Information for Community Partners

For more than 35 years, Lutherwood’s Employment Services has worked closely with partner agencies and local businesses to help individuals in our community secure meaningful work. We believe that collaboration with agency partners is an integral part of our vision to strengthen lives in our community and beyond.

We are always looking to expand our partnerships within Waterloo Region and Wellington County to ensure more people can access our services and find employment that meets their needs.

Our Programs

Essential Job Search Support (Employment Ontario Services)

One-to-one coaching services help with all aspects of an individual’s job search, including resume and cover letter writing, effective job search strategies, interview preparation, connecting with employers, exploring career options, paid job placements and on-the-job training opportunities.

Eligible participants must be:

  • Unemployed or working less than 20 hours per week
  • Not in full time education or training
  • Legally able to work in Canada
Achieving Competitive Employment (ACE)

This program provides one-to-one coaching to help individuals with disabilities find and maintain employment or start a small business. Individuals will identify and develop their employable skills and abilities, receive ongoing support in their job search, participate in job trials and on-the-job training and learn about work related disability supports.

For those interested in self-employment, our staff will assist in preparing a business plan, accessing small business startup funding and provide coaching to successfully launch and operate the business.

Eligible participants must be:

  • 16 years of age or older and living with a disability
  • In receipt of ODSP Employment Supports
  • Resident of Ontario
  • Legally able to work in Canada

To Make a Referral: call 519-743-2460 to speak with a member of our ACE team

Youth Job Connection (YJC)

This program supports young people in developing essential workplace skills, establishing important job search strategies, using job search tools and building a career plan. Participants will have opportunities to connect with employers, get valuable work experience and job-related skills for their résumé and secure paid employment based on their interests and abilities.

Eligible participants must be:

  • 15 to 29 years of age (15 to 18 must be legally excused from attending high school)
  • Resident of Ontario
  • Eligible to work in Canada
  • Unemployed
  • Not participating in full time training or education as defined by the school
  • Additional suitability criteria will be assessed by program staff

To Make a Referral, please contact:

Guelph:
Chris Turcot cturcot@lutherwood.ca Cell: 226-962-8247
Cambridge:
Celeste Cole ccole@lutherwood.ca Cell: 519-497-2531
Kitchener:
Claire Athey cathey@lutherwoo.ca Cell: 519-497-3103

Youth Job Connection Summer (YJCS)

The YJC Summer Program is designed to support high school students in developing essential workplace skills, establishing important job search tools and strategies, and building a career plan. Participants will have opportunities to connect with employers, get valuable work experience and job-related skills for their résumé, and secure paid employment based on their interests and abilities.

Eligible participants must be:

  • 15-18 years old at time of registration
  • High school students intending to stay in/return to high school or access post-secondary education after their job placement
  • Eligible to work in Canada
  • Resident of Ontario

To Make a Referral, please contact:

Guelph: Chris Turcot cturcot@lutherwood.ca Cell: 226-962-8247
Cambridge:
Drew Baird dbaird@lutherwood.ca Cell: 519-497-2531
Kitchener:
Claire Athey cathey@lutherwoo.ca Cell: 519-497-3103

Getting Ahead in the Workplace (YESS) - Kitchener Only

This program assists young people in overcoming challenges that often cannot be overcome through traditional approaches so that they can navigate through the labour market and successfully transition into sustained employment.

Eligible participants must be:

  • between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive)
  • a Canadian citizen, permanant resident or a protected person as defined by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
  • legally entitled to work in Canada
  • legally entitled to work according to provincial legislations and regulations

To Make a Referral, please contact:
Erin McLaren emclaren@lutherwood.ca Cell: 226-220-4525

Job Search Workshop (JSW) for Newcomers - Guelph only

The Job Search Workshop (available on-line and in-person) will help individuals develop a targeted, effective job search plan, focused on what Canadian employers are looking for.

Eligible participants must be:

  • Internationally Trained Professionals seeking employment in the same or related field of training and/or experience
  • CLB 5 or higher and basic computer literacy skills

To Make a Referral, please contact our Guelph office at 519-822-4141 to speak with a member from our JSW team.

Mentorship for Internationally Trained Professionals - Guelph only

This program brings together internationally trained professionals (ITPs) and trades people in Guelph-Wellington with local volunteer mentors in their field. Mentees will have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the regional job market and professional practice in Canada, and establish valuable networking connections.

To Make a Referral, please contact Carlos Martins at cmartins@lutherwood.ca

Newcomer Employment Navigation - Guelph only

We help newcomers with limited language and/or computer skills navigate the complex systems involved in finding and maintaining employment.

Eligible participants must be:

  • a permanent resident, convention refugee, protected person or live-in caregiver status in Canada

To Make a Referral, please contact our Guelph office at 519-822-4141 to speak with a Newcomer Employment Navigator

Newcomer Education Navigator - Guelph Only

We help newcomers navigate the complex systems involved in accessing further education, training and apprenticeship.

Eligible participants must be:

  • a permanent resident, convention refugee, protected person or live-in caregiver status in Canada

To Make a Referral, please contact our Guelph office at 519-822-4141 to speak with a Newcomer Employment Navigator

*Assistance can be provided in English, Urdu and Pashto.

Young Newcomer Career Support (YNCS) - Guelph only

We newcomer youth find local job opportunities and navigate the job search process and employment related experiences.

Eligible participants must be:

  • Youth aged 15 to 30 with permanent resident, convention refugee, protected person or live-in caregiver status in Canada.

To Make a Referral, please contact our Guelph office at 519-822-4141

Making a Referral

In order to refer an individual to a Lutherwood program, you can encourage them to set up an appointment with a Lutherwood Employment Advisor. Alternatively, with consent from the individual,you can reach out the program contact listed above and we will follow up with the individual directly.

For More Information

For general information on our services, please call 519-822-4141(Guelph), 519-623-9380 (After-Hours: 519-623-9383) (Cambridge), 519-743-2460 (After Hours: 519-743-2246) (Kitchener-Waterloo)