Description
POSITION TYPE CONTRACT (10-Week) (June 8, 2026 – August 14, 2026), 30 HOURS/WEEK
Position Summary: The Drop-In Programs and Garden Assistant will work alongside Drop-In staff in supporting participants to meet their day-to-day needs by providing access to supplies, resources, and referrals, using empowerment and harm reduction philosophies. They will support the day-to-day operations of our drop-in programs while building relationships and providing compassionate, nonjudgmental support to community members. They will also support Centre activities for Reconciliation Month (July). Working in collaboration with WCWRC Food Security Team, the Drop-In Programs and Garden Assistant will maintain WCWRC’s community garden on McGee Street. They will complete daily maintenance of the garden, including cleaning, planting, watering and harvesting, and will support volunteers and community members who help and/or access the garden. They may also support with other programs of the Community Services Department, as needed.
This position is funded by a Canada Summer Jobs grant, and applicants must be a Canadian Resident between 18 and 30 (inclusive).
Duties and Responsibilities:
Drop-in Support
- Build relationships with participants
- Create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone in the Drop-In
- Ensure that the Drop-In space is clean, well maintained and organized
- Be fully informed of WCWRC activities, programming and staff in order to direct inquires appropriately
- Provide support and referrals to vulnerable participants compassionately and non-judgmentally while maintaining strong personal boundaries
Garden Program
- Assist with the planting, maintenance and harvest plan for the 2025 garden season designed to maximize community participation
- Ongoing maintenance of WCWRC garden beds, including weeding, watering and cleaning of the space as needed
- Cutting grass on a bi-weekly basis
- Assist with facilitating workshops for the community on gardening
- Supporting volunteers in the community garden
- Supporting the community kitchen with food prep and/or daily maintenance when required
- Working with team members to create a positive environment
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Ability to work within anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks and actively engage in ongoing learning about these frameworks
- Ability to practice participant-centred work and to work from a trauma-informed approach
- Strong interpersonal skills; able to work effectively with diverse individuals and show compassion and understanding
- Strong understanding of and ability to practice harm reduction
- Ability to multi-task and adapt to changing priorities, excellent organizational and time
- management skills
- Excellent problem-solving and conflict resolution skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Intermediate computer skills including the use of Microsoft Office and Outlook
- Ability to lift up to 50lb
Preferred
- Priority given to BIPOC youth
- Lived experience of overcoming housing insecurity, homelessness, poverty and/or marginalization strongly preferred
- Valid Class 5 Driver’s License preferred but not required
- Experience working within the non-profit sector
- Existing knowledge of the issues of marginalization
- Experience working collaboratively with community organizations
- Some experience organizing events, programming or community activities
Work Conditions
- There is a risk of exposure to potentially unpredictable behaviors and Situations
Please send a cover letter and a resume to employerrep@abcentre.org.
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