Nine Toronto District School Board (TDSB) graduates from the Project SEARCH Toronto program are excited to receive their certificates and start their post-high school careers this June 2024.

Since 2019, each year 8-10 TDSB students with disabilities in their final year of high school have been attending employment skills classes and completing three 10-week placements at University Health Network (UHN) and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview) resulting in more than 750 hours of training each. The goal of the program is for graduates to find paid employment within 1 year of graduation. Graduates receive job search and employment support from Community Living Toronto (CLTO) with funding from United Way Greater Toronto.

Our Impact:

• 75% of graduates from the 2019/20 to 2022/23 classes gained employment (85% of those who maintained availability to work)
• UHN and Holland Bloorview hired almost 50% of graduates
• Graduates have been hired into roles including: environmental services, food/nutrition services, materials management, linens, patient and materials portering, customer service, clerical assistance, child care
• Graduates’ wages have consistently been at least $2-$3 above minimum wage on average

Partnerships and mentorship drive this impact:

• The training program is collaboratively operated by TDSB, CLTO, UHN and Holland Bloorview.
• Sodexo Canada provides food and environmental services at Holland Bloorview. Sodexo champions Project SEARCH by providing placements during the training year and also as an inclusive employer hiring from this talent pool.
• Unity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Scarborough Health Network (SHN) Centenary Hospital each trained 3 of the 2024 graduating students from April-June
• Project SEARCH Toronto is extremely grateful to the staff of Sodexo, SHN, Unity Health, UHN and Holland Bloorview who mentor students as they learn job skills, helping them on their path to employment.

Please join the Project SEARCH Toronto partners in congratulating the entire Class of 2024 on their hard work and achievements this year. Students have gained valuable work skills and are ready to work. To get involved or share a job opportunity, contact Project SEARCH Toronto at projectsearchtoronto@tdsb.on.ca.