Student Opportunities

The following LIMITED TIME opportunities have been shared through the weekly emails: 

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Imagine Architecture - Carleton University

Imagine Architecture is a career exploratory studio for grade 10-12 students who are interested in design, architecture, and urbanism, and would like to gain experience in creative design thinking and making.

The fun and intensive workshops are taught by instructors from Carleton University’s Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism. They introduce students to the creative culture of design studio, which is at the core of the Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) curriculum.  Space is limited so register early.

Dates for 2026

On-Campus

LAB 101 On-Campus: July 6-10 — $730 + HST

LAB 102 On-Campus: July 13-17 — $730 + HST

LAB 103 On-Campus: July 20-24 — $730 + HST

On-Campus programs are delivered in person at Carleotn University and include daily lunch and all art supplies.  There isa $150 discount for students registered for all three labs. Three labs (with discount) = $2,040 + HST

Online

LAB 101 Online: July 27-31 — $600 + HST

Register here

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King's College - Essay Writing Contest

King’s will be hosting an essay writing contest for high school students. The contest is open to any grade twelve student, and the prize will be winning the books for our first-year program, FYP (an approx. $850 value). Students will be asked to write a 1000-word essay using a text of their choice to answer the following question:

At King’s, the books students read all pose a challenge—to the reader, to society, to literary canon, to our own ideas of the past or present. Through reading these books, students learn to question their own assumptions. Choose a book that you think is challenging, and tell us why that challenge is important?

The deadline for the contest is March 30, 2026. 

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Ottawa School of Theatre

Attention Young Aspiring Playwrights! Do you have a story that you want to share with the world? Do you want to bring it to life? If so, you’re in luck. The Ottawa School of Theatre is bringing back its playwriting contest for its second year!

For age groups 12-14 and 15-18, young artists will have a chance to share their ideas with OST. Both age groups will have a shot at winning the first place prize of:
● A $200 OST gift certificate for classes, camps, or teen intensives
● A 150$ cash prize
● Recognition on all of OST’s socials
● Your play brought to life in a performance!

And a second place prize of:
● A $200 Gift certificate for classes and camps
● An OST t-shirt

The Ottawa School of Theatre wants to see your wild creativity! But there are a few requirements for the contest, so that we can perform the winning play:
● It must have relatively equal roles for a minimum of 10 actors, maximum 14;
● It must be appropriate content for kids to perform;
● It must have a run time of 25 minutes or less (18-28 pages);
● It must be written in French or English; we celebrate and perform in both languages!

Please provide your script and info through this google form by May 1st: https://forms.gle/4p7tYywXVjVHDTFV9

The winners will be announced by May 16th!

Contact playwriting@ost-eto.ca here for any pressing inquiries about the contest.

Happy writing!

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Summer Jobs / Summer Programs

Most summer camps are looking for student workers at this time.  

The City of Ottawa's 2024 Summer Student Employment Program will be accepting online job applications from February 1 - 28. 

Other summer options include learning abroad through a summer program (such as Oxbridge Academic, The Irish Experience, IE University) or volunteering (check out some gap year websites through the Student Services website. or pick up information flyers from Student Services.

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OCDSB - OCENET Ottawa-France Exchange

This exchange started in 2017 and has seen groups of between 15 and 40 OCDSB students host students from the Aix-Marseille-Nice region every fall and then travel to France every spring. Students attend school in French during that time.  The 2026 - 2027 Ottawa - France Exchange is open to students in Core French or Immersion with preference given to students in the OCDSB's International Certificate Program.   The application is now open and linked here.  (To avoid losing parts of the application, please create a free account by clicking on the blue Save button at the bottom of the 1st page.) The cost is approximately $3700 (Financial support available). 

Applications due March 23, 2026.

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Horatio Alger Scholarship FOR GRADE 11 students

The Horatio Alger Association of Canada  offers 150+ scholarships of up to $25,000. 

Applications are due by March 31, 2026.  Additional information can be found on their Scholarship page.  Please do not hesitate to reach out at canadascholarships@horatioalger.ca with any questions about the application process.

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Stantec and the Ottawa Senators Community Foundation Scholarship

Stantec and the Ottawa Senators Community Foundation have partnered to provide four $5,000 awards to graduating OCDSB students entering a STEM-based (science, technology, engineering, or math) post-secondary program at the college or university level. This award aims to provide financial support to students from historically underrepresented groups, including racialized individuals, Indigenous peoples, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, women, and persons with disabilities. Applicants will also be considered who are from military families, who face economic barriers in pursuing post-secondary education, or who are the first members of their family to attend post-secondary studies.  

There are four awards valued at $5,000 each. In addition to the financial award, recipients will be invited to attend an Ottawa Senators hockey game in April with a guest of their choosing.

The application period is now open with a deadline of March 6, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.  

More information about the award can be found on the Education Foundation of Ottawa's website including the Laserfiche application form that students can access using their OCDSB email account and password. 

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Young at Art 2026

The 2026 Young at Art application is now available here: ottawa.ca/youngatart. The deadline for artwork submission is Thursday, March 26th,  2026, at 1 p.m.  

What’s new in Young at Art 2026? 

1. New art medium category: Film and video  

2. More artworks on display: Two runners-up will be selected in each art category to expand this year’s exhibition and increase opportunities for youth artists. 

3. Post-secondary Young at Art bursary (senior category): For the first time, senior participants (ages 16 to 19) who provide proof of enrollment in a post-secondary Creative Arts program (visual, media, design, etc.) will be eligible for a $500 bursary. The award will be given to the highest-scoring eligible senior artist, based on the selection committee’s evaluation. This bursary can be awarded alongside other awards, offering additional support to young artists as they advance their artistic journey.  

Timeline and location  

Works selected for Young at Art are displayed for exhibition in a community gallery in the spring. Once the exhibition is open, there will be a vernissage at the gallery to celebrate the artworks and talented young visual artists.

• Deadline to submit: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 1 pm 

• Selection committee meeting: April 2026 

• Exhibition: May 14 to June 8, 2026 

• Vernissage: Thursday, May 28, 2026, 5:30 to 7:30 pm 

• Location: Shenkman Arts Centre, Salons A and B of Trinity Art Gallery  

• Artwork pickup: Tuesday, June 9, 2026 4:30 to 6 pm at the Shenkman Arts Centre 

Follow the Young at Art Instagram account for updates on the 2026 program. Award-winning artworks will be featured on the account beginning in June.  

Applicants will be notified in mid-April if they are a selected artist.  

If you have any questions, please contact YAAEH@ottawa.ca. 

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YMCA - SWSE Program (Summer Work Student Exchange Program)

The YMCA - SWSE just opened applications for Summer 2026! 

The Summer Work Student Exchange is a 6-week national exchange that allows youth ages 16 - 17  to get work experience, explore a different province, and improve their second official language. The cost of the program is $200.  Students stay with a family in the province they go to. Similarly, the student’s family is matched with a youth that will come to Ottawa and stay with them. During the 6 weeks of the program, students work at a not-for-profit where they will be paid (minimum wage). During the weekend and some weekday evenings, the youth will do group activities with the local coordinator to explore their new community and get to know other exchange students. 

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Her Path Project 

Her Path Project is a student-led virtual mentorship program that connects university and college students with girls aged 13–18 who are interested in STEM, healthcare, and related fields. Our goal is to help girls work toward their education and academic growth by connecting them with mentors who can share insight, experience and practical advice about pursuing studies and careers in science, medicine and health-related fields.  Founded in Ottawa, Her Path Project is run by university students who are passionate about helping younger students reach their educational goals and explore future opportunities in STEM and healthcare.   

How it Works: Girls ages 13-18 complete a short mentee sign-up form and each mentee is matched with a mentor studying in a related field.   Mentor and Mentees meet once or twice per month (online ) to discuss: 

• Study tips and academic planning 

• Choosing university programs or courses 

• Career paths in STEM and healthcare 

• Goal setting, organization and motivation.   

Her Path Project helps girls move from interest to action by providing real conversations, relatable mentors and academic guidance.   The program is completely free, virtual, and designed to be flexible around students’ schedules.

Mentee Sign-up: https://forms.gle/9gaeJgFzdwGAuKCh8

Questions: herpathproject.info@gmail.com

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NROC RC - The Social Spot 

A FREE neuro-affirming social skills group for teens in Grades 9 - 12 to learn and practice skills in navigating social situations with confidence.  

See poster below!

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Enriched Support Program (ESP) at Carleton University

ESP is a program which assists students who have the academic potential to succeed in a university setting, though whose grades are not necessarily reflective of this. The program offers various supports such as access to mentors, student advisors, academic coaching, and facilitated workshops, in order to assist students in achieving their academic potential.

Oftentimes, ESP students are those whose grades do not meet the requirements to gain initial admission into an undergraduate degree program. By completing a year in ESP, students are given the chance to complete credits that will count towards a degree program and later apply to gain admission into that program. Feel free to explore here for more information about our program.

Follow @carleton.esp on Instagram!

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Bridge to Campus

Bridge to Campus  is a student-led, non-profit organization that helps high school students across Canada build connections with university students, as they prepare for the transition to post-secondary education. Ever since we launched the organization, we have been able to pair mentees from Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and beyond with mentors who share personalized advice on applications, scholarships, campus life, and career pathways.

Our Services (All free of charge)

1. 1-on-1 Mentorship: Students are paired with a university mentor who provides tailored guidance and support on university applications, admission essays and ask any questions that they may have. This year, our mentors will be from McGill University, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo and Queen's University. This service is completely online, and meetings are conducted through platforms such as Zoom. 

2. Themed Webinars: Interactive panels with current university students covering topics such as university applications, choosing the right program, financial aid, dorm selection and more.

3. Essay Review Service: Online essay review service where your students have the opportunity to submit their scholarship essay to be peer-reviewed by our pool of mentors across the university students we work with.

We understand the importance of protecting students’ privacy and ensuring safe online interactions, so we have created a Privacy Policy, which outlines the measures we take to safeguard high school students participating in our services. This includes strict guidelines for mentor–mentee communication, protocols to protect student information, as well as procedures to be in place in case of mistreatment.

Learn more about the organization at www.bridgetocampus.net. 

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YMCA -YWCA - Newcomer Youth Leadership Development Program

The YMCA-YWCA Newcomer Youth Leadership Development program is looking for Youth aged 13-25 -  especially youth who have permanent resident, refugee or CUAET* status .

They hold events, activities, workshops and sessions for youth. Click here for more information.