries. Also works with employers top help them integrate neurodiverse job seekers into their workforce
Workink: a dedicated space for job postings by equity employers offering inclusive employment
DISCLOSURE AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodation Examples – Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (ccrw.org)
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work Job Accommodation Service (JAS): Consultation service for employers to identify and implement accommodations and remove workplace barriers
Job Accommodation Network-Searchable Accommodations: US based organization with database of types of accommodation options for people with disabilities in work and educational settings
LGBTQ Students and Alumni Navigating Disclosure: recommendations from UC Berkeley Career Centre on decision making related to disclosure and employment
Mental Health in the Workplace: An Accommodation Guide for Managers and Staff: Canadian Mental Health Association
National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS): mandate to support full access to education and employment for post-secondary students and graduates with disabilities across Canada. Link to resource on the duty to accommodate
Ontario Human Rights Commission Duty to Accommodate: Ontario Human Rights Code legislation on the legal duty to accommodate for disabilities in the workplace
Searchable Online Accommodation Resource: From the Job Accommodation Network. This resource allows you to search by limitation, work functions, disabilities and to learn about a given disability and offers suggestions for how that disability can be accommodated in the workplace. This is targeted towards employers, however may be helpful for people with disabilities to use when requesting accommodations from their employer, or if they are interested in seeing what kind of accommodations may be available
Self-Identifying Disability in the Workplace (Wilfrid Laurier University): document outlines the pros and cons of disclosing and some sample scripts to consider when raising the topic
EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
Employment Standards Act: this guide describes the rules in Ontario about minimum wage, hours of work limits, termination of employment, public holidays, pregnancy and parental leave, severance pay, vacation and more
Steps to Justice: provides comprehensive, clear reliable, step by step information on common legal problems related to social services assistance, criminal, employment, housing and other areas of law
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Futurepreneur Canada: national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39
MaRS From startups to scaleups, MaRS offers a range of services that help tech founders grow their companies and create meaningful innovation
INDIGENOUS STUDENTS
Aboriginal Career Guide (TalentEgg): discover jobs and online resources designed to connect First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students and recent grads to rewarding careers
Building Environmental Aboriginal Human Resources (BEAHR): Indigenous training and employment programs help First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities across Canada develop local environmental skills and foster green careers. These flexible courses provide introductory training to students who want to work in the environmental sector in Canada
Careers.Indigenous.Links: specialized employment portal fully-dedicated to assisting Indigenous Job Seekers in researching and acquiring opportunities to develop their careers
Career Navigation for Recent Indigenous Graduates: University of British Colombia workbook includes a set of tools and resources to help navigate the job search process as smoothly as possible
First Nations Jobs Online: mission to serve all underrepresented indigenous groups, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis, and help people in these communities find opportunities in their desired locations and industries
Futurpreneur Indigenous: offers assistance to Indigenous persons between the ages of 18-35 looking to start a business. They offer up to $60,000 in financing, an expert mentor for up to two years, and access to resources
Indigenous Professional Association of Canada: dedicated to advancing Indigenous leadership in the private, public and social sectors. IPAC serves its members through professional skill-building, network development and the recognition of excellence. Through its mission, IPAC offers First Nations, Metis and Inuit professionals the opportunity to connect, learn and prosper as a community
RBC Indigenous Peoples: enables recent graduates to develop the skills and network needed to build their professional experience. The program is open to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) peoples of Canada
Windspeaker: job postings specifically targeted to Indigenous job seekers
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Centennial College Student Hub – International Students: comprehensive list of supports and services from immigration advice to information on working in Canada
Post-Graduation Work Permit: allows students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) to obtain an open work permit to gain valuable Canadian work experience
Studying and Working in Canada as an International Student: (Government of Canada) Comprehensive online resource hub on work opportunities
JOB SCAMS
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker: look up reported scams or report one
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: contact if you would like to report a fraud or cybercrime
Immigration and Citizenship- Internet, email and telephone scams (Government of Canada): includes information about frauds and scams, often targeted at international students
LGBTQ2S STUDENTS
A guide to sharing pronouns in the workplace
Creating Authentic Spaces: toolkit designed to challenge transphobia and foster environments that are inclusive of gender identity and gender expression
exeQutive: Toronto-based forum to support and strengthen the businesses and careers of Toronto’s LGBTQ leaders
Human Rights in Ontario – Gender Identity and Gender Expression – Webinar recording (2014): preventing discrimination because of gender identity and gender expression
JobBoard.lgbt: specialized online employment network that highlights employers dedicated to providing unique, interesting, and fulfilling experiences to LGBT job seekers
Pride at Work Canada: member services agency offering education as well as guidance to organizations that make a commitment to supporting LGBTQ2+ inclusion. Host a job board with LGBTQ+ positive employers
Start Proud: Start Proud facilitates the professional development of LGBTQ+ students as they transition from school to career; host conferences and offer a mentorship program
Your Journey: A Career Guide for Trans and Nonbinary Students: joint publication from Career Exploration & Education and the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office University of Toronto (2020). Explores values and goals, job search and on the job success
MENTORSHIP
MentorAbility Canada: national supported employment initiative that facilitates unique, short-term mentoring opportunities between employers and people experiencing a disability
NexGen Builders: mentorship program for construction trades workers and related professionals
TRIEC Mentoring Partnership: Toronto-based mentorship program targeting newcomer professionals
WXN: networking and mentoring for female professionals
NEWCOMERS
Helping Newcomers Work: a digital hub that provides support to private sponsors and other volunteers as they seek to help refugee newcomers find employment in Canada
Hofstede Insights- Country Comparison: Provides comparison of cultural values between any two countries
Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT): programs for permanent residents or protected persons who live in Ontario and who have training or experience in a specific occupation or sector, but need to improve their occupation-specific communication skills
WORKPLACE CULTURE
AnonymousEmployee.com: Toronto-based initiative provides a confidential communication process where employers and employees can resolve uncomfortable workplace issues
The Canadian Workplace Culture Index: annual survey of Canadians to establish a national benchmark regarding average Canadians’ opinions about Workplace Culture. Developed in partnership with the Angus Reid Institute, the leading Canadian, not-for-profit organization conducting research on issues that matter to Canadians. The CWCI publishes an annual report on the state of Canadian Workplace Culture
WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Canada Safety Council: national, non-government, charitable organization dedicated to safety. Link takes you to sub-section on Workplace Safety
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: information, tools and resources to help employers, workers participate in making their workplaces healthy and safe
Canadian Mental Health Association: for resources to support employees and employers to sustain wellbeing in the workplace
The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the Standard): Mental Health Commission of Canada – voluntary guidelines, tools and resources intended to guide organizations in promoting mental health and preventing psychological harm at work
Workplace Strategies for Mental Health: Canada Life sponsored site provides tools and resources for workplace mental health and psychological safety
