Student Opportunities

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

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Free OC Transpo Rides for Youth

Starting September 1st, youth aged 11 to 18 can ride OC Transpo for free after 5:00 p.m. on weeknights, and all day on weekends and holidays. Students with an active OSTA student pass will continue to ride free at all times during the school day. For those without an existing pass, a PRESTO card can be purchased and set to the Youth fare type — proof of age is required. Please visit octranspo.com for more information.

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University of Ottawa - Destination: Family Medicine

Destination: Family Medicine is an interactive, transformative day, where students will receive a working stethoscope, branded event t-shirt, mentorship opportunities and teaching from world-class educators is their gateway to discovering the vital role of family physicians in our society and their many different skill sets.   Family Physicians provide care in medical clinics, hospitals, operating rooms, emergency rooms, sports medicine centres, sexual medicine clinics, patient homes, maternity suites, disaster relief settings, and public health settings. The twenty-three inspiring stations we have planned celebrate these diverse skill sets.

About the Event:

• Program Date: Friday November 6, 2026, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM

• Location: University of Ottawa Skills and Simulation Centre and The Ottawa Hospital – Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9 

What’s in Store: This interactive experience is perfect for students curious about the medical field and offers a glimpse into the varied and dynamic world of Family Medicine. Students will:

• Participate in engaging, hands-on small group workshops designed to introduce them to the essential skills and techniques used by family physicians daily

• Choose the streams that match their interests including Anglophone and Francophone streams

• Meet award winning uOttawa clinical faculty

• Interact with medical students and resident physicians who will provide support and mentorship, answer questions, and give insights into interesting “side gigs” that make life beyond medicine interesting

Registration Details:

• Fee: $200 plus tax per student

• Included: Registration fees including onsite materials, event branded t-shirt and lunch.

• Not included: Transportation to and from course location

• Eligibility: Open to all high school students who demonstrate a keen interest in pursuing a career in family medicine

• Register now!

Principal’s Delegates Bursary
We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive future for healthcare by ensuring that students from all backgrounds have access to this transformative experience. We are offering a limited number of bursaries to help remove barriers to participation. This bursary will waive the registration fee for students who may face financial, geographic, cultural, or other attendance challenges. These participants will be known as “Principal’s Delegates” and will receive all the same programming as every other student and will be fully integrated in the program. Parent/guardian permission to participate and a reference letter will be required. Apply here by September 11. Selected students will be notified in October.

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Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) - Free Saturday pass for Teens

The Ottawa International Animation Festival offers a Saturday Day Pass for Teens and Teachers, which grants all local teens and teachers access to OIAF screenings and programming on Saturday, September 26 until 6:00pm. Saturday’s highlight is the Animation Exposé at the National Arts Centre (NAC). This event features artist talks and the opportunity to meet representatives from animation schools.

Note that pre-registration and school ID are required to take advantage of this pass.

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Girls SySTEM Mentorship

Are you considering a career in STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math? Sign up to be paired with a professional mentor in your field of interest via Girls System Mentorship Eastern Ontario. We're a non-profit organization based in Canada that strives to bridge the gap between men and women in STEM.

Some of the benefits of becoming a mentee include:

·      Free one-on-one mentoring with a professional in STEM

·      Access to monthly workshops and events to further your STEM interests

·      A platform to connect with other like-minded individuals

Applications to become a mentee for the 2026/2027 program year are now open. Apply to become a mentee here.

Although our program targets self-identifying young women, it is open to students of any gender. We ask that mentees are able to commit 1-2 hours a month. Our program is hybrid, so we provide virtual and in-person opportunities to accommodate everyone. Mentee applications close on September 15, 2026.

Mentees will be paired with the mentor that we see most fitting based on shared interests and goals, hobbies, and overall compatibility. More information can be found on our website. 

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Ecology Ottawa

Ecology Ottawa is thrilled to accept applications for the second year of its EcoYouth Council. The EcoYouth program responds to growing eco-anxiety among young people and highlights the power of local environmental action. Through the Council, school presentations, and the Youth Summit, youth participate in practical environmental solutions, deepen their knowledge, and develop leadership skills. This is a fantastic opportunity for youth aged 16–23 to make a real impact in their community. 

Ecology Ottawa invites interested youth to access their website for more information and to apply. Applications are open until Friday, September 11th, 2026.

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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.