Summer jobs, Student jobs

Position: Event Planner 
Project: Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Group, at St. Matthew’s United Church
Location: 729 St. Clair Ave. W. (near Christie), Toronto ON

• Type: Canada Summer Jobs 8 Week Contract
• Eligibility: Applicants must be between 16 and 30 and in between secondary and/or post-secondary semesters
• Start Date: Between May 4 and 19 We have requested that Service Canada allow a May 4 start date.
• End Date: Between June 26 and July 10
• Hours and Days: 36 hours/week, flexible, with some evenings and weekends required
• Hourly Rate: $17.60/hour

Background:

The Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Group (IPSG) functions as an ad-hoc, unincorporated community-based and volunteer-run organization founded in response to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The group offers leadership in midtown Toronto and beyond in building balanced, just relationships with Indigenous people, the Land, the Water, and all living beings. The group is committed to creating space where Indigenous people, Teachings, and Ceremony are at the centre.

Since 2018, the IPSG has planned and implemented events ranging from small Ceremonial Gatherings to concerts and more for up to 250 people. An ambitious event to honour Indigenous, Metis, and Inuit History Month is planned for June 6, 2026. St. Matthew’s United Church & the IPSG-stewarded Noojimo’iwewin Gitigaan National Healing Forest Project will host the IPSG’s We Are All Water Protectors: Environmental Racism & Reimagining Water Stewardship Gathering. The Gathering includes Traditional Teaching Circles, the opening of a youth-led community art installation, Biinaagami: Our Shared Responsibility to the Great Lakes giant map, a keynote address, book sales and signings, displays by Indigenous and environmental organizations, a Feast, and an evening of songs and storytelling from the “breathing lands” on the western coast of James and Hudson’s Bay. We anticipate 200 or more will attend.

Smaller events in June include Summer Solstice and Pollinator Week activities. Early July includes a “We Are All Treaty People” celebration of Canada Day and “Una Tierra/One Land/Un Pueblo/One People” hospitality in Noojimo’iwewin Gitigaan during the Salsa on St. Clair Festival, which runs the weekend’s programming out of the church’s Community Hub.

Job Description:

Together with the Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Group Co-Lead and other volunteers, the Event Planner will:

• Meet with organizers to finalize the scope and format of events, to establish and monitor budgets and to review administrative procedures and progress of events

• Communicate with collaborators to promote IPSG Indigenous, Metis and Inuit History Month events and discuss options for participation
• Coordinate services for the We Are All Water Protectors Gathering, such as accommodation and transportation for collaborators, use of St. Matt’s facilities, catering support, signage, displays, Anishinaabemowin translation, special needs requirements, audio-visual equipment, printing and security
• Organize registration of We Are All Water Protectors participants, prepare programs and promotional material, and publicize event in collaboration with the Event Marketing Team
• Recruit, train and schedule volunteers required for the We Are All Water Protectors Gathering and Salsa on St. Clair weekend

The Event Planner will cultivate relationship-building, cooperative problem-solving, and consensus decision-making skills to complete tasks, resolve tensions, and celebrate accomplishments. Throughout, they will demonstrate flexible, authentic communication skills when working with people of all races, ethnicities, spiritualities, sexualities, gender expressions, abilities, ages, and socio-economic circumstances.

The primary opportunity offered to the Event Planner is a key role in bringing the vision for the We Are All Water Protectors: Environmental Racism and Re-imaging Water Stewardship Gathering to life. The Gathering leans into the 8th Principle for Reconciliation, Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: “Supporting Aboriginal peoples’ cultural revitalization and integrating Indigenous knowledge systems, oral histories, laws, protocols, and connections to the land into the reconciliation process.” Implementing this principle as part of the TRC’s vision of “a new way of living together” is framed for the purposes of this event as a reimagining of Water stewardship, since Water unites us all. Skills learned while assisting with this large event will be applied to smaller events later in Indigenous History Month and in early July.

Qualifications:

• Some post-secondary education in a related field such as Event Planning, Indigenous Studies, Environmental Studies, Community Organizing, or Community Development
• Some experience in event planning, implementation and evaluation, preferably in a multicultural; Indigenous, Metis or Inuit; or environmental protection context
• Interest in learning event organizing through an Anishinaabe lens, including protocols for working with Elders and Traditional Teachers
• Interest in learning Anishinaabe frameworks for holding different perspectives together in an intercultural and interfaith understanding
• Strong English-language writing skills, including programs and promotional materials
• Ability to self-organize—including managing schedule, timelines, and deadlines--to complete workplan together with volunteers, including comfort with use of technology for communications and supervisory purposes
• Confidence to share information orally with individuals and small groups, including starting conversations with strangers
• Creative ideas for event set up and added-value activities
• Respect for all faiths and spiritual practices
• Openness to people of diverse ages, races, ethnicities, gender expressions, sexualities, abilities, incomes, and life experiences

The successful applicant will receive guidance and mentoring from the Elder-in-Residence as well as experienced event planners.

St. Matthew’s United Church is committed to equity and social justice. It endeavors to remove barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups, particularly Indigenous persons, persons of color, LGBTQ2SIA+ persons, and persons with disabilities. St. Matthew’s encourages (but does not require) members of these groups to self-identify as such in their cover ​​letters. St. Matthew’s will strive to provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities upon request. If you are selected for an interview, please notify the hiring committee in advance of requirements for accommodation.

Please send cover letter and resume to Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Group Co-Lead Betsy Anderson at: andersonbetsy528@gmail.com

Please mention you saw this at rcen.ca or goodwork.ca.

We will hire as soon as we have a suitable candidate.

Indigenous applicants will be prioritized for this position.

St. Matthew’s thanks all applicants for their interest, but only those invited to a zoom interview will be contacted.