Contact Us

There are a number of programs funded by both the federal and provincial governments that can help you during difficult times. Each program is catered to helping in specific ways for specific populations, so you should take time to look into each program to see which will best suit your individual needs.

Ontario Works (OW) is a provincially-funded program that helps those in financial need cover the cost of basic necessities. Eligibility is based on individual financial circumstances and willingness to actively search for employment.

The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) is another provincially-funded program that assists those with a disability who are in financial need to cover the cost of necessities. Applicants must prove that they are in financial need and meet the program’s definition of a person with a disability.

Employment Insurance (EI) benefits are available to those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and are willing and able to return to work, but are unable to find another job. Applicants for EI must also have worked the required number of insurable hours in the last 52 weeks in order to qualify for this program. Recipients must provide proof of an active job search to continue receiving these benefits. EI can be received from 14 weeks up to a maximum of 45 weeks. The amount of financial assistance provided is based on an individual’s average insurable weekly earnings up to a maximum amount.

The amount of time it can take to find a new job is dependent on many different factors. Due to this, it is very difficult to say how long it will take any individual to find work. The best way to get a better idea of what to expect is to research local labour market trends. Ontario’s labour market webpage offers monthly updates regarding the labour market in Ontario. This is broken down further into the amount of jobs created for people at various levels of education and within various fields of employment. Using this resource will give you the most up-to-date information so that you know what to expect in your job search.

Getting into an extended job search where you never get any call-backs can be a very demoralizing experience. No one wants to go through what seems like constant rejection with today’s norm of online job applications. With everything seeming so impersonal and superficial, it can be easy to get caught up in the cycle of using the same generic resume to send to every job posting you see. While you may get lucky and get a quick reply, you’re far more likely to get caught in that negative cycle using this method.

There are, however, a few important things you can do to improve your chances of getting an employer’s attention. The first thing you should do is make sure that your resume and cover letter (if necessary) include what the employer is looking for according to the job posting. Take time to read through job postings you are interested in and try to match your skills with what the employer is looking for. The better you are able to demonstrate you are a good fit for the position, the better chance you have of moving on to the next stage of the hiring process.

Another way to improve your chances of getting hired is to diversify how you are expressing interest in work. Online applications are the norm in today’s job market, but networking and face-to-face interactions with potential employers are still powerful ways to show your interest and competence. Telling friends and family that you are looking for work opens up the chance for them to tell you about opportunities they have heard of through their own network. Talking directly with a manager in charge of hiring will set you apart from the competition as long as you present yourself well. It is important not to ignore these strategies even with the majority of applications happening online.

Starting a new job search can be a very daunting task and it is easy to get overwhelmed when you don’t know what your options are. If you don’t have much experience with writing a resume, completing a job application, or doubt your interviewing skills, attending an employment agency is a great place to start. Services at ReStart are catered to the individual needs of anyone that comes in looking for help. By assessing and listening to clients to develop individualized service plans, we are able to touch on the issues that are most pressing to each individual client.

If you would prefer to start your employment search on your own, there are a number of resources that can make your search easier. There are job boards available through the Ontario Government and Government of Canada that you can use to search for jobs based on field and location. Using these sites as a starting point is beneficial as they also provide information on the labour market in relation to your chosen career. Additionally, sites such as Indeed.ca provide a very broad set of jobs available based on your location. Sites such as these are readily used by employers, so they are a good way of getting a general sense of jobs available in the area and make applications very easy. 

Finally, it is important to consider often-overlooked ways of searching for employment. Individual employers, especially larger corporations, usually have job boards posted on their sites. Researching employers you are interested in is an incredibly useful way of directing your job search more effectively. Also, it should be noted that using people in your network such as family and friends is the best way to get information about jobs that may not be posted online. The more people know that you’re looking for work, the more people are able to help you in your search!

If you’re unsure of what kind of work you want to do as part of your career, there are resources that can help you select a path based on your individual values and personality traits. Career Cruising offers a self assessment that will help you develop awareness of these values and traits. It then provides a list of careers that best suit you based on the results of the assessment.

After you have narrowed down your possible career options, it can be helpful to research salaries and prospects for those careers. Both the Government of Canada and the Ontario Government offer tools that will help you choose your career path based on the likelihood of finding employment in your chosen field and your expected salary at the beginning, middle, and end of your career.

There are resources available to prospective entrepreneurs in the Kingston area that are designed to help with finances, business planning and mentorship. The Kingston Economic Development Corporation’s website offers a wide variety of resources – from determining if your business idea is feasible to providing information on licensing and permits – to help you start a business. They also offer a program called Starter Company Plus which is funded through the Ontario Government. This program is designed to provide business training to those who are looking to start a new business or expand an existing business.

Rise is another organization in Kingston that is dedicated to helping potential entrepreneurs start their ventures. Rise is a national charitable organization that is dedicated to promoting independence through self-employment for those living with addictions and mental health issues. Their services include low interest small business loans, business training, and mentorship programs.

Whether you are looking for work or are already working with an employer, it is important to know what your rights are within these contexts. Both the Ontario Government and Government of Canada websites offer information on labour standards, workplace health & safety, and human rights in the work context. However, it can be difficult to interpret the legislation just by reading it. To address this issue, Steps to Justice is an excellent resource that puts Ontario’s legislation into plain language to better help you understand your rights within many different contexts. This is an excellent resource if you want to know more about the law as it applies to you.