Regional Career Focus

The Regional Career Focus is administered through a network of Regional/local  offices located across the country. These projects provide financial assistance to employers and organizations to deliver projects at the regional and local levels.

Eligible Participants

To participate in Career Focus, youth must be:

• between the ages of 15 and 30 (inclusive) at the time of intake/selection;
• post-secondary graduates;
• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons on whom refugee protection has been conferred;
• out of school;
• legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations; and
• not in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.

Note: Post-secondary graduates are limited to participation in one Career Focus project.

Who can be a recipient

Businesses, organizations (including not-for-profit, professional, employer and labour associations), public health and educational institutions, band/tribal councils, Aboriginal organizations and municipal governments.

How to apply

Interested post-secondary graduates should contact their local Service Canada office to determine how this program is delivered in their region.

Interested recipients should contact their local Service Canada Centre and consult the Youth Employment Strategy Guide for Applicants. Regional Career Focus delivery will vary from region to region (some will be through Call for Proposals others will be via continuous intake). The guide helps applicants develop proposals for federal funding offered by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada under the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy. It also sets out the specific roles and responsibilities that must be met in projects approved for funding.

This guide provides information about the three programs under the Youth Employment Strategy:

• Skills Link
• Career Focus 
• Summer Work Experience

How are projects selected?

Project selection is based on local community and labour market needs, innovative approaches to human resource needs, contributions of sponsors/partners and funding availability.

---

Other federal government departments and agencies delivering Career Focus

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Canadian Heritage 
• Canadian International Development Agency
• Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
• Environment Canada 
  • International Environmental Youth Corps
  • Science Horizons Youth Internship Program 
• Industry Canada   
  • CAP Youth Initiative 
  • Computers for Schools (TWEP) 
  • NetCorps Canada International  
  • SchoolNet 
  • Web-4-all   
• National Research Council Canada
• Natural Resources Canada   

---

  More information for employers

(choose one) Other government YES programs Other HRSD YES programs What are Essential Skills? Youth Awareness YES Guide for Applicants Youth.gc.ca

More information for youth

(choose one) Canada Student Loans Program Career Exploration Resources Financial Assistance and Tips Other government YES programs Other HRSD YES programs What are Essential Skills? Youth Employment Information Products and Services Youth.gc.ca Youth Link

---

About the Youth Employment Strategy

Thirteen Government of Canada departments and agencies work in partnership with business, labour, industry, not-for-profit and voluntary organizations, rural and remote communities and all levels of government to help young people get the information and develop the skills and work experience they need to prepare for and participate in the world of work. Read more about this initiative or call the Youth Info Line at 1 800 935-5555.