Building Skills Through Recreation

Fill out the Building Skills Through Recreation Registration Summer Employment Registration form. A staff member will respond as soon as possible. Youth can also inquire in person at any Enhanced Youth Space Location.
Inquire Online

Free Programs to Help Youth Get Jobs (Ages 13 to 24)

Building Skills through Recreation (BSTR) is a free City of Toronto program that helps youth develop transferable skills, earn employment-related certifications and build a strong pathway toward meaningful local employment in recreation, sports, aquatics, cycling and community leadership. Through the FIFA World Cup 2026 Legacy investment and a new summer employment stream, the program has been expanded to provide more opportunities than ever before.

This program gives youth aged 13 to 24 important job skills, including:

  • Resume writing, job application guidance and interview preparation
  • Mock and practical interviews
  • Supervised leadership and employment placements
  • Free pre-employment certifications aligned with career interests
  • Training that supports entry into recreation, sport leadership, aquatics and community programming roles

Counsellor in Training

The City’s CampTO program is partnering with BSTR to offer Counsellor in Training, a program for training youth 13 to 16 years old in working with children in an interactive recreation environment. As part of the program, youth will get the opportunity to do a supervised practical placement in a CampTO program and receive a certificate of completion.

Certifications and Training Opportunities

  • Sports instructional training (tennis, basketball and soccer)
  • CAN-BIKE level 4
  • National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) coaching fundamentals and Fundamental Movement Skills
  • Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross and National Lifeguard
  • Swim Instructor, Pool Attendant and Aquatic Fitness
  • Standard First Aid and CPR-C

FIFA Legacy: Prepare for Jobs in Community Sports

These certifications open doors to paid officiating opportunities and help grow the pool of qualified officials supporting local leagues, clubs and community programming. Through the FIFA Legacy investment, BSTR now includes two new accredited soccer officiating certifications:

  • Small-Sided Match Official
  • Entry-Level Match Official

Train to Become a Coach Through the Let’s Get Coaching Program

Let’s Get Coaching is expanding to certify significantly more youth and frontline staff in soccer-specific coaching. Participants will benefit from:

  • NCCP-aligned coaching training
  • Practical instruction for delivering safe, inclusive soccer programs
  • Pathways into community coaching and leadership roles

This expansion strengthens the City’s ability to sustain soccer programming long-term and increases leadership opportunities for youth across neighbourhoods.

Girls-Only Coaching

To ensure equitable access, BSTR now offers a dedicated, girls-only coaching stream. This stream:

  • Provides a welcoming and inclusive training environment
  • Builds confidence and leadership skills
  • Supports young women in earning coaching credentials
  • Helps grow the number of female coaches and leaders in community sport

What the BSTR Program Looks Like

Flowchart showing a youth recreation to employment pathway, from program engagement and leadership training to certifications, job applications, interviews and obtaining a recreation job. The continuum steps are also provided in text below this image.

  • Step 1: Youth are engaged in Recreation Programs
  • Step 2: Youth age 13 to 16 can join a Counsellor in Training Program, a local youth council or Aquatic Leadership course
  • Step 3: Youth age 14+ can attend a local Employment Readiness Road Show
  • Step 4: Youth age 14 to 24 can join BSTR Program at a local Hiring Hive or by online registration and choose a stream (General Recreation, Sports, Aquatics or FIFA/Coaching)
  • Step 5: Complete BSTR courses and obtain certifications
  • Step 6: Apply for a job with support from BSTR staff and local Youth Outreach Workers
  • Step 7: Complete Mock Interviews
  • Step 8: Obtain and complete job interviews
  • Step 9: Participate in supervised practical placements
  • Step 10: Receive support to complete hiring documentation
  • Step 11: Obtain shifts

Read Important Information about Applying for Recreation Jobs

For information on how to get hired, visit How to Get Hired in Recreation.