• Education & Training funding information with Metis Nation
  Jan 23, Feb 6 & 27, Mar 12 & 26 - Jan. 19, 2012
• Etobioke South Employment & Social Services closed for renovations Dec. 12 - 19 - Dec. 8, 2011
• Rate change - Dec. 1, 2011
• Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Career Seminar on Nov. 29 - Nov. 18, 2011
• Beaches Employment & Social Services closed for renovations - Nov. 17, 2011
• Canada Learning Bond mailout - Oct. 31, 2011
• Apprenticeship Fair on Thursday, Oct. 20 - Oct. 18, 2011
• New online application for social assistance - Oct. 14, 2011
• Networking Event for Engineers on Oct. 4 - Sept. 20, 2011
• Free Tickets for National Job Fair & Training Expo Sep. 27 & 28 - Sept. 13, 2011
• Upcoming Job Fair on Sep. 13 - Sept. 1, 2011
• Information sessions for firefighter training opportunity are closed - July 21, 2011
• July 2011 Ontario Works cheques - June 24, 2011
• Never imagined yourself as a firefighter? Go ahead... picture it - June 8, 2011
• City of Toronto survey for parents - June 7, 2011
• June 2011 Ontario Works cheques - May 26, 2011
  
• Canada Learning Bond Event on Sat. May 14 - May 9, 2011
  
• Services en français - Apr. 27, 2011
• International Adult Learners' Week Apr. 2 to Apr. 9, 2011 - Mar. 30, 2011
• Special Diet Allowance changes effective Apr. 1, 2011 - Mar. 7, 2011
• Upcoming job fair on Mar. 10 - Opening Doors to Your Future - Mar. 2, 2011
• Crossways and Cliffcrest Employment Services now open - Dec. 17, 2010
• 8th Annual Internationally Educated Professionals (IEP) Conference held Jan. 14, 2011 - Nov. 25, 2010
• Free tickets for National Job Fair and Training Expo held Oct. 5th and 6th - Oct. 1, 2010
• Never imagined yourself as a firefighter? Go ahead... picture it - September 3, 2010
• Registration for paramedic training info sessions is closed - September 3, 2010
• Primary care paramedic training opportunity - Aug. 13, 2010
• Regent Park Employment Services is now open - Jul. 14, 2010
• T5 slips - Mar. 1, 2010
• Metro Hall Employment Services is now open - Feb. 5, 2010
• TESS on Facebook and Twitter - Jan. 22, 2010
• Now available: French language online applications, eligibility estimator and office finder - Jan. 7, 2010
• Rate change - Dec. 1, 2009
• We've changed our name! - Nov. 10, 2008
• Now available: Apply for Ontario Works online - Nov. 10, 2008
• New website launched - Nov. 3, 2008

Education & Training funding information with Metis Nation
Jan 23, Feb 6 & 27, Mar 12 & 26
Meet with a Metis Nation representative on information about Toronto education & training funding at Metro Hall Employment Centre on
Jan 23, Feb 6 & 27, Mar 12 & 26. Click here to see the event flyer or visit www.metisnation.org for more information.

Etobicoke South Employment & Social Services closed for renovations Dec. 12 - 19
From December 12 to December 19, the Etobicoke South Employment & Social Services office will be closed for renovations. During renovations staff phone numbers will remain the same and residents can continue to contact us by phone. The office is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, December 20. For help with job search and other employment needs residents may visit any of our other Employment Centres during these renovations.

Rate Change
The Ontario government has increased Ontario Works rates by 1% effective December 1, 2011. For more information, please see our Basic Financial Assistance page or speak to your caseworker.

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Career Seminar on Nov. 29
Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) is holding a career seminar at Ricoh Coliseum (click here for directions) for people interested in a career in the sports management industry on Tuesday, November 29 at 3 p.m. A panel of MLSE employees will talk about volunteer opportunities, part-time and full time employment with MLSE, as well as their career paths in the sports management industry. If you are receiving Ontario Works assistance please speak to your caseworker for details. For more information, please click here to see the MLSE flyer.

Beaches Employment & Social Services closed for renovations
Effective November 17, 2011, renovations to improve services at the Beaches Employment & Social Services will begin. All in-person services will be redirected to alternate locations as the office will not be open to the public. During renovations staff phone numbers will remain the same and residents can continue to contact us by phone. For help with job search and other employment needs residents may visit any of our other Employment Centres during these renovations.

Canada Learning Bond mailout
In November, the Government of Canada will mail out information to eligible families about the Canada Learning Bond (CLB), along with a voucher showing how much money each family will receive if they open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). The CLB is a free contribution from the Government of Canada to help eligible families save for their children's post-secondary education with a RESP. For more information on the CLB as well as what you need in order to open a RESP account, please visit www.smartsaver.org.

Apprenticeship Fair on Thursday, Oct. 20
Please join us for an Apprenticeship Information Career Fair this Thursday, October 20th from 1 - 4 p.m. Learn about the apprenticeship program and careers in the skilled trades. For more information, please visit our job fairs page.

New online application for social assistance
As part of the Provincial government's initiative to modernize and improve social assistance technology and delivery across Ontario, a new online application for social assistance was launched province-wide earlier this year, with the exception of Toronto. On October 17, 2011, the City of Toronto will stop using WAYS (Web-based Access to Your Services) and begin using the provincial online application for social assistance. Residents will continue to be able to access this application from the homepage of this website as well as the provincial website at www.ontario.ca/socialassistance.

Residents using the new provincial application will continue to have the ability to estimate their eligibility. Toronto applicants will be able to schedule their own follow-up appointment online through a direct link to the Toronto Employment & Social Services appointment scheduler at the end of the application process.

The online application for social assistance is a convenient and confidential way for people to apply for Ontario Works (OW) assistance, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in English and French.

Networking Event for Engineers on Oct. 4
Metro Hall Employment Services will be hosting A Networking Event for Engineers on October 4, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Metro Hall in room 308/309. For more information, please visit our job fairs page.

Free Tickets for National Job Fair & Training Expo Sep. 27 & 28
The National Job Fair & Training Expo is taking place on September 27th and 28th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Free tickets are available for a limited time at:

The National Job Fair & Training Expo is open to everyone. If you are looking for a new job, if you are ready for a career change, if you want to learn about future job trends, if you want to know more about job search techniques, or if you are interested in self-employment, visit the National Job Fair & Training Expo. For more information about the job fair, please visit the National Job Fair's website. For TTC directions and hours for our locations, please visit our Employment Centres page.

Upcoming Job Fair on Sep. 13
We invite all Toronto residents to attend a job fair at Scarborough Town Centre on Tuesday, September 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please visit our job fairs page.

Information sessions for firefighter training opportunity are closed
Information sessions for the firefighter training opportunity are now closed. Thanks for your interest!

July 2011 Ontario Works cheques
Toronto Employment and Social Services will not be mailing out July 2011 Ontario Works cheques because of the postal disruption.Toronto residents who are expecting a July 2011 cheque should pick up their cheques at their regular Employment and Social Services office as follows:

If your last name begins with the letters:

If you are unable to come to the office on these dates you can pick up your cheque on Thursday, June 30th from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Appropriate identification is needed in order to pick up a cheque. Examples of appropriate identification are a birth certificate, driver's license, passport or immigration documents.

If you are unable to pick up your cheque on the above dates please call your caseworker.

Cheques will only be given to the person whose name is on the cheque.

Please note: if you normally receive your payments by direct deposit, you will not be affected. The June 2011 Drug Benefit Card has been extended to cover clients during this period.

To find the address, phone number and directions to your local office, please visit our office listings.

Never imagined yourself as a firefighter? Go ahead... picture it
We are offering an opportunity in partnership with Toronto Fire Services and Parks, Forestry and Recreation that can help you prepare for a job as a firefighter. To find out more, visit our job fairs and special events page.

City of Toronto survey for parents
If you have children 6 to 12 years of age, the City encourages you to complete a brief, confidential, online survey about your child's after-school options. The City will use this information to plan after-school programs. The survey (via Living in Toronto web page): www.toronto.ca/family

June 2011 Ontario Works cheques
Toronto Employment and Social Services will not be mailing out June 2011 Ontario Works cheques because of the potential for a postal strike. These arrangements are in effect whether there is a strike or not. Toronto residents who are expecting a June 2011 cheque should pick up their cheques at their regular Employment and Social Services office as follows:

If your last name begins with the letters:

Appropriate identification is needed in order to pick up a cheque. Examples of appropriate identification are a birth certificate, driver's license, passport or immigration documents.

If you are unable to pick up your cheque on the above dates please call your caseworker.

Cheques will only be given to the person whose name is on the cheque.

Please note: if you normally receive your payments by direct deposit, you will not be affected. The May 2011 Drug Benefit Card has been extended to cover clients during this period.

To find the address, phone number and directions to your local office, please visit our office listings.

Canada Learning Bond Event on Sat., May 14
In partnership with Councillor Michael Thompson and smartSAVER, we invite all Toronto residents to attend a Canada Learning Bond Event at the Scarborough Civic Centre Rotunda on May 14th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please visit our job fairs and special events page.

Services en français
We are pleased to announce we are now offering services in french, including applications as well as ongoing services. For more information, visit our french services page.

Les services sociaux et d'emploi de Toronto (Toronto Employment & Social Services) offrent des services en français. Pour plus d'informations, visitez notre site Web.

International Adult Learners' Week Apr. 2 to Apr. 9, 2011
We are proud to be a supporter and education partner of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO International Adult Learners' Week in Canada. This week celebrates adult learning across the country, showcases partnerships and success stories, and demonstrates the importance of adult literacy and lifelong learning. For more information, visit the UNCESCO IALW website and the IALW Canada Facebook page.

Special Diet Allowance Changes effective Apr. 1, 2011
The Ministry of Community and Social Services has introduced changes across Ontario to the Special Diet Allowance, effective April 1, 2011. For more information on the upcoming changes, including the new Special Diet Allowance amounts, please click here.

Upcoming job fair Mar. 10 - Opening Doors to Your Future
We invite all Toronto residents to attend a career and job fair on March 10 at the North York Central Library - Opening Doors to Your Future. For more information, please visit our job fairs and special events page.

Crossways Employment Services and Cliffcrest Employment Services are now open
We are proud to announce the launch of Crossways Employment Services and Cliffcrest Employment Services. Toronto residents can get one-on-one help with job searching, career planning, employment workshops, education and training, and more. To find out more, visit ESS in Action.

8th Annual Internationally Educated Professionals (IEP) Conference held Jan. 14, 2011
This is an opportunity for those currently unemployed, or not working in their chosen profession, to network with and learn job search skills from industry experts, employers and successful internationally educated professionals. For more information and to register, please visit http://www.iep.ca/.

Free tickets for National Job Fair & Training Expo
The National Job Fair & Training Expo is taking place on October 5th and 6th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Metro Hall Employment Services, located at 55 John Street, is offering free tickets for a limited time. The National Job Fair & Training Expo is open to everyone. If you are looking for a new job, if you are ready for a career change, if you want to learn about future job trends, if you want to know more about job search techniques, or if you are interested in self-employment, visit the National Job Fair & Training Expo. For more information about the job fair, please visit the National Job Fair's website.

Never imagined yourself as a firefighter? Go ahead... picture it!
We are offering a new opportunity in partnership with Toronto Fire Services that can help you prepare for a job as a firefighter. To find out more, visit our job fairs and special events page.

Registration for paramedic training info sessions is closed -
Registration for the primary care paramedic training opportunity information sessions is now closed. Thank you for your interest!

Primary care paramedic training opportunity
We are offering a new training opportunity in partnership with Toronto Emergency Medical Services that can help you prepare for a job as a primary care paramedic. To find out more, visit our job fairs page.

Regent Park Park Employment Services is now open
We are proud to announce a new location for Regent Park Employment Services at 530 Dundas St. East. Regent Park residents can get one-on-one help with job searching, local employment opportunities, career planning, education and training, and more. To find out more, visit our Regent Park page.

T5 slips
For 2009 tax returns only, clients who received two T5 slips must submit both slips for filing taxes. This is due to the way some payments were processed during the 2009 city workers' strike. If you have questions or concerns about the amount on your T5s, please call the T5 unit at 416-397-0290 from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Metro Hall Employment Services is now open
We are proud to announce the launch of Metro Hall Employment Services. Toronto residents can get one-on-one help with job searching, career planning, employment workshops, education and training, and more. We’ll be showcasing Toronto Public Service jobs and connecting residents with employers and training providers. To find out more, visit ESS in Action.

TESS on Facebook and Twitter
Want to keep up with the latest news on job fairs, events, employment news and more? Follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook!

Now available: French language online applications, eligibility estimator and office finder - Jan. 7, 2010
Residents of Toronto are now able to apply for Ontario Works assistance online in French with ACCÈS, the French version of WAYS (Web Access to Your Services). Francophone residents can now also use an eligibility estimator in French to see if they might qualify for social assistance, and can find out which TESS office to go to with an office finder in French.

Rate change - Dec. 1, 2009
As per provincial legislation, on Dec. 1st social assistance rates changed. For more information see the Procedures Index, or visit the Ministry of Community and Social Services website.

We've changed our name! - Nov. 10, 2008
We have changed our name from Toronto Social Services to Toronto Employment and Social Services.

We feel our new name better reflects the work that we do. After all, our employment services play a significant role in how we carry out our vision, to strengthen the social and economic well-being of Torontonians in their communities.

Changing our name was an important decision, so before doing so we talked to city residents and our community partners. They told us how important it is that our name identifies the services that we provide.

Changing our name also coincides with the Mayor’s launch of a plan that sets out a new direction for employment and social services in this city. Read about the plan, Starting in the Right Place: A New Approach for Employment and Social Services in Toronto.

We are excited about the new direction that we’re taking to ensure that the employment, financial and social supports we provide are helping to build a stronger Toronto.

Now available: Apply for Ontario Works online - Nov. 10, 2008
Residents of Toronto are now able to apply for Ontario Works online. Web Access to Your Services (WAYS) allows residents to:

• use an online estimator to quickly and anonymously determine whether they may qualify for social assistance
• initiate an application for financial benefits online at any time.

This online application is an additional way for residents to apply for Ontario Works in Toronto.

New website launched - Nov. 3, 2008

Welcome to Toronto Social Services’ new website! We are pleased to offer a redesigned website that includes many details about the programs and services we provide. We have developed the website to share information with Torontonians, including job seekers, people in need of financial benefits, employers, representatives from community agencies and other professionals.

In creating this new website, we have consulted with community members including people who receive benefits from Toronto Social Services and our staff.

Many new features have been added, including improved tools for residents to easily find the offices and Employment Centres that serve them. We have also expanded the information we provide about our financial benefits and employment services. Our Resources section includes an extensive list of links to city, government and community services.

A new Partnerships section will allow employers to get help with their hiring needs by connecting with qualified candidates through our programs and initiatives. In this section, community agencies and training providers will also be able to find valuable information about how they can work with us.

Our About Us section includes a message from our General Manager, Heather MacVicar, information about our organization, publications and facts and figures.

We hope this new website helps to answer your questions. If you have feedback about our site, you are welcome to complete our brief site feedback form.