2008 AnnuAl RepoRt dReAming A bRighteR tomoRRow

pResident’s messAge

this year YES celebrates our 40th society. With newly found self confidence and every young person’s future counts. There is more birthday. That’s forty years of dreaming empowerment it then becomes easier to place of a need for Youth Employment Services YES a brighter future, helping our clients turn young people into jobs. today than ever before. young dreams into their realities. Partnerships with the private sector continue Our successes during the past 40 years are

When The Rotary Club of Toronto started YES to grow and expand also. Most recently, Manulife exceptional but we haven’t accomplished them on in 1968 to help disadvantaged and vulnerable and YES have teamed up to deliver a summer our own. We do it everyday with the help of our youth find jobs, they couldn’t have chosen a jobs program to the youth living in St. James community partners, volunteers, and the financial better name: Youth Employment Services YES. Town, Canada’s most densely populated urban support of the government and private sector, our It’s powerful and positive. Nor could they have neighbourhood. board of directors and staff. We are grateful for all imagined that 40 years later their creation would Can we help youth off the streets and out their collaboration and support. not only continue to strive, but would still make of crime? Can we help those confronted with Special thanks to Service Canada, the Ministry a magnificent difference in the lives of so many other disadvantages and barriers to finding of Training Colleges and Universities and the City young people. employment? Can we play our part in building of Toronto. Particular thanks go to our outgoing

In forty years we have grown. In 1968, our safer communities? yes we can. Chairman of the Board, Hugh Rennie. Under founding year, we helped 100 young people from We worked with 1,000 employers last year and Hugh’s energetic and able leadership we have one downtown location. Last year over 8,000 we placed 1,200 young people in jobs. Those continued to advance YES as an International participated in our programs from five locations significant numbers prove that we help youth and Centre of Excellence in Youth Employment and around the city, with an incredible 80% success that our programs contribute to the economic Empowerment. rate. health of our City. Our research indicates that if It’s been a remarkable 40 year journey… but

Over our 40 years as service providers we’ve the 1,200 youth who found jobs at YES last year what about our future? pioneered new, innovative programs that stay had stayed on the job for one year, they would We shall vigorously pursue our mission. in touch with the problems and challenges that have contributed $840,000 to Revenue Canada. Wherever there is a young person in need of youth face daily. For example last year 14% of The return on investment speaks for itself. support and help, wherever there are young our young people were street involved, lived in While it costs almost $100,000 a year to people who need help to find employment, YES shelters, group homes, and had unstable living incarcerate a youth, or $50,000 to provide shelter will be there. We’ll continue to innovate our conditions. In response we developed the Streets for him or her, it costs YES only $1,500 to get a programming; we’ll keep building places of trust to Jobs program funded by the City of Toronto. youth a job. It makes good economic sense to and caring; we shall empower youth to be the We say YES to helping youth off the streets or out help youth now rather than pay the higher costs of masters of their destiny; and we will decisively of crime and into jobs. social assistance, incarceration, health care and put youth employment and empowerment on

Thanks to grants from foundations and other social programs later on. the national agenda to build healthy and safe individuals we also launched the Empowering Canada is facing huge labour shortages, so communities. Youth to Empower Seniors (e-yes) program in helping our young people is not only the right yes we can. the past year. In this new program, young people thing to do, it is what we must do. Immigration teach seniors computer skills. We partnered cannot address this challenge alone. Canadians with St. Clair West Seniors who share a building are having fewer babies, suggesting there are with us near Keele and Eglinton. The program fewer youth today than when YES started in 1968. Nancy Schaefer empowers youth to discover and believe in their But those young people flock to our major cities to President, Youth Employment Services YES skills and demonstrate they can contribute to find a future. This just strengthens our belief that

living A nightmARe Canada’s disadvantaged and vulnerable youth are in crisis. Out of school and out of work, many feel they are out of options, and resort to crime, violence, gangs, and drugs in the absence of alternatives.

Recent estimates suggest that 66,000 young people find themselves living in poverty on Canadian streets at some point during any given year.1 That’s the equivalent of 50 average Toronto high schools. Toronto shelter use data shows that youth are one of the fastest growing groups of homeless.2 As more than half of Canadian street youth spend time in jail,3 YES recognizes that these youth are particularly vulnerable to making bad choices, and may not know how to get back on the right path. Their hopes of a better life quickly fade, like the fabric of a forgotten dream.

66,000 19% 62,000 352,000 homeless youth unemployment employable youth employable youth across Canada.1 rate among young are out of school & are out of school &

dropouts.5 work in Toronto.4 work in Canada.4

Denied access to stable living conditions and other necessities of childhood, many disadvantaged youth fail to complete high school, and as a result, can’t secure gainful employment or relevant experience. There are over 200,000 high school dropouts across the country who are under 24 years old.4 As the unemployment rate for these youth is 19%, double that of all 20–24 year olds (10%), and four-times as high as the national average (5.4%),5 YES believes these youth are in dire need of support.

Some of these youth may have stopped dreaming of better days to come, but we firmly believe most simply don’t realize their dreams can come true with a bit of help. These youth need someone to believe in them before they can believe in themselves.

Sources: 1 CBC, The Fifth Estate. “No Way Home.” http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/main_nowayhome.html. 2 City of Toronto, Housing and Homelessness Report Card. 2003. http://www.toronto.ca/homelessness/index. htm 3 Jean Dupuis, Governemnt of Canada Economics Division. “Homelessness: The U.S. and Canadian Experience.” 12 September 2003. http://dsp-psd.tpsgc.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/BP/prb0002-e. htm. 4 Statistics Canada 2006 Census, http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/ 5 “Young dropouts” refers to youth between 20-24 years old without intention to return to school. Statistics Canada. Canada’s Changing Labour Force 2006 Census. Catalogue no. 97-559, pp. 15.

helping youth off the gRound stReets to jobs

pRogRAm spotlight:

YES believes that employment is have seen that employment is empowerment and the cornerstone empowermentof safe and healthy communities. YES leads the Canadian youth sector with innovative programs that empower disadvantaged and vulnerable youth to become self-sufficient contributing members of society.

When young people are given the chance to realize their potential, to make their dreams of success their reality, the results are safer, healthier communities. YES understands the critical issues facing youth today, and that finding work is a vital step in overcoming many of these. We

for our clients, and not merely because so many of them secure work or training opportunities through our programs and services. YES clients learn to be empowered, productive members of society, as they leave with renewed self-confidence in their potential.

Making a positive difference in young people’s lives is YES’s priority, but we are no less committed to engaging the community at large on the importance of youth employment. We are dedicated advocates for youth employment as a national public policy priority.

The focus of the Streets to Jobs (STJ) project is to help homeless youth overcome the primary barriers to employment that keep them out of work. YES provides pre-employment training, job search assistance and job development services.

The program enrolls 60 youth, all of whom acquire the skills they need to re-integrate into community life, attain self-sufficiency and increase participation in society.

Youth are targeted by a dedicated YES staff member, who seeks them out in shelters and group homes through outreach activities that link them to Youth Employment Services YES. This ensures those most in need of the program find out about it, enroll, and are given the chance to succeed.

The project provides counselling, case management, intelligent referrals, life skills and job development, and access to subsidized work placements. It helps homeless youth move to permanent housing and financial self-sufficiency by promoting access and, importantly, by building their self-esteem.

Employers are also targeted by program staff, bridging a gap between these youth and employment in the community. By further providing follow up support to youth three months after program completion, STJ helps ensure these youth remain on the right track to success.

65% of YES clients haven ’t finished high school.1

93% of YES clients face many barriers to employment.2

83.6% of YES clients find work or job training.3

Notes: 1 ”Clients” here includes only those who enrolled in at least one YES program in the past fiscal year. 2 “many barriers” include criminal record, 26+ weeks out of work, no previous job experience, language difficulty, and other factors. 3 Reflects “positive outcome (ETI)” at completion of YES program.

pRogRAm spotlight:

e-yes We were thrilled to launch a new program this year: e-YES (Empowering Youth Empowering Seniors). It benefits youth in need of work experience and soft skill development by providing a unique opportunity to assist seniors looking to improve their computer skills.

e-YES is a cross-generational computer learning project, which partners with a local senior services organization in Toronto — St. Clair West for Seniors. Youth stand to receive positive references and employment experience after teaching a small group of seniors basic computers skills, including how to navigate the web and manage email systems.

The cross-generational component of the program supports two generations in a mutually beneficial environment, thereby reducing stigma and discrimination between the two. As a strategic initiative, this project has been designed to help bridge an enormous gap between two generations, and offers both groups the chance to feel empowered and gratified for their time and effort.

For many youth participants, e-YES serves as an introduction to the intrinsic rewards of teaching, where they discover the gratification of a respectful audience, and of making a meaningful contribution to someone else’s success. This renewed self-worth encourages participants to aim for that level of success in all aspects of their lives. For the seniors, the program encourages empowerment by providing the skills to better access information and communication via the world wide web.

As an initiative addressing systemic change, the cross generational computer learning project provides tools and resources to two marginalized communities, helping them overcome adversity and discover renewed self-empowerment and independence.

ouR pRogRAm spotlight:

pRogAms job ReACh YES has a rich history of bloor-dundas Job Reach is a YES program in partnership with innovative programming. employment Centre the Broad Reach Foundation for Youth Leaders. Programs and services • self-service resource centre The program is targeted for disadvantaged are regularly adapted to • staff-assisted employment resource and vulnerable youth. It combines training changing social and labour in practical skills that youth need to better conditions in order to ensure entry point identify, secure, and maintain employment continued success in delivery • job development and pre- with concurrent exposure to the rigors and and execution. Our current employment services to students rewards of sailing, promoting the “soft skills” programs reveal the depth of and recent graduates with that go a long way to ensure success in work these innovations through their disabilities and beyond. Striking such an exciting and diversity: novel balance between life skills training and

Reconnect to employment employment management is what makes Job job Connect • assessment, case management, Reach so unique, and so successful.

• employment planning and employment preparation for The five-week intensive program alternates preparation services youth and adults between a classroom and a sailboat, concluding

• job development placement with counsellor-supported job searching. support ontario work program The classroom lessons offer structured pre-

• resource and phone centre • employment planning and employment skills workshops, and the sailboat • job maintenance preparation offers experiential education, or opportunities

• career exploration to better understand and later meet employer summer job service / expectations. student services youth job Centre – The innovative partnership between

• summer job placement job Central YES and Broad Reach ensures successful opportunities • full service youth employment program execution and results. Broad Reach

• access to part-time jobs centre at Keele and Eglinton offers the only program for disadvantaged • pre-employment training in high youth in Toronto that can deliver such broad

schools job Reach skill development through the life-changing • (see program spotlight, right) experience of sailing aboard a 40-foot racing

job Camp yacht. With on-shore and on-water programs • five-week, full-time, intensive g.R.e.A.t. grads based out of the National Yacht Club on Toronto

employability and life skills group • six-month subsidized job Centre Island, participants learn leadership program placements for eleven post- essentials, teamwork strategies, and the basics

secondary graduates in knowledge- of large-boat seamanship. bizstart based economy Through its partnerships with other youth-

• training and counselling for youth serving agencies and sponsors throughout the committed to starting their own streets to jobs Toronto area, Broad Reach has introduced business • (see program spotlight, p. 5) sailing and life-skills education to over 300

• new business incubation young people with economic, social, and e-yes physical barriers since 1999.

youth Collaboration • (see program spotlight, left) The objective of the program is to create • assessment, counselling/case the conditions for vulnerable youth to become

management and employment summer Company successful in securing meaningful and preparation for unemployed youth • start-up summer business substantive employment.

• French services assistance for youth starting their • in partnership with other youth own company

training agencies • hands-on business training

goveRnment Funding for YES programs is generously provided by the following levels of government. suppoRt

living in an under-serviced neighbourhood.

The number of new adian youth increased. rogram adaptations to YES becomes an award YES becomes an award

meet these needs. winniwinning organization by ng organization by the Mthe Ministry of inistry of TTraining, raining,

CollegCollege and Universities e and Universities fofor the Job Connect r the Job Connect

program. program.

we’Refour decades of bu

40ilding & respondi

!n

to dreams, changing lives... forever

Open another office location at Keele and Eglinton

to better help the youth

g

ional activity

rites

CanP

1990

Launched Canada’s first specialized youth employment and counselling centre with

resounding success.

1960

Helped other organizations across Ontario to open new youth employment centres. Provided training for the staff at

these new provincial centres.

Established connections with

employers who hire YES youth

Developed first pre-employment training program for youth. Wrote the teacher’s training manual for

the Toronto District School Board to deliver pre-employment training to students.

Started with wage subsidy programs for employers

Added Life Skills training and

computer training for youth in addition

to employment.

Priority given to staff training to work with at-risk youth

Built a database of hundreds of employers

in order to place youth in jobs.

Expansion takes place. New YES offices open in other

locations in Toronto.

Opened Canada’s first Youth Business Centre to help youth who want to start their own business

Job Camp program launched to help the most

Nat

Empowerment programs are added to enhance employability of youth

(e.g. Job Reach, e-YES)

President Nancy Schaefer wtwo books to help youth find a job

or start their own business

disadvantaged and marginalized youth inToronto. A five week intensive job placement,

training and empowerment program.

Started an adult division, after being asked by the City of Toronto to deliver successful programming to adults.

2008

Enhanced programs for homeless youth

1970 1980

the stuff of

ReAms d

This past year YES played host to a number of exciting and energized events. Our fifth annual artwork gala, YESinDEED5, exceeded our attendance and fundraising goals. We were also pleased so many familiar faces could join us at our fortieth anniversary celebration in May. We look forward to seeing you all again at YESinDEED6 (October 21, 2008) and at other future events.

Auditors’ Report to the Board of Directors

We have audited the statement of financial position of Youth Employment Services YES as at March 31, 2008 and the statements of operations and changes in fund balance of the Operating Fund and the Special Projects Fund for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the organization’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.

In our opinion, these financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the organization as at March 31, 2008 and the results of its operations for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.

Chartered Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants, May 16, 2008

fisCAl Statement of Operation and Changes in Fund Balance – Operating Fund

Revenue: 2008 2007 pRovinCiAl goveRnment

Job Connect $ 2,301,000 $ 2,013,000 Summer Jobs Service sjs 440,476 440,476

Employment Resource Centre erc 3 490,963 473,182 Reconnect xceed/xcell3 390,303 427,261

Job Camp3 364,172 286,940 Entry Point 80,217 70,029

Summer Company 18,905 8,807 fedeRAl goveRnment

Job Central 436,846 278,128 Youth Collaboration 263,266 264,997

BizStart 449,036 421,247 Great Grads – 49,718

City of toRonto

Toronto Social Services (Ontario Works) 94,851 78,252 Streets to Jobs 27,424 –

inteRest inCome 7,280 4,293 AmoRtizAtion of defeRRed ContRibutions5 107,487 103,273

totAl Revenue: 5,472,226 4,919,603

expenses: Participants’ stipends, training allowance and benefits 1,459,636 1,289,839

Staff salaries and benefits 2,835,651 2,585,471 Program operating costs 901,349 885,234

Amortization of leasehold improvements and equipment 107,487 103,273 Other expenses 169,546 149,814

totAl expenses: 5,473,669 5,013,631

Shortfall of revenue over expenses before the undernoted items (1,443) (94,028) Less deferred revenue from mtcu10 (30,675) (29,699)

Less deferred revenue from City of Toronto10 (17,354) – Less deferred funding for leasehold improvements and equipment6 (73,367) (117,750)

Excess of expenses over revenue (122,839) (241,477) Operating Fund deficiency, beginning of year (8,031) (9,462)

Transfer from Special Projects Fund6, 8 123,856 242,908

Operating Fund deficiency, end of year $ (7,014) $ (8,031)

THE FULL SET OF YES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING

MARCH 31, 2007 IS AvAILABLE FOR REvIEW UPON REqUEST Photography by Marta Green and Danijela Pruginic.

For Simple Printing / Screening and Embroidery Purporse

platinum gold foundations Artwork gala $25,000.00+ $10,000.00+ event sponsors

Wrigley Canada Foundation

job camp program sponsor JP Bickell Foundation title sponsor

e-yes program sponsor job camp program sponsor

The Marjorie & Joseph silver Wright Memorial

entrepreneurship program sponsor $5,000.00+ Foundation job camp Ozery Pita Break Inc. program sponsor

Raptors Foundation job reach program

bronze sponsor

$1,000.00+ Nixon Charitable CIBC Foundation GlaxoSmithKline Inc. Pioneer Petroleums

Children’s Foundation Fund

supporter $999 or less Elite Designed

Concrete Minden Gross LLP Food Focus Hollywood Gelato

CoRpoRAte Sponsorship has been critical to YES’ success. We are proud to have a dedicated group of individuals and corporations that see the need to help vulnerable and disadvantaged youth find employment. It is this corporate

sponsoRs generosity and support that enables YES to continue to provide essential programs and services that help build a healthy future for our youth, and a healthy future for our communities. Please support our sponsors. pRivAte donoRs

patrons Associates donors donors friends $1,000.00+ $500.00+ $100.00+ continued $99 or less

John Cook John R. Currie Lynda Bell Colin L. Campbell Chiara Switzer Hugh & Janice Rennie Robert & Judith Kanee Paula Butterfield Ron Latvanen Rosalind Waxman Deborah Barrett John Heeney Amy Hanen John E. Carr Robert Cobham David L. Yu Ross G. Amos vicki McKinnon Robert Lee James B. Kutcy Shane Ruman Nancy Schaefer Mary McPherson Beverly Topping Gary R. Reid Elizabeth Oakes Susan Harrington Susie Belton Rodney Hull Anthony J. Frost Edward Caffyn J. Douglas Grant Michael Nadler vicki Hand David Mills An Richardson Patricia E. Wright Robert C. Tedford Will Andrew J. Paul Mills Alon Ozery YES Staff Fun Raising Edward v. & Pat Davidson Ronald Rudan William Humphries Anne Sado Norma Penner Paul J. Westlake James Pitblado Ian van C. McLachlin John-Frederick H. Sinead McCarthy Lucinda & John Flemer Robert Martin Cameron Anonymous Donald Wright Sr. L. Faye Stephenson K.R.B MacDonald Helen Holtby Joan Prior David v. Love Lawrence Ward Murray Herst

Ian Sinclair Nancy Tucker Sam Otukol J. Allan Boyle Paulette Moser Janet Delevie John Snyder Susan Sisam Eleanor Barker William Sutton Carol Lome Roman & Sandy Niemy Nick villani Nancy Young Linda Armstrong Sarah Wright Richard Brown Wendy Weaver William G. Macrae Katherine v. Ristic Judith Bannister Andrew Smith Ian Pearson Matt Shoom-Kirsch John Robertson Sally Forrest Patrick E. Kierans Eileen Farrow David Dimmer Carolyn F. Swadron Pauline Hill Gordon C. Shaw Alexander Rankin Susan Shirriff Michelle Massie Judy Godfrey J.T. Kennish Brian and Joyce Amutha vipulananda Janet L. Dalicandro Westlake Michael B. & Michael H. Morgan

Lynn Cooke Chand Chandaria Christine Kao Donald A. Carman

stAff Patrick Antonik Christine Kao Haider Ashraf Daniel Kennedy Oumou Bah Jen Keystone Oneshea Balasal Mona Khan Jacqueline Beckford Nicki LaJoie Joanna Bendayan Brenda Lehman Jaimie Bondy Leticia Lemus Stephanie Boudreault Ursula Leonowicz Kate Boyle Michael Louca DiAnne Brooks Sinead McCarthy Sonia Buchanan Lauren McConnell John-Frederick H. valerie McIntosh

Cameron Kalisha Merraro Shirley Chen Craig Milson Mahnaz Chinoy Souhair Musa Romanita Ciobanu Karthi Naguleswaran Kim Cobitz Rachelle Ng Lyncia Constantine Kate Oostrom Michael Cress Nancy Pacheco Krysta-Lee Deabreu Whitney Pyper Donovan Dill Michael Raymond Margaret Douglas- Sarah Rudge

Campbell Christina Santiago Bailey Duller Nancy Schaefer Naomi Dyon Sunny Shao Shoshana Fainsilber Julia Shymanski Jennifer Fergus Jayne Simpson Stacey Ferguson Latoya Simpson Amie Fisher Rozy Singh Nicole Gauthier Marie-Louise Soulodre Melanie Gorlicky Kamla Sudama Ian Greenwood Latoya Tasich Maimuna Hassan Arran Tyre Natasha Heckley Amutha vipulananda Jorge Henriques Courtney Walker Rosa Henriquez Kerry Warne Monica Hernandez Lavel Williams Nalini Iype Adey Worku Karim Javeri Elaine Yang Mary-Ann Johnson Stephanie Zacharkiw Maria Jordan-Barzaga Paul Zepp Raymond Ju

messAge fRom the ChAiR

senioR mAnAgement Nancy Schaefer President

John-Frederick H. Cameron vice President Development & Communications

Margaret Douglas-Campbell vice President Youth Programs

Sinead McCarthy vice President Administration

Back left to right: Robert Kanee, Joan Prior, John Heeney, An Richardson, Ed Caffyn, Melissa Nixon, Hugh Rennie, Deb Barrett, John-Frederick H. Cameron, Alon Ozery.

Front left to right: Ross Amos, Beth Oakes, Nancy Schaefer, David Yu.

Absent: Nick vaney

boARd of diReCtoRs CHAIR Hugh Rennie An Richardson Deb Barrett

Chair Executive Committee Chair Event Planning Committee vice President Finance, Communications Consultant The Woodbridge Company Limited

Ed Caffyn vICE CHAIR Beth Oakes, cmc vice President, Account Planner, David L.H. Yu, cfa

Executive vice President, BBDO Toronto Senior Consultant, DHR International AON Consulting

Joan Prior, ba, llb

TREASURER Ross Amos Senior vice President & Melissa Nixon Chair Audit & Investment Committee Deputy General Counsel, Lawyer

Scotiabank John W. Heeney Nick Vaney Chair Governance and Alon Ozery CFO, Nightingale Nominating Committee Owner, Ozery Pita Break Management Consultant Robert Kanee bsc, mba, ca, icdd

President, Norcount Corporation

AdvisoRy CounCil Eric Barton, cm, ba Donald Lindsay John Stackhouse Chairman & CEO, Miller Dallas President & CEO, Editor, Business Section

Teck Cominco Ltd. Globe and Mail Mark Breslin Founder & CEO, Yuk Yuk’s Patricia Lovett-Reid Alex Tilley

Senior vice-President Owner & CEO, Hon. Justice Colin Campbell TD Waterhouse Inc. Tilley Endurables Superior Court Justice, Ontario

Dr. William Macrae Beverly Topping Gerlinde Herrmann Ophthalmologist President & CEO, President, The Herrmann Group & Past Institute of Corporate Directors President, HRPAO Charles Pachter, cm

Artist Bob Wright David Latimer Deputy Chairman, Director, Camp Kilco Anne Sado Teck Cominco Ltd. Community Life, Greenwood College President, George Brown College

Charitable Registration Number: 83275 6720 RR0001

YES believes that employment is empowerment and the cornerstone of safe and healthy communities. YES leads the Canadian youth sector with innovative programs that empower disadvantaged and vulnerable youth to become self-sufficient contributing members of society.

Youth Employment Services YES 555 Richmond St. W., Suite 711, Box 115 Toronto ON M5v 3B1 Tel: 416–504–5516 x 230 Fax: 416–504–3714 www.yes.on.ca

Illustration and design by faunt, www.faunt.com