How to hire an intern
Both employers and interns participate in the application process.
Interns are hired directly by organizations that have received Science Horizons funding.
Eligible employers can receive a wage subsidy of up to $25,000 and up to $5,000 for skills development, training, and wrap-around services to hire recent post-secondary graduates.
Program funding is aimed at employers in the environmental science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors.
Eligible employers include:
- not-for-profit organizations (including voluntary organizations and foundations)
- municipal governments
- Indigenous organizations (including band councils, tribal councils and self-government entities)
- for-profit organizations
- public health, educational and cultural institutions
- provincial and territorial governments, institutions, agencies and Crown Corporations
How to apply
To find out if you are eligible for funding, apply now through one of our four delivery organizations:
BioTalent Canada is a national, non-profit organization that facilitates research, skills development and various projects to support professionals in the Canadian biotechnology industry.
Clean Foundation is a non-profit organization that focuses on green solutions in the areas of energy efficiency, water health, waste reduction and sustainable transportation in Atlantic Canada.
Colleges and Institutes Canada is a national organization that champions innovation, applied research and employment opportunities addressing climate change and other environmental challenges.
ECO Canada is a national organization that specializes in environmental labour market research and provides employment and training resources to environmental professionals.
What organizations are saying about the program
The hiring organizations say interns bring creativity, new knowledge, dedication and enthusiasm to their jobs:
“Everyone loves working with young people. They are endlessly energetic and they bring a new perspective, a new lens, to the work that’s being done.”
– Sophika Kostyniuk, Ocean Wise’s Director of Fisheries and Seafood in Vancouver.
The program’s financial support has often come at critical times when companies are in periods of rapid growth. For example, youth internships helped Student Energy, a Vancouver-based charity, hire several new employees over the past two years across Canada.
“The wage subsidies proved critical for the pace of product development, because we don’t have a lot of funds, programs that help us hire people are everything.”
– Jean-David Lantagne, the Chief Officer of Quebec City’s Hoola One Technologies
The funding allowed GreeNovel to grow more quickly than expected.
“Internship support is vital for start-ups. For companies like us the first year is the worst year because resources are limited and 100% of the money is coming from our personal savings.”
– Sherif Farag, co-founder of GreeNovel Inc. in St. Constant, Québec.
Wage subsidies have also helped organizations survive the financial challenges of the pandemic. They allowed Wildlands League in Toronto explore new methods of audience engagement.
“We could not have done it without those resources. It keeps us fresh.”
– Janet Sumner, Wildlands executive director
Employers say the program has allowed them to take chances on young people with relatively little job experience.
“It provides “breathing room” to implement training programs and see if new employees are a good fit. We don’t need new employees to know all the answers the first day they show up.”
– Lindsay Bolton, a project manager with Halifax-based consulting engineering firm CBCL Ltd.
“The program is mutually beneficial for employers and interns. I value it because it’s really good for recent graduates getting placed in the careers they want. Hands-on experience in your area of work can be really challenging to find so there’s huge value in this type of program.”
– Helen Baulch, an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan School of Environment and Sustainability.
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