George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
High School Students
Dual Credit Post-Secondary Pathway Program
The Community Partnerships Office (CPO) partners with six High School Boards in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to deliver a pathway program to help high school students make a successful transition to post-secondary education and to get a head start on their future post-secondary studies and careers. Grade 11 and 12 Dual Credit students attend class at George Brown once a week for one semester, earning both a high school course credit and a college credit upon successful completion. Dual Credit courses vary from year to year and include offerings from across George Brown’s academic centres.
- Trades (e.g. welding, machining, electrical, construction health and safety)
- Arts & design (e.g. digital media, object-oriented programming)
- Hospitality (e.g. event planning, restaurant service)
- Liberal Arts & Sciences (e.g. film studies, forensic psychology)
The Dual Credit program also provides opportunities for students to explore career interests and build their knowledge and skills for a successful transition to college and apprenticeship education.
Funder: Ontario Ministry of Education
Community Partners: Toronto District School Board (TDSB), the Toronto District Catholic School Board (TCDSB), Peel District School Board (PDSB), Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB), York Region District School Board (YRDSB), and EC Drury School for the Deaf
High School Within Our Polytechnic
The Community Partnerships Office (CPO) partners with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto District Catholic School Board (TCDSB) to deliver School Within A College (SWAC): an educational program for youth ages 17-19 who require a change of environment and social circle to support them on their track to graduating high school. SWAC students spend a semester on campus at George Brown, gaining exposure to college life while having the opportunity to complete up to 8 high school credits in a classroom led by a teacher from their respective School Board. While they work toward completing their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) credits, SWAC students may also earn up to two first-year college credits by taking elective courses taught by George Brown Polytechnic’s faculty. These college credits help students, once they graduate high school, to make the transition to a college/polytechnic studies.
Funder: Ontario Ministry of Education
Community Partners: Toronto District School Board (TDSB), Toronto District Catholic School Board (TCDSB)
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
In partnership with GTA High School Boards, George Brown's Community Partnerships Office (CPO), School of Culinary Arts, and School of Engineering Technologies deliver apprenticeship level 1 training to Grade 11 and Grade 12 students who are interested in pursing a career in the skilled trades. The program is one semester in length and incorporates theory courses and lab-based training as well as wraparound supports. Program streams include:
- Carpentry
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Electrician
- Refrigeration
- Cook
- Bake
The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) program paves the way for participants to pursue careers in the trades as well as enabling more students to graduate from high school. OYAP students have the opportunity to earn high school co-op credit and simultaneously get a jump start on their college education by completing level 1 of their skilled trade apprenticeship before they even graduate from high school.
Funder: Ministry of Labour, Immigration Training and Skills Development
Community Partners: Toronto District School Board (TDSB), the Toronto District Catholic School Board (TCDSB), Peel District School Board (PDSB), Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB), York Region District School Board (YRDSB)
Post-Secondary Experience Events for High School Students
The Community Partnerships Office (CPO) is committed to hosting a series of College Experience Days for approximately 1,200 students annually. Each event highlights college programs, services, and potential career pathways, and often includes interactive, hands-on workshops led by George Brown faculty. Visiting students and teachers have the opportunity to hear directly from current students about their experiences and future plans. These visits also include in-depth tours of our campuses, helping participants explore the range of programs and pathways available at George Brown Polytechnic.
Funder: Ontario Ministry of Education
Community Partners: Toronto District School Board (TDSB), the Toronto District Catholic School Board (TCDSB), York Region District School Board (YRDSB); Self-Love Youth Wellness & Empowerment
Youth Mentorship Program with Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto
The Community Partnerships Office and Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto (BBBST) partner to "take the fear out of the unknown" in our Pumped for Post-Secondary program (PFPS). Groups of High School students are mentored by screened and trained George Brown Polytechnic students on George Brown's campus throughout the school year. Through 13 group sessions that expose mentees to diverse aspects of college life, mentors empower and encourage mentees to successfully transition from High School to post-secondary education. Focusing on the Developmental Assets of Planning & Decision Making, Self-Esteem, Sense of Purpose and Positive view of personal future, the program inspires mentees to envision themselves beyond High School. In the process, mentees strengthen their leadership and employability skills.
Community Partners: Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto
Workers – Employment Skills Training
Better Jobs Ontario Student Advising and Retention Supports
Better Jobs Ontario (BJO) is a provincial funding initiative that provides mature learners with up to $35,000 in funding to support skills training for in-demand careers. The Community Partnerships Office (CPO) supports the recruitment and retention of BJO sponsored students across all academic divisions by providing funding-specific advising, coordinated referrals, and BJO training documentation to current and prospective learners.
Funder: Ministry of Labour, Immigration Training and Skills Development
Building Code Skills Development for Internationally Trained Individuals
The Building Code Skills Development Program for Internationally Trained Individuals aims to address the skilled labour needs of Ontario’s construction and public administration sectors while also helping highly skilled internationally trained immigrants join the workforce quickly in jobs that match their skills, education and experience. The project is a collaborative partnership between George Brown Polytechnic (GBP) and WoodGreen Community Services (WG) that leverages broad expertise to address talent shortages and provide quality work-integrated learning opportunities for participants. George Brown and WoodGreen work closely to recruit, provide academic and employment support, and facilitate high quality experiential learning opportunities for program participants. We also engage and partner with construction and municipal planning employers across the GTA to raise awareness of building official career pathways to build a talent pipeline for these sectors.
Funder: Ministry of Labour, Immigration Training and Skills Development - Ontario Bridge Training Initiative
Community Partners: WoodGreen Community Services
Construction Project Management for Internationally Trained Individuals
The Construction Project Management for Internationally Trained Individuals project prepares internationally trained individuals with education and work experience backgrounds in the construction industry, such as contractors, construction supervisors, civil engineers, and architects for employment in construction project management. The project delivers technical training including an overview of the construction industry in Ontario, materials, methods, blueprint reading, cost control, estimating, planning and scheduling, project management and site safety, as well as workplace culture and communications training and employment supports tailored to construction project management. Program participants are connected to employers in construction project management through mentoring and networking activities and employment supports.
Funder: Ministry of Labour, Immigration Training and Skills Development - Ontario Bridge Training Initiative
Community Partners: WoodGreen Community Services
CNC/Precision Machining Training for Women
This project addresses the urgent need for skilled labour through a short-duration program that enables 54 Women and Gender Diverse Individuals on low incomes to be employment-ready for entry-level CNC/Precision Machinist jobs in less than 6-months. Simultaneously, the project tackles the immediate and systemic issues of creating supportive and inclusive workplaces to ensure long-term retention of women, trans and non-binary individuals. The CNC/Precision Machining Project aims to address the skilled labour needs of Ontario for skilled precision machinists. This project is a collaborative partnership between WoodGreen and GBP that leverages broad expertise to address talent shortages and provide quality work-integrated learning opportunities for participants. WoodGreen and GBP work closely to recruit, provide academic and employment support, and facilitate high quality experiential learning opportunities for program participants.
Funder: Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services - Women's Economic Security Program
Community Partners: WoodGreen Community Services
IT Helpdesk Training for Women
The IT Help Desk Technician program addresses the needs of women who have experienced violence and/or economic insecurity and delivers multifaceted supports for women to rebuild their lives, gain skills, and secure better jobs in the IT industry. The program offers customized academic preparation, 12 weeks of technical training in IT Help Desk and an 8-week placement for 20 survivors of gender-based violence. This project addresses the urgent need for skilled computer assistance talent within Ontario’s economy while also improving economic security by facilitating pathways to education and employment.
Funder: Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services - Women's Economic Security Program
Community Partners: The Redwood Shelter
Hairstyling Pre-Apprenticeship Training for Women
The Women Transitioning to Trades and Employment (WTTE) Hairstyling Pre-Apprenticeship program addresses the needs of women who have experienced violence and/or economic insecurity and delivers multifaceted supports for women to rebuild their lives, gain skills, and secure better jobs within Ontario's fashion and entertainment sector. This collaborative initiative consists of 24 weeks of employment skills training and includes 4 weeks of Academic Upgrading, 12 weeks of Level 1 Hairstyling Theory – 332A (primary trade), additional exposure to Wig Techniques, and an integrated 8-week industry placement.
Funder: Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Community Partners: Women's Employment Services
Community Members
Ontario Post-Secondary Access & Inclusion Program
The Community Partnerships Office (CPO) delivers the Ontario Post-secondary Access and Inclusion Program, funded by the Ontario government, with the goal of increasing post-secondary education knowledge, access, and success for underrepresented populations. The program has 3 pillars:
- Outreach: promote knowledge of post-secondary options and pathways for equity-deserving populations in the community.
- Access & Transition: promote successful post-secondary education access and transitions
- Retention: retain students who are admitted and enrolled in post-secondary through student success supports
If your organization is interested in partnering, please contact: aburns@georgebrown.ca
Funder: MCURES - Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence & Security
Community Partners: City Adult Learning Centre (CALC); Jessie's Centre for Pregnant Teens; Eva's Initiative, Jane & Finch Centre Youth Hub; Pape Adolescent Resource Centre (PARC); Children's Aid Society (CAS); Mennonite New Life Centre (MNLC); North York Community House (NYCH); Game Changers; United Way of Greater Toronto (UWGT); Jarvis High School Student Success; Vivir LGBTQ; Central Toronto Academy; Harbord Special Education; CultureLink; APLC - Indigenous Literacy Program; Monsignor Fraser- Isabella and Annex Campuses