Program Assistant

Veterans Affairs Canada; Canada; On-site; CAD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington (VAC) in Bowmanville, Ontario, is offering a 22-week Program Assistant position for the Young Canada Works Building Careers in Heritage initiative. You will coordinate education programs, assist with tours and workshops, and help deliver public programs across the 2026/2027 exhibitions.

Ideal candidates are post-secondary graduates in visual arts or related fields, with strong communication and organizational skills, and the ability to work nineteen and

Qualifications

• Post-secondary graduate in Visual Arts, Art History, Arts Education, Arts Management or related field is mandatory.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking and presentation experience.
• Ability to multi-task and work well independently and within a team.
• Proficiency with Standard Office software (Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive).
• Eligible for Young Canada Works Program for Building Careers in Heritage.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating education and public programs, including registrations, event coordination, program development, materials management, volunteer management, and delivery of programs.
• Preparing materials and setting up the gallery for education visits and workshops.
• Developing exhibition-related tours and assisting in the facilitation of artist workshops.
• Guiding art bus tours for the 2026/2027 exhibitions.
• Guiding public programs for holidays and special events.
• Evaluating individual programs upon completion to provide feedback on improvement.

Skills

Public speaking

Communication skills

Organization skills

Independent & teamwork

Education

Post-secondary degree in Visual Arts / Art History / Arts Education / Arts Management

Tools

Gmail

Google Calendar

Google Drive

Job description

Program Assistant - Young Canada Works Building Careers in Heritage

Position Summary

22-Week Position

Starts: Monday, October 26, 2026

Ends: Friday, March 26, 2027

Wage: $19.35/hr for 37.5 hrs/wk

Application Deadline: Friday, September 18, 2026

The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington (VAC) is a not-for-profit art gallery and arts education centre in Bowmanville, ON. The VAC is dedicated to delivering contemporary art to the Clarington Community, the wider Durham Region, and beyond. It has a 50-year history of community engagement, connecting people of all ages and backgrounds in a creative place for artmaking and learning. The VAC occupies a four-story 1905 Mill, which holds exhibition and studio spaces, including a fully equipped pottery studio, a painting studio, and a rustic loft gallery.

Description of tasks:

• Coordinating education and public programs, including managing registrations, event coordination, program development, materials management, volunteer management, and delivery of programs
• Preparing materials and setting up the gallery for education visits and workshops
• Developing exhibition-related tours and assisting in the facilitation of artist workshops
• Guiding art bus tours for the 2026/2027 exhibitions
• Guiding public programs for holidays and special events
• Evaluating individual programs upon completion to provide feedback on improvement

Candidate Profile:

• Post‑secondary graduate from studies in Visual Arts, Art History, Arts Education, Arts Management, or a related field is mandatory.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking and presentation experience
• Excellent organization and research skills
• Ability to multi‑task and work well independently and within a team
• Experience working within an educational and creative setting
• An enthusiastic and energetic communication style
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in the use of Standard Office software as well as communications/document‑sharing software (such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive)
• Ability to work all twenty‑two (22) weeks (mandatory)
• Eligible for Young Canada Works Program for Building Careers in Heritage
• Familiarity with the Ontario Curriculum is an asset
• Ability to speak French is an asset

An individual may be eligible for an internship if they:

• Are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada (non‑Canadians holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent status are not eligible);
• Are legally entitled to work in Canada;
• Are between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment
• Are willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment
• Will not have another full‑time job (over 30 hours a week) while employed with the program
• Are unemployed or underemployed
• Are a college or university graduate; and
• Are not receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits while employed with the program

Note: Priority will be given to graduates who have not previously participated in YCW internship programs.

The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to employment equity and building strength through diversity. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and encourage women, visible minorities, and Indigenous peoples to apply. Acknowledging that we are not a fully accessible building, we make every accommodation possible to ensure that we are inclusive in our hiring process.

About the VAC

The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington (VAC) is a not‑for‑profit art gallery and arts education centre in Bowmanville, ON. The VAC is dedicated to delivering contemporary art to the Clarington Community, the wider Durham Region, and beyond. It has a 47-year history of community engagement, connecting people of all ages and backgrounds in a creative place for artmaking and learning. The VAC occupies a four‑story 1905 Mill, which holds exhibition and studio spaces, including a fully equipped pottery studio, a painting studio, and a rustic loft gallery.

Educational and public engagement programs are offered to kids, youth, and adults, while exhibitions of contemporary art show Canadian regional and national artists' works in various stages of their careers. The VAC is a safe space where ideas are exchanged, questions are asked, and connections are made.

The VAC is an equal-opportunity employer committed to employment equity and building strength through diversity. We encourage applications from qualified candidates from visible and invisible minority group communities, including but not limited to women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and those living across the sexual orientation and gender identity spectrum. Acknowledging that we are not a fully accessible building with stairwell access to our third floor loft gallery space and basement storage level—we attempt to be as inclusive as possible in our hiring process.