Youth Engagement Leader - Evening & Overnight

Democratic Engagement Exchange, TMU; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 122,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

The Democratic Engagement Exchange at Toronto Metropolitan University, in partnership with Rideau Hall Foundation, is seeking volunteers to support youth during the Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa. You will help mentor participants, co-lead a cohort, and ensure safe, engaging evening activities across three weeks in February to April 2027.

Role involves overnight shifts, onsite hotel presence, safeguarding adherence, and close collaboration with on-site leaders.

Qualifications

• Minimum age 25 years.
• Valid police record check, interview and reference checks are required.
• Experience leading youth programming, camp counseling, coaching young people or related fields are required.
• Familiarity with child protection and safeguarding practices.
• Proven ability to address concerns sensitively and appropriately.
• Clear and empathetic communication, especially in sensitive situations.
• Certified in Standard First Aid Level C (preferred).
• Bilingual English/French (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Ensure the safety and well-being of all participants during the evening and overnight.
• Foster group cohesion and trust while co-mentoring a small cohort of 10 youth with a co-leader.
• Lead social programs in the evening, facilitate activities, chaperone youth to off-site experiences, and ensure inclusivity.
• Assist participants with attendance, preparedness, and support those unable to engage in regular programming.
• Stay onsite at the hotel with participants, monitoring and responding to issues during the evening and overnight.
• Follow the Rideau Hall Foundation’s safeguarding policies.
• Report any issues promptly and work with on-site leaders to address concerns as they arise.

Skills

Youth leadership

Group facilitation

Crisis & safeguarding

Bilingual EN/FR

Job description

Are you passionate about supporting youth in a safe and empowering environment? This is your chance to make a meaningful impact while being part of a transformative experience for Canada’s young changemakers.

The Forum for Young Canadians, organized and run by the Rideau Hall Foundation, is dedicated to educating, equipping, and inspiring young Canadians to engage meaningfully in civic life. Over Three weeks in February, March and April 2027, the Forum will host its National Summit in Ottawa, welcoming over 300 students over three weeks (100 - 120 students aged 15-18 per week) for an immersive, hands-on experience like no other.

The Democratic Engagement Exchange at Toronto Metropolitan University is working with the Rideau Hall Foundation to program evening activities and ensure the safety and well being of all participants throughout the evening and overnight.

Job Role

This role offers a unique opportunity to combine youth mentorship, program leadership, and civic education. You will actively guide and support participants, facilitating activities that help them develop leadership skills and engage meaningfully in civic life.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure the safety and well-being of all participants during the evening and overnight
• Foster group cohesion and trust while co-mentoring a small cohort of 10 youth with a co-leader.
• Lead social programs in the evening such as helping to facilitate prepared activities, chaperoning the youth participants to off-site experiences, and ensuring all the youth feel included and welcome.
• Assist participants with attendance, preparedness, and support those unable to engage in regular programming
• Stay onsite at the hotel with participants, monitoring and responding to issues during the evening and overnight
• Follow the Rideau Hall Foundation’s safeguarding policies
• Report any issues promptly and work with on-site leaders to address any concerns as they arise

Qualifications:

• Minimum age: 25 years
• Valid police record check, interview, and reference checks are required
• Experience leading youth programming, camp counseling, coaching young people or related fields (Required)
• Familiarity with child protection and safeguarding practices
• Proven ability to address and respond to concerns appropriately and with sensitivity
• Clear and empathetic communication, particularly in handling sensitive or urgent situations with participants and program staff
• Certified in Standard First Aid Level C (preferred but not essential)
• Bilingual English/French (preferred but not essential)

Compensation:

• $2,150 per week, amounting to $6,450 total for the three weeks
• Dinner, breakfast options, snacks, and 5 nights of hotel accommodation are provided for each session.
• To help offset travel costs for out-of-town staff across the entire program, we offer a partial, distance-based sliding-scale travel subsidy. Please note that these listed rates represent the total aggregate subsidy allocation provided across all three non-consecutive program blocks combined:
  • Tier 1 (Local / Ottawa Area): $0
  • Tier 2 (Regional / Train Accessible e.g., Toronto, Montreal, Kingston, Quebec): $300 travel subsidy
  • Tier 3 (National / Air Travel e.g., Western Canada, Atlantic Canada, BC, AB, NL): $750 travel subsidy

Program Dates

Applicants must be available on the following dates:

Training Day: Saturday, February 6 (time tbd)

Session 1: Sunday, February 7 - Friday, February 13, 2027

Session 2: Sunday, February 28 - Friday, March 5, 2027

Session 3: Sunday, April 18 - Friday, April 23, 2027

Training:

• 2 hours for online safeguarding training prior to Forum
• 6 hours of in person training on Saturday, February 6th

Shifts/Hours:

• Total of five 9.5-hour shifts each session
• Shift Time: 5:00 PM to 6:00 AM
• Overnight Split Breakdown:
  • First Half: 4:30 PM – 11:00 PM
  • Overnight Split: 11:00 PM – 2:30 AM / 2:30 AM – 6:00 AM

NOTE:

This intensive program requires long overnight hours and is incompatible with working daytime hours during program weeks.