Join the YMCA Team!
Be the Spark! Join our professional and passionate team and be the spark that ignites the potential in others.
Our culture is of paramount importance to us. We formally measure employee engagement annually to ensure our employees are having an excellent employment experience. Our current level of engagement is 80%, compared to some Canadian employer statistics of 69%.
YMCA of Southwestern Ontario was founded in 1856 and has over 200 locations from Goderich to Point Pelee, and Windsor to Woodstock. We are one of the largest not-for-profit providers of licensed child care in Canada and have over 100 school age programs across our regions. We also offer settlement services to newcomers, employment programs, and youth programs. YMCA of Southwestern Ontario operates one overnight camp on Beausoleil Island in Muskoka, YMCA Camp Queen Elizabeth. We also have 13 Health & Fitness branches across Southwestern Ontario.
Why The Y?
At the Y, our people are central to delivering our mission. We are committed to the development of healthy communities and welcome people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities.
We provide valuable training and development opportunities to help our team members grow professionally and personally.
We look for the following qualities in all of our employees and volunteers:
- Demonstrates our Core Values; Caring, Honesty, Respect & Responsibility and Inclusivity
- Fun, Enthusiastic & Friendly Individuals
- Hardworking and Dependable
- Positive Role Model
- Team Player
- Professionalism
- Enjoy working in a Social Environment
- Ability to effectively communicate with Employees & Members
Employees and volunteers of YMCA of Southwestern Ontario are ambassadors for the Y both on and off the job. We rely on them to help share our mission and increase awareness of the positive impact the Y can have on the lives of people in their communities. Particularly how we are helping to create healthy children, healthy families, and healthy communities.
All employees and volunteers are required to provide a current satisfactory Criminal Record and may require a Vulnerable Sector Search as a condition of their employment. Police Record checks are reviewed on an individual basis, and the offense(s) - if any - is considered in the decision-making process in relation to the requirements of the position, therefore not eliminating all candidates with a record from being offered gainful employment.
Position: Child and Youth Program Staff
Location: 101 Courthouse Ln, Chatham N7L 0B5
Start Date: July 15, 2026
Salary: 17.60 / hour
Qualifications & Experience:
- Experience working with children, sports programming, creative movement, coaching
- Current First Aid and CPR
- Participation in YMCA Healthy Child Development (training provided)
- Current and acceptable Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening is a condition of employment for all staff and volunteers
- It is a YMCA of Southwestern Ontario requirement that all employees and volunteers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Exemptions will be granted upon receipt of acceptable proof of a permissible Human Rights Code ground. This requirement has been suspended effective June 30, 2022. It may be reinstated in future should the state of public health in our communities require it.
Compensation/Benefits:
- A YMCA personal membership at our health and fitness branches
- A discount on our Childcare and Camp programs
- Vacation entitlement in accordance with the employment standards regulations
- Entitled to up to 2 paid personal days – applicable with position and contract length
- Benefits package – applicable with position and contract length
Schedule:
- Expectation for 1-2 program shifts a week, mornings, evenings, and weekends
Responsibilities:
- YMCA of Southwestern Ontario policy and procedures
- Act as a YMCA ambassador, demonstrating YMCA core values in your daily work
- Learn how to effectively lead all child and youth programming
- Create developmentally appropriate program plan
- Deliver child and youth programs to assigned participant group
- Participate actively in all child and youth activities and special events
- Incorporate inclusive programming allowing for children of all abilities to participate
- Involve participants in choice of activity where appropriate
- Encourage participants to set and achieve goals
We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
NOTE: The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for all stakeholders including our members/participants, employees, job applicants, suppliers, and any visitors who may enter our premises, access our information, or use our services. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005), and its associated standards and regulations.
Candidates, please be advised that our recruitment process incorporates AI technology for initial application screening. This assists us in efficiently assessing qualifications. Rest assured, our recruiters will additionally review resumes to ensure a fair and accurate assessment is completed.
