Assistant Market Gardener

Hourly Rate: $17.63 – Check out the YMCA's total compensation package

Location: Cedar Glen - Urban Farm (Downsview Park)

Work Hours: 28 hours per week

Employment Type: Contract Part Time Hourly - 6 months (Existing Vacancy)

Number of Vacancies: 1

Anticipated Start Date: May 16, 2026

Deadline to Apply: February 15, 2026 at 5:00pm

Be the Spark Join our passionate Farm Team and help us to achieve great things in our community

Reporting to the Farm Supervisor, the Assistant Market Gardener assists the Farm Team in planning and carrying out the day-to-day operations of the vegetable farm with the key objective to maximize productivity while utilizing organic farming practices. The position also provides support when needed in delivering the highest quality farm education programs to outdoor education and summer camp participants in alignment with the overall mission, vision and values of the YMCA.  

In this role, you will:

• Assist with carrying out the daily operations needed on the farm (i.e., planting, weeding, harvesting, washing and bunching), as identified by Farm Supervisor or Market Gardeners
• Lead a crew of helpers (interns, volunteers, visitors) in an efficient and supportive manner. Support farm operations and education on a regular basis based on needs of the farm
• Proactively support all farm team members. Positively participate in group meeting and coaching sessions throughout the duration of the contract
• Follow work schedule developed by Farm Supervisor to include occasional travel between farm locations
• Perform other duties as assigned

You bring:

• Formal or informal training in agriculture, horticulture, gardening, landscaping, or a related field  
• Minimum 1 full season of practical skill application on small-scale farm 
•  Minimum 1 full season working with children in an outdoor setting 
• Standard first aid and CPR
• Ability to routinely perform hard repetitive physical labour on a regular basis  
• Leadership in carrying out assigned farm tasks 
• Ability to build successful relationships with people working on the farm 
• Well-developed interpersonal, and relationship building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with members, staff and volunteers 
• Excellent written communication skills 
• Flexibility to work days, evenings, weekends, and holidays  
• Must have a personal arrangement to commute to the farm. YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre is not accessible by public transit  
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and building a sense of belonging

What you need to succeed: 

• Commitment to the YMCA's Mission, Vision and Values
• Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services
• YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 170 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services, such as health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2025–2030 strategic plan, Greater Together, which outlines how we are focused on building communities where people feel healthier and more connected to their neighbours.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here.

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.