Training Programs
Providing Our Communities With Solutions That Add Value to The Lives of Residents
EXPERT INSTRUCTORS
766 STUDENTS TRAINED
92% COMPLETION RATE
87% EMPLOYMENT RATE
Looking to gain practical skills and hands-on experience to start your career?
For over 25 years, we’ve been helping people in our community build confidence, earn valuable certificates, connect with local employers and gain real-world experience in growing industries. Our free training programs are led by experienced instructors and supported by trusted local partnerships, so you can feel confident knowing you’re learning from a team with a proven track record of helping job seekers succeed.
Below you will find information about our current training programs (open for registration now!) as well as brief details about programs we’ve run in the past. Bookmark this page because we're always working on new training opportunities as funding becomes available.
Real people. Real results. Read testimonials from past participants HERE.
Youth Employment Program
24-WEEKS • PAID TRAINING + EMPLOYMENT • FREE CERTIFICATIONS
Are you 18-30 years of age and live in the Northumberland County, Quinte West or Peterborough areas? If you are interested in discovering local career opportunities, the Youth Initiative program may be a perfect fit for you!
Explore growth careers in food, agriculture, housing, health, and more. Receive paid training and engage in paid work experiences within the career sector of your choice. Learn about new opportunities in local industries, earn workplace relevant certificates, gain new skills, and get hands-on experience - all while earning money!
Want to learn more? Registration is open now.. Click the link below to download our program guide with FAQs, eligibility, registration, and potential employment requirements. Contact us directly by email for further details on how to claim your spot!
Childcare Education Program
FREE! 6 WEEKS TRAINING + 2 WEEK WORK EXPERIENCE + CERTIFICATIONS
There’s never been a more exciting time to consider a career in childcare!
With major investments being made across Ontario and a growing demand for qualified professionals, opportunities are growing, and we're here to help you get started!
For this unique program we collaborated with Northumberland County, the City of Kingston, and we partnered with respected organizations, Norland College (UK) and YMCA Northumberland - giving you access to expert instructors, user-friendly learning platforms, essential entry-level skills, and the opportunity to connect with respected leaders in the field.
Become part of a growing community shaping the future of early years education! Click below to learn more and download program details, or contact us directly for further details and registration.
We look forward to welcoming you to the program! Registration is open now.
*This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Why Choose our Programs?
TRUSTED PARTNERSHIPS
Our programs benefit from collaborations with trusted organizations like the YMCA and Norland College (UK), and previously with Habitat for Humanity Northumberland, Workforce Development Board, Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre, and the Intact Centre for Climate Change (University of Waterloo). We consistently engage with respected local and global leaders to keep our training relevant and credible.
FREE SKILLS TRAINING
Our programs are completely free for eligible participants, so you can focus on building your skills without financial barriers. Additionally,
in our Youth Program you can earn $$ while
you learn!
PROVEN RESULTS
100% of participants in our recent Cross-Functional program said the training supported their career development, and 78% of participants in the Youth Program landed jobs or chose to continue their education.
WORKPLACE CERTIFICATIONS
You earn multiple workplace certifications that boost your resume and help you stand out to employers across various industries.
ONLINE LEARNING
Learn from home with guidance from experienced subject matter experts, using our user-friendly digital platforms.
LOCAL JOB CONNECTIONS
We partner with local employers to help you land potential work placements to get hands-on experience, and to open doors to real job opportunities close to home.
PERSONALIZED SUPPORT
One-on-one support from our job coaches, helping you stay on track, build confidence, prepare for interviews, and define your goals.
REAL PEOPLE. REAL RESULTS.
Testimonials
“The Youth Employment Program was one of the best things to happen to me career wise! If you’re feeling stuck they give you great outlets to be able to build your resume and skills, and the staff are amazing. I couldn't recommend it enough. Thank you again to all that are involved with this wonderful program!”
~ Evan
Youth Employment Program
“I’ll be starting a new position in childcare! I honestly don’t have words to express how grateful I am to the CTDC team. Their support has meant so much to me and everything in the program was explained so clearly. I especially loved the practice job interview session, which helped me secure my new job!”
~ Ashna
Childcare Education Program
“Don’t hesitate to give this program a try. The CTDC staff are really here to help in any way you need.”
~ Jack
Youth Employment Program
"The Youth Program has helped me build critical skills that employers are looking for right now. I learned both hard and soft skills that helped me become an asset to local businesses and helped me build the confidence I needed to succeed. The placements provided were meaningful, engaging, and ultimately lead to a potential career!"
~ Elliott
Youth Employment Program
“If you are questioning doing this program, just apply! I went back and forth myself and I am very happy that I did it. It has been a great learning experience to start my journey in childcare. I also learned more about myself and what I want my career path to look like. Plus, all the knowledge I have gained about children has surprised me! The instructors they brought in to teach us were amazing. I've learned so much more than I thought I would. The staff are very helpful and work with you to ensure you benefit from the program. I will definitely be looking for future programs through CTDC!”
~ Alisha
Childcare Education Program
Previous Programs
Below are successful programs we've run in the past which provided valuable training and employment opportunities and made a positive impact on our local communities. They were offered as part of various time-limited initiatives funded by specific government programs.
Residential Construction Finishing Trades Program
This was a 6-week skill development and employment program in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Northumberland. It was offered to job seekers in Northumberland County, helping them gain the skills needed to step confidently into trades careers.
In addition to self-directed online learning, participants completed:
- 90 hours of hands-on training at a local Habitat for Humanity Northumberland build site.
- A 2-week placement with a local employer, offering valuable real-world experience and potential job connections.
- Developed practical skills in finishing trades — including flooring, trim work, painting, and other in-demand construction skills.
- Earned workplace certifications that boosted their employability.
Participants surveyed reported high satisfaction with the program’s hands-on learning focus and several graduates have used the skills and placements from the program to move into local trades positions.
Cross-Functional Training Program
102 participants took part in this unique program, which focused on cross-training in three high-demand sectors: Health Support, Children’s Support, and Social Support Services. These roles share common core competencies when it comes to entry-level positions and interests of the workers. Our participants built the skills needed to support their co-workers and begin building meaningful careers.
- 100% of participants surveyed said the program helped their career development.
- Many participants moved on to local jobs, supported by multiple workplace certifications and real-world training obtained in this program.
S.T.A.R.T (Sector Transitions And Readiness Training - for employment and self-directed learning)
This program was an employment opportunity for residents of Northumberland County, Ontario (15+ years of age). In collaboration with the County of Northumberland and community partners, we matched participants with local employers in manufacturing or tourism/hospitality. Participants also had access to our online learning curriculum, received a personal strengths assessment and one-on-one support from our professional job coaches.
Skills Advanced Ontario (SAO) - A provincially funded project which provided free online skills training focused on local growth sectors: Personal Care Assistant, Culinary Assistant, and Child Support Assistant.
We're proud to report that this project had an 87% employment rate among our participants!
Note: programs below are no longer running.
Personal Care Assistant
4-6 WEEKS • ONLINE
A vital program for our ageing communities, our Personal Care Assistant (PCA) program trained participants to safely assist non-medically fragile individuals, and their families, with daily tasks at home or in long-term care facilities. It was a 4-week online training taught by experts in senior care with the potential to qualify for a 2-week paid work placement in the local community to gain hands-on experience. It was available to Ontario residents in the areas of Northumberland County, Peterborough, Lindsay, Durham, Belleville and Kingston. Graduates of this program discovered that working as a PCA is not only a meaningful career path, but one which comes with increasing job security and numerous career paths.
Culinary Assistant
4-6 WEEKS • ONLINE + IN-KITCHEN
This program was open to residents in the Peterborough Ontario area. It was a unique training program focused on providing the knowledge needed for participants to best share their passion for food, make use of newly developed skills, and positively impact their community through employment in the culinary industry. It was a 4-week program composed of online classes with professional instructors via our eLearning platform in addition to hands-on skills training with a chef at our commercial kitchen in Peterborough. The possibility to gain valuable work experience and build confidence with a 2-week paid placement was also an option available to some students (based on location).
Child Support Assistant
4-6 WEEKS • ONLINE • FREE
This free training was open to Ontario residents in the areas of Northumberland County, Peterborough, Lindsay, Durham, Belleville and Kingston. It was a 4-week online training taught by experts via The CTDC's eLearning platform. Additionally there was the potential to qualify for a 2-week paid work placement in the local community to gain hands-on experience.
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