Our Impact
Inspiring and empowering young people
Our 2025–2026 Year in Review | Ready to Thrive
A snapshot of another year we prepared young people to thrive in a changing world.
Fulfilling Purpose: Impact in Action
63,044
learning experiences
1,665
classes participated
397
schools engaged
FEEDING GROWTH
75
valued corporate & foundation partners
1,669
volunteers & educators
FINANCIAL LITERACY
86%
Dollars with Sense participants are more aware of how to manage money effectively
WORK READINESS
91%
students strengthened work-ready technical & transferable skills through Pouring Potential
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
89%
Company Program students gained real-world experience for future opportunities
SEEDING CHANGE
Alumni Association
Launched our Alumni Association to grow a vibrant alumni community that supports networking, mentorship, professional development and give back opportunities.
RISE & INSPIRE: A FUTURE FORWARD BREAKFAST
200+ business and community leaders, JA alumni, volunteers and youth gathered to celebrate possibility, innovation and the power of investing in the next generation.
Yonge Street Mission
For the third consecutive year, JA Central Ontario proudly partnered with Yonge Street Mission to bring hands-on learning experiences to students. Hosted in Regent Park, the initiative advances equitable access to real-world skill development for 60 students.
Empowering Young Women+
Expanded Empowering Young Women+ to Brampton, bringing hands-on career exploration and meaningful connections with industry professionals to even more students across our region
CAREERS UNLIMITED
Careers Unlimited brought 255 students in Brampton together for career exploration, mentorship, and skill-building, continuing JA’s commitment to expanding access to hands-on career experiences.
Mental WELLBEING Summit
110+ high school students came together to build resilience, strengthen peer support skills and explore mental well-being through interactive workshops, collaborative activities, and lived-experience stories.
Through Company Program, I didn’t just learn business fundamentals, I pushed myself to step out of my comfort zone and overcome a negative mindset.
– Annmarie Z., Company Program Student
I realized that there are many different career paths you can take. I left the workshop feeling inspired and excited for the future.
– Grade 8 Economics for Success participant
I enjoyed the group games that we played together in the JA learning experience. I got to gain experiences similar to real life cases and applied business strategies.
– Grade 7 Dollars with Sense participant
Thank you for having a program like this – I wish I had this program at their age as it would have saved me from making a lot of mistakes in my younger years.
– Sang Wha, RSM Canada volunteer
Our students stepped away from their screens and into high-level conversations about allyship, resilience, and inclusive commerce. Thank you for curating an environment where our students could see, feel, and claim their future.
– Malisa Mashud, teacher
Preparing young people to thrive in a changing world takes more than great programs, it takes a community. Despite a year of evolving challenges and growing demand, together we continued to create meaningful opportunities for thousands of students across central Ontario.
To our volunteers, educators, partners, donors, students, alumni and supporters: thank you for making this impact possible. Stay tuned for our 2025–2026 Annual Report for more stories behind the numbers.
