City of Mississauga Helps Shape the Future of High School Students

The City of Mississauga has received the 2015 Ontario Employer designation from the Provincial Partnership Council for its educational support of high school students.

“The City of Mississauga supports high school students by providing both co-operative learning experiences and meaningful work opportunities to hundreds of students,” said Sharon Willock, Director, Human Resources. “We are proud to help young people in our community learn and prepare for their bright futures.”

(Back Row L-R) Councillor Ron Starr; Councillor Jim Tovey; Councillor John Kovac; Councillor George Carlson; Councillor Carolyn Parrish; Councillor Matt Mahoney; (Middle Row L-R) Councillor Chris Fonseca; Councillor Karen Ras; Councillor Nando Iannicca; Councillor Pat Saito; Councillor Sue McFadden; Christine Gabany, Manager, Talent Acquisition; Natasha Grmusa, Talent Acquisition Consultant; Renee Kulinski, Business Advisor; Casey Oliveira, Training & Development Consultant; (Front Row L-R) Derek Allen, Standards Coordinator; Alice Benning Zubek, Talent Acquisition Consultant; Lisa Boyce-Gonsalves, Community Child/Youth Consultant; Janice Baker, City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer; Mayor Bonnie Crombie; Sharon Willock, Director, Human Resources; Gary Kent, Commissioner, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer; Stephanie Meeuwse, Supervisor Collections & Exhibits; Lori Kelly, Manager, Strategic Talent Management.

The City was given the designation based on its variety of work and volunteer opportunities for high school students, including:

• A summer work experience program in partnership with Community Living Mississauga
• Volunteer placements in partnership with Peel Children’s Aid Society
• The Region of Peel Summer Youth Job Challenge
• Take Our Kids to Work Day
• Inclusion Project volunteer placements in partnership with the Peel Board of Education
• A Leader in Training Program in the Recreation division

In 2015, the City of Mississauga hired 999 students, of which 388 were high school level.

These programs have a positive impact on the lives and career prospects of Mississauga’s high school students and support the City’s Youth Plan.

About the Ontario Employer designation

Created in 2010, the Ontario Employer designation distinguishes employers that are supporting the futures of significant numbers of young people across the province through experiential learning programs. To earn this annual designation an employer must have provided at least 50 learning opportunities in the previous academic year (September through to August).