GUELPH, Ontario – This June, the Upper Grand District School Board and YMCA of Three Rivers Guelph will be celebrating the graduating class of Project SEARCH 2025-26.
Project SEARCH is a unique school-to-work training program for students with disabilities. The program provides students with more than 700 hours of hands-on work experience geared to in-demand roles in the local labour market. They then learn employability skills and plan their careers. For many students, it has been a life-changing experience.
This past fall, a new cohort of interns marked the official start of their Project SEARCH journey at a Signing Day ceremony. After a year of skill building and hands-on work experiences, on June 22 they will come together to celebrate graduation.
“Project SEARCH is about helping students discover their strengths, build confidence, and gain real-world workplace experience. Watching these interns grow throughout the year has been incredibly rewarding, and graduation is a celebration of everything they have accomplished,” said April King, UGDSB Principal of Care and Treatment, Special Education Accessibility, & Project SEARCH.
"The Project SEARCH interns brought a special energy to the Guelph Y this year. Their hard work and real joy in what they do have made a big impact on our staff and members. Watching their confidence grow from day one to graduation has been truly rewarding for our team. These graduates have shown us that the best workplaces are built on passion, kindness, and a sense of belonging,” said Mike Ennis, President and CEO at the YMCA of Three Rivers.
"We're so fortunate to work alongside partners like Upper Grand District School Board and the Guelph YMCA to connect young people with disabilities to important work experience," said March of Dimes Canada President & CEO Len Baker. "Congratulations to this year's graduating class. We're proud of everything you've achieved and look forward to learning more about what's next for each of you."
Event Details:
Location: YMCA of Three Rivers – Guelph Location, 130 Woodland Glen Drive, Guelph, ON, N1G 4M3
Date: June 22, 2026
Time: 4-5pm
For more details on Project SEARCH, visit the UGDSB website.
A partnership between the YMCA of Three Rivers, Upper Grand District School Board, and March of Dimes Canada.