January 29, 2026 Mentor Canada Receives $3.9 Million in Government Funding to Champion Youth Mentorship for Employment
Mentor Canada received $3.9 million in funding from the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), an investment that will significantly advance our work in connecting young people with life-changing mentorship opportunities within youth employment ecosystem through a national strategic collaboration project, “Mentoring as a Catalyst for Youth Employment.”
“Providing young people with career guidance and access to professional networks supports their transition into the workforce.
Your Government's investments in Mentor Canada will help more young Canadians secure meaningful employment. We will remain focused on connecting Canadian youth with the jobs and skill development opportunities they need to launch their professional lives,” says the Honourable Anna Gainey, Canada’s Secretary of State (Children and Youth)
This multi-year strategic collaboration initiative will strengthen the capacity of youth serving organizations, employers, and post-secondary institutions to integrate high-quality mentoring into youth employment journeys.
Through rigorous research and development and cross-sectoral partnerships, this project will develop new strategies, tools, and mentoring opportunities for youth across Canada to reach better employment outcomes.
“This investment is a powerful recognition of the fact that mentorship is a critical catalyst for youth employment and career success,” says Tracy Luca-Huger, Executive Director of Mentor Canada. “Mentoring transforms futures, providing young people with the essential guidance and networks they need to secure meaningful employment and sustain career growth. This funding will allow us to significantly accelerate our work to close Canada’s significant mentoring gap by integrating high-quality mentoring directly into youth employment pathways for those aged 18 to 30. Building a world-class mentoring ecosystem requires a collective effort, and bringing together partners from diverse sectors—employers, post-secondary institutions, and youth-serving organizations—is crucial to ensure young people in Canada have the support they need to thrive in life and along their employment journey.”
Mentor Canada has partnered with the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) and The Students Commission of Canada (SCC), along with several sector collaborators including the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE), AIESEC Canada, the Government of New Brunswick’s Department of Education & Early Childhood Development, Rideau Hall Foundation, Queen’s University, and the University of Victoria—Co-operative Education Program and Career Services to advance “Mentoring as a Catalyst for Youth Employment.”
“The Students Commission of Canada is excited to partner with Mentor Canada to ground mentoring in meaningful and reciprocal inter-generational partnerships that ensure that young people are heard and valued.” - Sharif Mahdy, Chief Executive Officer at the Student’s Commission of Canada
The Government of Canada's investment underscores the critical role that mentorship plays in shaping a strong workforce and a more inclusive society. This funding will enable us to expand our reach and ensure more young people have access to the guidance and support they need to succeed in their careers and in life.
To learn more about the “Mentoring as a Catalyst for Youth Employment” project, please visit the official Government of Canada announcements:
If your organization in interested in this project and would like to get involved in this work, please contact Mentor Canada.