Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital has been selected one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People. It is the tenth consecutive year the organization has won this award, and reasons for its selection include the rewarding placements it offers students and the wide array of programs available to learners.

“It brings me a lot of pride to receive this award,” says Julia Hanigsberg, president and CEO. “We are an organization that truly values the perspectives and ideas of students and young professionals, and their input is always welcome. They are the next generation of care providers, and they play a pivotal part in ensuring Holland Bloorview creates a world of possibility for kids with disabilities and medical complexity.”

More than half of Holland Bloorview’s workforce is composed of staff born in or after 1981. The hospital equips young professionals and students with many opportunities and benefits, including programs aimed at helping youth with disabilities develop skills for the workplace. A teaching hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, the organization offers students and trainees in medicine, nursing and other health disciplines a fulfilling and motivating learning environment. The Bloorview Research Institute trains young scientists and researchers from across Canada and around the globe.

Programs and perks of Holland Bloorview include:

• the Summer Medical Student Scholarship Program, a paid 11-week opportunity available to second-year medical students to develop their pediatric knowledge
• the Summer Research Student Program, whereby a position in the Bloorview Research Institute is made available to undergraduate and/or college students living with a disability. This post was established to enhance the inclusion of young people with disabilities in pediatric research
• an addition to the Ward Summer Student Research Program, in which a position through the Bloorview Research Institute is given to undergraduate and/or college students of Indigenous, First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit descent
• tuition assistance programs to fund credit courses toward degrees, diplomas or certificates related to employees’ learning plans and career development goals
• paid education days for learning and development activities, such as attending conferences and workshops, participating in courses, studying, and writing exams and papers

Canada’s Top Employers for Young People is an annual award given out in recognition of workplaces that offer the nation’s best environments and programs for young people beginning their careers. The employers’ ability to attract and retain younger employees, and provide benefits and opportunities for co-op or work-study, are factors considered when choosing winners. Also taken into account is whether programs are offered around mentorship, training and career management.

This award follows Holland Bloorview’s inclusion among Greater Toronto’s Top Employers, announced December 4, 2020. That honour was the eleventh consecutive win for the organization.

If you’d like to join the Holland Bloorview family, please visit www.hollandbloorview.ca/careers or follow us on LinkedIn.

Read up on Canada’s Top Employers for Young People in The Globe and Mail, or why Holland Bloorview was selected.