Reflecting on Willowdale’s Youth Employment Fair

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Willowdale’s Youth Employment Fair at Mitchell Field Community Centre. This event was co-hosted by my office, NeighbourLink North York, JVS, and the North York Cluster to help connect youth with employers, employment resources, and opportunities to take the next step in their career journey. We had a strong turnout with almost 700 job seekers in attendance. 

The strong turnout was both encouraging and sobering. It showed how many young people are eager to work, build experience, and contribute, while also reminding us how important it is to create accessible spaces where residents can connect directly with employers and community supports.

I am grateful to the employers, local businesses, and community partners who joined us and took the time to meet with residents. Your participation helped create a welcoming environment where young people could ask questions, explore opportunities, and feel encouraged as they plan for their futures.

A special thank you to Mitchell Field Community Centre for hosting us and helping make this event possible. Community spaces like this play an important role in bringing residents, service providers, and local organizations together.

Supporting youth employment is an important part of building a strong and connected Willowdale. For young people who are still building their resumes, volunteering can also be a meaningful way to gain experience, develop skills, network, and explore different areas of work while giving back to the community. Those interested in volunteering with our Willowdale Youth Outreach Team can email us at: councillor_cheng@toronto.ca

Thank you again to everyone who participated, supported, and helped make Willowdale’s Youth Employment Fair a meaningful event for our community. Based on the success of this first effort, we are committed to organizing another one next year!