Youth Centre Worker

Be the Spark that ignites the potential in people At our YMCA, we believe in the power of people. Every day, our dedicated employees and volunteers bring energy, positivity, and inclusivity to everything they do. They are the spark that ignites potential in others—helping individuals grow, thrive, and truly belong.

When people feel connected and supported, communities become stronger, more resilient, and full of life. That's the impact of people-powered change. Together, we create welcoming spaces where everyone is valued, differences are celebrated, and possibilities are endless. Be the spark. Shine bright. Help others shine too.

About the Role:

This position supports the work of the YMCA at the Northside Community Centre in Red Deer, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization committed to strengthening the community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Youth Centre Mentorship initiative provides a safe space for youth to experience positive interactions and promotes the YMCA values of Respect, Honesty, Caring, Responsibility, and Inclusion. The Youth Centre Worker provides mentoring to youth, ages 8-18, through strong relationship development as they facilitate and promote activities and programs designed to help youth build the skills necessary for managing the challenges they face. They model positive behaviors, encourage skill development in sports and arts, assist with conflict resolution, facilitate peer to peer relationship building, promote a culture of inclusion and will connect youth to resources and agencies when necessary.  The Youth Mentor position supports our Youth Drop-In, Teen Night, Free Food Program as well as our Youth in Facilities program in City of Red Deer owned recreation centres.

Responsibilities:

• Accountable to deliver high quality services through excellent relationships with youth, staff, and volunteers.  
• Actively Supervise youth during programming, manage behavior in accordance with the Child/Youth Behavior Management and Abuse policy. Participant etiquette is to be monitored and reinforced. Challenging behaviors are addressed in a people first approach with the goal of facilitating a positive return to program. 
• Ensure programs start and finish on time. 
• Effectively communicate with and support the Youth Coordinator and Youth Supervisor.  
• Maintains knowledge of relevant services and community resources.  
• Act as a first responder to health and safety issues. 
• Provide opportunities for youth to learn and develop in spirit, mind, and body. Consistently role model and encourage YMCA's values and mission, encourage a healthy lifestyle, participation of others by helping in their respective means, enrich the quality of programs and services, promote YMCA as a charity according to Y Way philosophy. 
• Able to work as a team with supervisors and other frontline staff to provide quality programming.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 18+ years of age  
• High School Diploma or equivalent is an asset 
• Previous Youth work/mentorship or related experience  
• Certifications: Standard First Aid & CPR-C  
• Able to obtain a Police Information Check and Vulnerable Sector Check.  
• Must obtain employer specific WHMIS and Child Protection Training within 30 days of hire date 
• Long periods of time standing  
• May be required to lift equipment/supplies 
• Running/playing with Youth 
• Able to handle difficult situations and complaints with confidence and professionalism 
• Ability to fill-in or assist when program demand requires

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Northern Alberta 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 and volunteers reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work and volunteer. We offer meaningful opportunities to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 100 years of providing opportunities for people to shine Our Y serves tens of thousands of people each year through programs and services like health and fitness, licensed child care, day camps, mental health, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families and seniors.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Inclusion has power, and we take strides to create a diverse, inclusive workplace where everyone can belong. Diverse teams unleash new ideas, and employees thrive in a culture that recognizes and appreciates the unique perspectives and backgrounds of others. Through our differences in how we think and act we can form innovative and effective teams and deliver organizational success.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about an 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. Prior to your first day and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required.

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.