Toronto Community Housing’s Community Safety Unit Launches New Youth Cadet Program

TORONTO, ON – Toronto Community Housing is excited to announce the launch of the Youth Cadet Program. The Youth Cadet Program is a joint initiative led by The Centre for the Advancing the Interests of Black People (“The Centre”) and the Community Safety Unit (“CSU”). The intent of the program is to create meaningful pathways for youth who have an interest in community safety but may experience barriers in accessing the industry.  

Rooted in the Confronting Anti-Black Racism (CABR) Action Plans, the objectives of the Youth Cadet Program are to:  

• Foster positive relationships between CSU and Black youth residents in TCHC communities 
• Promote and expose youth to a potential career in community safety and law enforcement 
• Break down systemic barriers that prevent youth from pursuing a career in community safety 
• Improve community engagement and build connections between CSU and the neighbourhoods they serve 
• Provide youth with hands-on work experience and opportunities to develop their leadership and other employment skills  

The Youth Cadet Program is a year-long paid employment opportunity, which includes a five-week training followed by 47 weeks of deployment with a CSU platoon. Over the course of their employment, the youth will experience many aspects of community safety and law enforcement that the CSU is involved in, and open new career paths for future opportunities. 

Who can apply? 

To be considered for the Youth Cadet Program, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

• A youth between the ages of 18-25 
• A resident of Ontario (preference will be given to candidates who live in a TCHC community) 
• A passion for learning more about the social housing sector 
• Able to commit for the duration of the program 

How to apply? 

Interested applicants should visit our Careers page to see the job posting. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, April 4, 2023.  

If you have questions about the Youth Cadet program, please reach out to CSU Sergeant Trevor Searles at Trevor.Searles@torontohousing.ca.  

Quotes 

“We are excited to keep building the momentum of the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Strategy and the action plans it is informing. The Youth Cadet Program will provide youth with valuable leadership development and employment skills over the year. I look forward to supporting the Centre and CSU as they launch this program, and I can’t wait to meet the young people that embark on this exciting journey.”  

- Jag Sharma, President and CEO, TCHC 

 

“The Youth Cadet Program will play an important role in fostering healthy relationships with youth and the Community Safety Unit. At the Centre, we see this program as one with immense potential to empower young people in the community, bring out their leadership skills with hands-on experience and turn them into positive role models in the community.” 

- Barry Thomas, Director, The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People

About Toronto Community Housing 

Toronto Community Housing is Canada's largest social housing provider. Our buildings are home for nearly 60,000 low- and moderate-income households in neighbourhoods across the city.