David Agnew, President, Seneca Polytechnic — “We’re delighted to be partnering with the City of Toronto, Toronto Fire Services and the Toronto Police Service to give local high school students a taste of the great careers they can have in emergency services and the great postsecondary experience they can have at Seneca Polytechnic. Students will have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience to develop the skills needed to work on the front lines of policing and firefighting – and earn credit they can apply to Seneca programs."
Mayor Olivia Chow, City of Toronto — “Toronto is proud to work alongside Seneca Polytechnic, Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Police Service and our community partners to create new opportunities for young people. Programs like the Youth Community Academy help students build skills, gain experience and see a future where they can contribute to their communities. Thank you to all of our partners for coming together to invest in our youth and help us deliver an affordable, caring and safe city for everyone.”
Councillor Jon Burnside, City of Toronto — “I was proud to have the opportunity to work alongside Toronto Police Superintendent Donovan Locke, Fire Chief Jim Jessop and Seneca Polytechnic to help create the Youth Community Academy. This first of its kind program gives young people the opportunity to learn about careers in policing and firefighting while developing valuable skills and leadership experience. By providing compensation, we eliminated the need for students to choose between a summer job or furthering their education. This program breaks down barriers and will be a model for municipalities right across the country.”
Maggie Chi, Member of Parliament — Don Valley North - “The Youth Community Academy demonstrates what is possible when communities come together to invest in young people. Through partnerships and programs like Canada Summer Jobs, more youth can gain meaningful work experience, develop valuable skills and prepare for the future. I am grateful to everyone who has made this initiative possible and proud to support opportunities that help young people reach their full potential.”
Chief Myron Demkiw, Toronto Police Service — “The Youth Community Academy is an investment in Toronto's future. By giving young people the opportunity to experience policing firsthand, we're helping them build valuable leadership, teamwork and problem-solving skills while fostering a greater understanding of public service. We're proud to partner with the City of Toronto, Seneca Polytechnic and Toronto Fire Services on this innovative program that creates meaningful opportunities for youth and helps inspire the next generation of community leaders and first responders.”
Jim Jessop, Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services — “Toronto Fire Services is proud to be an integral part of the Youth Community Academy and the opportunity it creates for young people to explore careers in firefighting and emergency services. This program provides valuable, hands-on exposure to the fire service and helps build an understanding of the skills, teamwork and commitment required to serve our communities. As we continue to plan for the future of Toronto Fire Services, initiatives like this play an important role in inspiring and preparing the next generation to serve the people of Toronto.”
Sal Iacono, President & CEO, Cadillac Fairview — "At Cadillac Fairview, we believe our role as city builders is intrinsically linked to the wellbeing of our communities. It is a privilege to contribute to this important collaborative effort, which is dedicated to fostering community safety, providing mentorship and creating opportunity for the future leaders of our city.”
Clayton Campbell, President, Toronto Police Association — “The Toronto Police Association is proud to support the Youth Community Academy and to encourage young people to explore careers as first responders. Through the Multi-Year Hiring Plan, we continue to see growing interest in policing among youth, and we are honoured that our members can help nurture this interest by sharing valuable, real-world insights into the profession. By investing in educational pathways and mentorship, we are helping to build a strong and sustainable future for policing and the communities we serve.”
Michael Smith, President, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association — “This program provides an opportunity for students to gain firsthand experience with both the fire service and policing while earning a school credit and receiving paid, meaningful work experience. Our Association is grateful to Councillor Burnside for championing this initiative and investing in the next generation of public safety professionals.”
