Skillsnet - RTO 9

Free Industry Training & Support

Tourism SkillsNet 9

In collaboration with Destination Northern Ontario, Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario, Ontario Tourism Education Corporation, Ontario Employment Service Providers and South Eastern Ontario, Tourism SkillsNet 9 (TSN9) is designed to identify specific workforce labour gaps, train up to 100 potential employees and match them with available job opportunities within South Eastern Ontario’s tourism sector. * SEE IMPORTANT NOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE

Qualified employers will be eligible for a 50% wage subsidy up to

$3000

Seasonal employer (new TSN9 employee)

$2500

Seasonal employer or year-round employer (returning TSN9 employee)

$5000

Year-round employer (new TSN9 employee)

Job Seekers/employees

Ready to Build Your Career?

Tourism SkillsNet 9 is open to anyone: 

Tourism SkillsNet 9 provides all our training virtually, including both Instructor-led trainings, where participants are encouraged to ask questions, as well as more self-guided online learning you can do at your own pace.  

The training provided by Tourism SkillsNet 9 provides core skills that can be used in any task or role. These kinds of skills can also help job seekers find and secure jobs with future employers, especially in the tourism sector. For example: taking the Essential Service Excellence training will allow any employee, whether in the front of house or in general maintenance, to know the basics of delivering clear, good service when interacting with customers.

Yes! If you are already working with an employer who falls under one of the employer eligibility requirements for this program, then you can still apply to Tourism SkillsNet 9 for training. This program is made for jobseekers, seasonal workers, or newly-hired employees looking to improve their skills (you must have been hired into this role after April 1st, 2023).

The Tourism SkillsNet 9 training includes: 

  • two mandatory instructor-led training courses (approx. 4hrs each)  
  • two mandatory self-guided courses (approx. 1hr each) 

The training may take up to 10 hours. There are many optional courses you can take to further your professional development.

Yes! Our instructor-led training schedule is designed to allow those who are working to be able to attend. Although presented live, and so scheduled ahead of time, the schedule is released in advance, so please speak with your employer ahead of time to make sure that you can make it. 

The self-guided part of the program is designed to be flexible and can be done at your own pace.

Yes! Please reach out to Melody Yang by email myang@otec.org about any issues you may have in completing the training. We will work with a local service provider in your area to accommodate you as best as possible. If you do not have access to reliable internet, a laptop or computer, then please contact us by the phone number listed above and we can help find a solution.

There is no age limit for this program, but anyone under the age of 18 will need parental or guardian consent to participate.

Employers

Ready to Build Up Your Team?

For jobseekers and employees, the program is open to any individual with an open work permit to work in Ontario, who is living in, or willing to move to South eastern Ontario (RTO 9), and who are searching for a better employment opportunity in the tourism sector.

Some restrictions apply, please contact anne@region9tourism.ca for more information.

RTO 9 coverage can be found here: https://www.ontario.ca/document/tourism-regions/region-9-southeastern-ontario

For jobseekers and employees, the program is open to any individual with an open work permit to work in Ontario, who is living in, or willing to move to South Eastern Ontario (RTO 9), and who is searching for a better employment opportunity in the tourism sector. RTO 9 will aim to match any qualified job seeker to a registered employer. 

The number of available positions will be dependent on employer needs. 

For employers, those operations located inside RTO 9, (see map https://www.ontario.ca/document/tourism-regions/region-9-southeastern-ontario), and operate in the following fields will be eligible for the program: 

  • Accommodation (B&B, Hotel, Motel, Lodge, Campground etc.)
  • Attraction 
  • Adventure Outfitter (ATV, Camping, Canoe/Kayaking, Horseback Riding, Dog Sledding etc.) 
  • Fishing/Hunting Outfitter 
  • Restaurant/Culinary Establishment 
  • Activity Based (Hiking, Interpretive Program, Wildlife Viewing, Cross Country Skiing, Downhill Skiing etc.) 
  • Retail 
  • Service (Air Service, Marina Boat/Launch, Meeting Facility, Wedding Service) 
  • Cultural Attraction (Heritage Site, Museum, Art Gallery) 

For both employers and employees, participation is limited to those living within the areas serviced by South Eastern Ontario (RTO 9), See Map https://www.ontario.ca/document/tourism-regions/region-9-southeastern-ontario

This will depend on how quickly the employers and employees can be matched up. Once approved, the employee will begin a virtual training module hosted by the OTEC.

In order for an employer to submit a wage subsidy, their employees will have to: 

  • Register for TSN9
  • Attend and complete two mandatory instructor-led training courses (approx. 4hrs each) 
  • Complete two mandatory self-guided courses approx. 1hr each) 

For a total of approximately 10 hours of training. 

There are also a large number of optional courses participants can take to further their professional development.

Yes! To get an update on your employees training status, please reach out to the OTEC team.

Yes! Parental or guardian consent will be required, but those under the age of majority (18) can qualify to participate in the program.

Melody from OTEC and Kate from NOTO will provide you with regular updates on the upcoming cohort schedules. To register your staff for the instructor-led training courses, please reach out to Melody and let her know which employees you would like to register and which dates you would like them to attend.

To view the Wage Subsidy & Payroll Checklist, click here.

Resources

Wage Subsidy

To receive the wage subsidy, you must ensure that your newly hired employees meet the eligibility criteria and complete the participant registration form.

To support as many businesses as possible, the following conditions have been established:

  • Each organization is eligible to receive wage subsidies for up to a maximum of 10 employees for the program.
  • Employers cannot hire their spouse, sibling or child.
  • The wage subsidies are prioritized on a first come first served basis, based on the completion of training.
Download checklist

Training Guide

The training guide includes an overview of the training and materials that a participant will receive once enrolling in Tourism SkillsNet 9.

Training is encouraged for as many employees as possible. The objective of the training guide is to:

  • Support employers and job seekers to define the best training option.
  • Provide an understanding of the available training programs and courses that are available in the program.
Download guide

Enroll Today

IMPORTANT NOTE

Due to an overwhelming response to the program, we’re currently unable to accept additional registrations. However, interested job seekers/employees can still access free training worth over $1,000 to boost their skills.

Please note that there won’t be a wage subsidy for this training at this time.

 

To join these training sessions, please contact Anne Awori at anne@region9tourism.ca for more details on available dates and registration.

 

Thank you for your interest and cooperation in Tourism SkillsNet 9.

We trust this training is proving invaluable to you and your staff.