The Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant has proudly supported student work integrated learning opportunities by hosting over 40 co-op and summer students placements over the past 25 years. We are committed to fostering meaningful employment opportunities while upholding principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in every step of our hiring process.
Wilfrid Laurier University
Students integrating into the workplace
Co-op Students
Hire bright and talented Co-op students from Laurier to enhance the profile of your organization and evaluate their potential for permanent roles!
Hello Community Partners and employers,
I hope you have all had a wonderful fall!
Just wanted to share this opportunity with you where organizations could have the help of a Laurier student in the winter term-
The Laurier UU400 Interdisciplinary Studies placement course will be running in the Jan-April 2026 semester, which is an elective available to fourth year students coming from 12 different programs. Students will be looking to take part in this unique model of either a paid part time job or unpaid placement as part of the learning in the course. The course is broad in scope and students could assist with administrative work, research, program or project needs, or in technical roles. Could your organization benefit from the help of one of these students?
We are seeking placements for the following options:
- Paid Part-Time Jobs– hire a student for a part-time position of 6-8 hours per week for 10-12 weeks (postings due Nov 5 (let us know if you need more time) with hiring to happen before Christmas break) Submit your posting using this link: UU400 job posting form
- Unpaid Placements – a volunteer opportunity of 4-5 hours per week for 10-12 weeks (postings due Nov 19) – email sdarling@wlu.ca for the unpaid placement posting template
We hope this can be of a help to your organization and look forward to hearing from you!
Laurier Community Resources
Student Learning and Employment Opportunities
Laurier Initiatives and Expertise
Community Research at Laurier
- Centre for Research on Security Practices (CRSP)
- Centre for Leading Research in Education (CLRiE)
- Laurier Centre for Music in the Community
- Laurier Centre for Community Research, Learning and Action (CCRLA)
- Social Innovation Research Group (SIRG)
Conestoga College
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Students
Conestoga is pleased to offer a variety of services designed to help employers with their recruiting and employee assessment and training needs. WIL is a form of experiential education that integrates a student’s academic studies with experiences in a workplace or practice setting. WIL experiences include a partnership of at least: an academic institution, a host organization and a student. WIL experiences can take many forms including co-operative education, industry sponsored projects and field placements.
Hire a Co-op Student
Use MyCareer to find a Conestoga co-operative education student to work for 4 to 16 months during their co-op work term.
Visit Co-op recruitment to view programs and get started.
For general co-op inquiries, email co-op@conestogac.on.ca or call 519-748-5220, ext. 3756.
Conestoga College is transitioning to a self-directed service model for employers who hire co-op students. This change aligns with recent updates to Ontario’s post-secondary education landscape.
What This Means For You:
- You’ll now have direct access to the tools and resources needed to post jobs and manage opportunities.
- Our goal is to offer clear, timely, and flexible support to meet your hiring needs.
How to Get Started:
Refer to the Step-by Step guide found here.
📧 mycareer@conestogac.on.ca
Full-Time/Part-Time Students
Use MyCareer to post jobs targeting Conestoga students, graduates, and job seekers accessing services through the Career Centre. Please note: some financial incentives may be available to offset training costs.
Visit the Community Career Centre to access support for your specific hiring and training needs.
University of Waterloo
Co-op Students
Join more than 8,000 employers actively recruiting Waterloo co-op students every year! Waterloo co-op students are available for four or eight month work terms to help with large projects, daily tasks and everything in between.
Join an info session for more fundamentals of hiring, job descriptions, and available funding opportunities. Waterloo’s co-op program runs year-round so view the recruiting timeline here
Funding for Employers
The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is a funding opportunity for employers so long as you meet the following requirements:
Hire a student that is
- A Canadian Citizen
- A Permanent Resident
- Person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of employment.
Secondary School Students
Co-operative (Co-op) education is a program that allows students to earn secondary school credits while completing a work placement. The program consists of a Co-op course monitored by a Co-operative Education teacher, a related curriculum course and a work placement.
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
OYAP offers high school students the opportunity to explore a skilled trade through on-site learning that contributes to the completion of their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. There are more than 72 OYAP recruiters , working in school boards across Ontario, who can help connect you with eager students who want to learn by doing.
There are many benefits to participating:
- Assess and recruit a potential employee on a trial basis before committing to registering them as an apprentice.
- Develop supervisory and leadership skills for your staff.
- Increase the awareness and profile of your organization within your community.
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Ripen FuturePath is a government-subsidized
work placement program that connects
businesses with curated, later-year student talent
through flexible, real-world projects. FuturePath
handles the independent contractor relationship,
T4A paperwork, biling, and government reporting,
so you can focus on building impact and
contributing to the broader economy.
Whether you’re an early-stage startup needing
marketing support or a growing business testing
new products, these colaborations drive real
outcomes for employers and offer students
valuable learning experiences.
Apply here!
Apply for the Talent Opportunities Program (TOP) Wage Subsidy!
Are you an employer hiring post-secondary students for work-integrated learning (WIL) placements, such as co-ops or internships? You may qualify for a wage subsidy of up to $7,000 per student!
What is the Talent Opportunities Program (TOP)? 
TOP is an initiative of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce that helps Canadian employers hire students from colleges and universities for WIL placements. Employers can receive:
- Up to 50% of wages (to a maximum of $5,000) per student.
- Up to 70% of wages (to a maximum of $7,000) for each ‘net new’ placement from under-represented groups, including Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, first-year students, visible minorities, and women in STEM.
How to Qualify for Funding
To be eligible for TOP funding, employers must hire ‘net new’ students. This means the number of students hired in the current fiscal year must exceed the number of students hired in the previous year.
The baseline year is determined as follows:
- First received SWPP funding in 2017-2019: Use the original baseline year before funding.
- First received SWPP funding in 2020: Use 2019 as the baseline year.
- First received SWPP funding in 2021: Use the lesser of 2019 or 2020.
Eligibility Requirements for Employers
Must be a registered Canadian business or non-profit.
Can operate in any industry and hire remotely.
Government bodies
Crown corporations
Hospitals
Public long-term care facilities
Post-secondary institutions
and more (refer to FAQs).
Student Eligibility
- Must be enrolled at a recognized Canadian college or university.
- Work placement must be part of their study plan.
- Must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons under Canadian law.
Get Started with TOP
For detailed guidelines and FAQs, visit the TOP Program page. If you’re ready to apply, click the link below!
Click here to apply for the Talent Opportunities Program.
