Programs and Events Assistant
Willow Arts Community is hiring a Programs and Events Assistant for the months of July and August 2026. This position is funded by the Canada Summer Jobs program.
Willow Arts is a diverse community. We understand and celebrate the intersections of lived experiences for people living with mental illness/substance use in Niagara. Of our 350+ current membership:
*100% have lived or living experience of mental illness/substance use
* 76% are on social assistance, unemployed, or retired (low income)
* 45% identify as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community
* 47% identify as being neurodiverse (ADHD/autism)
* 35% live with a physical disability (visible and invisible)
* 23% identify as Black, Indigenous, or a person of colour
We prioritize hiring people who reflect the diverse makeup of our membership. Having leadership, staff, artists, and instructors who reflect these diversities and lived experiences is essential and foundational to creating a space that feels inclusive and safe for all.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Reporting to and working alongside the Executive Director and the Program Coordinator, the Programs and Events Assistant will work closely with arts instructors, members, and volunteers to support the administration, planning, and execution of Willow Arts Community’s summer arts education programming and Tenth Anniversary Celebration.
Duties
- Coordinate and prepare materials and supplies for summer arts education programs
- Arrange transportation for materials, supplies, and instructors for programs as needed
- Prepare the Willow Arts studio and other venues in preparation for programs
- Assist staff and instructors during delivery of arts education programs
- Document program delivery and participant feedback with photos, video, and testimonials
- Lead the cleaning, sorting, and inventory of materials and supplies storage at the end of the summer programming season
- Assist Willow staff with preparations for Willow’s Tenth Anniversary celebration in August
- Work with Willow staff and contract photographer and graphic designer on the contents and design of the Tenth Anniversary commemorative materials
- Assist Willow staff in preparing social media posts about summer programs and the Tenth Anniversary Celebration
A candidate for this position should demonstrate the following
- A love of the visual arts
- Experience in a visual arts studio setting as an artist and/or arts educator
- Experience in speaking with unfamiliar people to build new connections
- Experience in using Google Cloud systems
- Spoken and written English proficiency sufficient to have conversations and email exchanges with program participants and partners; and to ensure accuracy in the content of written and spoken messages.
Other qualities and skills that are not required but are considered an asset:
- Volunteer or employment experience in the professional visual arts sector
- Visual arts curation training and/or work experience
- Knowledge of the Niagara Region’s communities
- Volunteer or employment experience interacting with people with lived experience of mental illness / substance use
Position Details
Contract Period: July 6, 2026 – August 28, 2026
Hours: 30 hours per week – some evening and weekend work required
Rate of Pay: $17.60 per hour + 4% vacation pay
Primary Work Location: Willow Arts Studio (366 St Paul Street, St Catharines ON)
PLEASE NOTE: This position is funded by the Canada Summer Jobs program
To meet the requirements of the Canada Summer Jobs youth employment creation program the successful candidate must be
- between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the start of employment;
- a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, S.C. 2001, c. 27 (note: international students are not eligible; recent immigrants are eligible if they are Canadian Citizens or permanent residents); and
- legally entitled to work according to the relevant Ontario legislation and regulations.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send both your resume and a cover letter addressed to Director Leigh MacLeod explaining your interest in the role to director@thewillowcommunity.com .
Applications must be received by 11:59pm EST on Thursday May 14, 2026, to be considered. We thank all those who apply, but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Interviews will be conducted in person or by video call on May 19 and 20.
If you have any questions about this position, posting, or Willow Arts, please email Leigh MacLeod, Director, at director@thewillowcommunity.com.
