Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre

Access Ability Wage Subsidy Program

Looking to find employment with entrepreneurial led organizations?

About

Are you looking to get hired?
For those living with self-identified disabilities who want to focus on building transferable skills for success in job hunting and on the job, we offer the Access Ability Wage Subsidy Program. 

The Wage Subsidy Program is your opportunity to gain real employment experience. The program will help you find supportive employment with the support of a wage subsidy. The goal of the program is to help you get the skills and training necessary to stay on with your employer when the subsidy runs out.

What to expect:

  • Find meaningful employment with the help of a $9 per hour wage subsidy (up to $6,300).
  • Get support in preparing for job searching (perfecting your resume, cover letter, interviews)
  • Access to one-on-one coaching
  • Flexible and hybrid employment opportunities
  • Opportunities for funding to support your needs and accommodations
Access Ability Wage Subsidy Program for Participants

Program Requirements

  • Eligible to work in Canada
  • Resident of Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and Labrador)
  • Self-identifies as living with a disability
Access Ability Wage Subsidy Program for Participants

Benefits

  • Build skills and knowledge necessary for personal and workplace success through a wide variety of workshops
  • Get paid for expanding your knowledge—earn up to $600 for participating
  • Support in finding your next job
  • Flexible online sessions

Testimonials

Working with Access Ability program has been a great experience for our company. The program did not only enhance our chance to grow our team to help us grow but it also helped us improve in employee engagement and productivity. The collaboration has been seamless; the team is responsive and genuinely invested in our success. We appreciate the tailored approach that addresses our unique challenges. Overall, we are thrilled with the outcomes and look forward to continuing our journey together. Thank you!
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Just Cycle

Available Positions

Customer Service Representative/Cashier - The Kids Fun Factory

Job Description:

The Kids Fun Factory indoor playground is looking for an energetic, polite, and organized person to fill the position of Customer Service Representative.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide outstanding customer service
  • Manage birthday party bookings, and ensure all details are organized and completed to the customers satisfaction
  • Maintain inventory of retail items
  • Provide assistance with programs, special events and day camps
  • Responsible for opening and closing of the playground
  • Complete janitorial duties as needed
  • Perform related duties as required

Qualifications: 

  • Effective and professional customer service
  • Proficient at multi-tasking and paying attention to detail
  • Effective decision making
  • Communicate effectively in written and oral form
  • Willingness to learn
  • Dependable, trustworthy, flexible
  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships

Experience:

  • Customer Service: 1 year Licence:
  • Food Handler certified
  • First aid & CPR certified

Job Type: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

The Bookkeeper & Registrar’s Assistant is a part-time, flexible position (approximately 20 hours per week) responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, assisting with student registration processes, and supporting administrative tasks at the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (CCATCM). This role ensures efficient financial management and student record-keeping while providing excellent customer service.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Maintain and reconcile financial records, process invoices, and manage accounts payable/receivable.
  • Assist with student enrollment, record management, and academic documentation.
  • Provide administrative support to the Registrar, including scheduling and correspondence.
  • Prepare financial reports and assist with budgeting.
  • Ensure compliance with institutional policies and regulations.
  • Support day-to-day office operations and respond to student inquiries.

Qualifications:

  • Diploma or certificate in bookkeeping, accounting, or a related field.
  • Experience in bookkeeping and administrative roles, preferably in an academic setting.
  • Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks) and Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to multitask.
  • Excellent communication and customer service skills.

This position offers flexible hours and is ideal for candidates seeking a part-time role in a professional and supportive environment.

This is an in-person role.
Start Date: ASAP
20 hours per week.

The Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (CCATCM) is a leader in holistic healthcare education. We are seeking a creative and strategic social media & TikTok Specialist to enhance our online presence through engaging video content and digital storytelling. This remote, flexible role reports directly to the CEO and is ideal for a passionate social media expert looking to make an impact.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Develop and implement social media strategies with a strong focus on TikTok and video content.
  • Create, film, edit, and post engaging short-form videos to promote CCATCM’s programs, events, and brand.
  • Manage and schedule content across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other platforms.
  • Monitor trends, analytics, and engagement to optimize performance and audience growth.
  • Respond to comments and messages, fostering a strong online community.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to align content with marketing goals.
  • Stay up to date on social media trends, particularly in video and influencer marketing.

Qualifications:

  • Proven experience in social media management, video content creation, and TikTok growth strategies.
  • Strong video editing skills using tools like CapCut, Adobe Premiere, or similar software.
  • Excellent storytelling, writing, and communication skills.
  • Proficiency in graphic design tools (Canva, Adobe Suite, etc.) is an asset.
  • Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing trends.

Why Join Us?

  • Flexible, work-from-home position with up to 30 hours per week.
  • Opportunity to contribute to a growing and reputable educational institution.
  • Work closely with the CEO in a dynamic and creative environment.

If you’re a TikTok-savvy content creator who thrives in a remote setting and wants to make a meaningful impact, we’d love to hear from you!

This is a remote role.
Start Date: ASAP
up 30 hours per week.

Mizo Drinks Inc. is a fast-growing juice and smoothie company that started at the beach and is now expanding to downtown Halifax! We specialize in fresh, high-quality drinks made with exotic and locally sourced ingredients. Our goal is to bring fun, refreshing, and energetic vibes to our customers while offering a top-tier experience.

Job description:

Mizo Drinks is gearing up for a BIG summer, and we need a solid team to make it happen! We’re hiring for our Rainbow Haven Beach, Crystal Crescent Beach, AND our first-ever store in downtown Halifax!!

  •  Handling POS transactions and cash management
  • Assisting customers and ensuring a positive experience
  • Providing a welcoming and engaging atmosphere at the storefront
  • Ensuring efficiency in order fulfillment and product handling

What We’re Looking For:

  • Good experience in the food industry and comfortable using a knife (you’ll be handling fresh fruits and ingredients
  • Customer service to the roof (we want people who bring good vibes and make customers feel welcome)
  • Positive attitude, good energy, and someone who enjoys engaging with people in any way
  • Detail-oriented and able to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment
  • Previous experience in POS and cash handling is an asset but not required

What You Get:

  • $16.50/hr + tips (yes, our customers tip well)
  • A fun, fast-paced summer gig at the beach or downtown
  • A chance to be part of something exciting as Mizo Drinks grows

Start Date: June 15, 2025

End Date: September 1, 2025

Hours per Week: 20

Work Arrangement: In-person

A student opportunity with EfficiencyOne is unlike any other you’ve had. You’ll be challenged. You’ll be inspired. And you’ll be proud. Because whatever your role is here, you’ll be making a difference in our customers’ lives and their homes.

About the Organization

Ranked number one in Canada for energy efficiency programs and a multi-year winner of Canada’s greenest employers, we have worked with hundreds of thousands of families, businesses, non-profits, and institutions to transform the way they use and save energy.

We are incredibly proud of our achievements and know one of the driving forces behind our success is our people, our values, and the behaviours we commit to every day as part of our culture. Our culture is about acting quickly and positively, taking care to understand others’ needs, and providing timely responses. It’s about doing the right thing and working with the greater organization in mind.  It’s striving for simplicity while keeping our customers top of mind in everything we do and in every decision we make. It’s about setting challenging goals and working with each other to deliver our best work. We are respectful in everything we do and support and value others by fostering an environment where every voice is appreciated. It’s about building collaborative relationships based on trust and open communication. 

Are you a passionate champion of energy efficiency looking for a second or third Co-op Term? Then EfficiencyOne wants to hear from you! We are looking for a Data Analyst: Co-Op Student to join our Information and Analytics (I&A) team to help large energy consumers save energy. As a data analyst, you will get to work with data from a variety of different sources as they relate to energy efficiency projects and programs in Nova Scotia. In the I&A team, we help make sense of data for decision-making through reporting and analytics. We need a hardworking, motivated individual who is comfortable working autonomously to support several data and reporting initiatives. As part of the I&A team, you will work with a talented and dedicated group of people to ensure our data and information is clean, reliable, and accessible. This will include managing and combining data from several sources, fulfilling reporting and information requests, and working on various information projects. If you have a great attention to detail and love working with data, we would like to hear from you.

Responsibilities

  • Data Management
  • Ensuring data quality and consistency
  • Extracting, transforming, and combining data from several sources
  • Fulfilling other data governance responsibilities as required (e.g., requirement scoping for ETL processes)

Ad-hoc information and reporting requests

  • Management of I&A Team’s Ticketing System/Triage Process
  • Scoping/Assignment of request details for appropriate agent
  • Fulfillment of queries from throughout the organization
  • Consulting with internal stakeholders to design and implement new metrics/dashboards

Documenting Data Processes

  • Management/Maintenance of I&A Internal resources including;
  • Data Dictionary
  • Reporting Control Procedures
  • Other Process as required

Automation of Antiquated Processes

  • Transitioning existing manual processes throughout the organization into self-serve Power BI Models

Data Entry and Other Information Management as Required

Educational Qualifications:

  • Enrolled in one of the following:
    • BSc – Computer Science
    • BSc – Math/Stats
    • BSc – Psychology (or other quantitative research-based discipline)
    • Other related discipline (if other, please speak to relevant qualifications in cover letter)

Experience Qualifications:

  • Strong analytical and time management skills
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Experience querying databases, summarizing data, and reporting
  • Proficient with all Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)
  • Proficient with two of either (a) SQL, (b) Power BI, or (c) Python

 

If you would like to be considered for this position, please submit your resume and covering letter, clearly articulating how you meet the above-noted qualifications. 

EfficiencyOne is committed to fostering a culture that is supportive and values others, one that is grounded in diversity and inclusiveness.  We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, racially visible persons, persons of minority sexual orientations, and gender identities.

 

About the Organization

EfficiencyOne is a leading efficiency enterprise. We work with a number of outstanding partners to supply cost-effective energy efficiency and carbon mitigation services in Nova Scotia and beyond. We transform the way people use energy. Together, we help people achieve their energy goals, save money, conserve resources, improve well-being, and combat climate change.

To date, our work has achieved over $4 billion in energy savings and contributed to 22% of Nova Scotia’s GHG emission reductions. If there’s a better way to improve energy efficiency, we’ll find it. Find out more about how we are making an impact here: https://www.efficiencyone.ca/impact/.

 

Why you’ll love working here:

  • A culture that understands there is life outside of work and cares about their employees
  • An engaging, fun, and inclusive work environment
  • Hybrid office model with the opportunity to work remotely
  • Being part of a team contributing to Nova Scotia’s goal of net-zero carbon by 2050

 

If you want to be part of an organization that has an ambitious plan to support the transition to net zero, and helps to build a thriving, resilient future for Nova Scotians – then you belong here!

 

What is the opportunity?

As a member of the Information and Analytics, the Data Analyst / Scientist (Co-op) will conduct & perform tasks and duties related to the movement, organization, and comprehension of data at varying scales.

These duties will include (but are not limited to):

  • creating automated pipelines
  • large-data cleaning
  • writing SQL scripts
  • creating basic Machine Learning (i.e. Random Forest) and clustering (KMeans) models (in python)
  • creating data visualization tools for relevant stakeholders
  • understanding and presenting research results derived from raw data, and more.

 

If you are on the path of becoming a Data Scientist, Data Engineer, or Data Analyst, this may be a great co-op position for you to expand and utilize data related skills while helping to make a strong impact in the fight against climate change. Not only will we be looking for a candidate that is great with data-driven techniques, but also a candidate that shows great ability to articulate and simplify complicated data related problems for relevant stakeholders.

 

A snapshot of what you will be involved with:

  • Creating Automated Pipelines Using Microsoft Fabric & Databricks (Python and SQL)
  • Creating new / updating existing ML and Clustering models for various internal needs
  • Performing Ad-hoc data and analytics requests for internal and external stakeholders
  • Performing Data Cleaning tasks related to operational needs.
  • Assisting in creating ideal-customer lists for various marketing initiatives
  • Optimizing current pipelines and automated processes
  • Documenting new and on-going processes for future reference

 

Education Qualifications:

  • Working towards a bachelor’s degree or diploma in Physics, Math, Engineering, or Computer Science (STEM)

 

Skills & Attributes:

  • Experience with both Python and SQL as a primary coding language.
  • Experience with Production/Development infrastructure (GIT, AzureDevOps)
  • Develop and maintain Power BI dashboards to visualize key performance indicators and insights.
  • Design, build, and maintain data pipelines to ensure efficient data flow and storage.
  • Ability to work with large data sets in a timely manner.
  • Apply basic machine learning models to predict trends and automate data-driven decisions.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to present complex data in a clear and concise manner.
  • Basic understanding of Microsoft Fabric
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand data needs and deliver actionable insights.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
  • Knowledge of energy efficiency and climate change mitigation strategies, tools and policies would be considered an asset.

 

Working Conditions:

  • Typical work week is 37.5 hours per week.
  • Open to in-person, hybrid, and fully remote work
  • Hourly wage ranges based on year of co-op

 

We embrace a culture of belonging in the workplace. No matter who you are, where you’re from, how you think, what you believe in, or whom you love, we welcome your application. We all come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, bringing in unique perspectives and experiences. We encourage applications from 2SLGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), women, newcomers to Canada, and people with disabilities. If you require any accommodation in the application and interview process, please let us know (including different materials or otherwise).

About the Organization

We’re a leading energy efficiency enterprise. We believe in the good things efficiency brings to our lives, and we come to work every day to make the world a better place – starting in our own province. We have successfully helped hundreds of thousands of families, businesses, non-profits, and institutions transform the way they use energy – and we will continue to lead the way in the transition to a low-carbon future. Not only are we deeply committed to climate change, but we are also a multi-year winner of Canada’s Greenest Employers and Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers.

Our work has achieved more than $1 billion in energy savings and contributed over 24% of Nova Scotia’s GHG emission reductions since 2011. We’re passionate about ensuring that all Nova Scotians have equal access to our programs and understand that energy efficiency can help serve our communities and promote a socially equitable energy future. Find out more about how we are making an impact here: https://www.efficiencyone.ca/impact/

 

Why you’ll love working here:

  • A culture that understands there is life outside of work and cares about their employees
  • An engaging, fun, and inclusive work environment
  • A holistic benefits package that starts on day one
  • Wellness initiatives and fitness challenges hosted throughout the year
  • Corporate gym memberships
  • Career growth and professional development opportunities
  • Being part of a team contributing to Nova Scotia’s goal of net-zero carbon by 2050.

 

If you want to be part of an organization that has an ambitious plan to support the transition to net zero, and help to build a thriving, resilient future for Nova Scotians – then you belong here!

 

Want to know what it’s really like to work with us? Reach out to any one of our team members on LinkedIn to hear their firsthand experience at EfficiencyOne.

As a member of the Small Business Energy Solutions (SBES) program, the Efficiency Coordinator (Co-op) will conduct research to support the Small Business Energy Auditor on several initiatives. These include, but are not limited to, conducting research on the product pricing portfolio, reviewing and updating The Energy Audit Report (EAR) identifying process improvements as well as general maintenance. This position may involve some travel within Nova Scotia, this initiative would include site verification visits and assisting with onsite energy audits.

If you have a keen interest in energy efficiency and climate change mitigation, thorough research skills, strong attention to detail, excellent written communication skills, ability to streamline processes cocisely, are highly organized, you could be a great fit for this Co-op term position.

 

How you will be involved:

  • Researching product and labour costs, using historic SBES data while leveraging the most up to date local costs and trends.
  • Reviewing the EAR for process improvement potentials (automating where possible)
  • Documentation maintenance, updating all relative SBES audit documents and reports, where needed.
  • Site Visit Verification, product and quantity verification on completed projects.
  • Accompany and assist the Small Business Energy Auditor where needed (site visits, customer follow-ups, etc.)
  • Review old audits performed, focusing on but not necessarily limited to those without any projects, and determine which would justify following up
  • Assisting with new energy efficient measure research.

 

What Will Help You Succeed\Working towards a bachelor’s degree or diploma in engineering/engineering technology, environmental

  • Experience in conducting research
  • Excellent analytical skills
  • Strong written and oral communications skills
  • Ability to work independently on defined projects and meet tight deadlines
  • Self-motivated and takes initiative
  • Proficient with all Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)
  • Knowledge of energy efficiency and climate change mitigation strategies, tools and policies would be considered an asset

 

Working Conditions:

  • Normal work week is 37.5 hours/week
  • Open to in-person, hybrid, and fully remote work
  • Hourly wage ranges based on year of co-op

 

EfficiencyOne is committed to fostering a culture that is supportive and values others, one that is grounded in diversity and inclusiveness. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with a disability, racially visible persons, persons of minority sexual orientations, and gender identities.

 

About EfficiencyOne

Our core values are Integrity, Innovation, and Partnership.

EfficiencyOne is a leading efficiency enterprise. We work with a number of outstanding partners to supply cost-effective energy efficiency and carbon mitigation services in Nova Scotia and beyond. 

We transform the way people use energy. Together, we help people achieve their energy goals, save money, conserve resources, improve well-being, and combat climate change.

Investing in energy efficiency comes with many benefits—lower heating bills, more comfortable spaces, new jobs in your community, and a smaller overall carbon footprint.

To date, our work has achieved over $4 billion in energy savings and contributed to 22% of Nova Scotia’s GHG emission reductions. If there’s a better way to improve energy efficiency, we’ll find it. Find out more about how we are making an impact here: https://www.efficiencyone.ca/impact/

Why you’ll love working here:

  • A culture that understands there is life outside of work and cares about their employees.
  • An engaging, fun, and inclusive work environment
  • An awesome benefits package that starts on day one and a competitive salary
  • Wellness initiatives and fitness challenges hosted throughout the year.
  • Corporate gym memberships
  • Career growth and professional development opportunities
  • Being part of a team and contributing to Nova Scotia’s goal of 2050 net-zero carbon

 

Do you want to be part of an organization that has an ambitious plan to support the transition to net zero by 2050, and help to build a thriving, resilient future for Nova Scotians – then you belong here!

The opportunity:

The Efficiency Specialist Co-op, HomeWarming will work with our Specialist team to serve as a point person for our Delivery Agents and program participants, reporting on technical data along with updating key program processes and forms. This multi-faceted position includes leading a variety of tasks using Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in support of report preparation, and data management. A high degree of attention to detail is required for this position.

As part of the HomeWarming team you will be helping low income Nova Scotians achieve energy savings, combat energy poverty, and be more comfortable in their homes by performing the following tasks:

  • Assisting in the review and approval of upgrades for participant homes.
  • Participating in regular meetings with Delivery Agents.
  • Attending outreach events and meetings
  • Provide support in Delivery Agent and client issue resolution.
  • Documenting program processes and procedures
  • Assisting in tasks such as creating projects, sending leads, and invoicing as necessary

 

Education Qualification:

  • Working towards a bachelor’s degree or diploma in environmental science/management, sustainability, policy, building science, or a related field of education

 

What Will Help You Succeed?

  • Experience with and proficiency with all MS Office applications (including Teams)
  • Ability to take on new opportunities and challenges, with a passion to continue to develop and grow.
  • The ideal candidate should have excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and have.
  • The ideal candidate should have the ability to prioritize deliverables and work independently or within a team.

Mission Mart is a thrift store staffed 90% by volunteers, ensuring higher net profit margin to support the everyday work of Souls Harbour – providing food, clothing, shelter, and recovery in Halifax, Bridgewater, Truro, Lower Sackville and Sydney Mines locations, as well as future growth. A Mission Marty will be a person who thrives with routine tasks and can concentrate in a busy environment.


Location of Position:

  • Mission Mart, 265 Susie Lake Cres

 

Qualifications:

  • Must show an interest in social entrepreneurship – a business that supports charity
  • Love for people
  • Good communicator
  • Willing to delegate by providing instruction and training
  • Able to follow instructions and work independently
  • Hard working & flexible: able to deal with changing duties
  • Team player – able to work within a mixed staff and volunteer team
  • Ability to stand and/or walk for extended periods and safely lift up to 20 lbs as needed

 

Objectives:

  • Fill in volunteer gaps for various positions
  • Maintain a welcoming store environment for shoppers, volunteers and donors
    Specific Duties:
  • Assist Managers with daily operations – receiving, sorting, merchandising and cash
  • Help ensure all areas of the store are clean, clear and meet safety standards
  • Communicate on an ongoing basis with volunteers and customers to gain community
    support and to solicit feedback to improve store activities
  • Create a positive, uplifting environment for customers, volunteers and donors
  • Be familiar with the volunteer handbook policies and procedures
  • Support the needs of the Mission

 

Hours:

  • 40 hours per week – would include some evenings and weekends
  • Some shifts may be switched to cover for holidays & vacations

Interested in any of the above positions? Email Sheheryar Khan at sheheryar.khan@smu.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay to join the program?

The program is free to join. In many cases, we pay you so that you can join stress free.

Fill out the application form.

Choose the program(s) that interest(s) you.

Reach out to us at AccessAbility@smu.ca with any questions.

You can do both the Entrepreneurial Mindset Certificate and/or the Wage Subsidy Program. There are a limited number of work placements available, and they will be filled on first come first serve basis.

Yes. We will review applications and interview, as necessary.

For the Wage Subsidy Program, participants are hired on by an employer and paid through their payroll system. Our wage subsidy will go directly to the employer.

No, the program is for anyone that self-identifies as living with a disability in Atlantic Canada.