KEYS Employment & Newcomer Services

06/15/2026

This past weekend, a few members of our team had the opportunity to attend the Pride Parade and experience the incredible sense of community it brings.

It was a day filled with color, celebration, and connection but also a reminder of how important it is that people feel seen, valued, and supported not just for a day or a month but every day.

Thank you fellow Kingstonians who shared their energy, and spirit throughout the day. 🌈💙

06/13/2026

You Are Invited!

World Refugee Day 2026

KEYS Employment & Newcomer Services invites you to join us in celebrating World Refugee Day, an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe.

This free community event is open to everyone. We hope you will join us for an evening of learning, celebration and connection.

When: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Where: Malting Tower, Tett Centre for Creativity & Learning
370 King St W, Kingston ON K7L 2X4

Cost: Free

Registration: This event has limited space. RSVP is required: https://ow.ly/gjhs50ZaBhT

Find out more: 613.546.5559, [email protected]

06/12/2026

We are grateful for our ongoing collaboration with Resolve Counselling Services Canada, an organization that provides accessible, trauma-informed mental health care for individuals, couples, families and groups. Persons throughout KFL&A can access counselling services either in-person or virtually, with fees offered on a sliding scale.

KEYS collaborates with Resolve through our participation in community planning tables and as a valued referral partner and through special projects: As part of our "KEYS to Wellness" Project, Resolve counsellors will be facilitating a series of group sessions and 1-1 support for KEYS Staff. With a focus on being responsive to frontline team members, these sessions will cater to the unique needs of our staff. Resolve’s expertise is contributing to updated Intimate Partner Violence and Gender Based Violence Response policy and practices at KEYS. Through the NEWER initiative, Newcomer Emotional Wellness, Empowerment & Resilience, we are excited to be coordinating group sessions for newcomers to be led by qualified clinicians from Resolve.

We are proud to partner with Resolve Counselling Services Canada and appreciate the work they do within our community!

06/11/2026

The Harbour Community Kitchen (HCK) is transforming opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Kingston by removing one of the main barriers to launching a food-based business: access to an affordable commercial kitchen.

Operating in partnership with the City of Kingston - Municipal Government, the HCK provides mentorship, entrepreneurial training, and connections to vital community support that help women turn their culinary talents into a sustainable business.

By supporting programs like the Harbour Community Kitchen, your donation helps provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools, training, and resources they need to succeed and strengthen our community.

Learn more:

The Harbour Community Kitchen (HCK) is transforming opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Kingston by removing one of the main barriers to launching a food-based business: access to an affordable commercial kitchen. Operating in partnership with the City of Kingston, the HCK provides mentorship,....

06/09/2026

How many futures can be influenced in a single conversation?

This week, students at Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School participated in Ontario Career Lab conversations, connecting with professionals from a wide range of industries and backgrounds.

What makes these conversations so powerful is that their impact isn't always immediate or obvious. A student may discover a career they never knew existed. Another may realize that there is more than one path to success. Someone else may simply leave feeling more confident about their future and the possibilities ahead.

Every question asked, every story shared, and every piece of advice offered has the potential to plant an idea that may develop into career aspirations, educational goals, new interests, or greater confidence in navigating the future.

Questions such as:
"What if I don't know what I want to do yet?"
"Did you always know this was your career?"
"What's the biggest mistake you made in your career?"

At KEYS, we are proud to help facilitate these meaningful connections through the Ontario Career Lab initiative in partnership with HIEC and the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce. By bringing students and community professionals together, we are helping young people explore opportunities, broaden their horizons, and imagine what their futures could hold.

Thank you to the Career Coaches who shared their time and experiences, and to the staff and students at Regiopolis-Notre Dame for making the event such a success.

06/08/2026

Every person deserves the opportunity to build a future filled with possibility.

Your support helps youth gain confidence and direction, newcomers and refugees build a sense of belonging, job seekers access meaningful opportunities, and women entrepreneurs turn ideas into sustainable futures.

Behind every program is a person working toward stability, independence, growth, and hope, and every donation helps make those journeys possible.

Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive community where individuals and families are supported not only to overcome barriers, but to thrive.

Your support can change lives.

Donate and make a difference: https://ow.ly/SwyC50Z7Gmg

💙 Help create opportunity, connection, and brighter futures for our community. 💛 Help Make More Possible.

06/04/2026

Starting over in a new country takes courage.

For many newcomers and refugees, support in those first moments can make all the difference; from learning English and finding employment to building confidence, connection, and a sense
of belonging in a new place and community.

Your donation helps individuals and families access the resources and community support they need to build stable, hopeful futures.

Help us continue creating brighter futures for newcomers in our community.

Donate and make a difference: https://ow.ly/vp3y50Z7GhT

💛 Help Make More Possible.

06/03/2026

The future workforce is shaped by people who are willing to share their stories.

Last week, the KEYS team worked alongside our school and community partners to connect more than 600 students with local Career Coaches. Through the Ontario Career Lab initiative, students at Frontenac Secondary School, Bayridge Secondary School Parents, and Holy Cross Catholic High School had the opportunity to connect with local professionals and hear firsthand about the many pathways that can lead to meaningful careers.

A special thank you to our incredible volunteer Career Coaches. Several coaches generously participated in more than one event this week, giving their time, sharing their experiences, and answering thoughtful questions from students exploring their futures. Your willingness to invest in the next generation makes a lasting impact.

Career conversations help students see possibilities they may never have considered and remind them that careers are rarely a straight line. The stories, advice, and encouragement shared this week helped bring career exploration to life.

KEYS Employment & Newcomer Services is proud to facilitate these conversations in our community through the Ontario Career Lab initiative, delivered in partnership with HIEC and the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce.

Thank you to our volunteers, school partners, and everyone who helped make this busy week such a success.

06/02/2026

Come work with us at KEYS as a Job Developer, Opportunities Fund.

📅 Start: June 22, 2026
📅 End: March 26, 2027
💰 $29.60 | 35 hours/week
📍 Kingston, ON
🕒 Apply by: 9am - Friday, June 22, 2026
📩 Apply to Jaclyn Nadon at [email protected]
👉 More info: https://ow.ly/cpOW50Z6gno

Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

This posting is for an existing vacancy. KEYS does not use AI in its recruitment process.

KEYS is committed to employment equity.

We encourage members of designated groups to apply and self-identify.

KEYS is also committed to an inclusive, barrier-free selection process.

We will make appropriate accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process for applicants with disabilities.

To obtain a copy of this posting and job description in an alternate format, or to request any accommodation, contact us directly at:
[email protected] | 613.546.5559 Ex. 247 | TTY: 613.546.0511

Information received relating to accommodation requests will be addressed confidentially.

KEYS is located on the traditional homelands of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Huron-Wendat. We strive to support all those impacted by colonialism.

06/01/2026

Imagine feeling more confident while earning money as you learn!

The START Here! program is open to youth under 30 who are currently unemployed and no longer in full-time school.

Program highlights:
• Workplace skills training
• Access to fully funded certifications
• One-on-one and group job search support
• Ongoing employment supports

Commitment:
Participants must be able to commit to 4 weeks of full-time, in-person training, be ready to work full-time hours, and under 30 years of age and out of work/full-time school.

How to apply:
📞 Call: 613-483-2232
📧 Email: [email protected]

To learn more, visit: https://ow.ly/xEsj50Z5lE2