School Readiness Assistant - Student Position

Position Type: Full-time Contract

Hours of Work per week: 35 hours

Salary Range

$19.10/hour

Anticipated Start Date: June 15, 2026

Location: 1940 Eglinton Avenue East

This position is for a duration of 8 weeks.

ABOUT US

Strides Toronto Support Services (“Strides Toronto”) Strides Toronto is a multi-service agency supporting infants, children, youth and young adults from birth to age 29, and their families, primarily across east Toronto. We offer community-based, residential and treatment programs—including mental health counselling, autism services, early intervention, day treatment, education, outreach and community support—using a client-centered, evidence-informed approach. Since 2015, Strides Toronto has served as Toronto’s Lead Agency for Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health, partnering with 21 core service providers to provide system leadership, citywide planning, coordinated service delivery and program alignment. Strides Toronto also leads initiatives with broader reach, including Help Ahead [https://helpahead.ca/] and the HOPE Strategy [https://www.hope-strategy.com/] across Toronto and One Stop Talk [https://onestoptalk.ca/]/Parlons Maintenant [https://onestoptalk.ca/fr/] and the Provincial Youth Outreach Worker Program [https://www.ontario.ca/document/2024-2025-mccss-service-objectives-child-welfare-and-protection/2024-2025-services-41] across Ontario.

About the Role

The School Readiness Assistant Student (Canada Summer Job Position) is for students currently enrolled in Early Childhood Education, Sociology, or Psychology programs. This role will assist with the daily operations of the Ready, Set, Go program.

The Ready, Set, Go program is a school readiness program supporting a healthy transition to schools for vulnerable children and their families. The major focus of the program is the concurrent groups for the children entering Junior Kindergarten and their parents. This is a ten-session group operating daily over a two-week period in July or August in community schools.

• As funding for this role has partially been provided by the Canada Summer Jobs program the following eligibility requirements must be met by the successful participant (candidate):
• Be between 15-30 years of age, at the start of the employment;
• Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN); and
• Be a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or someone to whom Refugee Status has been granted/conferred.

International students and other temporary residents of Canada are not eligible.

• What you will do
• Help prepare materials for the groups, coordinate the recruitment and registration of all the participants.
• Assist in running the groups.
• Work with all team members and supervisors to ensure strong communications and a positive working environment.
• Maintaining a safe work environment
• Assists with administrative tasks as required.
• Adheres to Agency policies, procedures and practices.
• Other duties as assigned appropriate to the scope of the position.

The “must haves”

• The following education, professional memberships and knowledge are a requirement for this role:
• Currently enrolled in an ECE, Sociology, or Psychology post-secondary program
• Knowledge of how to use computer programs (e.g. publisher, excel, power point)
• Ability to work with a diverse population.
• Ability to work as part of a team with staff, students and volunteers
• Awareness of the role of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in the workplace and within the community being served by the position.
• An understanding of anti-black racism, anti-oppressive/ anti-racism perspective in the context of the social determinants of health.
• Ability to recognize and identify situations where incidents of imbalance of power and privilege may occur and can result in possible negative impacts.

The ‘nice to haves’

While not required, preference will be given to candidates with the following

• Familiar with human resources information systems (HRIS)
• Fluency in another language(s), including sign language.

Before starting with us

• As our work puts us in direct contact with youth and vulnerable persons in our community, with health and safety as a priority, the successful candidate must complete or obtain the following before commencement of their employment:
• A Vulnerable Sector police check
• A positive police check does not automatically disqualify an applicant for a position with Strides Toronto. The Police Check will be reviewed and evaluated for the purpose of making a decision on suitability for employment in relation to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position being filled.

• Why join our team?
• We provide opportunities for growth and professional development.
• We are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive environment where our diverse team members and clients can thrive.
• We have a collaborative and supportive Senior Management Team.
• We set high standards for performance, client outcomes, and implement best practices, which are demonstrated through our accreditation with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation.

How To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume outlining your demonstrated education, certification (if applicable), working and related volunteer experience and how you meet specific requirements for this position, and any additional considerations you deem appropriate. The application deadline is May 20, 2026.

Strides Toronto is an equal opportunity employer. We benefit from diversity of lived experiences in the workplace and encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Strides Toronto is a participant in the Government of Canada’s 50-30 Challenge, a program which challenges organizations to improve access for women and/or non-binary people and other equity-deserving groups, including those identifying as: racialized, Black, and/or people of colour, people with disabilities (including invisible and episodic disabilities), 2SLGBTQ+ and/or gender and sexually diverse individuals, and Aboriginal and/or Indigenous Peoples to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplace.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Strides Toronto’s own policies, requests for accommodation will be considered throughout the hiring process.

We thank all applicants however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.